Design a Blooming Container for Butterflies
A planting for pollinators doesn't have to be large. This Mazzano Planter (15" top dia.) features one Archangel Purple angelonia in the center, surrounded by two each of trailing yellow nasturtium and compact scarlet sage, such as Vista Red. Illustrations by Carlie Hamilton.
A raised bed for pollinators, growing in the Trough VegTrug.
To attract butterflies and other pollinators, simply plant flowers they love — lots of them. The designs here feature blooms that are rich in color and nectar, ensuring that you will welcome dozens of beneficial insects — especially butterflies.
Choose a site that gets sun all day, with easy access to water. The designs are modular; if you can't find a plant that's in my plan, consider a substitute that is the same size: S (small), M (medium), T (tall) and climbing (CL). You'll find all of the plants listed in the chart, Annual Plants for Pollinators, at the end of this article.
Blooms Grow Up and Over in an Abundant Trough
The bed here is designed to fit our 18" x 40" VegTrug™. Choose the Wallhugger or the Trough style. To create the trellis at the back, I used wire trellis grids , supported by bamboo poles, secured to the back of the trug.
The plants in this bed are listed below. For detailed descriptions — and more options, see Annual Plants for Pollinators.- A Cardinal vine
- B Firecracker vine
- C Hyssop
- D Gaura
- E Marguerite daisy
- F Zinnia
- G Cuphea
- H Nasturtium
- I Blanket flower
Create this Pollinator Hot Spot in a 3x3 Raised Bed
It's easy to fill a 3x3 raised bed with pollinator-friendly plants. Here I've used the 4-in-1 Modular Raised Bed, but you can also do it in any 3x3 bed. The focal point is the Jardin Pot Trellis, which is about 4 feet high — a great size for the passionflower vine, and it fits the scale of the 3x3. If you choose the Cardinal Vine or the Firecracker Vine, use a larger trellis, such as a 5-foot teepee made of bamboo or the Essex Trellis. Morning glories are another great option for this design — just be sure to use a larger trellis.
- A Nasturtium
- B Monarda
- C Sweet alyssum
- D Borage
- E Calendula
- F Passionflower
- G Gaura
Annual Plants for Pollinators
Compose your own planter, raised bed or windowbox by choosing from this list of pollinator-preferred plants.
| Size | Plant | Botanical name | Note |
| S | Sweet alyssum | Lobularia maritima | Often sold in multi-packs; easy to start from seed |
| S | Nasturtium | Tropaeolum majus | If you want them to spill over the edge, look for "trailing" or "climbing" varieties. Easy to start from seed. |
| S | Annual phlox | Phlox drummondii | Look for the Intensia series |
| M | Calendula | Calendula officinalis | Single-petal forms—instead of doubles—are more attractive to butteflies. |
| M | Sweet William | Dianthus barbatus | You can often find plants in multi-packs at the garden center. |
| M | Signet marigold | Tagetes tenufolia | An uncommon variety; easy to start from seed. Look for Lemon Gem. |
| M | Pincushion flower | Scabiosa columbaria | |
| M | Zinnia | Zinnia | Look for shorter varieties, such as the Profusion series. |
| M | Borage | Borago officinalis | Very easy to start from seed |
| M | Bee balm | Monarda fistulosa | Native to many areas of the U.S. |
| M | Flowering tobacco | Nicotiana alata | |
| M | Salvia | Salvia coccinea | Coral Nymph is lovely and floriferous. |
| M | Cuphea | Cuphea | Available in 4-inch pots at garden centers; I like Flamenco Samba |
| M | Blanket flower | Gaillardia pulchella | Native |
| M | Gomphrena | Gomphrena haageana | |
| M | Pentas | Pentas | Often sold as a houseplant, in 4-inch pots |
| M | Marguerite daisy | Argyranthemum | Look for it with the annuals, in 6- to 8-inch pots. |
| M | Gaura, whirling butterflies | Gaura lindheimeri | A perennial that blooms like an annual — almost all summer |
| T | Four-o-Clocks | Mirabilis jalapa> | An old-fashioned classic |
| T | Hyssop | Agastache rupestris | Anise-scented foliage |
| T | Butterfly flower, butterfly weed | Asclepias | Choose a species that's native in your area. |
| T | Fennel | Foeniculum vulgare | |
| T | Cosmos | Cosmos bipinnatus | Look for shorter, "knee-high" varieties |
| CL | Cardinal vine | Ipomoea x multifida | Easy to start from seed |
| CL | Firecracker vine | Ipomoea lobata | Easy to start from seed |
| CL | Passionflower | Passiflora caeruela | Often sold in larger pots (1 qt. or more) |
Last updated: 12/27/2022
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