Midwest Pollinator Plant List

Recommended native plants that are highly attractive to pollinators such as native bees, honey bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds. Visit Pollinator Conservation Resources – Midwest Region for additional information. The pollinator resources found on this page support habitat projects in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. This information provided by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.


Scientific Name Common Name Duration Habit Sun Water
Agastache nepetoides Yellow Giant Hyssop Perennial Subshrub Sun, Part-shade
Amorpha canescens Leadplant, Leadplant Amorpha, Prairie Shoestring Perennial Shrub Sun, Part-shade Dry
Asclepias incarnata Swamp Milkweed, Pink Milkweed Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Baptisia bracteata Longbract Wild Indigo Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Cephalanthus occidentalis Common Buttonbush, Buttonbush, Button Willow, Honey Bells, Honeybells, Honey Balls, Honeyballs, Button-bush Perennial Shrub Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Cirsium discolor Field Thistle Biennial Herb Sun Dry
Crataegus crus-galli Cockspur Hawthorn, Cockspur Thorn, Newcastle Hawthorn, Newcastle Thorn, Hog Apple Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Dalea purpurea Purple Prairie Clover Perennial Subshrub Sun Dry
Echinacea pallida Pale Purple Coneflower, Pale Coneflower Perennial Herb Sun Moist, Dry
Eryngium yuccifolium Rattlesnake Master, Button Eryngo, Button Snakeroot, Beargrass, Bear's Grass Perennial Herb Sun Moist
Geranium maculatum Spotted Geranium, Wild Geranium, Cranesbill Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Moist
Liatris pycnostachya Prairie Blazing Star, Prairie Gayfeather, Prairie Liatris, Kansas Blazing Star, Kansas Gayfeather, Kansas Liatris, Cat-tail Blazing Star, Cat-tail Gayfeather, Cat-tail Liatris, Hairy Button-snakeroot Perennial Herb Sun Moist, Dry
Monarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot, Beebalm Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Penstemon digitalis Mississippi Penstemon, Mississippi Beardtongue, Smooth White Penstemon, Smooth White Beardtongue, Talus Slope Penstemon, Talus Slope Beardtongue, Foxglove Penstemon, Foxglove Beardtongue Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Physocarpus opulifolius Common Ninebark, Atlantic Ninebark Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Pycnanthemum tenuifolium Narrowleaf Mountain Mint, Slender Mountain Mint, Common Horsemint Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Salix humilis Prairie Willow Perennial Shrub Sun Wet, Dry
Solidago nemoralis Gray Goldenrod, Prairie Goldenrod, Oldfield Goldenrod, Grayleaf Goldenrod, Gray-leaved Goldenrod, Dyersweed Goldenrod, Dwarf Goldenrod, Field Goldenrod Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Dry
Solidago speciosa Showy Goldenrod, Noble Goldenrod Perennial Herb Part-shade Moist
Symphyotrichum laeve Smooth Blue Aster Perennial Herb Sun Dry
Verbesina alternifolia Wingstem, Yellow Ironweed Perennial Herb Sun Moist
Vernonia missurica Missouri Ironweed Perennial Herb
Veronicastrum virginicum Culver's Root Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist
Zizia aurea Golden Zizia, Golden Alexanders Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist