Best Plants to Attract Hummingbirds, Bees & Butterflies to Your Garden

How to Make Your Garden Attractive to Bees, Birds and Butterflies

Creating a garden is more than just planting pretty flowers – it invites wonderful creatures to join you! Whether you’re growing lavender, bee balm, red flowering currant, salvias, or thyme, these plants do more than beautify your space. They’re essential for supporting local ecosystems, from feeding pollinators to providing shelter for small creatures.

Imagine your garden as a natural oasis where hummingbirds hover, bees buzz, and butterflies dance. Not only does this bring vibrant life to your backyard, but it also supports the health and diversity of the environment. So, let’s dive into the benefits of gardening for the birds and bees and how you can get started!

Why Planting for Wildlife Matters

Wildlife-friendly gardens provide food, shelter, and breeding grounds for countless creatures. Plant species like lavender, bee balm, and red flowering currant attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which are essential for biodiversity and food production. Adding native plants also helps conserve water, reduces the need for pesticides, and promotes a healthy ecosystem that benefits your garden and animals.

Key Benefits of Wildlife Gardens:

Supporting Pollinators

Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are crucial for pollination, which helps flora reproduce and provides food for other species.

Improving Biodiversity

Diverse vegetation attracts a broader range of insects, birds, and small animals, enhancing the resilience of your local ecosystem.

Conserving Resources

Native species are often drought-tolerant and low-maintenance, reducing water use and promoting natural growth cycles.

Nurture a thriving environment where your plants and animals can coexist beautifully.

Best Plants to Attract Wildlife in Your Garden

Here’s a quick guide to the top garden plants that attract various critters and support your local ecosystem. This greenery adds colour and texture to your garden, drawing in beneficial pollinators and other creatures. 

1. Lavender: A perennial known for its soothing scent and purple blooms, lavender attracts bees and butterflies with its rich nectar. It’s also deer-resistant, making it a hardy choice for Vancouver Islanders.

2. Bee Balm: As the name suggests, bee balm is a bee favourite! Its bright, tubular flowers also draw hummingbirds, making it a vibrant addition to your garden.

3. Red Flowering Currant: This shrub produces clusters of pink-red blooms that are a magnet for hummingbirds. Its berries also attract birds in the fall, providing food and shelter year-round.

4. Salvias: With over 900 species, salvias come in various colours and are adored by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Plus, they’re drought-tolerant and easy to care for.

5. Thyme: This low-growing herb is not only aromatic but also attracts bees with its tiny, nectar-rich flowers. It’s a great ground cover for adding texture and pollinator-friendly blooms.

These plants create a garden that’s as welcoming to wildlife as it is beautiful to look at.

Attracting Hummingbirds: Flowers They Love

If you hope to see more hummingbirds in your garden, focus on plants with tubular flowers, as these are perfect for their long beaks. Here are some hummingbird favourites:

• Bee Balm: Known for its bright colours and tubular blooms, it is a top choice for hummingbirds and is easy to grow in most climates.

• Salvias: Red, purple, or blue salvias appeal to hummingbirds, who love sipping from the tall, slender stalks.

• Red Flowering Currant: This plant’s early spring blooms provide a much-needed elixir source for hummingbirds emerging from migration.

By incorporating these plants, you’ll create a hummingbird-friendly environment that invites these delightful creatures to visit year after year.

The Role of Bees in Your Garden

Bees are essential pollinators responsible for fertilizing flowers and helping plants produce fruit and seeds. Planting for bees not only brings these busy workers to your garden but also supports broader ecosystems that depend on their pollination services.

Bee-Friendly Planting Tips:

• Lavender: The fragrant flowers of lavender are a bee magnet. Bees can’t resist the plentiful nectar, and the plant’s long blooming season ensures a reliable food source.

• Thyme: Thyme’s tiny flowers provide ample sweetness, especially loved by smaller native bees. Plant thyme in sunny areas for the best blooms.

• Bee Balm: This plant blooms from mid-summer to early fall, offering a steady food supply for bees and butterflies when other flowers may have faded.

Including these plants will help support bee populations and encourage pollination in your garden.

Creating a Wildlife-Friendly Garden

Transforming your garden into a wildlife haven doesn’t require a significant overhaul – a few simple changes can make all the difference! Here are some tips to get started:

• Plant Diversity: Choose various plants that bloom at different times to provide continuous food for pollinators.

• Native Plants: Incorporate native plants, such as red flowering currants and salvias, to support local species and reduce water needs.

• Provide Water Sources: Bird baths, shallow dishes, or a small pond can provide wildlife with clean water for drinking and bathing.

• Avoid Pesticides: Pesticides can harm beneficial insects and disrupt the balance of your garden ecosystem. Opt for natural pest control methods whenever possible.

With these strategies, you’ll create a welcoming space where wildlife can thrive and find refuge.

Seasonal Benefits: A Year-Round Wildlife Haven

Creating a garden as a wildlife habitat ensures year-round interest and activity. Here’s how plants like lavender, bee balm, and thyme provide seasonal benefits:

• Spring: Red flowering currant and early-blooming salvias attract hungry hummingbirds and bees as they emerge.

• Summer: During peak activity season, lavender, bee balm, and other vibrant blooms provide irresistible syrup for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

• Fall: Plants like thyme and red flowering currant produce seeds and berries, providing food for birds and small animals as they prepare for winter.

• Winter: Evergreen herbs like thyme shelter insects, while salvias provide seeds for birds that remain in colder months.

By planning your garden with the seasons in mind, you can support wildlife year-round.

Embrace the Beauty and Benefits of Wildlife Gardening

Gardening for wildlife isn’t just about adding flowers – it’s about creating a natural habitat where plants and animals thrive together. Whether you’re passionate about helping pollinators, attracting hummingbirds, or just want to see more butterflies fluttering by, planting a garden to attract wildlife is an enriching experience.

Ready to bring wildlife to your garden? Visit Moonflower Gardens in sunny Sooke, BC! Choose the best plants for attracting pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects. Let’s create a beautiful, thriving garden that’s as inviting to wildlife as it is to you!