When we think about pollinators, most gardeners see swaths of perennial flowers in bloom, covered in bees and butterflies. But what are the best annuals for pollinators? Here in the Central Great Plains, I continue to expand my list of best annuals for pollinators. As each season progresses, I track insects coming into my garden, as well in several other places. My mother-in-law’s garden, a trial garden at Kansas State University, and the beds at Grimm’s Garden are all used by me to find the best flowers for pollinators.
What is an annual plant? It is a plant which completes its life cycle in one season, from seed to flower to seed again and then dies completely. There are many plants in the Central Great Plains which are annuals. Some of them are native, and many would not think those fitting for a landscape bed or planting. But there are several species which are not native to the region and may actually be perennials in their native range. We may use some perennials as annuals in our Zone.
I am going to cover two types of the best annuals for pollinators: those good for landscape beds, and those which are weedy and can make great additions in a meadow garden.
Best Annuals in Landscape Beds
When I think of landscape beds (with bedding plants), I generally see large, sweeping beds of color. I like to use tough, hardy annuals which are drought tolerant and will bloom all season long, such as salvia, gomphrena, and petunia. But these are not the best annuals for pollinators. However, there are 6 annuals which I do use in many applications which are great for pollinators.
Bidens Campfire ‘Marshmallow’
A recent introduction from Proven Winners, this spreading annual grows 14 inches tall by 24 inches wide. It is covered with small, 3/4″ sized white blossom from June to October. In 2024 I planted it alongside my driveway bed and only watered it when I planted it. After that they only got moisture when it rained, and that was rare. It is very drought tolerant. As for pollinators, I observed thread-waited wasps, bees, beetles, and skipper butterflies.
Mexican Sunflower
Also called by its Genus name, Tithonia, this annual is a tall one, growing 3 to 6 feet tall and up to 3 feet wide. The blossoms can be orange, red, or yellow, depending on your seed source. But I like the bright orange ones best for pollinators. These plants need sunlight, they suffer if slightly shaded. But they can be started easily by seed in the greenhouse and planted out. Everything I have thus observed on tithonia has been butterflies, including zebra, pipevine, giant, and eastern tiger swallowtails, monarchs, cloudless sulphurs, and painted lady butterflies.
Brazilian Verbena
One of my favorite plants for its structure in the garden, Brazilian verbena is a tall plant, reaching 2 to 4 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. The plant is covered from June to October in small, bright purple flowers. There are several cultivars available which are more bushy and compact in size, including ‘Meteor Shower’ from Proven Winners. It is both heat and drought tolerant and thrives in sunny sites. Most of my pollinator observations has been butterflies, including zebra, black, and giant swallowtails, skippers, and monarchs.
Zinnia
Zinnias are often planted in large masses by flower farms, because they hold up so well in arrangements and come in a variety of flower colors and shapes. With double flowers, candy-striped, and soft pastel colors available, its hard to pick a bad zinnia. And the butterflies love them! Zinnias come in a variety of sizes too, from 12 inches to 48 inches tall, and are best planted in masses. I have observed the following species:
- Monarchs
- Common buckeye
- Zebra swallowtail
- Giant swallowtail
- Black swallowtail
- Eastern tiger swallowtail
- Grass skippers
- Spreadwing skippers
- Sulphur butterflies
- Painted ladies
- Great spangled fritillary
- Hover flies
- Tachinid flies
- Longhorn bees
- Bumblebees
Lantana
One of the best annuals for heat and durability, lantana shines on the edge of the garden. It grows 1 to 2 feet tall by 2 to 3 feet wide. Colors are generally bright or tropical, reds, yellows, and oranges. But there are also purple, white, pink, and many bi-colors. The only issue I have with lantana is the smell of the leaves. But if you do not need to go and prune or mess with them, then they are perfect because they can handle the heat and drought easily. Pollinators include:
- Skippers
- Checkerspots
- Sulphur butterflies
- Bee flies
- Painted ladies
- Hummingbird moths
Helenium ‘Dakota Gold’
This probably the best of the annuals for pollinators. Low growing, it reaches 6 to 8 inches tall and each plant can grow 3 feet wide. It is drought tolerant, and native to the Great Plains. The flowers are bright yellow, and attractive to many insects, for both pollen and nectar. Unlike the other landscape worthy annuals, this one actually supports the larval development of some species of butterflies and is a host for several Aster Family specialist bees. Pollinators can include:
- Hairstreaks
- Skippers
- Sweat bees
- Mason wasps
- Beetles
- Weevils
- Bumblebees
- Tachinid flies
- Hover flies
- Leafcutter bees
- Ichneumonid wasps
- Thread-waisted wasps
Best Annuals – Weedy
Even though these annuals are weedy in appearance, many of them make great cut flowers. I let them grow in my meadow garden area because of their beneficial nature. Many of them are host plants for either specialist bees or moths/butterflies. They can add interest and variety to the garden, if put in their place.
