Plant these 15 best flowers to attract hummingbirds to your garden - so you can help support their populations, and enjoy the company!
Beautiful perennial and annual plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Trusty and easy to grow varieties the creatures love!
Butterfly Garden Design Helpful hits Asclepias or Butterfly weed is the host plant for monarch butterflies. If it growns native in your area, allow it to naturalize Spring flowering shrubs such as Azaleas adn Rhododendrons attract hummingbirds to your garden early in the season. Plant Butterfly garden near a wild area or nearby a collection of shrubs and trees so […]
Read along to learn about the top 23 plants for pollinators to add to your garden that will attract bees, butterflies, and hummingirds!
Want to learn how to attract hummingbirds to your garden? This guide will show you which flowers and feeders work best!
Attract hummingbirds while adding beauty to your garden when you plant one or all of these gorgeous flowers in your garden!
Create a butterfly- and bird-friendly landscape with these garden plans. Each design includes a mix of plants that can provide nectar, seeds, and shelter to wildlife. Add a water source to further enhance the habitat.
A flower garden is a great way to add life to your backyard. Make sure to try out some of the flowers we suggested to attract butterflies and hummingbirds!
Growing just a few select types of flowers in your yard and gardens will draw in masses of butterflies. Appropriate for in-ground and container gardens.
This post contains a list of flowers that attract butterflies but not bees. If you live in the UK, there are ten different species of...
Spring has finally dropped into our laps. So if you haven’t already begun, it’s time to start thinking about planting for your local pollinators. The best way to do this is to think like a bee. Or butterfly. Or hummingbird. Stop thinking like a person who wants to share a bunch of over the top garden pics on the instawebs. That’s not what a pollinator would do. I know it’s fun to get your seed catalogs and order crazy, exotic flower varieties that you’ve never heard of. And then landscape your garden space to the point of a deeply disturbing and unhealthy obsession. Stop that. You have to refocus this enthusiasm into a “What would the butterflies appreciate” mentality. Special shoutout to our friend Amy Prentice for the bee-utiful photos in this blog post. Amy is a gardening and nature photography buff. She gardens in a small suburban backyard in Northeastern Oklahoma (AKA Green Country). Follow Amy on Instagram and read some of her guest blog posts on our website. HOW TO START PLANNING YOUR FLOWER GARDEN Begin with looking locally. It only makes sense that you would plant varieties native to your region to attract local species, right? These species have all evolved to rely on these specific plants. The plants are acclimated to your soil and climate conditions, so it takes less effort to keep them alive and healthy (in theory). It is also best to avoid the “onesie-twosie” planting method, and instead work on planting in clumps. You want your pollinators to take notice of your garden as they go zooming on by. I’m looking at the bees specifically. An additional way of grabbing their attention is to use the colors they love. White, blue, violet, purple and yellow are colors that attract them the most. And speaking of “yellow” and “attracting bees”, you can always throw up a couple big ol’ sunflowers to draw them in. They’re sure to please. HUMMINGBIRDS Speaking of color, more reds are your friend if you want the hummingbirds to hang around. They recognize red flowers as a great source for their nectar needs and will seek them out above others. Here are some fine choices of flowers to plant for our tiny, zippy friends: Begonias Petunias Hollyhock Scarlet beebalm Columbine Coral bells Geraniums Cosmos Trumpet vine (aka, hummingbird vine) and trumpet honeysuckle are also strong favorites, though the vine may be something to carefully consider before planting. They can easily dominate EVERYTHING if not kept in check. So be prepared, unless you’re already an ultra-vigilant gardener. And remember, when it comes to color in your garden, “You have red on you” is a good thing! (Sorry, really wanted to wedge in that “Shaun of the Dead” reference). Read more about choosing the correct plants for attracting hummingbirds for your location on Hummingbird-guide.com. BUTTERFLIES If you want to attract butterflies, you're in luck! Their goal is the same as our friend the hummingbird: nectar. The list above comprises great choices for butterflies, as well. In addition to those: Asters (any bright variety) Joe-Pye weed Lantana Goldenrod Cornflower, aka Bachelor’s Button Read more about choosing the correct plants for your location on the North American Butterfly Association’s website. They have a list of plants chosen by butterfly gardeners specific to your location. And if you want these beautiful butterflies, you need to plant for their other phases too. Oh that awkward teenage larval stage! Caterpillars need a place to flourish and thrive so they came become beautiful butterflies. To do that, just as every parent knows, they need to eat. And EAT they will! Among the faves of caterpillars: Violets