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“Pollinator-friendly cut flower plants”

Adding appropriate flowering plants to the farm or garden landscape promotes insect diversity and sustainability in the system. Pollinators are vital for some fruit and vegetable production. They increase fruit size, yield, and quality in many other fruits and vegetables that are self-pollinating. Pollinator-friendly plants are also attractive to other species of insects - many of them beneficial (e.g. hover flies, ladybird beetles and parasitic wasps). Flowers may produce pollen (a source of protein needed for insect egg production) and/or nectar (a source of carbohydrates needed for energy). Flower size and shape determine the insects that are attracted to the flower. In general, small, shallow flowers attract small bees, flies and wasps. Larger, deeper flowers tend to attract honeybees, bumblebees, and butterflies. White or light-colored flowers that release their fragrance at night attract night-flying moths.

When you plant for pollinators - remember:

Avoid plants with double flowers, the nectar and pollen is usually not accessible (or not present at all). Don't use plants bred to be "pollen-free" (e.g. some cultivars of sunflowers) - they won't be feeding the bees. Plants that are nourished and watered will provide better food for pollinators (and usually better cut flowers as well). Bees can't see the color red so they won't normally utilize red flowers (unless the red color has an ultraviolet light component in it). However, these flowers are often quite attractive to hummingbirds.

Plan for a full season of flowering - pollinators are present from early spring to late fall. Deadhead plants to encourage prolonged bloom. Weeds (i.e. dandelions and goldenrod) can provide excellent early spring and late fall pollen and nectar for pollinators. Cultivars of good bee plants may or may not be good bee plants. When plant breeders tinker around with plant characteristics, they may inadvertently change the food value of the nectar and/or pollen that the plant produces. If I have knowledge that a specific cultivar is a good bee plant, the cultivar name will be indicated below the species name in the charts below.

PERENNIALS - All take full sun, are adapted to the mid-Atlantic region, and need well-drained soil (unless otherwise indicated).
"Native" is indicated for plants that are native anywhere in the continental United States.

