Midwest gardens come alive when native plants invite bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to visit. Bright blooms and fragrant herbs create a lively, buzzing atmosphere that’s both beautiful and beneficial.
Planting these natives helps local ecosystems thrive while adding charm to your garden. Watching pollinators at work is a simple joy that connects you to the rhythm of nature.
1. Purple Coneflower
Summer in Indiana wouldn’t be complete without these cheerful blooms dotting gardens everywhere. Their spiky centers offer perfect landing pads for butterflies and bees seeking nectar.
Leave the seedheads standing through fall and winter to feed hungry goldfinches. These drought-tolerant perennials come back year after year with minimal fuss.
2. Butterfly Weed
Nothing says ‘welcome monarchs’ quite like this vibrant orange wildflower that’s become a staple in Michigan prairie gardens. Butterfly weed serves as both food and nursery for monarch caterpillars.
Despite its name, this plant isn’t weedy at all! The clustered flowers bloom from June through August, creating stunning pops of color that contrast beautifully with other native plants.
3. Wild Bergamot
Also known as bee balm, this aromatic plant fills Ohio gardens with lavender puffball blooms that hummingbirds simply can’t resist. The mint family member releases a pleasant scent when brushed against.
Wild bergamot tolerates clay soils common throughout the Midwest. Plant it where you can enjoy watching the parade of pollinators that will visit from July through September.
4. Joe Pye Weed
Towering above other perennials, this gentle giant creates a butterfly highway in late summer gardens across Wisconsin. The fluffy pink flower clusters become absolutely covered with pollinators on warm afternoons.
Reaching heights of 5-7 feet, Joe Pye adds dramatic vertical interest. Plant it toward the back of borders where its impressive stature won’t block smaller plants from view.
5. New England Aster
When autumn arrives in Illinois, these purple-blue daisies burst into bloom just when pollinators need them most. Late-season butterflies depend on asters as crucial nectar sources before winter sets in.
Pair with goldenrod for a classic fall combination that keeps the garden lively until frost. The compact varieties work beautifully in containers and small spaces where the full-sized plants might overwhelm.
6. Wild Columbine
Spring gardens in Minnesota come alive when these nodding red and yellow flowers emerge on delicate stems. Hummingbirds travel miles seeking out columbine’s unique tubular blooms filled with sweet nectar.
Growing happily in partial shade, wild columbine thrives where many sun-loving pollinator plants struggle. The distinctive spurred flowers look like tiny lanterns dancing above ferny foliage.
7. Blazing Star
Standing tall like purple sparklers, blazing stars create vertical drama in Iowa prairie gardens. Butterflies cling to the fuzzy flower spikes, often weighing them down as they feed enthusiastically.
These drought-resistant plants develop deep taproots that help them survive tough Midwest summers. The blooms open from top to bottom, extending their display and feeding period for hungry pollinators.
8. Golden Alexanders
Early spring in Missouri gardens welcomes these cheery yellow umbels that feed the season’s first pollinators. Black swallowtail butterflies lay eggs on the leaves, making it both a nectar and host plant.
Resembling a more well-behaved version of Queen Anne’s lace, Golden Alexanders grow about 2 feet tall. They partner beautifully with woodland phlox and other spring-blooming natives.
9. Swamp Milkweed
Unlike its name suggests, this elegant plant doesn’t need soggy soil to thrive in Nebraska gardens. Pink flower clusters emit a sweet vanilla fragrance that draws monarch butterflies from miles away.
As a host plant for monarchs, swamp milkweed provides essential habitat for their caterpillars. The seed pods that follow the flowers create winter interest and split open to release silky-tufted seeds.
10. Prairie Blazing Star
Different from its cousin mentioned earlier, this blazing star variety creates a pollinator paradise in South Dakota gardens. The tightly packed purple flowers form dense spikes that goldfinches visit for both nectar and seeds.
Remarkably drought-tolerant once established, prairie blazing star thrives in poor soils. Plant several in groups for the most dramatic effect and to create a butterfly buffet in mid to late summer.
11. Cardinal Flower
Nothing catches the eye quite like these brilliant red spikes that light up partly shaded spots in Kansas gardens. Hummingbirds become absolutely obsessed with the tubular flowers that perfectly fit their specialized bills.
Cardinal flower appreciates consistent moisture, making it perfect for rain gardens. The intense color stands out dramatically against green foliage and creates stunning combinations with blue lobelia.
12. Wild Lupine
These blue-purple spires create magic in sandy Michigan gardens and serve as the only host plant for endangered Karner blue butterflies. The unique palmate leaves form attractive mounds even when the plant isn’t flowering.
Lupine seeds need cold stratification to germinate successfully. Once established, these spring bloomers create dramatic drifts that pair beautifully with early-season pollinator plants like Golden Alexanders.
13. Rattlesnake Master
Despite its intimidating name, this unusual plant brings architectural interest and pollinator appeal to North Dakota gardens. The spiky, globe-shaped white flowers attract tiny wasps and native bees throughout summer.
Yucca-like blue-gray foliage creates year-round texture in the garden. The distinctive seedheads rattle when dry, giving this prairie native its memorable name while adding winter interest.
14. Prairie Phlox
Spring gardens in Illinois light up when these fragrant pink-purple flowers emerge on slender stems. The five-petaled blooms attract long-tongued butterflies and sphinx moths with their sweet scent and nectar.
Unlike creeping phlox, prairie phlox stands upright at 1-2 feet tall. It naturalizes beautifully in meadow gardens and combines wonderfully with early-blooming native grasses.
15. Compass Plant
Reaching skyward in Wisconsin prairies, these sunflower relatives can grow an impressive 8 feet tall. The giant yellow blooms track the sun throughout the day, giving pollinators a solar-powered feeding station.
Deeply lobed leaves align themselves north-south to minimize water loss, giving the plant its navigational name. The massive taproot can extend 15 feet deep, making established plants extremely drought-resistant.
16. Culver’s Root
Elegant white flower spires create vertical interest in Minnesota rain gardens while attracting a diverse array of pollinators. The candelabra-like blooms feature tiny florets that open from bottom to top, extending the display for weeks.
Growing 3-6 feet tall, Culver’s root combines beautifully with shorter native plants. It’s less aggressive than many prairie plants, making it well-behaved in designed garden spaces.
17. Pale Purple Coneflower
Often overlooked for its more common cousin, this Iowa native offers softer lavender petals that droop elegantly around a copper center cone. Native bees especially love visiting these long-blooming flowers throughout summer.
Growing slightly taller than purple coneflower, this graceful plant sways beautifully in summer breezes. The narrow petals create an airy appearance that contrasts nicely with more substantial garden plants.