Dill Parsley Asters Milkweed The host plants you put in will be munched upon (if not completely decimated) by the caterpillars. But you can roll with it. What, do you want emaciated caterpillar larve? Let ‘em eat! By the way, if you are hoping for Monarchs to show, milkweed is the only thing that Monarch caterpillars will eat. Picky like that. And on that topic, it is helpful to find out who your regional pollinators are. This is who you are planting for. There’s no point in preparing a place at the dinner table for a guest who is never gonna show, correct? Reasonable expectations go a long way in a pollinator garden you’ll enjoy. On the plus side, the majority of North America is within the Monarch butterfly’s migration zone! NATIVE BEES Have you ever considered being a landlord? Specifically to a lovely group of hard working pollinator ladies? It’s easier than you’d think. All you have to do is leave a dead tree standing. Dead, decaying trees make a great nesting location for native bees. If a whole tree is too much to swing, a large dead branch, a small brush pile or even a bundle of twigs will suffice. The bees will thank you for putting a roof over their wee-tiny heads! If your bees don’t mind living in a rotten tree stump, that’s because they have no taste. Literally. Bees have very few taste genes. And that’s a perfect segue into talking about supporting your local bee's search for nutrients. Despite their lack of taste genes, bees know the minerals that the hive is deficient in. This can vary throughout the year, dependent on what they are taking in from their current floral selection. Consider placing a dish or birdbath basin on the ground and have some compost, turned soil, and sea salt mixed into the dirt surrounding. This should give the bees a nice variety of micronutrients. Plus the bees will have a reliable source for water. Don’t worry if the water isn’t completely clean, bees can cope with that. Just make sure it doesn’t stand too long during mosquito season. Also, make sure there are edges or items floating in the water (corks, wood pieces, etc) for the bees to perch on as they drink. Don’t want these ladies drowning, do we? Another thing to consider regarding your bees would be “double” flowers. These are flowers that have been genetically modified to look bigger and more robust. They achieve this feat by converting the stamens into additional pedals. This is great if you love to look at flowers, because the flower is now tricked into staying open longer waiting for pollination. If you’re a bee, though, this sucks. The stamens are where the bees collect their pollen from. While there may be a couple stamens in a double flower, they’re so obscured by petals that it is impossible for the bees. And that’s the same problem that butterflies and hummingbirds would encounter too. The nectaries (where the nectar is produced in a flower) are buried underneath petals so these pollinators don’t stand a chance. Play it safe, and stick with the heirlooms. These are just a few of things to consider when constructing your pollinator garden. Don’t get bogged down following every rule or trying to construct the ultimate environment. If you have limited funds, space, or time, consider planting a handful of mixed wildflower seeds. Use whatever ground space is available to you. Every bit of help for our hard-working and dwindling pollinator population receives is appreciated. They are vital to our healthy ecosystem, and least we can do is say “thanks” with some flowers. Pollinators are great for your vegetable and fruit gardens too. Plant flowers for your pollinator friends and reap more rewards in your garden. And if you decide to preserve some of your garden fresh produce, adorn your jars with our new custom Watercolor Butterfly canning labels. These vibrant mason jar labels have bees, butterflies, and flowers, oh my! Floral stickers print with your text and make great gifts for canners and gardeners. These pollinator-friendly labels also come in a blank version so you can handwrite your own text. A large monarch butterfly is the focal point of these bee-utiful floral mason jar stickers. These labels add a nice handmade touch to jam and jelly jars or herbal remedies in your apothecary. ADDITIONAL READING: The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation helps protect many species including pollinators by providing research and resources. Their Pollinator Conservation Program has many resources for conservation and establishing pollinator habitats. Their Endangered Species Conservation has information on species including identification guides. Learn more about Reducing Pesticide Use & Impacts to protect our vulnerable pollinators. Learn more about protecting pollinators with the Pollinator Partnership. This non-profit is dedicated to the protection and promotion of our pollinator friends and their ecosystems. Read our other Honey Blog Posts including Printable Honey Bee Coloring Pages, The Honey Laundering Scandal, & our Book Review for “Robbing the Bees: A Biography of Honey”. Interested in honey and beekeeping? Follow our Buzzin About Honey Board on Pinterest! Sign up for our newsletter to get free printables, gardening tips, recipes, product updates, & a 10% off coupon on your first order of canning labels in our shop.
