If you want a yard full of butterflies and bees, you’re in luck – Minnesota is one of the best places in the country to make that happen. Our state is home to tons of native plants that are built for our climate, easy to maintain, and absolutely loved by pollinators. The key is knowing which plants to choose and how to use them the right way, and that’s exactly what we’re going to cover. By the end of this list, you’ll have a clear picture of what to plant and how a professional landscaper can help you pull it all together beautifully.
1. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
This is one of the most recognizable and beloved native plants in Minnesota, and pollinators go absolutely crazy for it. Purple Coneflower blooms from spring all the way into fall, giving you a long season of color and activity. It grows up to four feet tall and does well in sunny to partly shaded spots with well-drained soil. It’s a powerhouse plant that anchors any pollinator garden beautifully.
2. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Bright, cheerful, and incredibly hardy, Black-Eyed Susan is a staple of Minnesota landscapes for good reason. These sunny yellow blooms with dark centers are magnets for bees and butterflies from spring through fall. They grow up to three feet tall, love full sun, and tolerate a wide range of soil conditions from dry to moist. If you want a plant that delivers maximum visual impact with minimal fuss, this is it.
3. Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Wild Bergamot is one of those plants that pulls double duty – it looks stunning and it draws in an enormous variety of pollinators. The lavender-purple blooms appear from spring through fall and can reach up to five feet in height. It thrives in sunny to partly shaded spots and handles dry to moist soil well. Bees especially love this one, making it a cornerstone choice for any serious pollinator garden.
4. Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Don’t let the name fool you – this plant is anything but a weed. Butterfly Weed produces stunning clusters of bright orange flowers from spring through fall and is one of the most important plants you can put in your yard for monarch butterflies. It stays compact at one to two feet tall, loves full sun, and prefers well-drained, sandy soil. It’s a striking accent plant that earns its spot every single season.
5. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Another essential for monarch butterfly supporters, Swamp Milkweed produces beautiful pink blooms from summer into fall and can grow up to five feet tall. Unlike its name suggests, it doesn’t require a swamp – it just prefers moist soil, making it a great choice for areas of your yard that tend to stay a little wetter. It works well in full sun to part shade and is a critical host plant for monarch caterpillars.
6. Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
Anise Hyssop is a versatile and absolutely gorgeous addition to any pollinator garden. Its tall spikes of blue-purple flowers bloom through the summer and are irresistible to bumblebees, honeybees, and hummingbirds. It grows up to four feet tall and is wonderfully adaptable – it handles sun, part shade, and even full shade, along with sandy, well-drained soils. If you’re looking for a plant that works in trickier light conditions, this one is a great pick.
7. Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya)
Prairie Blazing Star is one of those plants that stops people in their tracks. Its tall, vivid purple flower spikes bloom from spring through fall and are a favorite of bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds. Growing up to five feet tall, it does well in sunny to partly shaded areas with dry to moist soil. It adds serious vertical drama to a garden design while supporting a wide range of pollinators.
8. Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea)
If you’re looking for a native plant that blooms early in the season and helps pollinators when they need it most – right after a long Minnesota winter – Golden Alexander is your answer. Its bright yellow flower clusters appear from spring into summer and attract native bees and early-season butterflies. It grows up to three feet tall and thrives in sun to part shade with moist soil. It’s a beautiful, understated plant that provides real ecological value.
9. Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)
Cheerful, golden, and long-blooming, Lanceleaf Coreopsis is a sun-loving plant that attracts bees and butterflies from spring through summer. It stays compact at around two feet tall and actually prefers dry soil, making it a smart choice for areas of your yard that don’t get a lot of moisture. It’s low-maintenance, tough, and adds a warm splash of color that complements almost any garden design.
10. Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
Rounding out the list is Wild Blue Phlox, a spring-blooming beauty that thrives in part shade to full shade – perfect for those spots under trees where other plants struggle. Its delicate lavender-blue flowers are loved by butterflies and native bees, and it stays relatively compact at up to 20 inches tall. It does well in moist, sandy, loam, or clay soils, making it one of the more adaptable shade-tolerant options available to Minnesota homeowners.
Why a Professional Landscaper Makes All the Difference
Sure, you could grab a few plants at the garden center and hope for the best – but if you want a pollinator garden that truly thrives and looks great year after year, working with a professional landscaper is the way to go. A pro knows how to look at your specific yard, understand the soil, light, and drainage, and build a planting plan that actually works for your space. That’s exactly what Dean Bjorkstrand brings to the table. As one of the most trusted landscapers in the Twin Cities, Dean has the knowledge and experience to design a pollinator garden that’s beautiful, healthy, and built to last. Ready to get started? Call Dean Bjorkstrand today at 612-861-3919 – your yard and the pollinators will be glad you did