What To Plant To Attract Pollinators In Pennsylvania Gardens

Why plant for pollinators? In Pennsylvania, pollinators — including native bees, honeybees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and beetles — are essential to healthy ecosystems, backyard vegetable production, and flowering landscapes. Creating a garden that reliably supports pollinators requires species selection, seasonal planning, shelter and nesting sites, water sources, and pesticide-free management. This guide gives practical, region-specific recommendations, with concrete plant choices, site and soil notes, and sample planting plans suited to Pennsylvania’s climate zones (USDA Zones 5-7).

Why pollinators matter in Pennsylvania

Pollinators provide essential ecosystem services: they fertilize wildflowers, fruit trees, and vegetable crops. In Pennsylvania, agricultural commodities such as apples, berries, and vegetables benefit from insect pollination. Native pollinators are often more efficient than managed honeybees at pollinating native plants, and different pollinators are active at different times and temperatures. Supporting a diversity of pollinators increases ecosystem resilience against pests, disease, and climate variability.

Key principles for a pollinator-friendly garden

A pollinator-friendly garden follows a few simple principles that determine success more than any single plant choice.

• Plant a mix of native species that flower from early spring through late fall.
• Provide continuous bloom so nectar and pollen are available throughout the growing season.
• Choose a variety of flower shapes and colors to accommodate different pollinators (flat composite flowers, tubular blooms, and clustered umbels).
• Avoid pesticides, especially broad-spectrum insecticides; use integrated pest management if problems arise.
• Provide nesting and overwintering habitat: bare soil patches, undisturbed leaf litter, hollow stems, and dead wood.
• Include water sources such as shallow basins with landing stones or a dripping feature.

These principles guide the plant recommendations below.

Native trees, shrubs, and large plants that support pollinators

Trees and shrubs are high-value investments: they provide large nectar and pollen resources, early and late season blooms, and nesting habitat.

Trees

• Magnolia species (e.g., Magnolia virginiana, Magnolia acuminata): early spring nectar for bees and beetles; tolerate moist sites.
• Red maple (Acer rubrum): early spring pollen and nectar for bees; adaptable to many soils.
• Black cherry (Prunus serotina): spring blossoms attract bees and flies; important for early-season pollinators.
• Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.): spring flowers feed bees; also provides fruit for birds later.

Shrubs

• Spicebush (Lindera benzoin): early spring flowers used by bees; host plant for spicebush swallowtail caterpillar.
• New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus): summer blooms that attract bees and butterflies; drought-tolerant once established.
• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis): produces globe-shaped flowers attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; thrives in wet soils.
• Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia): fragrant summer blooms that attract bees and butterflies; shade-tolerant.

Plant trees and shrubs with staggered bloom times to supply pollen and nectar across seasons.

Best perennials for Pennsylvania pollinators

Perennials form the backbone of a pollinator garden; choose natives where possible for the best ecological fit.

• Spring-blooming perennials:
• Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis): hummingbird favorite; prefers part shade and well-drained soil.
• Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica): early nectar source for bees and butterflies; grows in moist, shaded woods.
• Bee balm (Monarda didyma): attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; prefers sun and average to moist soils.
• Summer-blooming perennials:
• Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): classic pollinator plant; long bloom time, tolerates drought.
• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida): attracts bees and butterflies; durable and easy to grow.
• Blazing star (Liatris spicata): excellent for butterflies and native bees; prefers full sun and well-drained soil.
• Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum): tall, late-summer flowers that attract butterflies and bees; prefers moist soils.
• Fall-blooming perennials:
• Aster species (Aster novae-angliae, Symphyotrichum spp.): critical late-season nectar sources for migrating butterflies and bees.
• Goldenrod (Solidago spp.): often mistakenly blamed for allergies but vital for late-season pollinators; plant native goldenrods rather than aggressive cultivars.
• Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum): long bloom period, fragrant foliage, attracts bees and hummingbirds.

When installing perennials, group plants in drifts of single species to make nectar sources more visible and efficient for pollinators.

Annuals, herbs, and vegetables that help pollinators

Annuals and herbs fill gaps in bloom timing, provide immediate color, and support pollinators in small spaces.

• Annuals:
• Zinnia (Zinnia elegans): summer nectar source for butterflies and bees; easy to grow from seed.
• Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus): airy plants with open flowers that attract butterflies.
• Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus): attract bees and provide seeds for birds later.
• Herbs and edible flowers:
• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia): attractive to bees and fragrant; needs good drainage and sun.
• Borage (Borago officinalis): blue star-shaped flowers beloved by bees; self-seeds readily.
• Thyme and oregano when allowed to flower provide nectar for small bees.
• Vegetable flowers:
• Brassicas (broccoli, kale, mustard): early spring flowers useful if you allow bolting.
• Squash and cucurbit flowers: pollinated primarily by bees; planting extra can help pollination of your crops.

