21 Native Plants for Pollinators in Northwest Gardens

How do plants help pollinators? Many wildflowers, flowering shrubs, and trees contain sugary nectar in their blossoms, while others are chock full of pollen. Pollen is rich in protein and is an essential food source for many insects. Nectar helps fuel bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies on their foraging trips.

Because native plants evolved alongside local insects and pollinators, they grew to depend on each other. Many plants require specific bees to pollinate them, while many specialist bees can only find nectar and pollen in particular flowers. When you plant these wildflowers and woody perennials, you help bolster surrounding pollinator populations.

Douglas Aster

	common name Douglas Aster
	botanical name Symphyotrichum subspicatum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Asters are easy-growing wildflowers with varying flower colors that pop in gardens. American asters were recently separated from other asters, and you can tell if an aster is from North America by its scientific name. American asters are in the genus Symphyotrichum, while others are in the genus Aster. 

Douglas aster is an incredible species that helps specialist bees, beneficial insects, and nesting critters. Its bright, violet flowers have dainty petals that shine under direct sunlight. The plant also feeds butterflies and moths, offering tasty leaves for their caterpillars. 

Douglas asters prefer sandy, well-drained soil to thrive, though they adapt well to less-than-desirable conditions. You’ll often see them growing wild along streams, rivers, and forest edges. 

Varileaf Phacelia

	common name Varileaf Phacelia
	botanical name Phacelia heterophylla
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 3-7

Phacelias are lovely native plants that grow wild in many parts of the U.S. They sprout long clusters of white blossoms that unfurl as they open up. When in full bloom, you’ll see dozens of bumblebees all over the plants. Their little legs will be covered in pollen! 

Varileaf phacelias feed these five specific bees of the Pacific Northwest:

• Obscure Bumblebee (Bombus caliginosus)
• Edward’s Long-Horned Bee (Eucera edwardsii)
• Fuzzy-Horned Bumblebee (Bombus mixtus)
• Confluent Miner Bee (Panurginus atriceps)
• Yellow-Faced Bumblebee (Bombus vosnesenskii)

When you visit this perennial in the garden, look for these bees. They’ll buzz from cluster to cluster, dusting themselves with pollen grains. Keep the surrounding soil moist during the growing season to promote ample blooms and healthy stems for the insect critters.

Blue Thimble Flower

	common name Blue Thimble Flower
	botanical name Gilia capitata
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 8-30”
	hardiness zones 7-10

Blue thimble flowers decorate meadows, pastures, and roadsides with light blue-violet blooms. The dainty blossoms lure insects to the site, offering delicious nectar and nutritious pollen to butterflies, bugs, and birds. 

In a study from Oregon State University, multiple bee species were found to frequent blooming blue thimble flowers. This means you can help many different pollinators with one plant! Simply sow seeds in fall or early spring, keep them moist, and wait for the seedlings to appear once the days start lengthening and warming in late winter. 

Blue thimble flowers are annuals rather than perennials, relying on seeds to propagate themselves at the end of the growing season. They don’t compete well with invasive and unruly plants. Weed the site often to prevent other species from crowing out the seedlings. 

Yarrow

	common name Yarrow
	botanical name Achillea millefolium
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-4’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Yarrow grows around the world! It’s a lovely perennial with blooms that look like landing pads. The flowers are tiny and form dense umbels above the foliage. These landing pads allow pollinators to rest on top of them, creating temporary oases in fields, pastures, and meadows.

Tough and hardy, yarrow is an exceptional wildflower for many regions of North America. Though it thrives in zones 3 through 9, it may survive with protection in zones 2 and 10. The plant reserves energy in its roots during winter dormancy, allowing it to withstand harsh weather. 

Grow yarrow for its ample resources. It hosts specialist and generalist bees, butterflies, moths, and beneficial predatory insects. The leaves are deer-resistant, and they have a distinct herbal fragrance to them. 

Farewell To Spring

	common name Farewell To Spring
	botanical name Clarkia amoena
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 24-30”
	hardiness zones 2-11

Farewell to spring blooms as spring turns into summer. It’s a late-season bloomer, providing color when few other species are flowering. It’s also great for pollinating insects! You’ll lure bumblebees and honeybees to the site with the large, pink-white blooms. 

After insects pollinate the flowers, they evolve into seed pods that spread seeds throughout the area. Farewell to spring is an annual, so it relies on these seeds to propagate itself from year to year.

