How can I attract both bees and butterflies?
Written by
Kiana Okafor
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.To attract both butterflies and bees, you need to choose plants that complement each other well. Milkweed is an exclusive and essential host plant for monarch caterpillars. Goldenrod serves as a nectar source for adult butterflies. Salvia serves as nectar for pollinator bees through its tubular flowers. Zinnias feature endlessly blooming flowers that are a favorite food source for butterflies. I've created a habitat garden incorporating these plant species so they can work together in harmony.
Milkweed & Goldenrod Combo
- Host-nectar synergy: Milkweed for caterpillars, goldenrod for adults
- Season coverage: Summer-fall support for monarch life cycle
- Space efficiency: Plant within 10 feet for maximum impact
Salvia
- Bee magnet: Tubular flowers perfect for honey bee tongues
- Drought tolerant: Thrives in hot conditions with minimal water
- Deer resistant: Aromatic leaves naturally repel browsers
Zinnias
- Butterfly access: Flat blooms allow easy landing and feeding
- Continuous color: Blooms from planting until frost
- Versatility: Grows equally well in ground or containers
Design shallow water sources to meet hydration needs. A dish with stones or floating wood works well. Butterflies sip water with minerals from wet soil. Bees access water to cool the hive. I replenish my water stations every morning in the summer heat.
Eliminate pesticide use in your home garden. Let us face the facts; even organic pesticides will harm pollinators when applied. Neem oil will disrupt a bee's navigation if it is sprayed incorrectly. I use companion planting instead. Marigolds can naturally repel aphids from milkweed.
Plan gardens with constant blooms. Plant zinnias near your milkweed patch. Place salvia along your pathways. This will create feeding paths. My garden plan staggered blooming. Thus, the bees and butterflies can work their way around flowers throughout the entire season.
Keep the host plants healthy to support caterpillar survival. Inspect milkweed leaves regularly for eggs. Don't remove any chewed leaves. I use netting to protect young caterpillars from predators. This maximizes successful butterfly emergence.
Even these small areas serve both pollinators and me well. Container arrays of milkweed and salvia work beautifully together. Balcony gardens can even attract a high diversity of species. I've monitored over 15 pollinator types in my patio garden. Every garden contributes to ecological conservation.
Read the full article: 10 Best Flowers for Pollinators
