Listed below are ten species that we think are important to include in your Atlanta pollinator garden, and that will help you to get on the right track when you are beginning your garden. They have been compiled with a focus on providing species that are native, diverse in habitat, varied in floral type, color and bloom period, and are providers of both habitat and forage sources for our native pollinators.
Remember that the more diverse your garden, the more diverse your visiting pollinators will be! So go ahead and include as many of these species as you can, and check out our other resources and planting guides here for more ideas.
Remember the guidelines when planting any species in your pollinator garden:
Go native! Be diverse! and Be informed!
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1. Wild Bergamot or Bee balm
Family: | Lamiaceae |
Genus: | Monarda |
Species: | fistulosa |
Common name: | Bee balm or wild bergamot |
Range: | Central and northern part of the state |
Habit: | Perennial herb, 2-4 feet |
Cultivation: | Sun to part shade, dry to moist soil, is heat tolerant |
Blooms: | Purple and light pink, May through September |
Attracts: | Long tongued bees, adult butterflies and larvae |
2. Foxglove Beard tongue
Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
Genus: | Penstemon |
Species: | digitalis |
Common name: | Foxglove beard tongue |
Range: | Present in state |
Habit: | Herbaceous perennial matured to 4 feet |
Cultivation: | Well drained soils in full sun. |
Blooms: | White, June-July |
Attracts: | Bumble, mason, miner, and leaf cutter bees |
3. Gray goldenrod
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Solidago |
Species: | nemoralis Aiton |
Common name: | Gray goldenrod, Prairie goldenrod |
Range: | Present throughout the state, present in three major counties in GAPP focus area |
Habit: | Perennial herb, grows 1-2 feet |
Cultivation: | Dry soil, varied light conditions, grows shorter and less aggressive than most other species |
Blooms: | Yellow, July through October |
Attracts: | Honey, carpenter bees and butterflies |
4. Butterfly weed
Family: | Asclepiadaceae |
Genus: | Asclepias |
Species: | tuberosa |
Common name: | Butterfly weed |
Range: | Common throughout the state |
Habit: | Bushy perennial, 1 to 1.5 feet |
Cultivation: | dry soils |
Blooms: | Red to yellow mostly orange, August through October |
Attracts: | Nectar supply for Monarch butterflies |
5. Swamp milkweed
Family: | Asclepiadaceae |
Genus: | Asclepias |
Species: | incarnata |
Common name: | Swamp milkweed |
Range: | Primarily a mountain species, found in the Piedmont and Coastal Plains |
Habit: | herbaceous perennial, 30 -60 inches high |
Cultivation: | moist to wet soils |
Blooms: | pink to mauve and sometimes white, early to mid summer |
Attracts: | larval host plant and adult nectar source for Monarch butterflies |
6. Wild Lupine
Family: | Fabaceae |
Genus: | Lupinis |
Species: | perennis L. |
Common name: | Sundial Lupine, Wild Lupine |
Range: | found in state, mostly to the southeastern counties |
Habit: | Perennial lupine with pea like flowers that top a 1-2 meter stem |
Cultivation: | Requires well drained soils |
Blooms: | Blue/purple early blooming – April, May, June and July |
Attracts: | Humming birds, bumblebees, larval host plant of frosted elfin butterfly |
7. Purple Passionflower
Family: | Passifloraceae |
Genus: | Passiflora |
Species: | incarnata |
Common name: | Purple passionflower |
Range: | Present in the state |
Habit: | Herbaceous perennial vine |
Cultivation: | Thrives in sunshine with minimum maintenance |
Blooms: | Large intricate purple flowers with prominent styles and stamens, July through September |
Attracts: | Exclusive larval host for the Gulf Fritillary butterfly |
8. Late purple aster
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Symphotrichum |
Species: | patens |
Common name: | Late purple aster |
Range: | Found within the state |
Habit: | Leaves encircle stem, 1-3 feet tall, perennial herb |
Cultivation: | bushy habit consider when planting, drought tolerant |
Blooms: | Deep violet ray flowers with a yellow disk, September – October |
Attracts: | Butterflies, bees, moths |
9. Sweet mountain azalea
Family: | Ericaceae |
Genus: | Rhododendren |
Species: | canescens |
Common name: | Sweet mountain azaleas, |
Range: | present in majority of state. Found in all counties in the Atlanta area |
Habit: | Hardy shrub, can grow up to 5 feet |
Cultivation: | Prefer acidic soils, partial to near full shade does best in moister soils, not very drought tolerant |
Blooms: | Pink white blooms, early March and April, fragrant |
Attracts: | Hummingbirds, large winged, long legged butterflies |
10. Common Yarrow
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Achillea |
Species: | millefolium L. |
Common name: | Common yarrow |
Range: | Throughout Georgia. Present in at least 3 urban Atlanta counties |
Habit: | Herbaceous perennial, stems can grow up to 3 ft. |
Cultivation: | Well drained soil in full sun, but will tolerate less favorable conditions |
Blooms: | white to pink ray and disc flowers, May-June, strong sweet scent |
Attracts: | Good companion plant, attracts predatory insects for pest control, a favorite in butterfly gardens |