Best Flowers to Attract Butterflies and Bees and How to Grow Them from Seed

Creating a garden that attracts butterflies and bees not only enhances your yard’s beauty but also supports vital pollinators. These insects play a crucial role in food production and ecosystem health. Growing flowers from seed is an affordable way to build a pollinator-friendly garden with diverse varieties. This blog post explores the best flowers to attract butterflies and bees, their characteristics, and a step-by-step guide to growing them from seed.

Top Flowers to Attract Butterflies and Bees

The best flowers for pollinators offer nectar and pollen, vibrant colors, and accessible shapes. Below are some of the most effective choices, all growable from seed:

1. Zinnias

• Description: Bright, daisy-like blooms in red, pink, yellow, orange, and white, with single or double flowers.

• Why Pollinators Love Them: Rich nectar and pollen; flat flowerheads provide easy landing pads for butterflies and bees.

• Popular Varieties:

  • Zinnia elegans ‘California Giants’: Large, colorful blooms.

  • Zinnia ‘Profusion’: Compact, disease-resistant, prolific flowering.

• Growth Traits: Annual, 12-36 inches tall, thrives in full sun.

• Bloom Time: Summer to frost.

2. Cosmos

• Description: Airy, daisy-like flowers in pink, white, and purple with yellow centers.

• Why Pollinators Love Them: Abundant nectar; open blooms attract bees and butterflies like monarchs.

• Popular Varieties:

  • Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Sensation’: Tall, vibrant, mixed colors.

  • Cosmos sulphureus: Yellow and orange, heat-tolerant.

• Growth Traits: Annual, 18-48 inches tall, drought-tolerant, loves sun.

• Bloom Time: Summer to fall.

3. Sunflowers

• Description: Iconic large blooms with yellow petals and dark centers, ranging from dwarf to towering.

• Why Pollinators Love Them: High pollen and nectar yield; large flowerheads are bee and butterfly magnets.

• Popular Varieties:

  • Helianthus annuus ‘Mammoth’: Classic tall sunflower, up to 12 feet.

  • Helianthus ‘Teddy Bear’: Dwarf, bushy, with fluffy blooms.

• Growth Traits: Annual, 1-12 feet tall, needs full sun.

• Bloom Time: Mid-summer to fall.

4. Milkweed

• Description: Clusters of star-shaped flowers in pink, orange, or white, essential for monarch butterflies.

• Why Pollinators Love Them: Primary host for monarch caterpillars; nectar-rich for bees and adult butterflies.

• Popular Varieties:

  • Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed): Pink-purple, tall.

  • Asclepias tuberosa (Butterfly Weed): Vibrant orange, compact.

• Growth Traits: Perennial, 2-4 feet tall, prefers sun and well-drained soil.

• Bloom Time: Late spring to summer.

5. Bee Balm (Monarda)

• Description: Shaggy, tubular flowers in red, pink, or purple, with aromatic foliage.

• Why Pollinators Love Them: Nectar-rich, especially attractive to bees and hummingbirds; butterflies love the tubular blooms.

• Popular Varieties:

  • Monarda didyma ‘Jacob Cline’: Bright red, mildew-resistant.

  • Monarda fistulosa: Lavender, native to North America.

• Growth Traits: Perennial, 2-4 feet tall, thrives in sun to part shade.

• Bloom Time: Summer.

6. Lavender

• Description: Fragrant purple spikes, beloved for their scent and beauty.

• Why Pollinators Love Them: High nectar content draws bees; butterflies visit for nectar.

• Popular Varieties:

  • Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’: Deep purple, compact.

  • Lavandula ‘Munstead’: Hardy, lavender-blue.

• Growth Traits: Perennial, 12-24 inches, loves sun and dry soil.

• Bloom Time: Summer.

How to Grow These Flowers from Seed

Growing pollinator-friendly flowers from seed is rewarding and budget-friendly. Here’s a comprehensive guide:

Step 1: Choose Your Seeds

• Select varieties suited to your climate, space, and soil (check USDA hardiness zones).

• Source seeds from reputable suppliers like Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, or Wildflower Farm.

• Check seed packets for light, soil, and spacing needs (e.g., milkweed needs stratification, while zinnias are beginner-friendly).

Step 2: Start Seeds

• Timing:

  • Indoors: Start seeds 6-8 weeks before the last frost (e.g., March for May planting) for zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, and bee balm. Milkweed may need cold stratification (4-6 weeks in a fridge) before sowing.