Butterfly gardens are a beautiful and easy way to attract a variety of winged visitors to your backyard. They provide a peaceful and colorful environment, and help support local butterfly populations.
Learn How To Attact Pollinators to Your Gardens - It's an easy and responsible way to take care of your little corner of the earth.
My mother loves hummingbirds, so for Mother’s Day, I added plants and a hummingbird perch to her garden that will create habitat for the bejeweled birds.
When planting with hummingbirds in mind, consider these plants that are striking garden specimens, as well optimal resources for our favorite summer birds.
Looking for ways to bring more hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies to your garden? Learn how to design a pollinator garden with native plants by following these simple tips.
Here are our top tips and favorite plants for attracting hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Then keeping them happy in your garden.
How to entice pollinators to your garden
Have you always wanted to enjoy butterflies in your garden? Read How to Plant a Butterfly Garden for some great ideas on how to keep them coming back!
This list of gorgeous beautiful flowers will attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden this year.
Attract hummingbirds while adding beauty to your garden when you plant one or all of these gorgeous flowers in your garden!
This list of gorgeous beautiful flowers will attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden this year.
Beautiful perennial and annual plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Trusty and easy to grow varieties the creatures love!
Looking to bring in more hummingbirds? This simple five-plant garden plan will be sure to turn your garden into a hummingbird hot spot!
Beautiful perennial and annual plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Trusty and easy to grow varieties the creatures love!
Beautiful perennial and annual plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Trusty and easy to grow varieties the creatures love!
This post contains a list of flowers that attract butterflies but not bees. If you live in the UK, there are ten different species of...
Butterflies are pretty but they are also pollinators that can help your garden thrive! Here's how to attract butterflies to your yard.
Looking to bring in more hummingbirds? This simple five-plant garden plan will be sure to turn your garden into a hummingbird hot spot!
Want to attract hummingbirds to your garden? Find out how to provide the food, water and shelter that will get these pretty birds to visit your yard.
See our list of 26 show-stopping plants that attract hummingbirds in droves to your garden all summer long.
How to plant, grow, and care for delphinium perennial flowers from The Old Farmer's Almanac. Flowering all summer, delphiniums are butterfly and hummingbird magnets, too!
Want to attract more birds, bees and butterflies to your yard? Check out these 5 gorgeous perennials that will bring pollinators calling!
Hummingbirds, those tiny, beautiful birds that can fly up to about 60 miles per hour, are a joy to watch. They love the color red and will often hover in front of it before darting
To create a butterfly garden, including the plants they're drawn to is the secret to success. For a butterfly, plants like these are irresistible.
These annuals, hanging plants, perennials, bushes and vines are the best hummingbird plants to attract those pretty birds to your garden.
Use some of these 32 hummingbird flowers to create an amazing hummingbird habitat in your backyard. NATIVE, COMMON, and EASY TO GROW!
Ditch the messy refills & attract stunning hummingbirds! Discover 7 easy-to-grow hummingbird flowers they can't resist, turning your yard into a buzzing oasis of nectar & vibrant life. Click to create your hummingbird haven!
Butterflies are pretty but they are also pollinators that can help your garden thrive! Here's how to attract butterflies to your yard.
The best and worst flowers for attracting pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to your garden.
Butterflies are a wonderful sight. This list of 29 beautiful plants that attract butterflies (with photos) will bring them into your garden.
Want to learn how to attract hummingbirds to your garden? This guide will show you which flowers and feeders work best!
