Top 10 Plants That Attract Bees and Butterflies

A guide to the best flowering plants for supporting key pollinators.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Few things bring a garden to life like the gentle buzz of bees and the graceful flutter of butterflies. Beyond their beauty, these creatures are essential for plant reproduction, food production, and ecosystem balance. One of the easiest and most impactful ways to support them? Plant flowers they love.

Whether you're planting a dedicated pollinator garden or just looking to add some life to your borders and beds, these ten flowering plants are tried-and-true favorites of bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

🌸 1. Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)

This native wildflower is the only host plant for monarch butterflies, meaning monarch caterpillars feed exclusively on it. It also provides nectar for a variety of pollinators. Seed Needs has a milkweed 5 pack we have planted in our back garden https://amzn.to/4l41NBD

• Best for: Monarchs, bees, other butterflies

• Bonus: Comes in beautiful varieties like butterfly weed and swamp milkweed

🌼 2. Bee Balm (Monarda)

With its vibrant red, pink, or purple blooms and minty scent, bee balm is a magnet for hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees. Seed Needs again has amazing seed stock we personally use. https://amzn.to/45KGKiE

• Best for: Long-blooming color and attracting diverse pollinators

• Bonus: A native perennial that's also deer-resistant

🌿 3. Lavender (Lavandula)

This aromatic favorite is beloved by bees for its abundant nectar and long bloom period. Plus, it adds structure and fragrance to any garden. We like to plant different varieties of lavender to give our garden some different textures, Seed Needs has a 4 pack of different species which checks the box. https://amzn.to/4kavkYU

• Best for: Honeybees, bumblebees, and garden aesthetics

• Bonus: Drought-tolerant and easy to dry for crafts

🌺 4. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Coneflowers are durable, drought-resistant perennials with large central disks that are easy landing pads for bees and butterflies. https://amzn.to/4kjk4tn

• Best for: Native bees, monarchs, and swallowtails

• Bonus: Great seed heads for birds in fall and winter

🌼 5. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

This cheerful yellow flower is low-maintenance and blooms for weeks, offering consistent food for pollinators all summer. https://amzn.to/4kf0EWz

• Best for: Native bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects

• Bonus: Thrives in tough conditions and poor soil

🌸 6. Zinnias (Zinnia elegans)

These annuals are pollinator powerhouses—bright, long-lasting, and easy to grow in garden beds or containers. This is by FAR our favorite and star centerpiece of our gardens. With so much variety you can find a color for your aesthetic. We absolutely love the faberge variety. Park Seed we have used for years for this favorite. https://amzn.to/3ZRHLlh The California Giants are the staple of our plantings around the yard. Try this 9 pack of amazing colors, you won't regret it. https://amzn.to/44nFvn0

• Best for: Butterflies and bees (especially when planted en masse)

• Bonus: Deadheading encourages even more blooms

🌿 7. Borage (Borago officinalis)

An herb with striking blue star-shaped flowers, borage is a favorite of honeybees and native bees, blooming over a long season. https://amzn.to/46hR4id

• Best for: Bees, companion planting

• Bonus: Edible flowers with a light cucumber flavor

🌺 8. Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)

With its cascading blooms and sweet scent, butterfly bush lives up to its name, drawing in butterflies by the dozens. These beauties we suggest buying from a grown plant so you don't have to wait to long to enjoy them.

• Best for: Swallowtails, monarchs, bees

• Bonus: Fast-growing shrub with a dramatic presence

• Note: In some areas, it’s considered invasive—opt for sterile or native alternatives if needed

🌼 9. Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)

These feathery-leafed flowers are low-maintenance annuals that attract butterflies and bees from summer into fall. These are another centerpiece to our beds, practically bulletproof and they bring in all the pollinators. https://amzn.to/4et0zNG

• Best for: Continuous nectar and color through the season

• Bonus: Self-seeds easily for next year’s blooms

🌸 10. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

With flat-topped clusters and a strong fragrance, yarrow is a bee favorite that also attracts predatory insects that help control pests. https://amzn.to/4lrWBXM

• Best for: Wild bees and beneficial bugs

• Bonus: Drought-tolerant and long-blooming

🐝 Tips for a Bee- and Butterfly-Friendly Garden

• Plant in groups: Clusters are easier for pollinators to find

• Stagger bloom times: Provide nectar from spring through fall

• Avoid pesticides: Even natural ones can harm pollinators

• Include host plants: Caterpillars need foliage, too—not just nectar

• Provide water: A shallow dish with stones gives pollinators a place to rest and drink

🌿 Native plants are always a great choice—they’re adapted to your region and often more beneficial to local pollinators.

Final Thoughts

Supporting bees and butterflies doesn’t require a full garden makeover—just a few well-chosen plants can make a world of difference. Whether you start with lavender on your balcony or build a whole border of coneflowers and milkweed, your space becomes part of something much bigger: a healthier, more vibrant world.

Let your garden bloom—and let it buzz with life.