Daisy Fleabane
Many of the species of Erigeron (Fleabanes) are quite ornamental and do well in more typical landscape settings. But daisy fleabane is more a tall, thuggish cousin. It reseeds easily into the garden, and is often a weed in more cultured areas. But there are a lot of pollinators gathering pollen on it. Daisy fleabane grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide. Pollinators include:
- Red admiral butterfly
- American snout butterfly
- Checkerspots
- Soldier beetles
- Weevils
- Bee flies
- Sulphur butterflies
- Plant bugs
- Hover flies
Snow On the Mountain
One of the Euphorbias, Snow on the Mountain has a milky white sap which can irritate those with sensitive skin. Despite those shortcomings, it is extremely drought tolerant, loves the sunshine, and has pretty green and white variegation in the floral bracts around the flowers. It grows 3 to 5 feet tall by 2 to 3 feet wide. Pollinators of snow on the mountain include:
- Wasps
- Painted lady butterfly
- Soldier beetles
- Blister beetles
- Sweat bees
- Bee flies
- Checkerspot butterflies
Wild Chicory
If you are seeing blue all summer long along the roadsides, then you are likely seeing wild chicory. An introduced species from Europe, chicory was originally brought over by the European settlers, who used the roots as an alternative for coffee, and used the rest of the plant in various ways. The flowers are used for dyes. In the wild, it grows 1 to 4 feet tall and 2 feet wide, and is drought and heat tolerant, often growing in dry, gravelly soils. Pollinators include longhorn bees, resin bees, leafcutter bees, bumblebees, and blister beetles.
Dame’s Rocket
This is probably one of our most fragrant “wildflowers”. From late spring to mid summer, dame’s rocket can be seen blooming along roadsides and in ditches throughout the Central Great Plains. Another introduction from Europe, this fragrant wildflower mostly blooms purple, but can also be pink, white, or light lavender. It is a member of the Mustard Family and reseeds easily. It grows 3 to 6 feet tall and blooms continuously for 3 months. Pollinators include Painted lady butterflies, hover flies, and skipper butterflies.
Wild Carrot
Also known as Queen Anne’s lace, this biennial introduction from Europe has edible roots and leaves, and is a great addition to both the cutting garden and the meadow. With very lacy foliage and delicate white flowers, it grows 1 to 3 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. It can be found along roadsides and in abandoned fields, as it reseeds easily into the landscape. Pollinators include:
- Braconid and ichneumonid wasps
- Flower beetles
- Longhorn beetles
- Ants
- Sawflies
- Mining bees
- Hoverflies
- Checkerspot butterflies
- Wedge beetles
Wild Sunflower
If you live in the Central Great Plains, then you know all about wild sunflowers. Or at least, you have observed them in nearly every ditch or weedy field area in summer. If you want to see bees, then add wild sunflowers to you pollinator plot. They are some of the best annuals for pollinators among the weedy annuals. Annual sunflowers can grow 6 to 18 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. Wild sunflowers have been widely hybridized for seed production and flower color. Some of the pollinators include:
- Leafcutter bees
- Longhorn bees
- Bumblebees
- Honeybees
- Skipper butterflies
Other Annuals for Pollinators
This is just a list of some other annuals which may be more likely to support pollinators with pollen and nectar, but are not as ideal for landscaping, except in specific places.
- American belleflower
- Leavenworth eryngo
- Tropical milkweed
- Basil
- Bachelor’s buttons
- Cosmos
- Dill
- Gomphrena
- Marigolds
- Salvia
- Strawflower
Conclusion
When you are looking for the best annuals for pollinators, remember to seek out colors of yellows, blues, lavenders, and purples. Many of our pollinators favor these colors and many of them also prefer to be out when those are blooming in the heat of summer. You have the power in your gardens to keep biodiversity humming.
Happy planting!
