Zone 5 perennials that attract honeybees and butterflies?

[purpletree23]

I am in zone 5 and I would like members of the forum to recommend perennials that will attract bees and butterflies. I tried planting the garden last year with annuals but the results were horrible. I am going to try again but this time with perennials. Anything that will help the bees and butterflies and attract beneficial bugs to eat the bad bugs in my vegetable garden.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

in and around the garden plant some marigolds. they are great repellents.for the bees and butterfly's, butterfly bush, bee balm, milk weed. the possibility's are endless.

 

[lazy gardener]

Cosmos. You might buy a packet of wild flower mix and sow a bed of that. That should do a great job of attracting beneficials. For perennials... IMO, it doesn't really matter what you plant. The criteria for me are: Do I like it? Will it grow in the soil/sun/moisture/climate conditions that I have available for it? Is it invasive? Humming birds like tubular types of flowers, and are particularly attracted to red. Bees will go for anything that blooms, particularly flowers that are good nectar producers. Butterflies, at least in my yard are attracted to daisy type flowers. Aim for a good variety of plants that YOU like, and you'll ALL be happy. I do stay away from plants that are known to be poisonous... just because, though I no longer have young children to worry about in my yard.

 

[DaveOmak]

Bees really like my ever bearing raspberries... Seems like they are in bloom for 5-6 months...

 

[boskelli1571]

Anise hyssop is a very good attractant. It has the added bonus of being a perennial herb, therefore almost indestructible. The list is almost endless: lavender, echinacea, butterfly bush, salvia, russian sage to name a few. Google bee/butterfly perennials and you will get an amzingly long list. Have fun!

 

[MaddiesMum]

I saw this on FB the other day, for attracting bees

 

[irischick]

John Scheppers seed catalog has a mix for bees and butterflies. I ordered it myself.

 

[ComerSmitley]

There is a herb plant called Borage, which has tiny blue flowers and the bees love it! I think they wait in line for it. It's a hardy plant and it is a self seeder, so you'll have a little Borage forest before long. Also the bees visited the catnip & catmint herbs when they flowered.

Cardinal Flower is a good one for butterflies, bees, and I've heard hummingbirds too. It's a tall and skinny plant, that looks like a weed until it's about 18inches and gets beautiful draping red flowers. I always try to mark it so I don't accidentally weed it.

Sunflowers, if you have the space and patience for their blooms, is a great ecosystem for all kinds of garden bug critters. It's a non-stop tourist attraction for garden bugs! Tons of fun to watch! Although sunflowers are not perennials.