Best Perennials for Pollinators

WHY POLLINATORS MATTER IN THE GARDEN

Supporting a diversity of pollinators: Pollinator-friendly perennials attract a wide range of beneficial insects, including native bees, bumble bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and beetles. Different flower shapes, sizes, and bloom times help support a greater variety of species throughout the growing season.

Reliable food sources: Unlike annuals that must be replanted each year, perennials return season after season, providing dependable sources of nectar and pollen. Established plantings become increasingly valuable as mature plants produce larger displays of flowers.

Early-season resources: Many pollinators emerge before the garden reaches peak bloom. Early-flowering perennials help provide nectar and pollen when food sources are limited, supporting beneficial insects as they become active in spring.

Creating a balanced ecosystem: Pollinator gardens do more than support bees and butterflies. Increased pollinator activity helps attract other beneficial insects and contributes to a healthier, more diverse garden environment.

Long-term garden value: Perennials combine wildlife benefits with lasting beauty. As plantings mature, they provide years of color, texture, and ecological value with relatively little ongoing maintenance.

Helleborus x lemperii HGC 'Leona'

Leona Christmas Rose

Geum 'Rustico Orange'

Rustico Orange Avens

Aquilegia caerulea 'Crystal Star'

Crystal Star Columbine

Astrantia major 'Sparkling Stars Pink'

Sparkling Stars Pink Masterwort

Allium 'Purple Rain'

Purple Rain Ornamental Onion

Geranium phaeum var. phaeum ‘Samobor’

Dusky Cranesbill

DESIGNING A POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY GARDEN

Planting in groups: Grouping several plants of the same variety together makes flowers easier for pollinators to locate and forage efficiently. Larger drifts often attract more activity than scattered individual plants.

Providing flower diversity: Different pollinators prefer different flower shapes and sizes. Combining daisy-like blooms, tubular flowers, spikes, and open clusters helps support a broader range of beneficial insects.

Reducing seasonal gaps: Selecting perennials with staggered bloom times helps maintain a more consistent supply of nectar and pollen. Combining early-, mid-, and late-season bloomers increases food availability throughout the year.

Limiting pesticide use: Many insecticides can harm pollinators directly or reduce the insects they depend upon. Encouraging natural balance within the garden helps create a safer environment for beneficial wildlife.

Combining plant layers: Integrating perennials with shrubs, grasses, and trees creates a more diverse landscape. Layered plantings provide food, shelter, and habitat while adding visual interest to the garden.

Gaillardia aristata SpinTop 'Copper Sun'

Copper Sun Blanket Flower

Leucanthemum x superbum 'Real Charmer'

Real Charmer Shasta Daisy

Echinacea purpurea 'Delicious Candy'

Delicious Candy Coneflower

Helenium autumnale 'Hayday'

Hayday Sneezeweed

Heliopsis helianthoides 'Summer Eclipse'

Summer Eclipse False Sunflower

Rudbeckia hirta 'Laura'

Laura Black-Eyed Susan

SUPPORTING POLLINATORS THROUGH THE SEASONS

Bloom succession: Pollinators benefit most when flowers are available over an extended period. Including plants that bloom from spring through fall helps support beneficial insects throughout their life cycles.

Late-season food sources: As the growing season winds down, late-blooming perennials become increasingly important. These plants help sustain pollinators when many earlier flowers have finished blooming.

Leaving stems and seed heads: Many beneficial insects use hollow stems, seed heads, and plant debris for shelter and overwintering. Delaying cleanup until spring can provide valuable habitat while also supporting birds and other wildlife.

Supporting future generations: Pollinator gardens provide more than food for adult insects. Nectar and pollen support reproduction, while protected garden spaces offer opportunities for nesting and overwintering.

Year-round ecological benefits: A well-planned pollinator garden remains valuable long after flowers fade. Seed heads, foliage, stems, and sheltering plant structures continue supporting wildlife throughout the changing seasons.

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae 'Purple Dome'

Purple Dome New England Aster

Solidago 'Goldkind'

Goldkind Goldenrod

Coreopsis 'Enchanted Eve'

Enchanted Eve Dwarf Tickseed

Aster × frikartii 'Monch'

Frikart's Aster

Echinops ritro 'Veitch's Blue'

Veitch's Blue Globe Thistle

Scabiosa caucasica 'Perfection Blue'

Perfection Blue Pincushion Flower