Top 10 Flowers that Attract Pollinators
by Ken Lain, the mountain gardener
If you spend enough time sitting on your back porch, you'll notice that a truly healthy garden is never a quiet place. It should be a riot of activity—the low drone of a bumblebee, the frantic zip of a hummingbird, and the silent, graceful flutter of a Painted Lady butterfly. These aren't just visitors; they are your garden's most essential employees.
Pollinators are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. Without them, our vegetable patches would be barren, and our fruit trees would be nothing more than shade. In our mountain climate, providing a consistent source of nectar and pollen is the best way to ensure your landscape thrives.
Here are the top 10 Flowers that turn your yard into the neighborhood's favorite pollinator pit stop.
The name says it all. Bee Balm produces unique, raggedy blooms that look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. It is a member of the mint family, making it incredibly hardy. Bees and hummingbirds find the tubular flowers irresistible. As an added bonus, the foliage has a spicy, citrus scent that deer and rabbits tend to leave alone.
If you want a "one-stop shop" for butterflies, this is it. These shrubs produce long, cone-shaped clusters of flowers that bloom from mid-summer straight through the first frost. At Watters, we prefer the newer, non-invasive varieties like 'Miss Molly' or 'Pugster Blue.' They offer concentrated nectar that acts like a magnet for Monarchs and Swallowtails.
3. Coneflower (Echinacea)
Coneflowers are the workhorses of the summer garden. They are drought and heat tolerant and produce a large, central cone packed with pollen. While humans use Echinacea for immune support, the bees use it for survival. After the petals fade, leave the seed heads standing; goldfinches will visit all winter long to feast on the seeds.
4. Autumn Sage (Salvia greggii)
This is a personal favorite of mine. It is one of the longest-blooming perennials we have. Hummingbirds have a biological "radar" for the color red, and the vibrant blooms of Autumn Sage are like a neon sign for them. It's a woody perennial that thrives in our rocky soil and requires very little water once established.
5. Lavender (Lavandula)
Lavender is a double-win: it smells divine to us, but it's a high-protein feast for honeybees. Because it blooms for an extended period, it provides a steady food source. I recommend the 'Phenomenal' or 'Munstead' varieties for our area. They handle our winter cold and summer dry spells with grace.
6. Zinnia
Not every pollinator plant has to be a perennial. Zinnias are annuals that are incredibly easy to grow from seed. They have flat "landing pad" petals, which are perfect for butterflies that need a place to rest while they drink. They come in every color of the rainbow, making your garden both beautiful and functional.
7. Russian Sage (Perovskia)
When the heat of July hits and other plants start to wilt, Russian Sage is just getting started. Its airy, lavender-blue spires are constantly covered in small bees. It is exceptionally drought-tolerant and provides a beautiful silvery foliage that contrasts perfectly with the deeper greens in your garden.
8. Milkweed (Asclepias)
You cannot talk about pollinators without mentioning the Monarch butterfly. Milkweed is the "host plant" for Monarchs, meaning it's the only place they will lay their eggs. The Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) variety offers stunning orange flowers that thrive in our dry mountain air.
9. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia)
These cheerful, golden flowers are staples of the Arizona garden. They are tough as nails and provide a massive amount of nectar. They tend to bloom later in the season, which is crucial for pollinators building up their energy reserves before winter.
10. Catmint (Nepeta)
If you want a plant that literally "vibrates" with bee activity, plant Catmint. The variety 'Walker's Low' creates a soft mound of grey-green foliage topped with purple flowers. It starts blooming in late spring and, if you shear it back after the first flush, it will bloom again in the fall.
Ken's Pro Tip for Success
#1 When planting for pollinators, try to plant in "drifts." Instead of one single plant, put three or five of the same variety together. This makes it much easier for a bee or butterfly to spot the flowers from the air.
#2 Remember to provide a shallow water source—a simple birdbath with a few stones breaking the surface, so insects can drink without drowning.
Creating a pollinator-friendly garden is one of the most rewarding things you can do as a gardener. It connects you to the rhythm of nature and ensures our local ecosystem remains vibrant and healthy.
Until next week, I'll be helping gardeners attract pollinators to their gardens here at Watters Garden Center.
