Most Attractive Ornamentals for Pollinators

In our 3-year study evaluating which common ornamentals out of 33 study species are the most attractive to pollinators, we found these species to be the most attractive to a wide variety of visitors. Other studies by our collaborators have found significant differences between cultivars in nectar and pollen production, flower shape and color, and many other traits, so be aware that the cultivar you select can significantly affect your results.

Keep in mind that these are not the only pollinator-attractive plants! We were only able to study 33 ornamental species out of all the ornamentals on the market, and these were the most attractive out of the species we studied.

Key:

• H = honey bees
• N = native bees and other pollinators (wasps, beetles, etc.)
• B = butterflies

Appearance	Common Name	Scientific Name and Cultivar	Bloom Season	Native Status	Attractive To
	San Diego sunflower	Bahiopsis laciniata	Feb - Aug	Native	N B
	California lilac	Ceanothus 'Concha'	Feb - May	Native	N
	California brittlebush	Encelia californica	Mar - Jun	Native	H N B
	California poppy	Eschscholzia californica 'Orange King'	Feb - Sep	Native	H N
	Lilac verbena	Glandularia lilacina (syn. Verbena lilacina)	Year-round coastal, Apr - Sep elsewhere	Nonnative	B
	Toyon	Heteromeles arbutifolia	Jun - Aug	Native	H N
	Butterflybush	Lantana camara 'New Gold'	Apr - Sep	Nonnative	B
	Spanish lavender	Lavandula stoechas 'Laveanna Grand Purple'	Apr - Sep	Nonnative	H
	Sweet alyssum	Lobularia maritima 'Clear Crystal White'	Year-round	Nonnative	N
	Catmint	Nepeta x faassenii 'Walker's Low'	Mar - Aug	Nonnative	H N B
	African daisy	Osteospermum ecklonis 'Flower Power White'	Apr - Sep with deadheading	Nonnative	H N
	White sage	Salvia apiana	Apr - Jul	Native	H
	Cleveland sage	Salvia clevelandii 'Aromas'	May - Aug	Native	N B
	Mealycup sage	Salvia farinacea 'Victoria Blue'	Apr - Jun	Nonnative	N
	Desert globemallow	Sphaeralcea ambigua	Feb - Jun	Native	H N
	Speedwell	Veronica 'Dark Star'	Apr - Aug	Nonnative	H N

All native plant bloom season data is from Calflora.