If you’re dreaming of a garden buzzing with life and bursting with color, this list is for you. These pollinator-friendly plants aren’t just pretty—they’re the kind that butterflies and bees can’t resist.
I’ve picked out 20 favorites that turn your garden into a rainbow all season long. A few simple tips will keep those blooms going strong, no matter what the weather’s doing.
Let’s make your garden the happiest spot on the block!
1. Butterfly Bush
Long, cone-shaped flower clusters in purple, pink, or white act like magnets for butterflies from midsummer through fall. The sweet honey scent might remind you of your grandma’s perfume, but to pollinators, it’s an irresistible invitation.
Plant these shrubs in full sun with well-draining soil. They’re surprisingly drought-tolerant once established and can grow quite large, so give them space to spread their wings – just like the butterflies they attract!
2. Bee Balm
Firework-like blooms in scarlet, purple, or pink create a spectacular summer show while buzzing with activity. Native to North America, this mint family member has been used medicinally for centuries, but today it’s better known for its pollinator-pulling power.
Give bee balm moist soil and partial shade in hot climates. The fragrant leaves release a spicy scent when brushed against, adding another sensory dimension to your garden experience beyond the visual feast it provides.
3. Coneflower
Tough as nails yet stunning to behold, these daisy-like blooms stand tall through summer heat and drought. Their raised central cones provide perfect landing pads for butterflies while goldfinches swoop in to feast on the seeds later in the season.
Beyond the classic purple varieties, you’ll find coneflowers in sunset orange, lime green, and creamy white. They’ll keep blooming for months with minimal care, making them perfect for busy gardeners who still want a pollinator paradise.
4. Lavender
Swaying silvery stems topped with fragrant purple blooms create a sensory experience few plants can match. Bees become almost drunk with delight when visiting lavender, buzzing lazily from flower to flower in the summer sunshine.
Plant in poor to moderate soil with excellent drainage – lavender hates wet feet! The Mediterranean native thrives in hot, dry conditions and rewards minimal care with years of beauty. Harvest stems for drying to bring that heavenly scent indoors.
5. Sunflower
Reaching for the sky with cheerful yellow faces, sunflowers bring instant smiles to gardens and pollinators alike. Their enormous centers offer an all-you-can-eat buffet of pollen while providing perfect photo opportunities as bees cover themselves in golden dust.
From towering 12-foot giants to compact 2-foot varieties perfect for containers, there’s a sunflower for every space. Plant in stages for continuous blooms, and leave the spent heads for birds to enjoy when fall arrives – a true multi-season wonder!
6. Zinnia
Candy-colored blooms in every shade imaginable keep butterflies fluttering from early summer until frost. Easy to grow from seed, zinnias reward even novice gardeners with armloads of cut flowers while feeding countless pollinators.
For maximum butterfly appeal, choose single-flowered varieties that provide easy landing spots. Deadhead spent blooms regularly to encourage more flowers, and you’ll have a non-stop color show. Their drought tolerance makes them perfect for hot, sunny spots.
7. Salvia
Spiky towers of blue, purple, or red flowers become hummingbird highways from spring through fall. Their tubular shape perfectly matches the bills of these tiny aerial acrobats, creating a match made in garden heaven.
Incredibly heat and drought tolerant, salvias keep blooming when other plants have given up. Many varieties are perennial, returning year after year with minimal fuss. The aromatic foliage naturally repels many garden pests while attracting beneficial insects.
8. Milkweed
Clusters of star-shaped flowers in pink, orange, or white aren’t just pretty – they’re essential for monarch butterfly survival. Female monarchs lay eggs exclusively on milkweed, making it the only food source for their caterpillars.
Native milkweed varieties support local ecosystems best. The plants ooze milky sap when stems are broken, which contains compounds that make monarchs taste terrible to predators. Plant several patches throughout your garden to create butterfly nurseries.
9. Black-Eyed Susan
Golden petals radiating around chocolate centers create sunshine even on cloudy days. These native wildflowers bloom prolifically for weeks, attracting bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects of all kinds to your garden.
Drought-tolerant and deer-resistant, black-eyed Susans thrive with minimal attention. They self-seed readily, creating natural drifts over time. Pair with purple coneflowers for a classic prairie combination that celebrates America’s native landscape while feeding countless pollinators.
10. Calendula
Sunny orange and yellow blooms have earned these flowers the nickname “pot marigold,” brightening gardens from spring through fall. Their simple, open faces make perfect landing pads for bees and other pollinators seeking easy meals.
