Planting For And Identifying Pollinators
by Amanda
One of the most enjoyable aspects of planting a pollinator garden is being able to identify the different butterflies, bees and hummingbirds parading around in spring and summer. To help plan your pollinator garden, we've highlighted a few of our favorite wildflowers, perennials, and flower bulbs that attract pollinators. Plus, you can use these images to identify some of the more common bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds visiting your garden.
1. Identifying Butterflies & Best Flower Varieties For Attracting Butterflies
2. Identifying Bees & Best Flower Varieties For Attracting Bees
3. Identifying Hummingbirds & Best Flower Varieties For Attracting Hummingbirds
Identifying Butterflies
1. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. There are approximately 40 different Swallowtail species in North America and these colorful butterflies are named after the forked appearance of their hind wings.
2. Common Buckeye. This gorgeous butterfly is common throughout the United States, except the Northwest. It prefers open areas with low vegetation.
3. Black Swallowtail. There are approximately 40 different Swallowtail species in North America and these colorful butterflies are named after the forked appearance of their hind wings.
4. Monarch Butterfly. Perhaps one of the most easily identifiable butterflies, the Monarch loves milkweed and is known for its autumn migration from the United States to Mexico.5.
5. Gulf Fritillary. This lovely orange butterfly can be seen in gardens in warmer areas, but can venture up North occasionally.
6. American Painted Lady. Also known as American Lady, this colorful butterfly can be found throughout North America.
The Best Flower Varieties For Attracting Butterflies To Your Garden
Wildflowers To Attract Butterflies
Perennial Plants To Attract Butterflies
![Sensational!™ Lavender, Lavandula x intermedia Sensational!™ with purple flowers]()
Sensational!™ Lavender is an improved, easy-to-grow variety that makes growing lavender accessible to more gardeners than ever! Silvery foliage is topped by large, dense purple flo...
Learn MoreSensational!™ Lavender Sensational!™ Lavender Lavandula x intermedia Sensational!™As low as $11.99 Sale $8.99Per Plant - 3" PotSensational!™ Lavender is an improved, easy-to-grow variety that makes growing lavender accessible to more gardeners than ever! Silvery foliage is topped by large, dense purple flower spikes. With a compact, dense habit and notable durability for sun, heat, and humidity, as well as cold tolerance, Sensational stands apart from many traditional Lavender varieties. A favorite of honeybees, these fragrant flowers will attract a wide range of pollinators. (Lavandula x intermedia)![Eastern Monarch Refuge Plant Collection]()
Our Eastern Monarch Refuge Plant Collection makes it easy to plant beautiful Monarch Butterfly habitat in your garden. Milkweed is the essential host plant for Monarch caterpillars. ...
Learn MoreEastern Monarch Refuge Plant Collection Monarch Refuge Plant Collection for the East$67.99 Sale $50.99Per Collection of 6Our Eastern Monarch Refuge Plant Collection makes it easy to plant beautiful Monarch Butterfly habitat in your garden. Milkweed is the essential host plant for Monarch caterpillars. Joe Pye Weed, Black Eyed Susan, Aster, and Bee Balm offer nectar to adult Monarchs and other pollinators from spring through fall. Resilient native perennials will naturalize, spreading each season to expand the benefit and beauty of your habitat garden.![Phenomenal Lavender, Lavandula x intermedia]()
Phenomenal Lavender has it all: exceptionally tolerant of both high heat and harsh winter, this easy-to-grow lavender even shows resistance to the effects of humidity. Highly fragran...
Learn MorePhenomenal® Lavender Lavender Phenomenal® PP#24193 Lavandula x intermedia Phenomenal PP#24193As low as $11.99 Sale $8.99Per Plant - 3" PotPhenomenal Lavender has it all: exceptionally tolerant of both high heat and harsh winter, this easy-to-grow lavender even shows resistance to the effects of humidity. Highly fragrant with concentrated essential oils, Phenomenal's spikes of purple-blue flowers attract butterflies and bees to the garden. Edible, deer-resistant and fast-growing, this silver-leafed lavender has left all other new introductions in the dust! (Lavandula x intermedia) PP#24193![Monarch Magnet Pre-Planned Garden]()
If you plant our Monarch Magnet Perennial Garden, they will come! This brilliant arrangement includes vital Butterfly Weeds that are the growing Monarch’s only food source, as ...