Because it grows in early summer, this wildflower tolerates drought and heat in its native range from British Columbia to California. It needs protection from afternoon sunlight in particularly warm regions like Southern California and the lower parts of Oregon. 

Rose Checkermallow

	common name Rose Checkermallow
	botanical name Sidalcea asprella ssp. virgata
	sun requirements Partial shade
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Rose checkermallow fills meadows with rosy pink mallow-like blossoms on tall reaching stems. The flowers emerge all along the stem, creating a loose spike. Hand-like green leaves emerge from the perennial in early spring. They gather energy from sunlight so they can grow late spring emerging blossoms. 

Rose checkermallow performs well with many other plants. Make large swaths of it, or consider planting it alongside other native species that prefer partially shady conditions. Columbia lily, western buttercup, and western springbeauty are viable options for a beautiful wildlife garden. 

Like many local species, this perennial grows differently depending on the region in which it’s growing. Gather local seeds from the best-performing plants in your area, or consider contacting a local nursery that sells native plants. 

Common Madia

	common name Common Madia
	botanical name Madia elegans
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-6’
	hardiness zones 6-11

Common madia is anything but common! It’s a tall and sticky annual that tolerates droughts in harsh gardens. The stickiness is why it also goes by the name “tarweed.” It thrives at summer’s end when temperatures cool, producing clusters of large, bright yellow blooms with red on the lower parts of the petals. 

These golden blossoms attract pollinating insects, moths, and butterflies. After the flowers fade, the seeds form and attract hungry birds. They’ll distribute the plant further on their journeys, sprinkling it throughout the Pacific Northwest. 

I recommend planting this wildflower on a dry slope or open meadow with little foot traffic. It reseeds itself annually, which is why you’ll often see it growing along roadsides, in ditches, and on abandoned fields. 

Canada Goldenrod

	common name Canada Goldenrod
	botanical name Solidago canadensis
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-6’
	hardiness zones 5-9

Canada goldenrods sprout long, flowering spikes full of tiny yellow blossoms. You’ll spot them because of the frantic insect activity around the open flowers! Canada goldenrods are some of the best flowering plants you can cultivate for local pollinators. 

This goldenrod helps local critters by building an ecosystem. It attracts dozens of pollinating bees, butterflies, and flies. These bugs attract predators like spiders and wasps, which then invite other predators like birds. The species creates a wildlife sanctuary during the growing season! 

Perennial and aggressive, this goldenrod will spread and form large clumps over time. Let it roam wild in a meadow or pasture, or consider converting your lawn into a bed full of it. It pairs well with Douglas aster; the purple asters contrast pleasingly with the yellow goldenrods. 

California Poppy

	common name California Poppy
	botanical name Eschscholzia californica
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 6-10

The California poppy is the state flower of California, and for good reason! Many growers and Californians love it for its bright yellow and orange blooms. They turn brown, buttery-yellow hillsides into meadows aflame with orange. 

You’ll also notice California poppies growing along roadsides, in abandoned fields, and in native plant enthusiasts’ gardens! Though perennial, they reseed readily to fill empty spaces with their dissected, lacy foliage and shiny orange blossoms. The vivid orange hues lure sweat bees, furrow bees, and bumblebees with the promise of protein-rich pollen. 

Drought-tolerant and sun-loving, these poppy-like plants are superb for hard-to-grow sites. Plant them in borders, lawn edges, and sunny beds, then watch them slowly spread each year. If you don’t like where the seedlings sprout, dig them up and transplant them somewhere more accommodating. 

Oregon Sunshine

	common name Oregon Sunshine
	botanical name Eriophyllum lanatum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-2’
	hardiness zones 5-8

Oregon sunshine is a plant that will truly fill your garden with the color of sunshine. It sprouts too many blossoms to count all over its gray-green wooly stems. The entire plant has a gray sheen that protects it from harsh sunlight and drought. 

If you need a tough perennial that also helps pollinators, Oregon sunshine may be the choice for you. It fills gardens and natural landscapes with a sweet aroma and bright colors. The showy plant attracts generalist and specialist bees, predatory insects, moths, and butterflies. 

Plant Oregon sunshine in a sunny spot in the yard where it has some space to spread out. Unlike garden perennials, this native species prefers tough, rugged sites with poor soils. Plant them in rocky, sandy, or gritty sites away from sprinklers or drains. 

