10 Plants for Your Pollinators
For more information and insight on planning your garden for pollinators, check out Garden Planning for Pollinators.
Lavenders: Bumblebees, carpenter bees, digger bees and large and small leafcutting bees collect the nectar of this evergreen shrub.
Pacific or coast rhododendron: Larval host for brown elfin and gray hairstreak butterflies. Hummingbirds, bees and Western tiger swallowtails collect the nectar of this evergreen shrub. Native to the Pacific Northwest.
Blueblossom: Larval host for pale swallowtail, California tortoiseshell and echo blue butterflies. Bumblebees, carpenter bees, honey bees, digger bees and a variety of small native bees collect the nectar of this evergreen shrub.
Ocean spray: Larval host for spring azure, brown elfin and Lorquin's admiral butterflies. Bumblebees and a variety of small native bees collect the nectar of this deciduous shrub.
Serviceberry: Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies collect the nectar of this deciduous shrub. Larval host for Weiddemeyer's admiral butterflies. Native to the Pacific Northwest.
Russian sage: Honey bees, small carpenter bees and leafcutting bees collect the nectar of this perennial garden plant. The nectar also attracts hummingbirds.
Red-flowering currant: Important nectar source for early-season butterflies. Nectar also attracts hummingbirds. Perennial that is a native to the Pacific Northwest.
Catmint: Honey bees, bumblebees, carder bees and mason bees collect nectar and pollen from this perennial.
Sunflower: Longhorn bees, sweat bees, leafcutting bees and bumblebees collect the pollen and nectar of this annual
Milkweed: Monarch butterflies collect nectar and pollen and lay their eggs on this perennial wildflower. Nectar also attracts hummingbirds. Native to the Pacific Northwest.
Sources: Denise Ruttan, Gail Langellotto, and Oregon State Extension Services research
Image credit: Big Blog of Gardening, Las Pilitas Nursery, Veseys
