Pollinator Plants
Flowering plants that attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators
What Are Pollinator Plants?
Pollinator plants provide nectar, pollen, and habitat for bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and other pollinating insects. Without pollinators, most fruiting and seed-producing plants would fail. A diverse planting of pollinator-attracting flowers ensures continuous bloom from early spring through late fall, supporting pollinator populations year-round.
Benefits
- Increases fruit and vegetable yields by 20-50% through improved pollination
- Supports declining bee and butterfly populations
- Creates beautiful, colorful gardens
- Many pollinator plants are also medicinal or edible
- Provides habitat and food for beneficial predatory insects
Example Plants
Borage
Borago officinalis
Annual herb with vibrant blue flowers beloved by bees. Self-seeds readily. Edible flowers and leaves. Accumulates minerals. Blooms for months.
Lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Perennial herb with purple flowers. Attracts bees and butterflies. Medicinal and aromatic. Drought tolerant. Blooms mid to late summer.
Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Annual with large flowers providing abundant pollen and seeds. Attracts bees, birds, and beneficial insects. Edible seeds. Biomass producer.
Phacelia
Phacelia tanacetifolia
Fast-growing annual cover crop with purple flowers. One of the best bee plants. Can be tilled in as green manure. Produces honey-like nectar.
Echinacea
Echinacea purpurea
Perennial with pink-purple flowers. Attracts butterflies and bees. Medicinal (immune support). Drought tolerant. Seeds feed birds in winter.
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Implementation Tips
Plant flowers in drifts and clusters for easier pollinator finding
Ensure continuous bloom spring through fall with succession planting
Include diverse flower shapes (tubes, flat platforms, bells) for diverse pollinators
Avoid hybrid flowers with double blooms - they often lack nectar/pollen
Leave some bare ground for ground-nesting native bees
Provide water sources (shallow dishes with pebbles) for pollinators
Avoid pesticides, especially neonicotinoids which harm bees
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