Baptisia australis
Wild Blue Indigo

An herbaceous perennial with short spikes of indigo-blue, sweet pea-like flowers and dense, blue-green foliage. Flowers give way to attractive seed pods by early summer. Rock solid, drought resistant. Stunning as a cut flower. Plant in full sun. Hardy to Zone 4.

Foliage is favored by several caterpillar species. Attracts both bees and butterflies.

Dicentra
Bleeding Heart

A darling of the shade garden. Poetically and aptly named, these plants are heavy with pollen-rich flowers that seem to drip from the stems. The vivid foliage of ‘Goldheart’ or lacy leaves of ‘Valentine’ can be used for contrast and texture in a shade garden. Hardy to Zone: 3. Plant in shade to part sun.

Native bees and honeybees are attracted to this plant.

Polemonium
Jacob’s Ladder

Many pollinators swarm for blooms with bell-shaped flowers that hint at nectar inside. Jacob’s Ladder produces sweet little blue blooms where little bees fit just right. The variety, ‘Stairway to Heaven’ is particularly interesting with green and cream variegated leaves that acquire a pink tinge in direct sunlight or cool weather. Plant in shade or part sun. Hardy to Zone 4.

Attracts bees, hummingbirds, and hoverflies.

Paeonia tenuifolia
Fernleaf Peony

The redolent scent of peonies is a “come hither” lure for pollinators letting them know there’s yummy pollen and sweet nectar hidden inside those pretty petals. This one’s among earliest hybrid peonies to bloom! The open petals with huge clusters of pollen-rich, golden stamens make for easy pickings. Plant in full sun. Hardy to Zone 3.

Attracts bees, moths, hummingbirds

Baptisia australis
Wild Blue Indigo

An herbaceous perennial with short spikes of indigo-blue, sweet pea-like flowers and dense, blue-green foliage. Flowers give way to attractive seed pods by early summer. Rock solid, drought resistant. Stunning as a cut flower. Plant in full sun. Hardy to Zone 4.

Foliage is favored by several caterpillar species. Attracts both bees and butterflies.

Nepeta

Low growing and blanketed in pale purple blooms, nepeta has a long bloom time and is extremely low maintenance, drought resistant and salt tolerant. Plant in part-sun to sun. ‘Walker’s Low’ is a gardener’s standby while ‘Little Titch’is a more compact variety which offers more controlled growth and a tidier habit.

Attracts butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

Monarda
Bee Balm

With little, tubular flower parts, Bee Balm is a favorite of not just bees, but butterflies and hummingbirds, too, who are specialized to extract nectar and pollen from narrow flower parts. Bee balm is easy to grow, and it multiplies quickly. The aromatic foliage smells like mint when crushed and is often used to flavor teas. Deer resistant. Plant in full sun.

Echinacea
Coneflower

Coneflowers are a must have for any Minnesota garden. Choose from pinks, yellows, oranges, reds, and whites, and, in the case of Cheyenne Spirit, one container has a mix of colors! Coneflowers are super easy care as long as they are grown in full sun conditions and well-drained soil. Grow Echinacea pallida and Echinacea purpurea to tap into our native roots.

Coneflowers are the perfect landing spot for bees and butterflies who are able to collect pollen and nectar from the center of each flower. Seed pods create winter interest in the garden and a food source for overwintering songbirds. Plant in full sun.

Achillea
Yarrow

Yarrow is among the best perennials for planting in sunny, hot, and dry locations. Available in a variety of colors including yellow, pinks, corals, and whites Ferny foliage adds softness and grace to any full sun garden. Excellent for cut flower arrangements both fresh and dried. Deadhead faded flowers regularly to promote continued blooming. Achillea do spread, so give them space. Easily divided in fall or early spring. Trim back hard after the first flush of bloom, to maintain a compact habit. Salt tolerant and deer resistant. Plant in full sun.

Bees and butterflies will visit Achillea throughout the season.

