Gardening Garden Design Nature Lovers' Gardening The Best Nectar Plants for Pollinators By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on July 8, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Create a pollinator-friendly garden by choosing at least three nectar plants that will bloom throughout as many seasons as possible. Single-petal flowers are easiest for bees, hummingbirds, and other pollinators to reach. Double-petal varieties are showier, but offer less nectar and accessible pollen. Try these nectar-rich flowers to keep hummingbirds, bees and other pollinators coming to your yard. 01 of 10 Torch Lily Torch lilies (Kniphofia spp.) add unique texture and color to the garden, and also provide food for pollinators. This flowering perennial—also known as red-hot poker—produces nectar throughout the hottest days of summer. Exceptionally easy to grow, with a wide hardiness range, red hot poker is a great addition to any full-sun planting spot. 02 of 10 Bee Balm A magnet for pollinators, this fragrant perennial blooms from early to late summer. Bee balm (Monarda spp.) is low maintenance and deer resistant. Snip off spent flowers to encourage reblooming. Check out more flowers that bees love. 03 of 10 Lavender Randall Schieber Lavender (Lavandula spp.) attracts all sorts of pollinators, but honeybees have a special affinity for the fragrant herb's nectar and pollen. Plant lavender in large patches for a romantic, delicate look. This classic garden plant also helps with erosion control, making it a great choice for sloped beds. 04 of 10 Spider Flower Try spider flower (Cleome hassleriana) for a dramatic burst of color. Ever-reliable, this annual blooms in full sun to part shade. Remove spent flowers before seedpods form, or let the plants self-sow. 05 of 10 Salvia A large group of perennial salvias (Salvia spp.) will attract bees galore. Faithfully deadheading plants prompts more flowering. This tall garden plant is drought tolerant and adds lovely fragrance to the garden. Get your guide to growing salvias here. 06 of 10 Catmint Catmint's (Nepeta spp.) show of blooms tends to reach its peak color just as most of the spring bulbs are finishing, but before many of your summer perennials begin to bloom, easily filling in some color during that seasonal transition. This tough perennial herb excels in hot, dry weather. Plant it in full sun and well-draining soil at the garden's edge. Follow this easy garden plant to attract birds and butterflies. 07 of 10 Beardtongue Beardtongue (Penstemon spp.) is a gorgeous native plant that gives pollinators the nectar they're looking for. The tubular flowers come in a variety of colors and bloom at various times. Penstemons attract hummingbirds in particular. Check out long-blooming perennials like penstemon. 08 of 10 Fuschia An ideal plant for hanging baskets, wall pots, and other containers in shaded locations, fuschia (Fuschia spp.) blooms feature two layers of petals—often in different colors—and long stamens. Tender and hardy varieties prove spectacular. 09 of 10 Anise Hyssop This upright perennial herb grows easily from seeds or seedlings in Zones 4–10 and self-sows freely. Anise hyssop (Agastache foenicullum) is heat- and drought-tolerant, and attract birds. Its scent marries licorice and mint. Attract butterflies to your garden with these plants. 10 of 10 Thyme Thyme (Thymus spp.) is a go-to option for attracting pollinators. This large group of herbs includes groundcovers and upright plants. Harvesting thyme throughout the growing season promotes new growth. Grow thyme and other herbs in a strawberry planter. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit