Northeast 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 – Northeast Region for additional information. The pollinator resources found on this page support habitat projects in Quebec, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and eastern New York. This information provided by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.


Scientific Name Common Name Duration Habit Sun Water
Asclepias incarnata Swamp Milkweed, Pink Milkweed Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Ceanothus americanus New Jersey Tea, Redroot Perennial Shrub 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
Eupatorium perfoliatum Common Boneset Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Gentiana clausa Bottle Gentian, Blind Gentian Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist
Geranium maculatum Spotted Geranium, Wild Geranium, Cranesbill Perennial Herb Shade, Part-shade Moist
Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Monarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot, Beebalm Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade 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
Rosa virginiana Virginia Rose Perennial Shrub Shade, Part-shade Moist
Rudbeckia laciniata Green-headed Coneflower, Greenhead Coneflower, Cutleaf Coneflower, Wild Goldenglow, Sochan Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist
Salix discolor Pussy Willow, Glaucous Willow Perennial Shrub Sun Moist
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 rugosa Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod, Wrinkle-leaf Goldenrod, Rough-leaved Goldenrod, Roughleaf Goldenrod, Rough-stemmed Goldenrod, Roughstem Goldenrod Perennial Herb Sun Wet
Symphyotrichum lateriflorum Calico Aster Perennial Herb Sun
Symphyotrichum novae-angliae New England Aster, New England American-aster Perennial Herb Part-shade Moist
Tilia americana American Basswood, American Linden, Lime Tree, Bee Tree Perennial Tree Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Tradescantia virginiana Virginia Spiderwort, Spider Lily Perennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Moist, Dry
Vaccinium corymbosum Highbush Blueberry Perennial Shrub Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist, Dry
Verbena hastata Swamp Verbena, Blue Verbena, Blue Vervain, Simpler's Joy Biennial Herb Sun, Shade, Part-shade Wet, Moist
Zizia aurea Golden Zizia, Golden Alexanders Perennial Herb Sun, Part-shade Moist