Illustration of melliferous and nectariferous flowers

15 flowers to attract bees, butterflies and pollinating insects

Article for :All parent plants

Not all superheroes wear cape. Some don rubber boots and gloves to plant flowers in their gardens that attract bees, butterflies and pollinating insects. In this way, they contribute to biodiversity. Their reward? Plants that reproduce faster, higher yields and fewer pests.

#1 Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Butterflies also love yarrow flowers -Photo by Stanze/ Flickr

Purists will choose a yarrow (Achillea millefolium) with white flowers,like the botanical variety. But the plant also comes in red, pink or orange. If you really want to become the bees' favorite garden, plant a cultivar with yellow inflorescences. I hear it's Maya and her friends' favorite color!

Yarrow will overwinter in your garden without a problem. It can withstand temperatures down to -15°C. However, remember to cut back the stems to ten centimetres from the ground after flowering, so that the plant can renew itself.

#2 Catmint (Nepeta faassenii)

Catmint will also give you the opportunity to observe various species of insects - Photo by Jeffrey W. / Flickr

Rumor has it that bees, like humans, love the color blue. This is certainly true of Nepeta faassenii. Sometimes called catnip or catmint, this groundcover plant with its indigo flowers will earn you a visit from honeymakers and their fellow foragers from May to October.

Catnip grows everywhere, even in the most ungrateful soils, as long as the soil is well drained. You can add it to your rock gardens, plant it along your pathways or even pot it on your terrace. In this case, universal potting soil or garden soil will suffice.

#3 Spring crocus (Crocus vernus)

The spring crocus brings pollen and nectar to bees - Photo by Dschwen / Wikipedia

While most pollinating insects are present between March and October, a few butterflies like the Lemon or the Peacock, as well as bumblebees and early bees, point their wingtips as early as February. If you want to give them a well-deserved snack, plant spring crocuses (Crocus vernus). Their low, solitary flowers appear in the depths of winter.

To make sure your spring crocus blooms again year after year, don't touch the leaves while they're still green. Wait until they are completely wilted before removing them. In fact, the plant uses its foliage to build up reserves and feed its future flowering.

#4 True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Other lavender varieties are also melliferous - Photo by Mark Rowland / Flickr

Bees, butterflies and many other pollinating insects come to forage on lavender. On the other hand, its fragrant purple flowers, which bloom from June to August, are not to the taste of mosquitoes, flies, ticks and fleas. Two good reasons to turn a portion of your garden into a little corner of Provence!

True Lavender is pruned twice a year. The first time in spring, after the last frosts, to control its shape and development, and the second at the end of summer, to harvest the flowers for drying.

#5 Ornamental garlic (Allium giganteum)

Who hasn't dreamed of becoming a butterfly and taking a nap on an ornamental garlic plant? Photo by Patrick Standish / Flickr

You can't attract flies with vinegar. But you can attract butterflies and bees with an onion. Ornamental garlic (Allium giganteum) is a not-so-distant cousin of the vegetable. While it doesn't have the same culinary properties, it does have a remarkable inflorescence. Its violet flowers form an almost perfect sphere, fifteen centimetres in diameter, at the top of a stem over a metre long.

Ornamental garlic is a hardy bulb. It can remain in the ground throughout the winter, provided the soil is not soggy. Remember this when planting, and choose a well-drained spot, such as a rockery or the top of an embankment. You can also opt for planting in pots.

#6 Purple coneflower (Echinaceae purpurea)

Echinacea purpurea, the nectar dispenser - Photo by Donnchadh H. / Flickr

The solitary flowers of Purple Echinacea (Echinaceae purpurea) delight bees, bumblebees and butterflies. They will also delight bedding plant enthusiasts. With a height of 80 centimeters and a vast palette of colors, they add depth and character to any arrangement.

Purple Echinacea is virtually maintenance-free. Prune the dry parts of the plant in early spring and add compost at the base. Regular watering, especially during hot spells, will also enhance summer flowering.

#7 Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

When there's nectar for one, there's nectar for two - Photo by Digital cat / Flickr

With its large yellow, orange or red flowers that last from August to October, the sunflower feeds bees and insects at the end of the season. Birds then eat the seeds.

For summer flowers, sow your sunflowers in spring. Sow outdoors, in pots filled with rich soil. The success rate is high, provided you keep the substrate moist at all times.

#8 Buenos Aires verbena (Verbena bonariensis)

Does this butterfly look like Jack Skellington to you too? Photo by Greg Peterson / Wikipedia

Considered invasive in America, Buenos Aires verbena (Verbena bonariensis) is a melliferous plant much appreciated by butterflies and by gardeners who want to invite pollinating insects into their gardens and vegetable patches. Its corymbs of violet flowers combine business with pleasure, adding color and height to your crops.

