Best Perennials
for
Pollinators
Pollinator-friendly perennials provide a dependable source of nectar and pollen while bringing months of color and seasonal interest to the garden. By combining varieties with different bloom times, gardeners can support pollinators from spring through fall. Beyond their value to wildlife, these plants add texture, movement, and diversity to borders and garden beds, creating a landscape that feels vibrant and connected to the natural world.
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.
Early Season Pollinator Perennials
Pulmonaria 'Trevi Fountain'
Deciduous perennial with rich cobalt blue funnel shaped blooms supporting early season pollinator activity. Grows 10 to 12 inches tall. Ideal for woodland borders, shade gardens, and pollinator plantings. Zones: 3 to 8.
Lamprocapnos s. 'Gold Heart'
Deciduous perennial with golden foliage and heart-shaped pink flowers attracting early pollinators. Grows 24 to 36 inches tall. Ideal for woodland borders, shade gardens, and cottage garden plantings. Zones: 3 to 9.
Primula japonica
Deciduous perennial with tiered whorls of vivid pink to crimson flowers attracting early pollinators. Grows 18 to 24 inches tall. Ideal for woodland borders, rain gardens, and shade plantings. Zones: 4 to 8.
Other Notable Early Season Pollinator Perennials
Bergenia, Brunnera, Corydalis, Symphytum, Epimedium
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.
Pollinator Magnet Perennials
Buddleia davidii 'Miss Molly'
Deciduous shrub with deep green foliage and long fragrant deep raspberry red flower spikes. Grows 4 to 5 feet tall. Ideal for borders, pollinator gardens, and seasonal displays. Zones: 5 to 9.
Veronica x franciscana 'Blue Gem'
Evergreen shrub with clusters of rich blue violet flowers. Grows 12 to 18 inches tall. Ideal for borders, rock gardens, slopes, and coastal plantings. Zones: 8 to 10.
Spiraea japonica ‘Minspil04’
Deciduous shrub with colorful new growth and bright pink flower clusters creating season long color. Grows 2 to 3 feet tall. Ideal for borders, low hedges, and foundation plantings. Zones: 4 to 8.
Other Notable Pollinator Magnet Perennials
Agastache, Monarda, Salvia, Penstemon, Scabiosa
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.
Late Season Pollinator Perennials
Ribes sanguineum
Deciduous shrub with clusters of rosy pink flowers covering bare branches in early spring. Grows 6 to 10 feet tall. Ideal for hedges, wildlife gardens, and naturalistic plantings. Zones: 6 to 9.
Mahonia repens 'MonRws'
Evergreen shrub with yellow spring flowers followed by later season berries. Grows 1 to 2 feet tall. Ideal for groundcovers, slopes, and woodland plantings. Zones: 5 to 8.
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus 'Victoria'
Evergreen shrub with abundant deep blue flower clusters. Grows 8 to 12 feet tall. Ideal for hedges, screens, coastal plantings, and dry gardens. Zones: 7 to 10.
Other Notable Late Season Pollinator Perennials
Rudbeckia, Liatris, Helenium, Echinops, Aster × frikartii