Grow for Wildlife: Best Plants for Bees & Butterflies

Do you dream of a yard that hums with bees, fills with birdsong, and sways with ornamental grasses? You might think the best way to welcome wildlife is to let nature take over—but that’s not the case.

I’ve seen this happen more than once. A gardener decides to let nature take over, hoping to create a haven for wildlife—only to find that some plants dominate while others barely survive. In the worst cases, aggressive growers take over, leaving little room for diversity. A garden that was meant to be full of life ends up feeling… well, kind of empty.

Actually, science even backs this up, saying that finding the right balance between completely wild and overly manicured outdoor spaces creates the most diverse environment, providing ample food and habitats for wildlife. 

Creating a nature-inspired, wildlife-friendly garden is about designing a space that supports local biodiversity while still being beautiful and inviting.

Whether you’ve just moved into a new home or are looking to revamp your garden, I’ll walk you through three key principles to turn your planting areas into a thriving wildlife haven. In this post, we’ll focus on creating a garden rich in nectar and pollen—an essential food source for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.

Here’s how to plant with wildlife in mind:

1. Prioritize Native Plants (But Don’t Stop There!)

The heart of any wildlife-friendly garden is its plant life. The plants you choose will determine which creatures visit, stay, and thrive in your space

Select plants that you know to thrive naturally in your area. They will form a resilient wildlife-friendly backbone for your outdoor space. Look around—what trees, shrubs, and wildflowers are growing naturally in nearby meadows, forests, or even roadside ditches? Those are the plants that local birds, bees, and butterflies already recognize and rely on.

Could you add a small flowering tree that’s common in your region? Maybe a few self-seeding wildflowers that will return year after year without much effort? For example, I planted a peach-leaved bellflower (Campanula persicifolia) that I found growing on a roadside ditch and replanted it in our garden. It is self-seeding quite prolifically, and yes - I need to keep weeding it in some areas, but it is so gorgeous growing alongside pale pink shrub roses! Bees also love it!

As long as the plants aren’t too aggressively spreading, they can blend beautifully into your current beds. That said, native plants are nature’s original low-maintenance option—they’re adapted to your climate, which means less watering, fewer pests, and no need for chemical fertilizers. Plus, they provide the right kind of food and shelter for local wildlife, something that exotic plants often can’t do as well.

So, a truly biodiverse garden doesn’t have to be 100% native. Some ornamental plants—especially nectar-rich flowers—can also play a valuable role in extending the bloom season and attracting pollinators. It’s all about balance!

2. Plant for Pollinators

While native plants are the best backbone species, they shouldn’t be your only choice. To support wildlife, your garden should include a mix of plants that extend the flowering and fruiting season from early spring to late autumn.

Bees, butterflies, and other pollinators rely on nectar-rich flowers for food, and sometimes, food resources can be scarce in nature in early spring or late fall. You could plant cultivars that are close to the native ones or choose ornamental plants that are known to attract wildlife and provide food for them.

When you design your planting areas, plan for the whole flowering and feeding season, and choose plants that bloom across different seasons, such as:

•  Spring: Crocus, lungwort, wild cherry
•  Summer: Lavender, echinacea, foxglove
•  Autumn: Sedum, ivy, goldenrod

By selecting a mix of plants that bloom in succession, you ensure that there’s always something available for pollinators to feed on.

Even a small change in your yard—like replacing part of a traditional grass lawn with a wildflower patch or clover or planting an early-flowering shrub like golden currant (Ribes alpinum ’Aureum’)—can make a huge difference for pollinators.

3. Mimic Nature with Layered Planting

Wild spaces aren’t one-dimensional—they have layers that support different species. In a natural forest or forest edge, you’ll find tall trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and ground covers all growing together, creating shelter, food, and nesting spots for wildlife at every level.

Planting in layers allows you to add many plants to even a smaller area. This type of planting also adds different textures and makes your garden look more vibrant and full of life. 

Recreate layered planting in your garden by incorporating:
Trees – Provide nesting spots and food sources (maple, rowan, crabapple)
Shrubs – Offer shelter, nectar and berries for insects and birds (hawthorn, elder, dogwood)
Perennials – Attract pollinators (coneflowers, salvias, doronicum)
Ground cover – Supports pollinators with their nectar-rich flowers (thyme, clover)

Even a simple mix of one small tree, some shrubs, and a couple of shade-loving perennials surrounded by ground covers can turn an ordinary planting area into a miniature ecosystem with buzzing pollinators and birdsong.

Take Action:

Now it’s time to take some action—start small, experiment, and watch as your garden comes alive with bees, butterflies, birds, and other beautiful creatures. Even small, intentional changes can have a big impact.

So, what’s one small change you could make in your garden this season? Would you consider swapping part of your lawn for a pollinator-friendly mix of clover and grass or sow wildflowers? Pick one to three native plants to plant in your garden. Or experiment with layering—try mixing shrubs, perennials, and ground cover for a more natural look.

Coming Next:
Providing food for wildlife is a great start, but they also need safe places to drink, rest, and nest. In the next post, we’ll cover how to create shelter and water sources to make your garden a true haven for birds, insects, and other creatures. You can read it >>HERE<<.

Want to give pollinators an even better head start? I’ve put together a free guide: "10 Early-Flowering Plants to Support Pollinators in Spring." It’s packed with beautiful, easy-care plants that provide bees and butterflies with the food they need after winter. 

Get your free copy below! 👇