Not all pretty flowers are pollinator-friendly—and some popular picks might be doing more harm than good. From double blooms to pesticide-laced hybrids, certain garden favorites can actually confuse, starve, or repel bees and butterflies.
In this guide, we’ll reveal 15 flowers you may want to rethink—and what to plant instead to keep your garden buzzing for the right reasons.
1. Double-Flowered Varieties
Those gorgeous fluffy blooms with layers upon layers of petals might look stunning in your garden, but they’re essentially a dead end for hungry bees. Plant breeders have modified these flowers to convert stamens (pollen-producing parts) into extra petals, creating a prettier flower that offers almost no food.
Pollinators can waste precious energy trying to access nonexistent nectar and pollen. Common examples include double impatiens, double petunias, and many rose varieties. For pollinator support, choose single-flowered varieties that allow easy access to the flower’s center.
2. Neonicotinoid-Treated Plants
Many nursery plants come pre-treated with neonicotinoid pesticides that remain in the plant tissue for months or even years. When pollinators feed on these plants, they ingest small doses of these chemicals which can impair their navigation, foraging abilities, and reproduction.
Unfortunately, garden centers rarely label which plants have been treated. Your best bet is to ask directly or buy from organic nurseries. The most commonly treated plants include roses, rhododendrons, and many annual bedding plants sold at big box stores.
3. Non-Native Salvia Varieties
While native salvias are pollinator powerhouses, many ornamental salvias sold in nurseries have been bred for showy blooms rather than nectar production. Some tropical salvia varieties have flower structures that local pollinators can’t effectively use because their tongues aren’t the right shape or length.
Native bees might struggle with these exotic blooms while expending valuable energy. For maximum benefit, research which salvia species are native to your region rather than opting for the flashiest varieties in the garden center.
4. Hybrid Tea Roses
Modern hybrid tea roses might be the pride of your garden, but they offer little sustenance for pollinators. These perfectly formed blooms have been bred for appearance, fragrance, and disease resistance at the expense of pollen and nectar production.
Many have tight flower structures that make it impossible for bees to access what little food they might contain. Old-fashioned roses and wild rose species are far better choices for supporting local bee populations, with their open, accessible blooms full of nutritious pollen.
5. Tropical Milkweed
Gardeners plant tropical milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) hoping to help monarch butterflies, but it can actually cause harm in many regions. Unlike native milkweeds that die back in winter, tropical varieties stay green year-round in warm climates, disrupting monarch migration patterns and increasing parasite loads.
The protozoan parasite OE builds up on these plants when they don’t experience winter die-back. Plant native milkweed species instead—they’re synchronized with local monarch life cycles and provide proper nutrition without the downsides.
6. Bradford Pear Trees
Bradford pears burst into showy white blooms each spring, but their flowers contain very little nectar and minimal nutritional value for pollinators. Even worse, these ornamental trees have become invasive in many regions, crowding out native flowering trees that would normally support diverse pollinator communities.
The pollen from Bradford pears can also trigger allergic reactions in humans. Consider planting native alternatives like serviceberry, redbud, or dogwood trees that provide abundant, high-quality resources for local insects while adding beautiful spring color.
7. Heavily-Bred Coneflowers
Native purple coneflowers (Echinacea) are pollinator magnets, but many newer cultivars have been dramatically altered for ornamental appeal. Some varieties have been bred to have “double” or “pompom” centers that completely cover the nutritious central cone that bees and butterflies rely on.
Other designer coneflowers produce little to no pollen or have been bred in colors so far from the original that pollinators don’t recognize them as food sources. Stick with simple, single-flowered varieties that closely resemble the wild species for maximum ecological benefit.
8. Lavender Cotton
Despite its appealing name and bright yellow buttons, lavender cotton (Santolina chamaecyparissus) offers very little value to pollinators. The plant contains aromatic oils that actually repel many beneficial insects rather than attracting them.
Gardeners often choose it for its drought tolerance and silver foliage, unaware that it’s contributing almost nothing to local insect populations. For a pollinator-friendly silver-leaved plant, consider native artemisias or yarrows instead, which provide both beautiful foliage and insect-friendly blooms.
9. Modern Hybrid Sunflowers
Wild sunflowers are pollinator paradise, but many modern hybrid varieties have been bred for features that diminish their ecological value. Pollen-free sunflower varieties developed for the cut flower industry provide zero protein for bees, while some ornamental types produce minimal nectar.
Multi-branching, small-flowered varieties might look impressive in the garden but often contain less food per bloom than traditional single-stem types. For maximum pollinator support, choose open-pollinated sunflower varieties or heirloom types that haven’t had their nutritional components bred out.
10. Butterfly Bush
Ironically, butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) isn’t the pollinator superfood many gardeners believe it to be. While its nectar attracts adult butterflies, the plant doesn’t support butterfly reproduction since caterpillars can’t eat its leaves.
In many regions, butterfly bush has become invasive, displacing native plants that would provide complete butterfly habitat. For truly butterfly-friendly gardens, choose native plants like milkweed, asters, and Joe-Pye weed that serve as both nectar sources and larval host plants.
11. Gaillardia Hybrids
Blanket flowers (Gaillardia) in their native form are pollinator favorites, but many modern cultivars have been altered in ways that reduce their value. Some hybrids produce flowers so densely packed with petals that bees can’t access the central disc where nectar and pollen are found.
Others have been bred for unusual color patterns that pollinators don’t recognize as food sources. Look for varieties that maintain an open center and traditional red-orange-yellow color scheme to attract the widest range of beneficial insects to your garden.
12. Pollen-Free Lilies
Pollen-free lilies have been developed to prevent the orange stains that lily pollen can leave on clothing. While this feature appeals to florists and homeowners, it completely eliminates a valuable protein source for bees and other pollinators.
These modified lilies still produce nectar, but without pollen, they provide only half the nutrition pollinators need. For a wildlife-friendly garden, choose traditional lily varieties—just be careful handling the flowers, or grow them in areas where staining isn’t a concern.
13. Begonias
Popular begonias, especially wax begonias and tuberous varieties, offer almost no value to pollinators despite their abundant blooms. Most cultivated begonias produce minimal nectar and pollen, making them essentially decorative from an ecological perspective.
Male begonia flowers contain some pollen, but it’s not particularly nutritious for bees. Their waxy leaves also don’t support any native caterpillar species. If you love begonias, consider balancing them with pollinator-supporting plants like zinnias or native wildflowers in other parts of your garden.
14. Geraniums (Pelargoniums)
The colorful annual “geraniums” (actually Pelargoniums) that fill porch pots each summer provide surprisingly little benefit to pollinators. Their showy blooms contain minimal nectar, and their strong scent actually deters many beneficial insects rather than attracting them.
True hardy geraniums (Geranium species) are much more pollinator-friendly. If you love the look of traditional pelargoniums, consider mixing them with more beneficial plants like sweet alyssum, calibrachoa, or native annuals that will attract bees and butterflies to your container gardens.
15. Impatiens
Standard impatiens that brighten up shady garden spots offer almost nothing to pollinator populations. Their nectar is inaccessible to most native bees, and they produce minimal pollen. The plants have been bred primarily for continuous blooming and bright colors rather than wildlife value.
New Guinea impatiens are slightly better but still not optimal pollinator plants. For shade gardens that support wildlife, consider native alternatives like woodland phlox, foam flower, or cardinal flower that will attract hummingbirds and native bees while thriving in low-light conditions.