Bring Your Garden to Life: 5 Native Perennials Pollinators Love

Celebrate National Perennial Month with plants that support Virginia’s ecosystems.

June is National Perennial Month—the perfect time to refresh your landscape with long-lasting plants that return year after year. This year, consider taking it a step further by planting a pollinator garden filled with Virginia native perennials. Why natives? Because they’re not only beautiful and low-maintenance—they’re also uniquely suited to support local pollinators and wildlife.

“Native plants attract a variety of butterflies, moths and other pollinators by providing diverse habitats and food sources. Native plants feed the insects that are the base of the food web, and insects that are especially important as food for young songbirds.”
— Plant Virginia Natives (https://www.plantvirginianatives.org/planting-natives-to-attract-pollinators)

Whether you’re planting a few accents or dreaming of a full pollinator paradise, these five Virginia native perennials are a beautiful place to start.

Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Coneflowers are a native garden staple with bold, daisy-like flowers in purple, pink, or white. These sun-loving perennials bloom from early summer to fall and are known for their drought tolerance and rugged nature.

Why pollinators love it: Bees and butterflies flock to its nectar-rich centers, and goldfinches love the seeds in late summer.

Planting tip: Full sun and well-drained soil are best. Deadhead for more blooms, or leave the seed heads for birds and winter interest.

Want to design a native perennial border? Our landscape design services can help you build beauty that lasts.

Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)

Bee balm brings vivid color and a wonderful fragrance to any garden. With shaggy blooms in shades of red, pink, and purple, it’s an attention-grabber for both pollinators and people.

Why pollinators love it: A favorite of hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees alike.

Planting tip: It prefers moist, well-drained soil and thrives in full to part sun. Good air circulation helps prevent powdery mildew.

Bee balm fits beautifully into pollinator garden plans that blend color and movement—let us show you how.

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

With its sunny yellow petals and dark centers, Black-Eyed Susan brings cheer to any space. It’s a tough and dependable native plant that blooms profusely in mid to late summer.

Why pollinators love it: It’s a favorite landing pad for bees and butterflies, and birds love the seeds.

Planting tip: Grows easily in full sun and works well in mass plantings or naturalized borders.

They’re also a perfect companion to ornamental grasses in a professionally designed landscape.

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

This bold, bright-orange perennial is more than just a pretty face. It’s a host plant for monarch butterflies, meaning they lay their eggs on it and caterpillars feed on the leaves.

Why pollinators love it: Essential for monarch survival and a magnet for bees and other butterflies.

Planting tip: Loves full sun and dry, sandy soils. Once established, it needs little water.

Add it to your garden for an eco-conscious splash of color—and a great conversation starter.

Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)

Tall, spiky, and packed with color, Blazing Star brings striking vertical interest to the garden with its bottlebrush-style blooms in shades of purple and magenta. It’s a Virginia native that adds movement and texture while supporting pollinators.

Why pollinators love it: Butterflies—especially monarchs—flock to its nectar-rich flowers, and bees can’t resist the late-summer blooms.

Planting tip: Prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Plant in clusters for maximum effect, or mix with Black-Eyed Susans and native grasses.

Blazing Star makes a stunning addition to any pollinator garden, accenting designs that feel both structured and wild.

Tips for Creating a Native Pollinator Garden

• Plant in groups: Pollinators are more likely to find and feed on clustered plantings.

• Mix bloom times: Choose natives that flower from spring through fall to provide a continuous nectar source.

• Ditch the chemicals: Avoid pesticides, or choose pollinator-safe treatments.

• Think beyond beauty: Natives aren’t just decorative—they’re foundational to our food web and songbird populations.

Want to go beyond a few flowers? Let The King’s Garden design a space that brings together structure, seasonal interest, and environmental impact.

Design with Purpose—The King’s Garden Can Help

Pollinator gardens don’t have to look wild or weedy. With thoughtful planning, native plantings can be polished, elegant, and full of life. That’s what we specialize in at The King’s Garden.

“When we design with pollinators in mind, we’re not just adding color—we’re contributing to a thriving, balanced landscape,” says Mitch Foos, owner of The King’s Garden. “It’s amazing how just a few native plants can attract life to your yard and create a space that feels alive.”

Whether you’re looking to fill a small border or transform your entire outdoor space, we’ll help you create a garden that looks good—and does good—for years to come.

Let’s Bring Your Garden to Life

Add a pop of perennial color and make your landscape work for the planet, too.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and bring pollinator power to your Williamsburg garden.