  • Direct Sow: Sow zinnias, cosmos, and sunflowers after the last frost when soil is 60-70°F (15-21°C). Lavender and milkweed can also be direct-sown in fall for spring germination.

• Materials:

  • Seed trays or 2-4 inch pots with drainage.

  • Seed-starting mix (sterile, well-draining).

  • Grow lights or a sunny windowsill.

• Indoor Starting:

  1. Fill trays with moist seed-starting mix.

  2. Sow seeds at recommended depth (e.g., zinnias and cosmos ¼ inch deep; lavender surface-sown as it needs light).

  3. Cover lightly (except lavender), keep soil moist, and maintain 65-75°F (18-24°C).

  4. Place under grow lights (14-16 hours daily) or in bright, indirect light.

  5. Germination: Zinnias and cosmos (5-10 days), sunflowers (7-14 days), milkweed and bee balm (10-20 days), lavender (14-30 days).

• Direct Sowing:

  1. Prepare a sunny bed with well-draining soil (pH 6.0-7.5 for most).

  2. Sow seeds in rows or clusters, following packet spacing (e.g., zinnias 6-12 inches apart, sunflowers 12-18 inches).

  3. Water gently and keep soil moist until germination.

Step 3: Care for Seedlings

• Thinning: For indoor or direct-sown seedlings, thin to the strongest plant per cell or spacing when 2-3 true leaves appear.

• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy; use a spray bottle for delicate seedlings.

• Fertilizing: Apply diluted balanced fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10) every 2 weeks after true leaves form for annuals like zinnias and cosmos. Perennials (milkweed, bee balm, lavender) need less.

• Light: Ensure 6-8 hours of bright light to prevent leggy growth.

Step 4: Harden Off and Transplant

• Hardening Off: 7-10 days before transplanting, acclimate indoor seedlings to outdoor conditions, starting with 1-2 hours in shade, gradually increasing sun exposure.

• Transplanting:

  • Choose a sunny site (6-8 hours of sun) with well-drained soil. Amend with compost for nutrient-poor soils.

  • Space plants per seed packet (e.g., zinnias 6-12 inches, sunflowers 12-24 inches, lavender 12-18 inches).

  • Plant at the same depth as in pots, firming soil around roots.

Step 5: Ongoing Care

• Watering: Water deeply 1-2 times weekly; zinnias and cosmos tolerate some drought, while bee balm prefers consistent moisture. Lavender and milkweed thrive in drier conditions.

• Fertilizing: Feed annuals monthly with balanced fertilizer; perennials need minimal feeding after establishment.

• Deadheading: Remove spent blooms on zinnias, cosmos, and bee balm to prolong flowering. Sunflowers and milkweed don’t require deadheading.

• Pest/Disease Management:

  • Monitor for aphids or spider mites; use insecticidal soap or neem oil.

  • Prevent powdery mildew (common on bee balm and zinnias) with good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering.

• Support: Stake tall sunflowers or cosmos in windy areas.

Step 6: Maintenance and Perennial Care

• Annuals (Zinnias, Cosmos, Sunflowers): Replant yearly; save seeds from non-hybrid varieties for next season.

• Perennials (Milkweed, Bee Balm, Lavender): Cut back bee balm and lavender in fall; mulch in cold climates. Milkweed dies back naturally and regrows in spring.

• Propagation: Divide bee balm every 3-4 years; take lavender cuttings or collect milkweed seeds.

Tips for Success

• Mix Heights and Colors: Combine tall sunflowers with mid-height zinnias and low-growing lavender for visual appeal and continuous blooms.

• Native Plants: Choose native milkweed (e.g., Asclepias syriaca in North America) to support local pollinators like monarchs.

• Avoid Pesticides: Use organic pest control to protect bees and butterflies.

• Companion Planting: Pair with herbs like dill or fennel to attract more pollinators.

• Container Growing: Grow zinnias, cosmos, or dwarf sunflowers in 10-12 inch pots; lavender thrives in well-draining containers.

A garden filled with zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, milkweed, bee balm, and lavender will buzz and flutter with bees and butterflies. Growing these flowers from seed is simple, rewarding, and supports vital pollinators. Start sowing this season, follow these steps, and watch your garden become a pollinator paradise!