25 Best Pollinator Garden Plants

Why pollinator planting works

A well-planned pollinator bed adds color but it does a lot more too. It helps bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds find food across the seasons, and it supports better flower and food-garden performance at home.

• USDA says pollinators are needed for more than 100 US-grown crops.
• The 2024-2025 Apiary Inspectors of America survey reported 55.6% annual managed colony loss and 60.8% winter loss.
• US Fish and Wildlife Service continues to prioritize monarch habitat restoration.

For your yard, the takeaway is simple: combine host plants with nectar plants and stagger bloom times so something is feeding pollinators from spring through frost.

How to Choose the Right Pollinator Plants

Pollinators need three things from your garden: the right food sources, food available across the entire season, and plants that actually thrive in your yard..

• Start with plants that already like your region. This one step usually cuts watering, feeding, and replacement work.
• Build a bloom relay. Combine early-, mid-, and late-season bloomers so pollinators have food from spring through fall.
• Fit plants to the actual bed. Check sun hours, drainage needs, and mature size before you plant.
• Match flower shape to pollinator type. Open blooms help bees, landing-friendly blooms help butterflies, and tubular flowers support hummingbirds.

25 Top Pollinator Garden Plants Across the US

A strong pollinator garden is built in layers, not single picks. You want early bloomers that wake up hungry bees, summer workhorses that carry the bed through heat, and late flowers that keep nectar and pollen available into fall.

The list below is organized to help you build that season-long coverage with a mix of seed packets and live-plants. Each selection explains why the plant helps pollinators in practical terms, including where the plants tend to grow best.

If you are starting from scratch, choose 5 to 7 plants with different bloom windows and flower shapes, then plant in small groups so pollinators can find them quickly.

1) Common Milkweed Heirloom Seeds

Asclepias syriaca is a monarch host plant first and a nectar plant second, so it supports both caterpillars and adult butterflies.

• Pollinators supported: Monarch butterflies, native bees, small beneficial wasps.
• Best regions: Northeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic.
• Bloom period: Summer.
• Care tip: Full sun and average soil; allow a little room for colonies to expand.
• Trait highlight: Native perennial, drought-tolerant after establishment.

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2) Sunfinity® Yellow Dark Center Sunflower Seeds

Helianthus annuus keeps producing pollen-rich flowers over a longer window, so bees keep finding it instead of getting one short flush.

• Pollinators supported: Bees, butterflies, and other pollen-feeding insects.
• Best regions: Most US regions, planted in full sun.
• Bloom period: Summer through fall.
• Care tip: Deadhead regularly to keep new buds forming.
• Trait highlight: Long bloom window compared with many one-and-done sunflower types.

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3) 'Hello Yellow' Butterfly Flower Seeds

Asclepias tuberosa is a native milkweed that feeds butterflies without spreading as aggressively as common milkweed.

• Pollinators supported: Butterflies, bees, hoverflies.
• Best regions: Midwest, South, Mid-Atlantic, lower Northeast.
• Bloom period: Early to late summer.
• Care tip: Avoid wet soils; this plant prefers good drainage.
• Trait highlight: Often deer-resistant and drought-tolerant after establishment.

Shop 'Hello Yellow' Butterfly Flower Seeds

4) Panorama Mix Bee Balm Seeds

Monarda flowers are built for long-tongued pollinators, which is why bees and hummingbirds work these blooms all summer.

• Pollinators supported: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds.
• Best regions: Northeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, mountain gardens.
• Bloom period: Mid to late summer.
• Care tip: Space well and thin stems for airflow in humid climates.
• Trait highlight: Fragrant foliage; useful in mixed native-style borders.

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5) Cheyenne Spirit Coneflower Seeds

Echinacea offers open central cones that are easy for bees to forage, then seedheads for birds later in the season.

• Pollinators supported: Bees, butterflies; seedheads later support birds.
• Best regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, interior West.
• Bloom period: Summer into early fall.
• Care tip: Deadhead lightly for repeat bloom, then leave late heads for wildlife.
• Trait highlight: Drought-tolerant after first season.

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6) Night and Day Snapdragon Seeds

Antirrhinum majus blooms in the cool part of the season, giving early forage before summer perennials peak.

• Pollinators supported: Bumble bees, small bees, occasional hummingbirds.
• Best regions: Northeast, Midwest, Pacific Northwest, winter-mild South.
• Bloom period: Spring through early summer, with a fall return in mild climates.
• Care tip: Deadhead spent stems and cut back after first flush to encourage rebloom.
• Trait highlight: Cool-season performer that bridges early pollinator gaps.