Allow a few herbs and vegetables to flower or set aside a dedicated annual bed to maintain continuous bloom.

Grasses and groundcovers for nesting and habitat

Pollinator gardens should include nesting habitats and shelter. Native grasses and groundcovers provide structure, cover, and nesting sites for solitary bees.

• Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium): native bunchgrass providing structure and overwintering habitat.
• Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica): low-maintenance groundcover; supports ground-nesting bees.
• Clover (Trifolium spp.): white and crimson clover provide nectar and are useful in lawns and pathways if allowed to bloom.

Leave patches of bare ground, maintain some dead stems and leaf litter, and avoid intensive fall clean-up to preserve overwintering sites.

Designing for season-long blooms and pollinator diversity

A successful design balances bloom succession, flower form diversity, and habitat features.

• Schedule bloom: Map out when plants flower. Aim for at least three species in bloom in any given week from March through October. Early spring bulbs and trees, followed by spring perennials, summer heavy-hitters, and late asters and goldenrods, create continuous resources.
• Provide multiple flower shapes: Flat-topped umbels and composites (e.g., aster family) are accessible to short-tongued bees; tubular flowers (e.g., penstemon, columbine) favor long-tongued bees and hummingbirds.
• Group plants: Plant in clusters of 5-10 or more of the same species to reduce foraging energy expenditure and increase visibility.
• Include vertical structure: Trees, shrubs, tall perennials, and grasses create microclimates and shelter for different pollinators.
• Water and perches: Provide shallow water with stones for landing and perches for hummingbirds.

A simple weekly bloom calendar can keep you focused on filling gaps in nectar availability.

Maintenance, pesticides, and common pitfalls

Maintenance practices have large impacts on pollinator success.

• Limit pesticide use: Avoid systemic neonicotinoids and broad-spectrum insecticides. If pest control is necessary, use targeted applications late in the evening when pollinators are least active and choose less toxic alternatives.
• Leave some dead stems and leaf litter: Many native bees nest in cavities, hollow stems, or in the ground. Cutting everything back in fall removes nesting habitat and food for overwintering insects.
• Mulch wisely: Use thin layers of organic mulch in garden beds, but leave areas of bare, compacted soil where ground-nesting bees can nest.
• Prune selectively: Delay hard pruning of woody plants until after bloom whenever possible, and avoid spring cleanup that removes early-season bee nesting sites.
• Monitor and adapt: Observe which plants attract the most pollinators in your garden and expand those plantings.

Avoid the trap of tidy landscaping that eliminates natural features pollinators need.

Sample planting plans for different yard sizes

1. Small urban balcony or courtyard:
2. Containers: Bee balm, lavender, borage, and a dwarf sunflower.
3. Herbs: Thyme and oregano allowed to flower.
4. Water: Small shallow saucer with stones.
5. Suburban pollinator border (sunny 10 x 4 ft bed):
6. Front row: Salvia, thyme, phlox.
7. Middle row: Echinacea, Rudbeckia.
8. Back row: Liatris, Joe-Pye weed, a small native shrub like Ceanothus or spicebush.
9. Include a clump of asters for fall and a patch of goldenrod.
10. Large property or meadow transformation:
11. Mix of native grasses: little bluestem, switchgrass.
12. Perennial matrix: dense stands of blazing star, black-eyed Susan, asters, and goldenrod.
13. Scattered native trees: serviceberry, black cherry, red maple.
14. Leave unmowed strips and bare patches for nesting.

Adapt plant lists to your sun exposure, soil, and desired maintenance level.

Practical takeaways and quick checklist

• Prioritize native species but supplement with pollinator-friendly non-natives when needed.
• Create continuous bloom from March to October by combining early, mid, and late season plants.
• Group plantings and select varied flower shapes and colors to support diverse pollinators.
• Provide nesting habitat: bare soil, hollow stems, dead wood, and leaf litter.
• Eliminate systemic and broad-spectrum insecticides; use targeted, least-toxic methods if needed.
• Keep water available and minimize garden tidiness that removes habitat.

Planting for pollinators is an iterative process. Start small, observe, and expand the species and structure that attract the greatest diversity. With careful selection and basic habitat features, Pennsylvania gardens can become vibrant, functioning ecosystems that support pollinators year after year.