Best Composite Flowers for Pollinators

Zinnias produce vibrant, long-lasting blooms and a central disk packed with nectar and pollen. Their bright colors attract bees, butterflies, even hummingbirds! An easy-growing option, zinnias are a summer favorite for pollinator-friendly gardens. 

Marigolds offer clusters of small, nectar-rich florets with a strong scent that deters pests while providing a steady food source for bees and butterflies. These resilient annuals bloom continuously, ensuring a summer-long floral display in gardens. 

Dahlias with exposed centers are the best type, offering open, accessible blooms rich in nectar and pollen. Bees, butterflies, and hoverflies frequent these stunners, drawn by vibrant colors and an extended blooming season that keeps them well-fed into fall.

Osteospermums feature daisy-like blooms with a central disc that provides nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies. These heat-loving plants bloom spring to fall, again offering an extended period of support. 

These cheerful flowers have classic composite blooms that attract bees and butterflies. Their continuous flowering habit provides an ever-present food source. 

These boast large, nectar-filled flower heads for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds! Their sturdy, long-lasting blooms serve as summer-to-fall food source, while their seed heads feed birds in winter.

These vibrant red, orange, and yellow blooms serve up pollen and nectar that’s easily accessible all summer. As a bonus, these drought-tolerant perennials are designed to thrive in tough conditions.

These plants produce bright yellow, nectar-rich blooms that resemble their namesake. Flowering summer to early fall, these drought-resistant plants ensure a continuous food source for bees and butterflies.

These plants are beloved for their golden, daisy-like flowers that provide nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and beetles. They bloom late summer, and their seed heads persist into winter, becoming a food source for birds.

This tall, late-blooming perennial produces clusters of tiny, nectar-packed flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and moths. Blooming into fall, these plants provide crucial late-season sustenance.