COMMON NAME LATIN NAME HGT. FLOWER COLOR BLOOMS NOTES & SOURCE CODES
Yarrow Achillea millefolium 'Summer Pastels' (ok from seed), 'Cerise Queen', 'Colorado' 1-3' many summer native, white is best for pollinators, can dry flowers, rapid spreader Ch Co J JC S SofC T
Allium Allium spp. 1-4' white, pink, purple, & yellow late spring/summer bulbs, plant in fall, tolerates drought, deadhead A. tuberosum & A. caeruleum to avoid weed problems, can dry flowers Ch Co JC
Golden marguerite Anthemis tinctoria 2-3' yellow summer tolerates poor, dry soil, doesn't like humidity or heat, cut back heavily after flowering Ch
Swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata 3' mauve, pink or white spring to early summer native, adapts to drier conditionsCh J JC SofC
New England aster Aster novae-angliae 4-6' many late summer to fall native, support or pinch back, harvesting can cause rash Ch J JC PD SSE
New York aster Aster novi-belgii 1-6' many late summer to fall native, support or pinch back Ch
Astrantia Astrantia major 2-3' cream/pink pink & red cultivars late spring to summer part shade ok, likes organic matter and moisture, 10-14 d as cut flower Ch JC
Bluebeard Caryopteris x clandonensis 3-4' blue late summer to fall shrub, cut back hard in late winter JC PD
Common bluebeard Caryopteris incana 3-5' violet-blue or white late summer shrub, cut back hard in late winter, may dieback in zone 6, drought tolerant Ch
Leopard's bane Doronicum orientale var. magnificum [may be listed as D. caucasicum] 'Finesse' (ok from seed) 1-2' yellow early to mid-spring part shade in hot locations, water during drought, zone 4-7 (not heat tolerant - may go summer dormant) Ch
Coneflower Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan' 2-3' red/purple & white July to September native, part shade ok, drought tolerant, sow in fall (or cold stratify), the flowers of the straight species droop & look wilted, plants may be short-lived Ch J PD PV SofC S SSE T
Small globe thistle Echinops ritro 3-4' dark blue June to August spiny foliage, can dry flowers, ok on poor & dry soil Ch
Bluetop sea holly Eryngium alpinum 'Blue Star', 'Superbum' 1-2' blue midsummer spiny, 14 days as cut flower, ok on poor & dry soil, difficult to germinate Ch JC
Sea holly Eryngium amethystinum 1½-2' blue midsummer spiny, ok on poor & dry soil, difficult to germinate, can dry flowers Ch
Flat sea holly Eryngium planum 'Blaukappe' 2-3' blue midsummer spiny, ok on poor & dry soil, difficult to germinate Ch J JC
Eryngium Eryngium x tripartitum 3½ -4' blue midsummer spiny, ok on poor & dry soil, difficult to germinate Ch JC
Blanket flower Gaillardia aristata 3' yellow/red summer plants sprawl, good in hot & dry conditions, long-blooming, flowers close at night Ch T
Blanket flower Gaillardia x grandiflora'Golden Goblin' (blooms first year from seed, yellow)[may be listed as Gaillardia aristata] 2-3' yellow/red summer plants sprawl, good in hot & dry conditions, plants are short-lived but self-seed Ch JC SofC
Baby's breath Gypsophila paniculata 2-3' white or pink summer likes alkaline soil, filler, taprooted Ch J JC SofC
Sneezeweed Helenium perennis 3-5' yellow, orange, red, mahogany midsummer to frost likes lean, moist soil, cut back hard by June, needs support, cut back by 1/3 after flowering Ch JC
Jasione Jasione perennis 'Blue Light' 2' blue June on blooms 1st year from seed, part shade ok Ch
Lavender Lavandula angustifolia 2-3' white, pink, lavender summer can dry flowers, prune to 6-8" in spring, low germination rate, slow grower CO J JC PV S SofC T
Lavender Lavandula x intermedia 'Dilly Dilly' 2-3' purple and white summer drought tolerant, can dry flowers, shrubby JC S
Liatris Liatris spp. 1-6' purple, mauve, rose-purple, white summer mid to late native, prefers moist soils - especially L. spicata, can dry flowers Ch JC PD
Sea lavender Limonium gerberi [may be listed as L. latifolium] 3' lavender summer can dry flowers Ch J
Bee balm Monarda didyma 'Panorama' series (ok from seed) 2-4' many summer native, needs moisture retentive soil, can be invasive, divide every 2-3 years, suitability as a cutflower varies by cultivar Ch J S
Catmint Nepeta catarica 2-4' lavender summer part shade ok, drought tolerant, cut back hard after flowering for second bloom, filler Ch J PV SofC SSE T
Oregano Origanum laevigatum 1½-2' pink/purple late summer hardy only to zone 6/7, drought tolerant, may sprawl Ch
Wild marjoram Origanum vulgare 1-3' pink/purple mid to late summer likes alkaline soil, for culinary oregano use vegetatively propagated plants J PV
Penstemon Penstemon barbatus 1½-3' many late spring to mid-summer native Ch J JC
Russian sage Perovskia atriplicifolia 3-5' blue/purple summer tolerates drought, aromatic foliage, can be dried, long-blooming Ch JC PD T
Balloon flower Platycodon grandiflorus 'Florist Blue' 2½-3½' blue mid to late summer part shade ok, doesn't like wet soil, slow to emerge in spring, sear stems to prolong vase life, needs support, taprooted Ch JC SofC
Spiked speedwell Pseudolysimachion spicatum [probably listed as Veronica spicata] 1-3' white, pink, red & blue late spring to midsummer deadhead for repeat bloom, flowers for 4-7 weeks Ch J JC PV
Pincushion flower Scabiosa caucasica 1½-2' blue to purple summer likes neutral pH, mulch in summer, House hybrids slow-grower Ch JC
Cream scabious Scabiosa ochroleuca 2-3' yellow summer short-lived but self-seeds Ch
Devil's bit scabious Scabiosa succisa [may be listed as S. pratensis] 1-2½' dark blue/purple summer to fall small flowers Ch
Goldenrod Solidago canadensis 'Golden Baby' (ok from seed) 2-6' (2') yellow midsummer to fall native, part shade ok, don't fertilize, divide every 2-3 years Ch JC PD
Tansy Tanacetum vulgare 2-4' yellow mid to late summer spreads aggressively by rhizomes, site carefully, part shade ok, can use leaves in potpourri Ch
Tall verbena Verbena bonariensis 3-4' rose-violet summer to fall hardy to zone 6 but reseeds readily Ch Co J PD S
New York ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis 3-7' violet-purple late summer to fall native, cut back hard 1 month after emergence to increase flowers, likes moist soil Ch

ANNUALS - All take full sun and well-drained soil unless otherwise indicated.
"Native" is indicated for plants that are native anywhere in the continental United States.

