01. Dill

Growing dill provides more than just a fresh herb for cooking. It is also an important host plant for black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars. If you allow dill to bolt and flower, it will attract many types of pollinators.

For the best pollinator benefits, grow dill alongside cucumbers and other plants in the Cucurbit family.

02. Borage

Borage is a lesser-known annual herb with beautiful periwinkle-blue flowers and edible leaves that have a slightly cucumber-like flavor.

Its sweet nectar attracts bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Because borage has a long taproot and does not transplant well, it is best to direct-sow it in the garden after the last spring frost.

03. Parsley

If you grow parsley, you may notice black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars feeding on its leaves.

To attract pollinating bees, allow parsley to flower. Since parsley is a biennial herb, it usually produces flowers in its second year. Its flowers can attract honey bees, mason bees, and sweat bees.

04. Cilantro

Cilantro tends to bolt quickly in summer heat, but this can actually be beneficial if you're growing it as a pollinator-friendly plant.

Its flowers attract bees, bumblebees, butterflies, and beneficial insects such as parasitic wasps, ladybugs, and hoverflies. Many of these beneficial insects help control garden pests.

05. Chives

Chives are a perennial herb with globe-shaped flowers that attract a wide variety of pollinators.

Plant chives near tomatoes and other nightshades, or grow them near melons, pumpkins, and squash. Their flowers are particularly attractive to bees.

06. Sweet Alyssum

Sweet alyssum produces pretty purple and white flowers that attract many types of pollinators.

For an attractive look, plant it along the edges of garden beds, where the flowers can spill over the sides. Keep in mind that sweet alyssum can reseed itself freely and may appear in other areas of the garden.

07. Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums have edible flowers and leaves with a peppery flavor.

Hummingbirds are especially attracted to their flowers, but they also attract other pollinators. Trailing varieties work well when you have plenty of space, while mounding varieties are better for small gardens and containers.

08. Zinnias

Zinnias are commonly grown for cut flowers, but they also make excellent companion plants for vegetables that depend on insect pollination.

Grow them near melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and pumpkins. Choose varieties with single rows of petals and wide-open flowers, since double-flowered varieties can be harder for pollinators to access.

09. Cosmos

Cosmos are short-day annuals that begin flowering in late summer as the days become shorter.

Once they start blooming, they can continue flowering from midsummer until the first frost. Cosmos attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects such as hoverflies.

10. Sunflowers

Sunflowers are rich in pollen and nectar, making them highly attractive to pollinators.

Use dwarf sunflowers as border plants or grow them in containers near your vegetable garden. Plant taller varieties toward the back or on the north side of garden beds so they don't block sunlight from shorter vegetables.

If your main goal is attracting pollinators, avoid pollen-free sunflower varieties, which provide fewer benefits for bees and other insects.

11. Marigolds

Marigolds are often grown as companion plants for pest control, but their bright flowers are also highly attractive to bees and butterflies.

To get an early start, sow marigold seeds indoors in spring and transplant the seedlings outdoors once the weather warms. You can also direct-sow them after the danger of frost has passed.

Growing marigolds from seed is an affordable way to produce lots of plants and experiment with different varieties.