Nodding Onion

	common name Nodding Onion
	botanical name Allium cernuum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 6-24”
	hardiness zones 4-8

Nodding onion sprouts little clusters of star-shaped blooms that nod like hellebore blossoms do. Bees love onion flowers, and they especially love nodding onion blooms. 

Unlike bulbing types, this species is a perennial that forms small clumps. You may harvest individual scallions to taste their mild, oniony flavor. Roast them with other veggies, or chop them up fresh in salads and sandwiches. 

You may not want to harvest too much of the plant, as each clump produces stems with characteristic nodding blossoms. The leaves help moths and butterflies by providing a food source for their caterpillars in the summer and fall. 

Blanketflower

	common name Blanketflower
	botanical name Gaillardia aristata
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Blanketflower produces large, showy blooms that reach up to four inches across! The petals are red with yellow tips, and they sprout on top of tall stems. Their showy, large structure attracts bees and butterflies, and birds like eating the seeds from the seed heads.

Blanketflower is tough, hardy, and perennial, thriving in tough sites throughout the U.S. It has a long-reaching taproot that draws moisture from deep underground, allowing it to withstand short droughts and intense temperatures. 

In the garden, blanketflower grows surprisingly well next to common ornamentals. Grant it well-drained soil, as its taproot will struggle in clay sites without drainage. It’ll do well next to plants like black-eyed Susan, nodding onion, and showy milkweed.

Silvery Lupine

	common name Silvery Lupine
	botanical name Lupinus argenteus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 5-10

Not all parts of the Pacific Northwest are wet and rainy! Some regions, like eastern Oregon, are dry, sandy, and hot during the summer. They favor tough, drought-tolerant species that can weather the harsh seasons. Silvery lupine is one such plant, as it can withstand high heat, little water, and intense winds. 

Because of its toughness, silvery lupine excels in garden conditions. It’ll do well in a bed, border, or natural-style planting with other wildflowers. You’ll see it in wild landscapes growing in open forests, open fields, and streamsides. Its variability allows it to survive in different environments.

As the name implies, silvery lupine has a silver sheen. The plant sprouts tiny gray hairs along its stems, leaves, and fruits. Grow it to support butterflies, moths, bumblebees, and beneficial insects. It’s also deer-resistant, growing well in forested yards where they’re present. 

Western Buttercup

	common name Western Buttercup
	botanical name Ranunculus occidentalis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1’
	hardiness zones 4-9

Buttercups are essential in home gardens! Why not plant a native buttercup? The western species is a prolific reseeder, spreading itself far and wide in conducive environments. It prefers rich soil, partial shade, and regular moisture during the growing season. 

Small and dainty, these perennials attract specialist bees with golden yellow blossoms full of pollen. They sprout on slender stems above the leaves, standing out in large plantings. The best way to grow this buttercup is to get some seeds and throw them about! 

I have this species growing in my yard, and I like to help it propagate by saving the seeds and scattering them about. They’ll germinate in the fall, overwinter as seedlings, and grow into new adult specimens the next spring. 

Large-Leaf Avens

	common name Large-Leaf Avens
	botanical name Geum macrophyllum
	sun requirements Full sun to full shade
	height 1-4’
	hardiness zones 3-10

Large-leaf avens sprout some of the biggest leaves of any avens! Avens are garden perennials with showy flower clusters and long, divided leaves. The large leaf species sprouts bright yellow blossoms that resemble those of cinquefoils. They attract pollinating flies that traverse the heads for nectar. 

This perennial establishes quickly in the yard; it’ll mix well with buttercups, springbeauties, and evergreen violets. Let the four native species intermingle in a bed to provide a cushy home for beneficial insects. They’ll appreciate the diversity!

Diversity is key when it comes to planting for pollinators. Not all bugs like the same flowers, and some require specific types to get their food. The more diverse your yard is, the more animal species it’s potentially helping. 

Woods’ Rose

	common name Woods’ Rose
	botanical name Rosa woodsii
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-10’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Roses are easygoing woody perennials that thrive throughout the U.S. Woods’ rose is a particularly decorative species that adorns hills, mountains, and forest edges with its bright pink blooms, dissected foliage, and red hips. It thrives from British Columbia south through Wisconsin, Texas, and California. 

