Spring and Summer

Most native pollinator plants begin blooming in late March and continue providing nectar and pollen throughout the summer. Scroll below to view pictures of each blooming native.

Here is quick alphabetical listing of summer blooming pollinators:

Butterfly Milkweed
Asclepius tuberosa

Provides nectar to butterflies, native and non-native bees and hummingbirds
Larval host to Monarch, Queen and Grey Hairstreak butterflies
Blooms May to September
For more information on Butterfly Milkweed: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/asclepias-tuberosa/

Swamp Milkweed
Asclepias incarnata

Provides nectar for butterflies, bees and hummingbirds
Larval host to Queen and Monarch butterflies
Blooms June to October
For more information on Swamp Milkweed: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/asclepias-incarnata/

Green Milkweed
Asclepsis viridis

Provides nectar to butterflies, moths and native and non-native bees
Larval host to Monarch and Queen butterflies
Blooms April to September
For more information on Green Milkweed: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/asclepias-viridis/

Winecup
Callirhoe involucrata

Provides nectar to butterflies and bees
Larval host plant to Gray Hairstreak and Painted Lady butterfly
Blooms March to June
For more information on Winecup: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/callirhoe-involucrata/

Partridge Pea
Chamaecrista fasciculata

Provides nectar and pollen to butterflies and bees
Larval host plant to Cloudless Giant Sulphur
A seed source for birds
Blooms mainly June through October
For more information on Partridge Pea: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/chamaecrista-fasciculata/

Blue Mist Flower

Blue Mist Flower
Conoclinium coelestinum

Provides nectar to butterflies and bees
Blooms April to December
For more information on Blue Mist Flower: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/conoclinium-coelestinum/

Lanceleaf Coreopsis
Coreopsis lanceolata

Provides nectar to butterflies, bees, and insect pollinators
A seed source for birds
Blooms mainly March to August
For more information on Lanceleaf Coreopsis: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/coreopsis-lanceolata/

Plains Coreopsis
Coreopsis tinctoria

Provides nectar to butterflies, bees and insect pollinators
A seed source for birds
Blooms mainly April to October (Can bloom all year)
For more information on Plains Coreopsis: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/coreopsis-tinctoria/

Pineywoods/Pale Purple Coneflower
Echinacea pallida

Provides nectar to butterflies, bees and small mammals
A seed source for birds
Blooms April to June
For more information on Pale Purple Coneflower: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/echinacea-pallida/

Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea

Provides nectar to butterflies, bees and hummingbirds
A seed source for birds
Blooms April to September
For more information on Purple Coneflower: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/echinacea-purpurea/

Small Bluebell (Seaside Gentian)
Eustoma exaltatum

Provides nectar for butterflies and bees
Seed source for birds
Blooms June to October (check on this)
For more information on Small Bluebell: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/eustoma-exaltatum/

Indian Blanket / Firewheel
Gaillardia pulchella

Provides nectar to butterflies and bees
Blooms May to August
For more information on Firewheel (Indian Blanket): https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/gaillardia-pulchella/

Prairie Verbena
Glandularia bipinnatifida

Provides nectar to butterflies and nectar insects
A seed source for birds
Blooms March to October
For more information on Prairie Verbena: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/glandularia-bipinnatifida/

Turk’s Cap
Malvaviscus arboreus

Provides nectar to butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees
Blooms June to November
For more information on Turk’s Cap: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/malvaviscus-arboreus-var-drummondii/

Horsemint (Lemon Bee Balm)
Monarda citriodora

Provides nectar to butterflies, native bees, hummingbirds and nectar insects
Larval host to Spicebush Swallowtail.
Blooms May to October
For more information on Horsemint (Lemon Bee Balm): https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/monarda-citriodora/

Pink Primrose
Oenothera speciosa

Provide nectar for bees
Seed source for birds and small mammals
Blooms February to October
For more information on Pink Primrose: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/oenothera-speciosa/

Gulf Coast Penstemon
Penstemon tenuis

Provides nectar to butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and nectar insects
Blooms March to June
For more information on Gulf Coast Penstemon: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/penstemon-tenuis/

Texas Frogfruit
Phyla nodiflora

Provides nectar to butterflies and nectar insects
 Larval Host to Buckeye, Phaon Crescentspot and White Peacock butterflies
Blooms March to November
For more information on Frogfruit: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/phyla-nodiflora/

Spring (Marsh) Obedient Plant
Physostegia intermedia

Provides nectar to butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and nectar insects
Blooms April to July
For more information of Spring Obedient Plant: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/physostegia-intermedia/

Fall Obedient Plant
Physostegia virginiana

Provides nectar to butterflies and hummingbirds
Blooms August to November
For more information of Fall Obedient Plant: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/physostegia-virginiana/

Mexican Hat
Ratibida columnifera

Provides nectar to butterflies, bees and nectar insects
A seed source for birds
Blooms May to October
For more information of Mexican Hat: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/ratibida-columnifera/

Rough Coneflower
Rudbeckia grandiflora

Provides nectar to butterflies, native bees and beetles
A seed source for birds and a leaf source for deer
Blooms April to August
For more information of Rough Coneflower: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/rudbeckia-grandiflora/

Black-Eyed Susan
Rudbeckia hirta

Provides nectar to butterflies, bees and nectar insects
A seed source for birds
Blooms May to November
For more information of Black-Eyed Susan: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native–plant/rudbeckia-hirta/

Low Ruellia/Wild Petunia
Ruellia humilis

Provides nectar to butterflies, moths, hummingbirds and bees
Larval host to Buckeye and Common Wood Nymph
Blooms May to November
For more information of Low Ruellia/Wild Petunia: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/ruellia-humilis/

Mealy Blue Sage
Salvia farinacea

Provides nectar to butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees
A seed source for birds
Blooms April to October
For more information on Mealy Blue Sage: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/salvia-farinacea/

Scarlet Sage
Salvia coccinea

Provides nectar to butterflies, hummingbirds and bees
Blooms February to October
For more information on Scarlet Sage: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/salvia-coccinea/

Lyre Leaf Sage
Salvia lyrata

Provides nectar to butterflies, bees and hummingbirds
Blooms March to June
For more information of Lyre Leaf Sage: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/salvia-lyrata/

Heath Aster
Symphyotrichum ericoides

Provides nectar for butterflies, moths and native bees
Larval host for Pearl Crescent butterfly and the Wavy-Lined Emerald moth
Blooms July to November
For more information on Heath Aster: https://www.npsot.org/posts/native-plant/symphyotrichum-ericoides/