Create a thriving, beautiful garden that supports native wildlife and pollinators—naturally! Below is our curated guide to plants that provide food, shelter, and nesting materials for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, songbirds, and beneficial insects. Many are Pacific Northwest natives, perfectly suited to our region’s climate and ecosystems.

🐝 Best Plants for Pollinators

These reliable, nursery-available plants attract bees, butterflies, and other essential pollinators. Great for Pacific Northwest gardens!

 
Plant Name
Type
Pollinators Attracted
Bloom Time
Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
Perennial
Bees, butterflies
Summer-Fall
Monarda didyma (Bee Balm)
Perennial
Bees, hummingbirds, butterflies
Summer
Lavandula angustifolia (English Lavender)
Perennial
Bees
Summer
Salvia nemorosa (Meadow Sage)
Perennial
Bees, hummingbirds
Late Spring-Summer
Rudbeckia fulgida (Black-eyed Susan)
Perennial
Bees, butterflies
Mid-Late Summer
Nepeta x faassenii (Catmint)
Perennial
Bees
Late Spring-Summer
Coreopsis verticillata (Threadleaf Coreopsis)
Perennial
Bees, butterflies
Summer-Fall
Sedum 'Autumn Joy' (Stonecrop)
Perennial
Bees, butterflies
Late Summer-Fall
Gaillardia x grandiflora (Blanket Flower)
Perennial
Bees, Butterflies
Summer-Fall
Agastache foeniculum (Anise Hyssop)
Perennial
Bees, hummingbirds
Summer-Fall

🦋 Great Plants for Butterflies & Moths

 
Plant Name
Type
Host/Nectar Source
Notable Wildlife
Asclepias speciosa (Showy Milkweed)
Perennial
Host plant for monarchs
Monarchs, bees
Ceanothus ssp. (Wild Lilac)
Shrub
Nectar-rich
Butterflies, native bees
Ribes sanguineum (Red Flowering Currant)
Shrub
Early nectar source
Spring butterflies, hummingbirds

🐦 Native Plants for Birds

Birds are attracted to berries, seeds, and insects found in diverse native plantings.

Plant Name
Type
Attracts
Benefit
Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape)
Shrub
Birds, bees
Early nectar + berries
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnikinnick)
Groundcover
Birds, pollinators
Berries + nesting habitat
Vaccinium ovatum (Evergreen Huckleberry)
Shrub
Birds, bees
Fruit + evergreen shelter
Cornus sericea (Red-twig Dogwood)
Shrub
Birds, butterflies
Berries + nesting cover

🌸 Non-Native but Excellent Pollinator Plants

These non-invasive, non-native plants are also favorites of pollinators in the PNW.

Plant Name
Type
Attracts
Bloom Time
Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)
Perennial
Bees, butterflies
Summer-fall
Lavandula spp. (Lavender)
Perennial
Bees
Summer
Salvia spp.
Perennial
Hummingbirds, bees
Spring-fall
Monarda spp. (Bee Balm)
Perennial
Bees, hummingbirds
Summer
 

🌿 Tips for a Pollinator-Friendly Garden

  • Plant diversity: Include a mix of bloom types, colors, and heights. Aim for something flowering from early spring through fall.

  • Avoid pesticides: Even organic sprays can harm beneficial insects—use integrated pest management (IPM) strategies.

  • Provide water: Shallow dishes with stones or small birdbaths help pollinators and birds stay hydrated.

  • Leave some wild areas: Undisturbed soil and native grasses provide habitat for ground-nesting bees and overwintering insects.

  • Include host plants: Butterflies need host plants for their larvae (e.g., milkweed for monarchs).

🐞 Beneficial Insects to Encourage

 
Insect
Role in Garden
How To Attract
Ladybugs
Eat aphids and soft-bodied pests
Grow dill, yarrow, or marigolds
Lacewings
Predator of aphids, mealybugs
Plant cosmos, coreopsis
Hoverflies
Pollinators and aphid control
Include alyssum, calendula
Solitary Bees (e.g., Mason Bees)
Pollinators
Provide bee houses and native flowering plants
 

🌻 Visit Christianson’s Nursery

We offer a wide range of native and pollinator-supporting plants, and our team is always happy to help you build a pollinator paradise right in your backyard.

Let your garden buzz with life—naturally.