Because of its incredibly wide range, this species has formed several subspecies and varieties over the years. Depending on which state you live in, there may be a local subspecies that’ll prefer growing in your yard! Look for local, endemic seed or plant sources, and buy from reputable nurseries that grow their supply. 

Choose Woods’ rose over others because of its value for pollinating and predatory insects. The flowers support pollinators, while the thorny shrub houses birds and small critters. The sweet hips feed birds and mammals when they form in midsummer. 

Golden Currant

	common name Golden Currant
	botanical name Ribes aureum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-8’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Golden currants receive their name because of the shiny yellow flower clusters that open in early spring. They dangle from the shrubs’ woody stems alongside tri-lobed green leaves. They’re deciduous, and their leaves turn maroon-red in autumn. The flowers morph into black edible fruits that are delicious fresh or preserved in jams, jellies, and syrups.

Like all currants, the golden currant provides valuable food sources for pollinating insects. It benefits butterflies, moths, and bumblebees with delicious nectar and pollen. The blooms are fragrant, too, offering a sweet smell if you get close to them. 

This woody shrub prefers well-drained soil with consistent moisture during the growing season. It’s a suckering plant, forming dense colonies over time. You may prune the extra stems if you prefer a structure more formal than a thicket. 

Showy Milkweed

	common name Showy Milkweed
	botanical name Asclepias speciosa
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Milkweeds are the perfect plants for helping butterflies! Species like the Monarch butterfly rely on milkweed; they lay eggs on the leaves that hatch into hungry caterpillars. The caterpillars munch on the leaves, create chrysalises, and evolve into adult butterflies to continue their migrations. 

When you plant milkweeds like showy milkweed, you provide valuable food, habitat space, and resting spots for these fluttering butterflies. The showy type has some of the biggest, most ornamental flowers, though there are many other varieties for different parts of the U.S.

Narrowleaf milkweed is another great option for the Pacific Northwest. It has narrow leaves and small clusters of star-shaped blooms. Try butterfly weed or common milkweed in the southern and eastern parts of the country.

Deerbrush

	common name Deerbrush
	botanical name Ceanothus integerrimus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 6-15’
	hardiness zones 7-9

A close relative of California lilacs, deerbrush is in the same genus as these other plants, the Ceanothus genus. Deerbrush sprouts long, aromatic spikes of white flowers that feed pollinators and attract predatory insects. The shrub itself offers a habitat for birds, moth and butterfly larvae, and small mammals.

Deerbrush prefers sunny conditions, though it’ll thrive throughout PNW gardens. Give it an open location where its branches can grow tall and arch over themselves. You may prune your specimen to make it more formal or let it grow wild and unruly for a natural style.

Soil quality is key when cultivating deerbrush. It prefers free-draining soil free of large clay clumps. If the soil is poor, consider amending it with compost to help break it up and boost its fertility. 

Fireweed

	common name Fireweed
	botanical name Epilobium angustifolium
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 2-7

Fireweed fills disturbed lands with purple blooms! It receives its name because it tends to recolonize recently burned landscapes. It’s so prolific that it filled London’s streets after World War II! The war created dense stands of burnt and broken rubble; one of the first returners that could manage to grow was fireweed. 

Also called rosebay willowherb, fireweed is ideal for wild plantings with little structure. They spread rapidly and readily, sprouting many seeds that sprout seedlings in the surrounding soil. Underground, their perennial roots stay dormant in winter and push new shoots in spring, creating large stands. 

Fireweed is excellent for pollinating bugs. The blossoms may lure hummingbirds to the site, as they are tubular and perfect for the hummers’ beaks. Sow seeds in your garden, or ask a neighbor or friend for a rooted piece of their existing fireweed. 

California Compassplant

	common name California Compassplant
	botanical name Wyethia angustifolia
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 4-7

California compassplant is a unique name for this sun-loving plant! It sprouts sunflower-like blooms low to the ground on a spreading, clumping plant. You may have heard it by the name of narrowleaf mule ears, as the leaves resemble fuzzy mule ears. 

This native species is important for bumblebees, moths, and butterflies. The butterflies and moths often lay their eggs on this plant because it hosts their larvae well. The leaves are crunchy and nutritious, and they shield the sensitive caterpillars from birds and predators. 

In the garden, California compassplant grows best in an open site with plenty of direct sunlight. It likes well-drained soil, though it appreciates regular moisture during the growing season. Plant it alongside your sunflowers for shiny yellow blossoms that sprout low to the ground and high in the sky!