To encourage high beneficial insect populations design your garden to incorporate a variety of flowering plants rich in nectar and pollen. Choose cultivars with easily accessible pollen found in plants with a single layer of petals or a tubular flower form. Common herbs, wildflowers, and scented plants are all attractive to beneficial insects. Do not clear out dead foliage in the fall, this is an important habitat for beneficial over the winter.
Spring
Columbine (Aquilegia species)
Perennial blooming in early spring.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Perennial herb blooming in early spring.
Violet (Viola species) and Johnny jump up (Viola cornuta)
Perennial blooming in early spring.
Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota)
Biennial blooming spring through summer.
Mossy stonecrop wallpepper (Sedum species)
Perennial blooming spring through summer.
Blue salvia (Salvia farinacea)
Annual blooming late spring through summer.
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Annual herb blooming late spring through summer.
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
Perennial herb blooming late spring through summer.
Tickseed (Coreopsis species)
Perennial blooming late spring through summer.
Thyme (Thymus species)
Perennial herb blooming late spring through summer
Summer
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
Annual herb blooming in early summer.
Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Biennial herb blooming in summer.
Lavender (Lavandula species)
Perennial herb blooming in summer.
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
Biennial blooming in summer.
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Perennial herb blooming in summer.
Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
Perennial herb blooming in summer.
Summer into Fall
Marigold (Tagetes species)
Annual blooming early summer into late fall.
Bee balm (Monarda didyma)
Perennial blooming summer into fall.
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Perennial blooming summer into fall.
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Annual blooming summer into fall.
Cumin (Cuminum cyminum)
Annual herb blooming summer into fall.
Goldenrod (Solidago species)
Perennial blooming summer into fall.
Mint (Mentha species) and Horsemint (Mentha longfolia)
Perennial herb blooming summer into fall.
Joe-Pye weed (Eupatorium species)
Perennial blooming summer into fall.
Yarrow (Achillea species)
Perennial blooming summer into fall.
Aster (Aster species)
Perennial blooming late summer into late fall.
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum species)
Perennial blooming summer into late fall.
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum species)
Annual blooming summer into late fall.