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7) Big Blue Salvia Seeds

Salvia spikes keep producing nectar when heat arrives, which helps fill the midsummer pollinator gap.

• Pollinators supported: Bees, butterflies, occasional hummingbirds.
• Best regions: South, lower Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, warm West.
• Bloom period: Late spring to frost with deadheading.
• Care tip: Shear lightly after first flush to trigger fresh stems.
• Trait highlight: Good heat tolerance and easy container performance.

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8) Park Seed Fragrant Giants Nasturtium Seeds

Tropaeolum majus gives accessible nectar, edible blooms, and quick groundcover, so one planting does multiple jobs.

• Pollinators supported: Bees, hummingbirds, hoverflies.
• Best regions: Most US regions; strongest in spring and early summer heat zones.
• Bloom period: Late spring to frost in milder weather.
• Care tip: Use moderate soil fertility so plants flower instead of overleafing.
• Trait highlight: Edible flowers and quick fill for low-maintenance color.

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9) Disco Mix Marigold Seeds

Tagetes patula is easy to tuck between vegetables where its steady bloom brings in small pollinators and helpers.

• Pollinators supported: Bees, butterflies, beneficial insects.
• Best regions: Nationwide as a warm-season annual.
• Bloom period: Late spring through frost.
• Care tip: Deadhead every 7 to 10 days to keep fresh bloom cycles moving.
• Trait highlight: Compact habit and long bloom run for beginner gardeners.

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10) Agastache 'Blue Boa' Hyssop

Agastache produces tubular, high-nectar flowers for months, making it one of the strongest hummingbird plants in this list.

• Pollinators supported: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds.
• Best regions: Midwest, West, Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest.
• Bloom period: Summer into fall.
• Care tip: Give sharp drainage and avoid heavy winter wetness.
• Trait highlight: Fragrant foliage and deer resistance in many gardens.

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11) Popstars™ Rose With Eye Phlox Seeds

Phlox drummondii keeps lower bed layers flowering, which helps small bees and hoverflies that forage close to foliage.

• Pollinators supported: Bees, hoverflies, butterflies.
• Best regions: South, Mid-Atlantic, mild West Coast, annual elsewhere.
• Bloom period: Spring into summer; longer in cooler summers.
• Care tip: Use full sun to light afternoon shade in hotter regions.
• Trait highlight: Compact bedding habit with strong color density.

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12) Pollinator Herb Seed Mixture

This herb blend stretches bloom timing across species, so pollinators find food from spring through late summer.

• Pollinators supported: Bees, hoverflies, parasitic wasps, butterflies.
• Best regions: Nationwide with seasonal timing by Zone.
• Bloom period: Staggered spring to fall depending on the herbs in mix.
• Care tip: Succession sow one small patch every 3 to 4 weeks for continuous bloom.
• Trait highlight: Edible + ecological value in one planting area.

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13) Rocky Mountain Penstemon Seeds

Penstemon strictus offers early nectar in dry western gardens where summer bloom can otherwise be sparse.

• Pollinators supported: Hummingbirds, long-tongued bees, butterflies.
• Best regions: Mountain West, High Plains, dry inland valleys.
• Bloom period: Late spring to summer.
• Care tip: Skip rich soil amendments; this plant prefers modest fertility.
• Trait highlight: Often deer-resistant and drought-adapted.

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14) Hidcote Blue Lavender Seeds

Lavandula angustifolia is one of the best bee magnets for sunny, well-drained beds, with repeat flushes when pruned.

• Pollinators supported: Bees, hoverflies, butterflies.
• Best regions: Pacific Northwest, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, interior West.
• Bloom period: Late spring to summer.
• Care tip: Plant on a slight mound if winter drainage is a concern.
• Trait highlight: Deer-resistant in many sites; low water needs once established.

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15) Hummingbird Wildflower Mix Seeds

This mix gives you multiple flower forms in one sowing, which supports hummingbirds plus the bees they share beds with.

• Pollinators supported: Hummingbirds, bees, butterflies.
• Best regions: Nationwide; sow timing follows local frost windows.
• Bloom period: Layered summer bloom from mixed species.
• Care tip: Prep a weed-free bed before sowing to improve mix establishment.
• Trait highlight: Easy starter option for new pollinator gardeners.

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16) 'Cat's Pajamas' Catmint

Nepeta starts early and reblooms after a trim, so bees keep revisiting it long after many spring plants fade.

• Pollinators supported: Native bees, honey bees, butterflies.
• Best regions: Northeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Northwest.
• Bloom period: Late spring through summer.
• Care tip: Shear by one-third after first bloom to refresh growth.
• Trait highlight: Often deer-resistant and drought-tolerant.

