Plants for Pollinator Gardens

NOTE: Bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, and hummingbirds all pollinate plants in Maine. To support diverse pollinators, try to:

  1. Buy locally grown, pesticide-free native and non-invasive plants.
  2. Provide at least 3-5 species of flowers in each season, that display a variety of size, color, height and flower shape (tubular, flat, etc.).
  3. Plant in clumps, which attract more pollinators than single plants.
  4. Plant tubular-flowered plants in the Mint Family (oregano, catmint, sage, lavender, etc) and flat-flowered plants in the Aster Family (sunflower and other “daisies”) offer good resources to pollinators.

T=tree; S=Shrub; P=Herbaceous Perennial; A=Annual; N=Native

Spring (April, May):
Amelanchier species some N Serviceberry T
Caltha palustris N Marsh Marigold P
Crocus sativus Crocus P
Malus hybrids Crabapple T
Photinia (Aronia) melanocarpa N Black Chokeberry S
Prunus tomentosa Nanking Cherry S
Pulmonaria species Lungwort P
Salix species Willow T
Vaccinium species some N Blueberry, Cranberry S
Viola species some N Viola, Pansy
Early Summer (June):
Allium species Flowering Onion
Antirrhinum majus Snapdragon A
Aquilegia species some N Columbine P
Cornus alternifolia N Pagoda Dogwood T
Cornus racemosa N Gray Dogwood S
Cornus sericea N Red Osier S
Crataegus crus-galli N Cockspur Hawthorn T
Dianthus species PinksP
Dicentra spectabilis Japanese Bleedingheart P
Digitalis purpurea Foxglove P
Fuchsia x hybrida Fuchsia A
Heuchera sanguinea Coralbells P
Ilex verticillata N Winterberry S
Prunus species some N Cherry T
Sambucus nigra N Elderberry S
Midsummer (July):
Asclepias species some N Milkweed, Butterflyweed P
Chelone glabra N White Turtlehead P
Cleome hasslerana Spiderflower A
Clethra alnifolia N Summersweet S
Dasiphora (Potentilla) fruticosa N Shrubby Cinquefoil S
Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflower P
Eutrochium Eupatorium maculatum N Joe Pye Weed P
Gladiolus x hortulanus Gladiolus A
Ipomoea purpurea Morning Glory A
Liatris species some N Gayfeather P
Lobelia cardinalis N Cardinal Flower P
Monarda species some N Beebalm and Bergamot P
Nicotiana alata Flowering Tobacco A
Penstemon digitalis N Beardtongue P
Petunia x hybrida Petunia A
Phaseolus coccineus Scarlet Runner Bean A
Rhus typhina N Staghorn Sumac T
Rosa species some N Rose S
Rudbeckia species some N Yellow Coneflower P
Spiraea species some N Spirea, Meadowsweet S
Cosmos bipinnatus Pink Cosmos A
Helianthus annuus Sunflower A
Salvia species Salvia, Sage A and P
Tagetes patula French Marigold A
Tropaeolum majus Nasturtium A
Zinnia elegans Zinnia A
Late Summer (August-September):
Aster, Eurybia, Doellingeria some N Aster P
Delphinium elatum Delphinium P
Eupatorium perfoliatum Boneset Thoroughwort P
Gentiana clausa N Bottle Gentian
Lobelia siphilitica N Blue Lobelia
Monarda fistulosa N Wild Bergamot P
Physostegia virginiana N Obedient Plant P
Solidago species some N Goldenrod P

From the GardenPro Answer Book; revised and updated by Lois Berg Stack, Ornamental Horticulture Specialist, University of Maine Cooperative Extension.