Learn MoreMonarch Magnet Pre-Planned Garden Monarch Magnet Pre-Planned Garden$175.99 Sale $131.99Per Garden of 18If you plant our Monarch Magnet Perennial Garden, they will come! This brilliant arrangement includes vital Butterfly Weeds that are the growing Monarch’s only food source, as well as six essential nectar plants favored by the adult butterflies. Attract monarchs and bring a vibrant dose of color and beauty to your yard. This Pre-Planned Garden comes with a garden layout map to make planting easy.
Spring Flower Bulbs To Attract Butterflies
![Brilliant Burst Dinner Plate Dahlia Collection]()
The Brilliant Burst Dahlia Collection brings cheerful shades of summery pinks and sunny yellows to the garden. Enormous, dinner plate-sized blooms are petal packed from mid summer un...
Learn MoreBrilliant Burst Dinner Plate Dahlia Collection Brilliant Burst Dinner Plate Dahlia Collection Dinner Plate Dahlia Brillaint Burst Collection$59.99 Sale $44.99Per Collection of 9The Brilliant Burst Dahlia Collection brings cheerful shades of summery pinks and sunny yellows to the garden. Enormous, dinner plate-sized blooms are petal packed from mid summer until frosts arrive. Fast-growing and deer-resistant, dahlias are an easy way to fill garden beds and table vases all summer long.![Happy Single® First Love Dahlia flower close up with pollinator]()
We always remember our first love, and the intense colors and bright blooms of ‚Happy Single® First Love‚ Single Dahlia are just as unforgettable. Deep forest green and ...
Learn MoreHappy Single® First Love Dahlia Happy Single® First Love Dahlia DahliaAs low as $21.32 Sale $15.99Per Bag of 3We always remember our first love, and the intense colors and bright blooms of 'Happy Single® First Love' Single Dahlia are just as unforgettable. Deep forest green and plum-black foliage sets the stage for the 4-inch pale peach flowers, featuring a cherry-red ring surrounding golden centers. 'Happy Single® First Love' features a compact form and striking colorway, making it a coveted addition to colorful gardens and container plantings.![Cafe Au Lait Dinner Plate Dahlia close up flower]()
‚Cafe Au Lait‚ Dinner Plate Dahlia produces large, buttermilk-colored blooms up to 10 across that blush with pink and hints of barely-there latte brown. As the season pro...
Learn MoreCafe Au Lait Dinner Plate Dahlia Café Au Lait Dinner Plate Dahlia Dinner Plate Dahlia Café Au LaitAs low as $21.32 Sale $15.99Per Bag of 3'Cafe Au Lait' Dinner Plate Dahlia produces large, buttermilk-colored blooms up to 10 across that blush with pink and hints of barely-there latte brown. As the season progresses and the flowers mature, expect more delicious color variations to appear. Excellent as a cut flower, 'Cafe Au Lait' is hugely popular in wedding bouquets and arrangements. Prefers full sun. (Dahlia)![Pink Jowey Frambo Ball Dahlia, Ball Dahlia Jowey Frambo]()
Jowey Frambo Ball Dahlia brings showers of hot pink flowers to the midsummer garden. Cheerful and packed with personality, these bright spherical blooms will keep your gardens summer...
Learn MoreJowey Frambo Ball Dahlia Jowey Frambo Ball Dahlia Ball Dahlia Jowey FramboAs low as $22.65 Sale $16.99Per Bag of 3Jowey Frambo Ball Dahlia brings showers of hot pink flowers to the midsummer garden. Cheerful and packed with personality, these bright spherical blooms will keep your gardens summers colors fresh and fun. Like all Ball Dahlias, these are great cut flowers that bloom until the first frost. For a flower that always makes you smile, there is nothing better than Jowey Frambo Ball Dahlia.
Identifying Bees
- Western Honey Bee. There are approximately 40 species of Honey Bees. The Western Honey Bee (or European Honey Bee) is the most common species.
- Bumble Bee. The Bumble Bee is found mostly in the Northern Hemisphere and there are over 250 species. The soft hair that makes these bees so easily distinguishable (and fuzzy) is called pile.
The Best Flower Varieties For Attracting Bees To Your Garden
Wildflowers To Attract Bees
Perennial Plants To Attract Bees
![Sensational!™ Lavender, Lavandula x intermedia Sensational!™ with purple flowers]()
Sensational!™ Lavender is an improved, easy-to-grow variety that makes growing lavender accessible to more gardeners than ever! Silvery foliage is topped by large, dense purple flo...
Learn MoreSensational!™ Lavender Sensational!™ Lavender Lavandula x intermedia Sensational!™As low as $11.99 Sale $8.99Per Plant - 3" PotSensational!™ Lavender is an improved, easy-to-grow variety that makes growing lavender accessible to more gardeners than ever! Silvery foliage is topped by large, dense purple flower spikes. With a compact, dense habit and notable durability for sun, heat, and humidity, as well as cold tolerance, Sensational stands apart from many traditional Lavender varieties. A favorite of honeybees, these fragrant flowers will attract a wide range of pollinators. (Lavandula x intermedia)![Eastern Monarch Refuge Plant Collection]()
Our Eastern Monarch Refuge Plant Collection makes it easy to plant beautiful Monarch Butterfly habitat in your garden. Milkweed is the essential host plant for Monarch caterpillars. ...
Learn MoreEastern Monarch Refuge Plant Collection Monarch Refuge Plant Collection for the East$67.99 Sale $50.99Per Collection of 6Our Eastern Monarch Refuge Plant Collection makes it easy to plant beautiful Monarch Butterfly habitat in your garden. Milkweed is the essential host plant for Monarch caterpillars. Joe Pye Weed, Black Eyed Susan, Aster, and Bee Balm offer nectar to adult Monarchs and other pollinators from spring through fall. Resilient native perennials will naturalize, spreading each season to expand the benefit and beauty of your habitat garden.![Phenomenal Lavender, Lavandula x intermedia]()
Phenomenal Lavender has it all: exceptionally tolerant of both high heat and harsh winter, this easy-to-grow lavender even shows resistance to the effects of humidity. Highly fragran...
Learn MorePhenomenal® Lavender Lavender Phenomenal® PP#24193 Lavandula x intermedia Phenomenal PP#24193As low as $11.99 Sale $8.99Per Plant - 3" PotPhenomenal Lavender has it all: exceptionally tolerant of both high heat and harsh winter, this easy-to-grow lavender even shows resistance to the effects of humidity. Highly fragrant with concentrated essential oils, Phenomenal's spikes of purple-blue flowers attract butterflies and bees to the garden. Edible, deer-resistant and fast-growing, this silver-leafed lavender has left all other new introductions in the dust! (Lavandula x intermedia) PP#24193![Mini Pollinator Pit Stop Plant Collection]()
Give bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds what they need with our Mini Pollinator Pit Stop Plant Collection. Compact varieties of Butterfly Weed, Bee Balm, and Salvia are ideal for...
Learn MoreMini Pollinator Pit Stop Plant Collection Mini Pollinator Pit Stop Plant Collection$26.65 Sale $19.99Per Collection of 3Give bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds what they need with our Mini Pollinator Pit Stop Plant Collection. Compact varieties of Butterfly Weed, Bee Balm, and Salvia are ideal for small-space gardens and patio planters, supplying a consistent supply of nectar. A mix of popular, easy-to-grow perennials, these showy pollinator plants will delight with bright colors for years to come. Collection of 3.
Identifying Hummingbirds
1. Broad-Tailed Hummingbird. This small Hummingbird is extremely adaptable and can be found in a range of habitats. The Broad-Tailed Hummingbird migrates to Mexico for the winter.