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17) Lollipop Verbena

Verbena bonariensis holds nectar-rich clusters above neighboring plants, making them easy landing targets for butterflies.

• Pollinators supported: Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds.
• Best regions: South, Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Coast; annual farther north.
• Bloom period: Summer to frost.
• Care tip: Place toward the middle/back of beds so stems can sway naturally.
• Trait highlight: Long bloom season with light maintenance.

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18) Denver Daisy Rudbeckia Seeds

Rudbeckia hirta brings late-season pollen when many annuals are slowing down, extending forage into fall.

• Pollinators supported: Bees, butterflies; birds may use seedheads later.
• Best regions: Midwest, Northeast, South, interior West.
• Bloom period: Summer through fall.
• Care tip: Remove early spent blooms to keep fresh buds coming.
• Trait highlight: Tolerates summer heat and variable soils.

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19) Arizona Apricot Blanket Flower Seeds

Gaillardia handles heat and lean soil while still producing daisy-style flowers that bees can work easily.

• Pollinators supported: Bees and butterflies.
• Best regions: South, Midwest, interior West, dry plains.
• Bloom period: Early summer to frost.
• Care tip: Deadhead in midsummer to keep plants tidy and blooming.
• Trait highlight: Very good drought tolerance after establishment.

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20) Fiesta del Sol Mexican Sunflower Seeds

Tithonia rotundifolia is a proven late-summer nectar source for butterflies and hummingbirds in hot climates.

• Pollinators supported: Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds.
• Best regions: South, Southwest, warm Midwest, hot urban beds.
• Bloom period: Mid-summer to frost.
• Care tip: Give full sun and avoid crowding for stronger stems.
• Trait highlight: Heat tolerant and low-maintenance once growing.

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21) Prairie Wild Sunflower Seeds

Helianthus annuus supports pollinators during bloom and seed-eating birds once flower heads mature.

• Pollinators supported: Bees, butterflies, pollen-feeding insects.
• Best regions: Nationwide with full sun and summer warmth.
• Bloom period: Summer to early fall.
• Care tip: Succession sow every 2 to 3 weeks for longer bloom coverage.
• Trait highlight: Drought resilient after roots deepen.

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22) Butterfly Bush Seed Mix

Buddleja flowers produce long runs of nectar-rich panicles that butterflies repeatedly return to.

• Pollinators supported: Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds.
• Best regions: Mid-Atlantic, South, West, and warmer Northeast pockets.
• Bloom period: Summer through early fall once established.
• Care tip: Prune in late winter or early spring to shape and refresh flowering wood.
• Trait highlight: Big nectar impact from one planting zone.

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23) 'Apricot Lemonade' Cosmos Seeds

Cosmos bipinnatus provides easy-access pollen and nectar on open blooms that keep coming with regular deadheading.

• Pollinators supported: Bees, butterflies, hoverflies.
• Best regions: Nationwide as a warm-season annual.
• Bloom period: Summer to frost.
• Care tip: Do not overfertilize; leaner soil usually gives better bloom.
• Trait highlight: Drought-tolerant and beginner-friendly.

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24) Profusion AAS Mix Zinnia Seeds

Zinnia keeps butterflies active all season, especially when you harvest or deadhead often.

• Pollinators supported: Butterflies, bees, beneficial insects.
• Best regions: Nationwide in full sun beds and containers.
• Bloom period: Late spring to frost.
• Care tip: Water at soil line to reduce leaf wetness and mildew pressure.
• Trait highlight: Heat-tolerant annual with high flower count.

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25) Snow Crystals Sweet Alyssum Seeds

Lobularia maritima feeds tiny beneficial insects that help with pest control while also supporting bees.

• Pollinators supported: Small bees, hoverflies, beneficial predatory insects.
• Best regions: Nationwide in beds, raised beds, and containers.
• Bloom period: Spring and fall in warm areas; summer to frost in milder climates.
• Care tip: Shear lightly during heat lulls to trigger fresh bloom.
• Trait highlight: Useful living mulch effect and easy maintenance.

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Regional Pollinator Plant Picks

Your region determines which pollinators you'll see and when plants bloom. A milkweed that flowers in May in Georgia won't open until July in Minnesota.

These tables give you 3-5 starter plants that work reliably in your region. Think of them as your foundation. Once these are established, add more from the complete list below to keep something blooming from spring through frost.

Each plant links to its detailed description further down this page and to seeds in our catalog.

Northeast

Midwest

South

West

Pacific Northwest

Frequently Asked Questions About Pollinator Plants