Beyond their garden beauty, calendula flowers are edible and medicinal. Sprinkle petals into salads for a peppery kick or infuse them in oils for skin-soothing balms. They self-seed readily and bloom again quickly after deadheading.
11. Phlox
Sweet-scented star-shaped blooms form rounded clusters that butterflies simply cannot resist. The fragrance intensifies in the evening, attracting night-flying moths to continue the pollination party after dark.
Available in creeping forms for ground cover or tall varieties for back borders. Phlox creates drifts of color in pink, purple, white, and bicolor patterns. Plant different varieties for blooms from spring through fall – few perennials offer such extended flowering periods.
12. Aster
Daisy-like flowers in purple, pink, blue, or white create a stellar late-season show when many other plants have finished blooming. Their perfect timing provides crucial nectar sources for migrating butterflies and bees preparing for winter.
Native varieties are particularly valuable for local ecosystems. The name comes from the Greek word for “star,” reflecting their shape. Plant near goldenrod for a classic fall combination that extends your garden’s pollinator support well into autumn.
13. Goldenrod
Feathery plumes of brilliant yellow flowers create a golden glow in the late summer garden. Contrary to popular belief, goldenrod doesn’t cause hay fever – that’s ragweed’s fault! These native beauties actually help control pest insects.
The flowers burst with nectar at a crucial time when many blooms have faded. Bees, butterflies, and beneficial wasps flock to these easy-care perennials. Garden-friendly varieties stay compact rather than spreading aggressively like their wild cousins.
14. Lantana
Multi-colored flower clusters often feature several hues on a single plant, creating miniature rainbows in your garden. The tiny tubular blooms open in succession, ensuring long-lasting color and nectar production that butterflies find irresistible.
Heat-loving and drought-tolerant, lantana thrives when other plants wilt. The flowers transition between colors as they age – yellow blooms might turn orange, then red. Their slightly citrusy fragrance repels deer while attracting beneficial insects all summer long.
15. Verbena
Flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers create perfect landing pads for butterflies to rest while sipping nectar. Available in electric purple, soft pink, bright red, or clean white, verbena adds both height and spread to pollinator gardens.
Many varieties bloom from late spring until frost with minimal deadheading required. The delicate appearance belies their tough nature – verbena handles heat and drought like a champion. Trailing types cascade beautifully from containers while upright forms add vertical interest.
16. Pentas
Star-shaped flowers form rounded clusters that seem perfectly designed for butterfly proboscises and hummingbird beaks. The blooms come in candy colors – hot pink, cherry red, lavender, and white – creating a tropical feel even in temperate gardens.
Continuous bloomers from spring until frost, pentas require minimal deadheading to keep performing. Their nectar-rich flowers attract a diverse array of pollinators. In northern climates, grow as annuals; in warm regions, they’ll return as perennials or self-seed readily.
17. Agastache
Spikes of tubular flowers in purple, orange, or pink top aromatic foliage that smells of anise or mint when brushed against. Often called hyssop or hummingbird mint, these perennials create buzz in the garden from midsummer through fall.
Extremely drought-tolerant once established, agastache thrives in poor soil with excellent drainage. The upright form adds architectural interest while providing vertical feeding stations for hummingbirds. Deer and rabbits typically avoid the strongly scented foliage.
18. Cosmos
Dancing on tall, slender stems, these daisy-like flowers sway gracefully in the slightest breeze. Their feathery foliage creates a delicate backdrop for the pink, white, or crimson blooms that bees and butterflies visit repeatedly.
Among the easiest flowers to grow from seed, cosmos practically take care of themselves. They bloom more prolifically in poor soil – no fertilizer needed! Their open centers provide easy access to pollen and nectar for a wide variety of beneficial insects.
19. Borage
Star-shaped blue flowers dangle like little bells, creating an enchanting display that honeybees cannot resist. The blooms actually taste like cucumber, making them delightful edible garnishes for summer drinks and salads.
Borage reseeds enthusiastically, ensuring continuous generations in your garden. The fuzzy leaves and stems have a silvery quality that adds textural interest. While not the tidiest plant, its exceptional pollinator value and edible qualities more than make up for any messiness.
20. Sedum
Succulent foliage in blue-green, burgundy, or variegated patterns provides year-round interest before the flower show begins. Late summer brings plateaus of tiny star-shaped blooms in pink or russet that butterflies and bees swarm over enthusiastically.
Incredibly drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, sedums thrive in poor soil and hot conditions. The flowers persist into winter, providing structure and interest long after other plants have faded. Pair with ornamental grasses for a contemporary pollinator garden that looks good year-round.