2. Black-Chinned Hummingbird. This gorgeous butterfly is common throughout the United States, except the Northwest. It prefers open areas with low vegetation.
3. Rufous Hummingbird. This delightfully colorful Hummingbird is a smaller species and is known to nest in Northern areas all the way up in to Alaska, often staying on the West Coast of the country.
4. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. A woodland dweller often found in forests, this Hummingbird is very territorial and makes its way to Mexico for the winter.
The Best Flower Varieties For Attracting Hummingbirds To Your Garden
Wildflowers To Attract Hummingbirds
Perennial Plants To Attract Hummingbirds
![Jacob Cline Bee Balm, Monarda didyma Jacob Cline with Hummingbird]()
‚Jacob Cline‚ Monarda is a colorfully vibrant, mildew-resistant variety of the cherished Bee Balm plant. Loved by both gardeners and hummingbirds, crimson red crown-shape...
Learn MoreJacob Cline Bee Balm Jacob Cline Bee Balm, Bergamot Monarda didyma Jacob ClineAs low as $10.65 Sale $7.99Per Plant - 3" Pot'Jacob Cline' Monarda is a colorfully vibrant, mildew-resistant variety of the cherished Bee Balm plant. Loved by both gardeners and hummingbirds, crimson red crown-shaped blooms appear on tall, herbaceous plants in mid summer. Its fragrant foliage and tolerance of pests, mildew and clay soils make 'Jacob Cline' a true favorite in the perennial bed. Deer resistant. (Monarda)![Mini Pollinator Pit Stop Plant Collection]()
Give bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds what they need with our Mini Pollinator Pit Stop Plant Collection. Compact varieties of Butterfly Weed, Bee Balm, and Salvia are ideal for...
Learn MoreMini Pollinator Pit Stop Plant Collection Mini Pollinator Pit Stop Plant Collection$26.65 Sale $19.99Per Collection of 3Give bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds what they need with our Mini Pollinator Pit Stop Plant Collection. Compact varieties of Butterfly Weed, Bee Balm, and Salvia are ideal for small-space gardens and patio planters, supplying a consistent supply of nectar. A mix of popular, easy-to-grow perennials, these showy pollinator plants will delight with bright colors for years to come. Collection of 3.![Royal Catchfly, Silene regia]()
A showy prairie native for tough soils, Royal Catchfly brings bright red to the garden or meadow palette. Standing tall with starry scarlet flowers, they are highly attractive to rub...
Learn MoreRoyal Catchfly Royal Catchfly Silene regia$15.99 Sale $11.99Per Plant - 3" PotA showy prairie native for tough soils, Royal Catchfly brings bright red to the garden or meadow palette. Standing tall with starry scarlet flowers, they are highly attractive to ruby-throated hummingbirds and black swallowtail butterflies. Tiny white hairs softly coat lanceolate leaves, giving Royal Catchfly a downy appearance and creating contrast for mid-to-late summer flowers. (Silene regia)![Northern Exposure™ Lime Coral Bells]()
Northern Exposure™ ‚Lime‚ Coral Bells is a showstopper, and the dazzle is only beginning with its citrus-hued foliage. Lemon-lime leaves light up shade and sunny garden...
Learn MoreNorthern Exposure™ Lime Coral Bells Northern Exposure™ Lime Coral Bells PP#29162 Heuchera 'TNHEUNEL' PP#29162As low as $18.65 Sale $13.99Per Plant - 3" PotNorthern Exposure™ 'Lime' Coral Bells is a showstopper, and the dazzle is only beginning with its citrus-hued foliage. Lemon-lime leaves light up shade and sunny gardens alike, forming low-growing mounds that complement neighboring plants. In late spring and early summer, spires of rust-red bell-shaped blooms add to the show, floating on wiry stems to attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. This knockout perennial is exceptionally cold hardy, too. (Heuchera)
Whether you're planting in containers on a balcony or have a lot of land to work with, there are endless options to help our disappearing pollinator population through gardening.
