Make your garden irresistible to pollinators—bees, sure, but also butterflies and hummingbirds—by planting these spring and summer flowers.
Johanna Silver
1 /22Chris Leschinsky
Echium candicans
Big, mounding Pride of Madeira shrubs (Echium candicans) serve as absolute magnets for honeybees. While their large span aren’t ideally suitable for containers, their purple blooms and poor soil tolerance make them a great pick for both front and backyard gardens.
2 /22Mark Turner
Aster x frikartii
In early summer to fall, butterflies often sun as they sip on these daisylike blooms. Perennial; full sun.
3 /22Doreen L. Wynja
Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii)
Slender cones of flowers in spring and summer. Evergreen or deciduous; sun to light shade.
4 /22Doreen L. Wynja
Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Slender cones of flowers in spring and summer. Evergreen or deciduous; sun to light shade.
5 /22Mark Turner
Fennel
Airy umbrellas of yellow florets in summer also attract bees. Annual or perennial; full sun.
6 /22Linda Lamb Peters
Lantana
Tiny flowers in tight clusters all year in mild climates. Evergreen shrub (annual in colder climate); full sun.
7 /22Linda Lamb Peters
Bee balm (Monarda)
Clusters of long-tubed flowers in summer also attract hummingbirds. Perennial; sun, or light shade in hottest climates.
8 /22Kimberley Navabpour
Borage (Borago officinalis)
Star-shaped flowers appear in summer. Annual; sun or partial shade.
9 /22GAP Photos Ltd.
Oregano
Draws bees and hummingbirds as long as you let the plants flower. Perennial herb; sun or partial shade.
10 /22Ernest Kucklich
Sunflower
Bright and bold, they’re beacons for honeybees. Be sure to choose pollen-bearing varieties. Annual; full sun.
11 /22Andrea Gómez Romero
Sweet alyssum
Honey-scented blooms are, of course, a natural for bees. Annual; full sun or light shade.
12 /22Linda Lamb Peters
Alstroemeria
Summer blossoms are great for bouquets, but leave a few on the plant for hummingbirds. Perennial; sun (afternoon shade in hot climates).
13 /22David Dixon / Getty Images
Lion’s tail (Leonotis leonurus)
Tubular flowers with furry coats cluster along stems in summer and fall. Evergreen shrub; full sun.
14 /22Charles Mann
Penstemon
Blooms come in many colors, from deep purple to blue, red, and pink. Perennial; partial shade in hottest climates.
15 /22PlantHaven
Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia)
Flowering stems resemble glowing torches—or pokers (hence the name). Perennial; sun or part shade.
16 /22Kimberley Navabpour
Salvia
Among our favorites, pineapple sage (S. elegans) produces red blooms in early fall and S. ‘Indigo Spires’, deep blue in summer; both are perennials. Sun.
17 /22Jeffery Cross
Lavender
Fragrant flowers all year in mild climates. Evergreen shrub (annual in colder climates).
18 /22Jeffery Cross
Gloriosa daisy
Rudbeckia hirta flowers in shades of yellow, bronze, and deep red; most have knobby brown centers. Short-lived perennial or biennial.
19 /22Jeffery Cross
Pincushion flower
Blue, pink, or white Scabiosa flowers resemble pincushions filled with needles. Annuals and perennials.
20 /22Jeffery Cross
Blanket flower
Daisylike Gaillardia blooms come in red, yellow, and bronze hues. G. x grandiflora ‘Frenzy’ is pictured. Perennial.
21 /22Jeffery Cross
Coneflower
The daisylike blossoms of Echinacea (a.k.a. coneflowers), in pinks, yellows, oranges, or white, have domed centers. Perennial.
22 /22Jeffery Cross
Yarrow
Achillea clusters of yellow, salmon, lavender, red, or white make ideal landing pads for butterflies. Perennial.