Top Native Plants to Attract Bees and Butterflies in Michigan

Common Milkweed is essential for the lifecycle of the monarch butterfly. Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed, and the caterpillars feed exclusively on its leaves. The pinkish-purple flower clusters also attract various bees. This hardy plant can thrive in a variety of soil types and conditions.

Wild Bergamot, or Bee Balm, produces clusters of pink to lavender flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. This plant thrives in prairies and meadows and prefers full sun to partial shade with well-drained soils. Its aromatic foliage also adds a delightful scent to the garden.

Purple Coneflowers are native to the central and southeastern United States but are widely planted in Michigan for their hardiness and attractiveness to pollinators. Their large, daisy-like flowers with purple petals and spiky brown centers are a magnet for bees and butterflies.

Black-Eyed Susans are easy to grow and incredibly attractive to pollinators. Their bright yellow petals and dark brown centers create a striking display in any garden. These flowers are particularly favored by native bees and butterflies and can bloom from late summer into the fall.

Blazing Star features tall spikes of fluffy purple flowers that bloom from top to bottom. These striking plants are particularly attractive to butterflies and bees and can add vertical interest to your garden. They thrive in well-drained soils and full sun, making them a perfect addition to prairie-style plantings.

Asters are late-blooming perennials that provide essential nectar and pollen sources for pollinators as the season winds down. Their daisy-like flowers come in various colors, including purple, blue, pink, and white. New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) and Smooth Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) are popular choices for their vibrant blooms and hardiness.

Goldenrod's bright yellow flowers bloom in late summer and fall, providing a crucial nectar source for bees and butterflies preparing for winter. Species like Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) and Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa) are native to Michigan and thrive in a variety of conditions.

Wild Lupine is an early bloomer with tall spikes of blue, purple, or pink flowers. They are especially attractive to bees, including bumblebees, which can often be seen buzzing around the blooms. Lupines prefer sandy, well-drained soils and are essential for the Karner blue butterfly, whose larvae feed on lupine leaves.

Joe-Pye Weed is a tall, late-blooming perennial that produces large clusters of pinkish-purple flowers. It thrives in moist soils and full sun to partial shade. This plant is a butterfly magnet, particularly for larger species like the swallowtail. Its impressive height makes it a great choice for the back of borders or as a focal point in your garden.

Wild Columbine features unique, red and yellow flowers that attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. This shade-tolerant plant prefers well-drained soils and can add a pop of color to woodland gardens or shaded borders.