Plant your Buenos Aires verbena in sunny, well-drained soil. The soil doesn't need to be rich. On the contrary! An overly fertile environment favors the development of foliage to the detriment of flowers.

#9 Common thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Some people think thyme flowers smell like roses. Ask this butterfly to confirm - Photo by Gilles Bassière /Flickr

Aromatic plants are also melliferous. This is certainly true of common thyme (Thymus vulgaris). The white and sometimes pale pink flowers that brighten up the shrub from April to July attract bees and other pollinating insects. They also repel slugs, flies and mosquitoes.

Common thyme is a scrubland plant that requires little water. Once it's established, you hardly need to look after it. In pots, water when the substrate has dried to five centimetres. In the open ground, water only in the event of severe drought. Afraid you'll forget? Download the Monstera app. We'll send you a personalized reminder of when to water.

#10 Borage (Borago officinalis)

For a bee, borage is like a Michelin-starred restaurant - Photo by Sara Shotley / Flickr

Bees and bumblebees aren't the only ones to feed on borage (Borago officinalis). The blue, star-shaped flowers are edible and can be found in the salads of those who love original, artistic cuisine. The only people who don't seem to enjoy the delights of borage are slugs. The plant is said to have a repellent effect on them.

You can sow Borago officinalis under cover as early as March. But if the plant is already present in your home, there's no need to complicate your life. It resows itself. Seeds that fall into the ground give birth to a new flower without you having to worry about them. They can also be moved by ants and bloom anywhere in your garden.

#11 Butterfly tree (Buddleia davidii)

The butterfly tree blooms from July to October - Photo by Stanze / Flickr

As its name suggests, the butterfly tree (Buddleia davidii) is the darling of lepidopterans. Its clusters of blue flowers, which bloom from June to September, are also a big hit with hoverflies and beetles. For the rest of the year, the tree continues to embellish your garden with its semi-caducous green or silver leaves.

The typical species (Buddleia davidii) is one of the prohibited plants, as it is too invasive. Commercially available cultivars are sterile and therefore perfectly legal. Take this opportunity to treat yourself to a variety with white, pink or multicolored flowers.

#12 Autumn thorn (Hylotelephium spectabile)

The autumn thistle is like the after-party of honey plants - Photo by Jim the photographer / Flickr

The corymbs of pink flowers of autumn barberry (Hylotelephium spectabile) bloom in September and persist until the end of October. This is a godsend for pollinating insects, which are still present at this time of year and have very little to eat.

The plant can withstand temperatures as low as -15°C, provided the soil is well drained. If your soil is clayey and your winters are wet, you may prefer to plant them in pots. Use a mixture of ordinary potting soil and sand to make the substrate lighter.

# 13 Cosmos

Bee playing chameleon on a cosmos - Photo by Maurice Flesier / Wikipedia

Rich in nectar and pollen, cosmos attract butterflies and bees. Their pink, red, yellow or orange flowers are also a magnet for ladybugs and hoverflies, two invaluable aphid-control agents.

Cosmos is easy to care for. If you want more abundant flowering, pinch off the ends of the stems when they reach five centimetres to encourage branching. Also cut off spent flowers to encourage the production of new flower buds.

#14 Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)

Coriander honey is a rare honey because the coriander plant produces its nectar randomly - Photo by Harold Litwiler /Flickr

If coriander isn't universally appreciated by humans, the debate is also raging among insects. Pollinators like hoverflies and parasitoid wasps love its small white or pale pink umbellate flowers,but pests like carrot flies, mites and aphids hate them.

Coriander is an annual plant. You'll need to harvest the seeds after flowering and then sow them, either under a warm, bright shelter or in the open ground in spring. Seed germination can be tricky. To increase your chances of success, leave them to soak overnight in lukewarm water.

#15 Sage (Salvia)

Butterflies like to climb too - Photo by US wildlife service / Flickr

The nectar-filled flowersof sage (Salvia) are favored by bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Their color depends on the variety. They can be blue-violet, as in wood sage (Salvia x sylvestris), red in Graham sage (Salvia microphylla) or white in Salvia apiana.

Sage fears excess humidity, both when watering and on its foliage. In an excessively humid environment, it is prone to botrytis and powdery mildew. You need to water sufficiently to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Finally, always water at the base of the plant, without wetting the leaves, to prevent fungi from developing.

By Servane Nemetz
on 23-09-2025 at 16h43