Pollinators are buzzing over these late-summer, nectar-rich plants

Pollinators are buzzing over these late-summer, nectar-rich plants

Many plants have finished flowering by late summer, but bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, and hoverflies are still on the wing, foraging for food. Just then the late-flowering plants kick in. Having evolved to bloom late in order to supply pollinators with a constant supply of food right up to last call in autumn, the super-food nectar they produce help insects build up energy needed for winter hibernation. Some late-bloomers also have seed heads that provide birds with a source of winter food, too. Here are a few late-blooming flowering plants that you can plant right now that’ll have pollinators all aflutter come autumn.

Farmingtonâ„¢ Michaelmas Daisy

Farmingtonâ„¢ Michaelmas Daisy

Flat-shaped flowers from August to October make it easy for bees to collect nectar and pollen, and let butterflies soak up the sun. Zone: 3 – 9

Attracts: butterflies, moths, bumblebees, and honeybees

Gibby Hebe

Gibby Hebe

Many Hebe cultivars flower from late summer to autumn. Hardy and easy to grow, this one’s blue-grey leaves make a nice contrast to summery pale lilac flowers. Zone: 7 – 11

Attracts: bumblebees, honeybees, butterflies, moths

Autumn Joy Stonecrop

Autumn Joy Stonecrop

Large, landing-pad-like, rose-pink flower heads that bees love from late summer through fall. Starts green. aging to pink, and finally rosy russet-red. Zone: 4 – 11

Attracts: honeybees, butterflies, and moths

Snow Queen Oakleaf Hydrangea

Snow Queen Oakleaf Hydrangea

Large, long clusters of white flowers that become rose-pink in fall attract pollinators in droves with both food and places to nest. Zone: 5 – 9

Attracts: honeybees, bumblebees, and hoverflies

English Ivy

English Ivy

Maybe you don’t notice the tiny greenish-yellow autumn flowers, but pollinators spot them from a mile away. Many other insects hibernate in the foliage. Zone: 5 – 11

Attracts: honeybees, wasps, butterflies, and hoverflies

Baby Joe Dwarf Pye Weed

Baby Joe Dwarf Pye Weed

Compact version of native, prairie plant produces large flower clusters in late summer. Seed heads provide winter food for birds. Zones: 4 – 9

Attracts: Butterflies, honeybees, and bumblebees

Ruby Charm Helen’s Flower

Ruby Charm Helen’s Flower

Pollinators throng to the abundant, daisy-like flowers and seed-filled heads of this late bloomer (known as sneezeweed). Zone: 4 – 8

Attracts: native bees, honeybees, wasps, hoverflies

Lacey Blue Russian Sage

Lacey Blue Russian Sage

Hardy, heat and drought tolerant, and super nectar-rich, this new selection has an improved, sturdy, compact form. Zone: 4 – 10

Attracts:  honeybees, leaf-cutter bees, butterflies, and hoverflies

Petite Plum® Dwarf Butterfly Bush

Petite Plum® Dwarf Butterfly Bush

This late-bloomer feeds pollinators when others have wrapped it up. Compact variety, perfect for pots. Zone: 5 – 9

Attracts: bees, moths, butterflies, and hoverflies

Butterflyâ„¢ Cleopatra Coneflower

Butterflyâ„¢ Cleopatra Coneflower

Pollinators love the color yellow and swarm like moths to a flame. Adaptable to heat, humidity, drought and cold when established. Zone: 5 – 8

Attracts: bees, butterflies, moths, and hoverflies

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2017-05-30 01:16:00
Annette Kromer
small bushes /perennials for shade and full sun that are deer resistant...suggestions/ideas, please.
reply Reply
Jill Penney
Mail;PO Box 267 Hobart,WA 98025 I have fragrant Italian Oregano around my pond and the honey bees are all over it. It's got a nice fragrance without overwhelming, and I never do anything to it except use it in cooking. But the bees are loving it and have been for many years. Love your site!!
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[…] Here’s more information on attracting pollinators and a few more plants that arelate summer bloomers. […]
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[…] Heres more information on attracting pollinators and a few more plants that arelate summer bloomers. […]
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Al ice Bos
Love the coneflowers.Last years just starting to bloom Also the salvia black and blue if that was the name .Very tall . I cut it back to be more bushy and not 5 feet tall or more.!
reply Reply
Linda
Are there any coneflowers that are suitable for Zone 11 (93010) ?
reply Reply
Jan
I need some perennials with BIG impact that thrive in SHADE. Looking for plants that bloom at different times. I have 10 varieties of hostas (Empress Wu and Mouse Ears and all sizes in between) and 5 or more varieties of ferns. I'm using begonea and impatience for color right now. Zone 6.
reply Reply
Nora Hudson
Thanks for the article!!
reply Reply
Whitney Bailey
Thank you for putting this together. It is important to note that English Ivy is extremely invasive in many areas, as is butterfly bush. Their value as pollinator plants is debatable (In my entire career as a conservation professional, I've *never* seen English Ivy listed as a pollinator plant *anywhere* else), and neither of them provide habitat for pollinator larvae. If pollinators don't have habitat for their young or have no place to spend the winter, their populations actually decline. It would be far better to plant species that are native to the area, that pollinators are adapted to and are able to use for their entire life cycle. Best wishes and thank you for considering.
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Karen Childs
We don't do English Ivy in Oregon, Big NO-NO. Florence Garden Club
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How to Help Feed Pollinators Thru Late Fall · Hidden Springs Homestead
[…] good website to take a look at is the Monrovia Grow Beautifullysite. They have a list with gorgeous […]
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Elizabeth A Baer
I appreciate the compilation such of useful information. Spring has become my new Christmas and it all goes outside the house. Your products have been healthy and survived my unskilled efforts.
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