Ligularia
- Light
- Part Shade, Full Shade
- Water
- High
- Size
- 2-5 ft × 2-4 ft
Plant Collection
PollinatorFriendly
Nectar-rich bloomers and host plants that keep butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds coming back through the season.
Nectar-rich. All season.
Read pollinator guideBrowse the collection
517 plants found
Narrow it down
Pollinator Friendly Plants
GrassLittle Bluestem
Schizachyrium scoparium
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Low
- Size
- 2-4 feet × 1-2 feet
TreeLive Oak
Quercus virginiana
- Light
- Full Sun, Part Sun
- Water
- Low
- Size
- 60-80 feet × 60-120 feet
Loofah Gourd
Luffa aegyptiaca
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Size
- 10-15 ft (vine) × 6-10 ft (vine spread)
GrassLopsided Indiangrass
Sorghastrum secundum
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Low to Moderate
- Size
- 2-6 feet × 1-2 feet
Love-in-a-Mist
Nigella damascena
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Low to Moderate
- Size
- 12-18 in × 9-12 in
Mangave
xMangave
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Low
- Size
- 1-3 ft × 2-4 ft
Fruit TreeMango
Mangifera indica
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Low to Moderate
- Size
- 30-60 feet × 30-40 feet
ShrubMarlberry
Ardisia escallonioides
- Light
- Part Sun, Part Shade, Full Sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Size
- 12-15 feet × 6-10 feet
Mexican Tulip Poppy
Hunnemannia fumariifolia
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Low
- Size
- 18-24 in × 12-24 in
Fruit TreeMeyer Lemon
Citrus meyeri
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Size
- 6-10 feet × 4-8 feet
Moonflower Vine
Ipomoea alba
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Size
- 10-15 ft × 3-6 ft
Build a living garden
A pollinator planting works best when it mixes nectar flowers, host plants, shelter, and staggered bloom times. Start with a few reliable species, then layer in color as the garden matures.
ShrubMyrtle Oak
Quercus myrtifolia
- Light
- Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water
- Low
- Size
- 5-30 feet (highly variable; often shrubby at 8-15 feet in scrub) × 8-10 feet
ShrubNight-Blooming Jasmine
Cestrum nocturnum
- Light
- Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Size
- 8-12 feet × 4-6 feet
ShrubOakleaf Holly
Ilex
- Light
- Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Size
- 14-20 feet × 8-12 feet
ShrubOakleaf Hydrangea
Hydrangea quercifolia
- Light
- Part Shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Size
- 6-10 feet × 3-6 feet
Okra
Abelmoschus esculentus
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Size
- 4-6 ft × 2-3 ft
Painted Tongue
Salpiglossis sinuata
- Light
- Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Size
- 18-24 in × 9-12 in
ShrubPaperbush
Edgeworthia chrysantha
- Light
- Part Shade
- Water
- Moderate to High
- Size
- 4-6 feet × 4-6 feet
TreeParsley Hawthorn
Crataegus marshallii
- Light
- Full Sun, Part Sun
- Water
- Moderate to High
- Size
- 10-20 feet × 15-20 feet
Parsnip
Pastinaca sativa
- Light
- Full Sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Size
- 12-18 in foliage; 3-5 ft when flowering × 6-9 in
Partridge Berry
Mitchella repens
- Light
- Part Shade, Full Shade
- Water
- Moderate to High
- Size
- 2-3 in × 6-12 in
Fruit TreePawpaw
Asimina triloba
- Light
- Full Sun, Part Sun
- Water
- Moderate to High
- Size
- 15-30 feet × 15-20 feet
PerennialPeacock Ginger
Kaempferia
- Light
- Part Shade, Full Shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Size
- 6-12 inches × 12-24 inches
Pollinator Friendly Questions
What makes a plant pollinator friendly?+
Pollinator-friendly plants provide nectar, pollen, host foliage, shelter, or seasonal bloom that supports bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and beneficial insects.
How many pollinator plants should I start with?+
Start with three to five reliable species and plant them in visible groups so pollinators can find flowers easily.
Do pollinator plants need full sun?+
Many heavy-blooming pollinator plants prefer full sun, but shade gardens can still support pollinators with the right native and Florida-Friendly selections.
When should I plant a pollinator garden in St. Augustine?+
Spring and fall are great windows in Zone 9b, and our mild winters mean something can bloom for pollinators in most months when you mix species.
Will a pollinator garden bring bees close to my house?+
It can draw bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, though most stay focused on the flowers. You can site the busiest blooms away from doorways and patios.
What are the best plants for hummingbirds in Florida?+
Hummingbirds favor tubular, nectar-rich blooms. In Zone 9b, firebush, firespike, coral honeysuckle, salvia, and cape honeysuckle are reliable draws. Plant them in groups with a sequence of bloom so nectar is available across the warm months.