The love for native plants is growing, and I couldn’t be more excited! Though foreign plants are gorgeous and exotic, they’re not helpful for our local pollinators. Many bees can’t access their flowers; they starve without pollen and nectar from their preferred plants.

Not all foreign plants are bad! It’s only the invasive, aggressive spreaders that you want to avoid. Non-spreading, nectar-rich plants are a boon to generalist pollinators. Unlike specialists that require specific plants or flowers, generalists thrive on many floral sources. 

It’s okay to start small! Each new plant you transplant into the garden is one more source of food for pollinators. Your actions, no matter how small, have lasting beneficial effects on the ecosystem.

For best results, start with one or two of these 15 Northeast native pollinator plants. They are incredibly valuable to pollinating insects, nesting birds, and egg-hatching butterflies and moths. 

Common Milkweed

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Common Milkweed/Butterfly Flower Seeds

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Milkweed

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Milkweed/Butterfly Flower Seeds

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Wild Bergamot

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Wild Bergamot Seeds

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American Witchhazel

	common name American Witchhazel
	botanical name Hamamelis virginiana
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 15-30’
	hardiness zones 3-9

One of the first bloomers in late winter, American witchhazels decorate eastern forests with spider-like blooms. Each flower has spindly petals that dangle down like spider legs! Moths love the blossoms alongside bees, pollinating flies, and other insects. 

After the blooms fade, small fruits form with developing seeds inside. The developing fruits are a favorite snack for birds and squirrels. The remaining fruits form seeds that turkeys forage for in their search for food. 

This shrub is a treat for wildlife and incredibly decorative in the ornamental garden. Its dual purpose makes it a choice specimen for gardens across the U.S., not just for ones in the Northeast. 

Boneset

	common name Boneset
	botanical name Eupatorium perfoliatum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-6’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Boneset is the perfect choice for wetlands! It’s tolerant of soggy soil and grows well in swamps, marshlands, and bogs. If other plants struggle in a particularly wet spot in your yard, consider switching them with boneset plants. 

After planting, the boneset plant spreads through underground roots and seeds above ground. It may form wide colonies and create a lovely site for pollinators. Its white flowers appear in late summer and fall to attract beneficial insects to your garden. 

Dense Blazing Star

	common name Dense Blazing Star
	botanical name Liatris spicata
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Blazing stars are often present in wildflower seed mixes. They’re quick-growing and perennial, surviving year to year in the same location. They bloom tall spikes full of small, fringe-like purple blossoms. Some varieties have pink or white blooms, though dense blazing stars have deep purple ones.

The dense blazing star is ideal for open, sunny sites like meadows, lawn edges, and borders. Watch as hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies flock to them in summer and fall when they’re readily blooming. 

Joe Pye Weed

	common name Joe Pye Weed
	botanical name Eutrochium fistulosum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 4-8’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Joe Pye weed excels in difficult sites. It’s a tall-growing wildflower with large, dense flowering heads full of small blossoms. Situate a specimen or two behind other low-growing perennials; the Joe Pye weed will grow tall and provide a backdrop for your other species. 

Like boneset, Joe Pye weed loves wet and moist soils. You’ll see it growing in wild meadows, forests, and open fields with excess moisture. Bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects love the flowers, while small birds love eating the seeds. 

Lance Self Heal

	common name Lance Self Heal
	botanical name Prunella vulgaris ssp. lanceolata
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 10”
	hardiness zones 4-9

Don’t mistake lance self heal for the weedy self heal! Lance self heal is a pollinator-friendly Northeaset native plant, whereas common self heal is a weedy, invasive species from Europe. I’d argue our native version is prettier than the European subspecies; lance self heal has large, purple flower heads that are showier than those of the weedy subspecies. 

This low-growing perennial is ideal for rock gardens, borders, and pollinator habitats. The flowers feed hungry bees in spring with nectar and protein-rich pollen, and the spreading stems offer habitat space for soil-nesting critters. 

Milkweed

	common name Milkweed
	botanical name Asclepias spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-5’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Many milkweeds grow in the U.S., with some endemic to states or counties! Scour native plant nurseries to find endemic milkweeds that grow locally in your region. Otherwise, choose from one of these three species common in the Northeast:

• Butterfly Flower (Asclepias tuberosa)
• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
• Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)

If you’re looking to help butterflies, milkweeds are the plants for your garden! Their flowers provide nectar for adults, while their leaves feed the caterpillars.

New Jersey Tea

	common name New Jersey Tea
	botanical name Ceanothus americanus
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-3’
	hardiness zones 4-8

New Jersey tea is the eastern version of California lilac. Both species are in the Ceanothus genus and are ideal for native plant gardens. New Jersey tea excels in the Northeast because of its strong and hardy roots. They anchor loose soils, helping with stabilization and erosion control on slopes. 

