Keep Pollinators Coming Into Fall

As summer begins to transition toward fall in Massachusetts, bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial pollinators are still actively searching for nectar. By adding plants that continue blooming through the late season, you can enjoy weeks of beautiful color while providing an important food source for the pollinators that help keep our gardens thriving.

A thoughtful mix of long-blooming perennials, native plants, flowering herbs, and colorful annuals will keep your landscape blooming and buzzing well into autumn.

Choose Long-Blooming Perennials

Perennials provide dependable color year after year while offering valuable nectar for pollinators.

Excellent choices include:

• Coneflowers
• Black-Eyed Susans
• Salvia
• Sedum
• Bee Balm
• Asters

These garden favorites bloom well into late summer and provide an important source of nectar as the seasons begin to change.

Add Massachusetts Native Plants

Native plants are naturally adapted to local growing conditions and help support birds, butterflies, bees, and other beneficial wildlife.

Consider planting:

• New England Aster
• Joe Pye Weed
• Goldenrod
• Blazing Star (Liatris)
• Mountain Mint
• Native Milkweed

Native plants provide nectar, pollen, shelter, and habitat while requiring relatively little maintenance once established.

Let Herbs Flower

Many herbs become pollinator magnets when allowed to bloom.

Try leaving a few stems on:

• Basil
• Oregano
• Thyme
• Chives
• Lavender
• Mint

Their flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects while adding fragrance and beauty to your garden.

Add Color with Annuals

Annual flowers continue blooming until frost and help fill empty spaces in beds and containers.

Great pollinator-friendly choices include:

• Zinnias
• Cosmos
• Lantana
• Verbena
• Sunflowers
• Marigolds

Regular deadheading encourages many annuals to produce flowers for weeks to come.

Plant in Groups

Pollinators are naturally attracted to larger patches of color.

Grouping several plants of the same variety together makes it easier for bees and butterflies to gather nectar while creating a bold, colorful display.

Create a Pollinator-Friendly Habitat

Flowers are only part of what pollinators need.

Help create a welcoming garden by:

• Providing a shallow water source
• Leaving some perennial seed heads standing
• Including ornamental grasses and shrubs for shelter
• Limiting pesticide use whenever possible
• Planting a variety of flowers that bloom from spring through fall

Even a small garden can become an important stop for pollinators.

Keep the Blooms Coming

The best pollinator gardens offer flowers throughout the growing season.

Combine:

• Long-blooming perennials
• Native plants
• Flowering herbs
• Colorful annuals
• Late-season asters and goldenrod

This provides a continuous supply of nectar while keeping your landscape colorful from spring through fall.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which flowers attract the most butterflies?

Coneflowers, asters, milkweed, Joe Pye Weed, salvia, zinnias, and butterfly bush are excellent butterfly favorites.

Why are native plants important?

Native plants provide food and habitat for local pollinators and are naturally adapted to Massachusetts growing conditions.

Can flowering herbs attract bees?

Absolutely! Basil, oregano, thyme, chives, lavender, and mint all become excellent nectar sources when allowed to bloom.

Should I deadhead pollinator plants?

Deadhead annuals to encourage more flowers, but consider leaving some perennial seed heads later in the season to provide food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects.

Can I still plant pollinator-friendly plants?

Yes! Many perennials, native plants, herbs, and annuals establish well in late summer with regular watering.

Visit Us

Whether you’re creating a pollinator paradise, adding colorful perennials, planting native species, or refreshing your landscape, Salt Box Nursery has everything you need to keep your garden blooming and buzzing into fall.

Salt Box Nursery
562 Boston Road
Billerica, MA 01821

Phone: (978) 663-4348

Hours
Open Daily
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Visit us today and let our knowledgeable team help you choose beautiful, pollinator-friendly plants that will keep your garden thriving through the seasons.