A pollinator-friendly yard is a win for your blooms and the environment. Bring more beauty and purpose to your garden with these plants that attract bees and butterflies from spring to fall.

Adding plants that pollinators love to your garden is a great way to support bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds, all while boosting the health and productivity of all your plants. Pollinators are naturally drawn to bright, nectar-rich flowers, especially those that are easy to land on. Mixing different shapes, colours, and bloom times helps ensure there is always something in flower, keeping pollinators coming back.

Here are 10 garden plants that are known to be especially effective.

1. Lavender

Lavender is a classic choice, with hardier varieties available that can grow across Canada. Its fragrant purple blooms are rich in nectar and highly attractive to bees and butterflies. It’s also relatively low-maintenance and thrives in sunny spots, making it a practical option for all skill levels.

2. Coneflower

Coneflowers are another staple in pollinator-friendly planting. Their large, open blooms provide plenty of nectar as well as a vibrant and welcoming landing platform. Once established, they also have fantastic drought tolerance.

3. Milkweed

Milkweed is essential if you want to attract and support monarch butterflies. Not only does it provide a source of nectar, but it is also a host plant for caterpillars, supporting this beautiful butterfly species’ full life cycle.

4. Bee Balm

As the name suggests, bee balm is great for attracting bees, but it also serves as a magnet for butterflies and even hummingbirds. Its tubular flowers come in shades of red, pink, and purple, bringing lovely bursts of colour to your garden as well.

5. Black-Eyed Susan

These bright, daisy-like flowers are both hardy and highly attractive to pollinators. They are particularly popular with bees and butterflies and can easily spread, helping to fill out your garden with minimal effort on your part.

6. Sunflowers

With a large, open face abundant in pollen and nectar, sunflowers are incredibly beneficial for pollinators of all kinds. Plus, their height and size make them an eye-catching addition to any yard. You’ll attract plenty of pollinators and the eyes of passersby as well.

7. Zinnias

Not only are they easy to grow and simple to care for, but zinnias bloom continuously throughout the summer as well. Their bright colours and simple flower structure make them especially appealing to bees and butterflies.

8. Borage

Borage produces pretty, star-shaped blue flowers that are a favourite among bees. Its long blooming time helps provide a consistent source of nectar throughout the growing season as well. This hardy plant is also known for self-seeding, so it often returns year after year with very little effort.

9. Asters

Asters bloom later in the season, which makes then very helpful for pollinators preparing for colder months. The cluster of small, daisy-like flowers also brings a welcome burst of colour to the garden just as summer transitions into fall.

10. Salvia

With their tubular flowers, salvia varieties are well known for their appeal to both bees and hummingbirds. Highly dependable and available in a variety of colours, they make a strong addition to any pollinator garden.

With the right mix of plants, your garden can become a lively and colourful space that supports bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds all growing season long.