Want More Pollinators? Try These 9 Under-the-Radar Plants • Schisandra & Bergamot

You’ve probably heard about planting lavender and coneflowers to attract pollinators—but the world of bee- and butterfly-friendly plants is much bigger. Many lesser-known flowers are just as loved by beneficial insects.

These 9 under-the-radar plants are powerful pollinator magnets that deserve a spot in your garden. They’re beautiful, easy to grow, and buzzing with life.

Blue Giant Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

Purple spike-shaped flowers with green leaves growing densely in a garden, with some white and red flowers blurred in the background. — Photo Credit: photohampster/Deposit Photos

This fragrant perennial produces tall purple spikes that bees and butterflies can’t resist. It blooms for weeks, thrives in poor soil, and brings vertical interest to flower beds.

Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum)

A bee collects nectar from clusters of pale green flowers surrounded by silvery-green leaves. — Photo Credit: a2gxe/Deposit Photos

With silvery-green leaves and clusters of tiny blooms, this native mint draws a wide variety of native bees. It spreads easily, smells amazing, and makes a stunning pollinator patch.

Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)

A cluster of green leaves with pink and white star-shaped flowers in a lush garden setting. — Photo Credit: leoleobobeo/Pixabay

This tall, graceful wildflower produces clusters of pink-purple blooms in late summer. It’s a nectar powerhouse that draws in butterflies by the dozen—especially monarchs.

Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)

Close-up of a wild fennel plant with clusters of small yellow flowers on thin green stems, set against a blurred dark background. — Photo Credit: wirestock/Envato

This cheery yellow native blooms in spring when many gardens are just waking up. It supports early-season pollinators and serves as a host plant for black swallowtail butterflies.

Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum)

Tall, slender purple flowers with long stems and green leaves, set against a blurred natural background. — Photo Credit: TanteTati/Pixabay

Elegant and upright, Culver’s root offers nectar-rich spikes that attract a variety of pollinators. It’s especially appealing to bees and is perfect for rain gardens or moist soil spots.

Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccifolium)

Green, spiky, round seed pods grow on thin stems against a blurred background of foliage. — Photo Credit: meunierd/Deposit Photos

This spiky, dramatic prairie plant looks exotic but is native to North America. Its round flower heads buzz with insect activity during midsummer and are drought-tolerant to boot.

Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana)

Close-up of a purple wildflower with green stems and grass in the background. — Photo Credit: eliza28diamonds/Pixabay

These delicate, three-petaled flowers bloom in shades of purple and blue and open fresh each morning. Bees love them, and they tolerate shade better than many pollinator plants.

Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana)

Tall white flowers with tubular blooms grow among green foliage in a garden setting. — Photo Credit: gardenguru/Deposit Photos

With snapdragon-like blooms that snap into place, obedient plant is as fun as it is pollinator-friendly. It’s popular with hummingbirds and spreads readily in sunny beds.

Coreopsis verticillata (Threadleaf Coreopsis)

A close-up of a pale yellow daisy-like flower with a dark brown center, surrounded by several buds and green stems. The background is blurred. — Photo Credit: Akchamczuk/Deposit Photos

This fine-textured native bursts with bright yellow blooms that last for weeks. It attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects—and it’s practically foolproof to grow.

You don’t have to rely on the same old flowers to draw in pollinators. These under-the-radar plants offer beauty, biodiversity, and big benefits for bees and butterflies. Mix a few into your garden and enjoy a space that’s buzzing with life all season long.