Salvia

Not one person nor pollinator can resist Salvia. Spikes of violet-blue, purple or pink flowers are amazing in mass. After the first flush of blooms, cut back spent flower spikes to encourage a second flush of blooms. Use fresh or dried cut flower in arrangements. Deer resistant. We love the dark-purple stems of ‘Cardadonna’ and the giant, pink flower spikes of ‘Rose Marvel’. Plant in full sun.

Tiny bees love Salvia.

Allium
Ornamental Onion

Thin dark-green leaves provide a dramatic backdrop for lavender-purple flower clusters atop strong, dark stems. ‘Windy City’ is a compact variety great for small spaces. Gorgeous as a cut flower – cut or dried. Deer resistant. Plant in full to part sun.

Alliums drive bees crazy. Plant in mass for a buzz of activity.

Rudbeckia

A traditional and fuss-free garden standard that blooms later summer into the fall. An amazing addition to cut flower arrangements. Daisy-like, golden yellow flowers with black centers cover dark green foliage. Tolerates heat, humidity, and clay soil. Seed heads create winter interest and are a food source for songbirds. Salt and drought tolerant. ‘Gold Rush’ is a variety that can tolerate wet feet while Rudbeckia triloba is a native species that self-seeds and naturalized in the garden. Plant in full sun.

Sedum

This late season bloomer is a favorite of many pollinators. Once in bloom, sit back and enjoy the show as several types of bees, butterflies, hover flies, and other pollinators come to visit. Plant in full sun.

This colorful, drought resistant, salt tolerant perennial is also deer resistant. Choose from upright varieties such as ‘Mr. Goodbud’, mounding varieties like ‘Sun Sparkler Firecracker’, and even groundcovers types like ‘Coral Carpet’.

Eupatorium
Joe Pye Weed

Dome-shaped heads of small lavender flowers clusters cover this upright, clump forming perennial in mid-summer to early fall. Provides spectacular flowering and vertical interest when massed at the back of the perennial border. A good addition to meadows, native plant gardens, and naturalized areas. Vanilla scented flowers attract butterflies. Deer resistant. Try ‘Phantom’ if you are looking for a more compact variety. Plant in full to part sun.

Chelone
Turtlehead

Spikes of pink, snapdragon-like flowers that appear in late summer and are irrisitable to big, busy bees. Excellent for a pop of color in shady areas. ‘Hotlips’ is more compact variety while ‘Black Ace’ has dark, dramatic foliage. Plant in part sun or shade.

Ornamental Grasses

Grasses are in their prime in late summer and early fall. Their “blooms,” or seed heads are forming and for some grasses, the foliage begins to turn colors. Heavy Metal Switch and Shenandoah are turning shades of red and purple, and Karl Foerster and Prairie Dropseed are blooming their heads off. Grasses provide winter interest in the garden, a place for pollinators to shelter, and the seed heads are very desirable to songbirds. Plant in full sun. Read more about ornamental grasses here.

Amp up your pollinator posse with these helpful tips

• • • Plant plants that provide nectar AND pollen. Nectar provides carbohydrates and pollen provides protein.
    • Provide a water source. A shallow dish with flat rocks for pollinators to land on is easy to create and appreciated by bees and butterflies alike. Be sure to clean containers often and keep water fresh and filled.
    • Provide sweet treats. Use your overripe fruit such as oranges and bananas to feed the butterflies. When it’s a little too far gone for us is when it’s just right for them. Beware, ants will find it too, so hanging the dish of fruit can help.
    • Create large swaths or groupings of the same native, non-invasive plants.
    • Eliminate or minimize the use of pesticides and fungicides. If spraying pesticides is a must, do so very early in the day or late in the evening when pollinators aren’t out and about.

You get more than you give.

Gardening is no doubt hard work. It takes time, patience, funds, and physical labor. However, not much gives greater joy then sitting back with your favorite beverage to watch the birds, the bees, and the butterflies at work. Simply said they just makes you smile.