14 Plants That Attract Beneficial Insects

Flowers & plants I’ve added to attract beneficial insects!

I’m not anti-pesticides—they certainly have their place in gardening. But I try my best not to use them. Instead, I try to companion plant my food crops with plants and flowers that attract beneficial insects.

That way, when pests try to move in, there is a high chance that I might already have a few beneficial insects hanging around! Bees, butterflies, hover flies, lacewings, ladybugs, and parasitic wasps, are just a few of the things I’m trying to attract to put in the work for me. So let’s dive in to some of my favorites.

1. Zinnias (Zinnia Elegans)

Let’s start off with zinnias—perhaps one of the most beloved annuals around. The scientific name is Zinnia elegans. There are tons of different types of zinnias, and they are super easy to grow. You can start them inside or just sprinkle seeds in the ground, and they enjoy full sun.

They aren’t just showy, either. Zinnias are known for attracting bees, butterflies, ladybugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps, and more. And it’s super easy to harvest zinnia seeds to save for next year, too!

2. Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia Maritima)

Sweet alyssum, otherwise known as lobularia maritima is a low-growing perennial herb native to the Mediterranean. Where I live it’s an annual, meaning I have to plant it every year. You can usually buy plugs of these in cheap market packs.

This year, I got white, purple, and magenta. They spread nicely, so they look great planted around taller flowers like zinnias. Sweet alyssum can tolerate a variety of lighting conditions from full sun to partial shade. And it produces a lot of nectar, meaning it attracts beneficial insects all spring and summer.

3. Yarrow (Achillea Millefolium)

Yarrow, also known as achillea millefolium, is a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the Asteraceae (aka daisy) family. It is known for feathery foliage and clusters of tiny gorgeous flowers that can be white, yellow, pink, or purple.

Yarrow is a hardy and adaptable plant that can tolerate a range of growing conditions like poor soil, drought, and full sun. It’s perennial where I live, meaning it will come back on its own every year. Yarrow’s nectar-rich flowers provide a valuable food source for bees, butterflies, hover flies, lacewings, ladybugs, parasitic wasps, and more.

4. Lavender (Lavandula)

Lavender is a flowering plant in the genus lavandula, which is actually part of the mint family. Different types of lavender can be annuals and perennials, even in the same grow zone. I grow many types, and their flowers can range from pale lavender and purple to blue, pink, or white.

Many gardeners add lavender to their gardens because of its fragrance and flowers—but it also generally has pretty good drought tolerance and attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies. You can also dry it and save it for other projects!

5. Dill (Anethum Graveolens)

You probably think of pickles when you think of dill (anethum graveolens). And I definitely use the dill in my garden to make fridge pickles! But it’s good for so many other things, too.

Dill belongs to the apiaceae (carrot) family and is relatively easy to grow in full sun and well-draining soil. I have mine in my raised beds, my GreenStalk vertical garden, and in the ground throughout my yard.

This common herb produces clusters of small, yellow flowers that eventually turn into seeds. These clusters of flowers attract beneficial insects like butterflies, bees, and predatory wasps. Save the seeds for next year, too!

6. Cilantro (Coriandrum Sativum)

Cilantro, aka coriandrum sativum, is also an herb in the carrot family. Coriander and cilantro are the same thing—coriander is just the plant’s dried seeds, not the highly aromatic leaves (love them or hate them).

Generally if you want to harvest leaves on your cilantro, you shouldn’t let it flower and “go to seed.” However, if you want the beneficial insects, let that bad boy flower! The little white clusters are pretty and remind me of baby’s breath–and they are a food source for bugs.

7. Marigolds (Tagetes)

Marigolds have a smell that can throw me right back into my childhood backyard. Deadheading them is one of my favorite gardening tasks for that reason.

I have yellow and orange marigolds, and you can pick up a market pack of marigolds for pretty cheap. I have mine planted in and around the raised garden beds since they are generally good at repelling some garden pests.

And in addition to repelling garden pests, they also attract a variety of beneficial insects. They aren’t known as the best plant to use to attract beneficial insects, though. Despite this, given how easy they are to grow and some other pest deterrent properties they have, I still recommend working them into your garden!

8. Aster (Aster)

Fall might mean many of the plants that attract beneficial insects are past their peak bloom time. Enter fall’s favorite flower: aster! Aster is a genus with adorable star-shaped flowers that bloom prolifically in the fall in shades of white, pink, purple, blue, and yellow.

Asters are highly attractive to pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. They are particularly valuable as late-season nectar sources when many other flowers have finished blooming.

9. Milkweed (Asclepias)

Milkweed refers to a group of plants that belong to the genus asclepias. It is generally known for its importance as a host plant for monarch butterflies! Milkweed plants vary in size and bloom color depending on the type. The flowers are small, highly fragrant, and clustered in umbels.

In addition to being the only host for monarch butterfly eggs and caterpillars, milkweed flowers produce abundant nectar, making them a solid choice for attracting other types of butterflies, bees, beetles, hover flies, lacewings, and more.

If you’re a houseplant fan and have hoyas, you’ll immediately see the similarities. Milkweed plants and hoyas (genus hoya) are both members of the Apocynaceae family—aka the dogbane family. They are related and share some botanical characteristics.

10. Sunflowers (Helianthus Annuus)

How could I not include sunflowers? Sunflowers, the scientific name for which is helianthus annuus, are a classic garden flower. And they grow quite prolifically.

Sunflower heads are large and provide a ton of nectar. It’s also easy to pollinators to access this nectar given the structure of the plant’s flower heads. Add sunflowers if you’d like to attract bees, butterflies, hover flies, beetles, and even seed-eating birds.

11. Catmint (Nepeta cataria)

Catmint refers to many different types of plants in the Nepeta genus. They are typically mounding perennials with small, delicate purple/blue flowers. And these flowers have a long bloom time, attracting pollinators like crazy all season!

12. Tickseed (Coreopsis)

Tickseed, aka coreopsis, is another of the newer perennials I’ve added to my garden. I loved the look of the feathery leaves, and I’d been looking for some yellow additions to the garden when I found a yellow tickseed variety.

Native to North American prairies, meadows, and woodlands, tickseed blooms quite prolifically from spring through summer. The flowers also last quite a while before needing to be dead-headed. And they attract a wide variety of beneficial insects and pollinators.

13. Black-Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia)

Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) are a must-have for any Maryland gardener. After all, it’s our state flower here in America’s BEST state! 🙂 Black-eyed Susans produce yellow or orange flowers with dark brown or black “eyes” in the center.

No matter the type of black-eyed Susan you choose, the abundant nectar and pollen in each flower makes the plants valuable food sources for beneficial bugs like bees and butterflies. I have them planted throughout in my garden.

14. Cone Flowers (Echinacea)

Coneflowers, also known as echinacea, are native to North America and are prized for their showy, daisy-like flowers with cone-shaped centers. They can be many different colors, including purple, pink, white, yellow, red, and more. I have pink, red, and white.

Pollinators and beneficial insects love coneflowers because of their nectar-rich flowers and accessible cone centers. If you love butterflies, add coneflowers!

Pin my post!