When in bloom, this native shrub stuns onlookers with clusters of fragrant white blossoms. It’s an important food source for butterflies, specialist and generalist bees, moths, and birds. 

Purple Coneflower

	common name Purple Coneflower
	botanical name Echinacea purpurea
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 3-4’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Purple coneflowers are iconic! They’re one of the most famous native species of North America and a favorite of gardeners worldwide. Like blazing stars, they’re common seeds inside wildflower mixes for pollinators. 

Purple coneflowers have spikey flower centers with purple petals adorning them. The landing pad-like blooms provide a resting place for bees, hoverflies, and butterflies. The flowers develop into seed heads that attract hungry birds in the fall and winter. 

Red Columbine

	common name Red Columbine
	botanical name Aquilegia canadensis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 1-3’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Red columbine fills forest floors with bright red and yellow blooms. The spurred flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies with the promise of sweet nectar. Perennial and self-sowing, red columbines are tough specimens that spread themselves in gardens and wild landscapes. 

This wildflower prefers shady conditions, though it can grow in sunny sites with increased moisture levels. Red columbine likes moist, well-drained soil without excess sogginess. Add compost annually near the roots to feed and protect them. 

Smooth Beardtongue

	common name Smooth Beardtongue
	botanical name Penstemon digitalis
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Many beardtongues are native to the U.S., and many others are exotic species that perform well in gardens. Rather than opting for a cultivar or variety, choose a Northeast native species like the smooth beardtongue for the best pollinator support! It pops up in open forests, prairies, and meadows with lots of sunlight.

Green, lanceolate leaves sprout low on smooth beardtongue stems. Above the leaves emerge white, foxglove-like blooms with sweet aromas. They’ll attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, creating a pollinator habitat wherever they thrive. 

Smooth Blue Aster

	common name Smooth Blue Aster
	botanical name Symphyotrichum laeve
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-4’
	hardiness zones 4-8

American asters are excellent choices for northeastern gardens! They flower at summer’s end when most other wildflowers have finished. Their late-season blooms provide valuable pollen and nectar to hungry pollinators before they prepare for winter.

The smooth blue aster is a special species of the American asters. It sprouts dozens of bright blooms with lavender petals and yellow centers. They open at the same time goldenrods do, creating a lovely contrast in the wild in late summer and early fall. 

Stiff Goldenrod

	common name Stiff Goldenrod
	botanical name Solidago rigida
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 3-5’
	hardiness zones 3-9

Alongside purple asters sprout yellow goldenrods. The stiff goldenrod is a species native to the eastern and northern parts of the U.S. Its golden flower spikes are boons for pollinators! Their nutritious rewards feed specialist bees, bumblebees, and butterflies.

Though helpful for wildlife, the stiff goldenrod can grow weedy in suitable locations. It self-seeds and spreads through rhizomatous roots, forming thick stands over time. Let it roam in an open site, or keep it restricted in a container. 

Swamp Verbena

	common name Swamp Verbena
	botanical name Verbena hastata
	genus 3-8
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Swamp verbena, or vervain, is a decorative, architectural wildflower that’s superb for home gardens. It’s a wet soil lover that grows well in moist, boggy conditions throughout the eastern U.S. It’s perfect next to pools, ponds, and fountains.

Pollinators aren’t the only beneficial insects for gardens! Predatory insects are helpful, too, as they eat harmful pests that threaten crops and flowers. Swamp verbena flowers attract pollinators, while the seeds lure hungry birds like cardinals, sparrows, and juncos. 

This verbena also attracts predatory insects like wasps and beetles. It’s perfect for around the vegetable beds, though it will self-seed when given the chance. Pull up unruly seedlings and transplant them elsewhere, or consider growing this species in a remote area where it can roam freely. 

Wild Bergamot

	common name Wild Bergamot
	botanical name Monarda fistulosa
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2-5’
	hardiness zones 3-8

Wild bergamot is a boon for both the gardener and pollinators. Its leaves are perfect for making tea, while its lavender-pink blossoms are nectar-rich for hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Wild bergamot is a mint relative that grows similarly; it spreads through seeds and free-rooting rhizomatous stems. 

I like to plant wild bergamot around my raised beds. The blossoms attract pollinators that may visit my other crops and help increase my yields at harvest time. Many crops, like cucumbers, squash, and pumpkins, rely on pollinators for successful fertilization and fruit formation. 

Yarrow

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

Yarrow grows across most states; it’s adaptable, tough, and dependable. Dozens of yarrow varieties and cultivars offer red, pink, yellow, and white blooms. Though cultivars are pretty, the species type Achillea millefolium is the best kind for pollinators. Its white flower clusters are like landing pads, acting as resting points for tired bees. 

Not only is yarrow superb for insects, but it’s also an elegant cut flower! Use it in fresh arrangements, or let the flowers dry and arrange them in dry bouquets. The dried blossoms retain their color and fragrance for months.