COMMON NAME LATIN NAME HGT. FLOWER COLOR BLOOMS NOTES & SOURCE CODES
Corn cockle Agrostemma githago 'Milas' series 2-3' pink, white, red-purple May - July poisonous seed can contaminate grain crops, drought tolerant Ch Co PV SofC
Safflower Carthamus tinctorius 1-6' orange or yellow (sometimes red or white) mid-summer deep taproot, strong, upright grower, drought tolerant, can dry flowers, spiny leaves Ch SofC
Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus 5-6' white, pink, purple summer short vase life Ch Co J PV S SofC SSE T
Cosmos Cosmos sulphureus 1½-3' yellow & orange summer drought tolerant Ch J PV S SofC SSE T
Sunflower Helianthus annuus 'Holiday', 'Sonja', 'Autumn Beauty' 2-10' many summer native, drought tolerant Ch Co J PV S SofC SSE T
Love-in-a-mist Nigella damascena 1½-2' white, pink, blue, purple summer can dry flowers and seedpods Ch Co J PV S SofC SSE T
Mexican marigold Tagetes minuta 7-10' yellow late summer/fall small flowers, use as filler, on noxious weed list in California Ch SofC
Mexican sunflower Tithonia rotundifolia 'Torch' 2½-6' (4-6') red/orange summer drought tolerant, sear stems to prolong vase life Ch Co J PV S SSE T
Trachelium Trachelium caeruleum 2½-3' white or violet summer it's a tender perennial, can use as annual Ch
Zinnia Zinnia species & hybrids 'Pastel Dreams', 'Blue Point', 'County Fair' 1-4' many summer use single flowered types, susceptible to leaf scorch & mildew CH Co J S PV SofC SSE T

For additional cultural information see:

  • Armitage, A.M. Herbaceous Perennial Plants: A Treatise on their Identification, Culture, and Garden Attributes. 2nd edition. 1989. Stipes Publishing L.L.C., Champaign, IL.

  • Enterprise Guide for Southern Maryland: Producing Cut Flowers - Liatris. Fact Sheet 467. Cooperative Extension Service. U. of MD.
  • Producing Annual Sunflowers as Cut Flowers. Fact Sheet 686. Cooperative Extension Service. U. of MD.
  • Production of Alliums as Cut Flowers. Fact Sheet 767. Cooperative Extension Service. U. of MD.
  • Production of Purple Coneflower as a Cut Flower. Fact Sheet 731. Cooperative Extension Service. U. of MD.
  • Production of Yarrows as Cut Flowers. Fact Sheet 685. Cooperative Extension Service. U. of MD.
  • Sustainable Cut Flower Production. 2000. 21 p. (this publication can be obtained free from ATTRA, download from http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/farmscape.html or call 1-800-346-9140.)

Copies of Maryland Cooperative Extension publications can be obtained online from: http://www.agnr.umd.edu/MCE/Publications/Category.cfm?ID=5

Note: Please disregard information about using pesticides in the above Cooperative Extension publications. Beneficial insect habitat should be pesticide-free.

For additional information on native pollinators see:

  • Alternative Pollinators: Native Bees. 1999. 20 p. (this publication can be obtained free from ATTRA, download from http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/farmscape.html or call 1-800-346-9140.)
  • Batra, S.W.T. 1984. Solitary Bees. Scientific American 250(2):120-127.
  • Bee Biology and Systematics Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA website: http://www.loganbeelab.usu.edu/
  • Bosch, J. & W. Kemp. 2000. How to Manage the Blue Orchard Bee. Sustainable Agriculture Publications, Burlington, VT. $9.95 + 3.95 S&H
  • Griffin, B.L. 1997. Humblebee Bumblebee. Knox Cellars Publishing, Bellingham, WA $12.

Seed and plant sources:

(Note - source shown may sell a cultivar with unknown pollinator qualities)

Information compiled by:
Leslie Gilbert, Horticulturist, Small Farm Success Project, Sustainable Agricultural Systems Lab, USDA, October 2002.
~This project was funded by IFAFS (Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems - USDA)

Reviewed by:

  • Dr. Suzanne Batra, Bee Research Lab, United States Department of Agriculture (retired)
  • Dr. Stanton Gill, Central Maryland Research and Education Center, Maryland Cooperative Extension
  • Dr. Eric Grissell, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
  • Dr. Beth Norden, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
  • Dr. T'ai Roulston, Blandy Experimental Farm, University of Virginia


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