Create Your Garden

Great Pollinator Plants for Northern California

Attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to your garden

Pollinator Plants, Butterfly Plants, Hummingbird Plants, Bee Plants, Western US Plants, Northern California Native Plants, Native Plants

Pollinators are nearly as important as sun, soil and water in both flowering plant reproduction and in the production of most fruits and vegetables. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, about 80% of all flowering plants and over three-quarters of the staple crop plants that feed humankind, rely on animal pollinators. Primary animal pollinators include ants, bees, beetles, butterflies, flies, birds, hummingbirds and moths. Pollinator populations are, however, on the decline for various reasons including habitat loss, introduction and spread of invasive plant species, misuse of pesticides and disease. Providing wildflower-rich habitat is the most significant action you can take to support these important pollinators.

What You Can Do for Pollinators:

  • Grow native flowering plants – Adapted to local soils and climates, native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees are usually the best sources of nectar and pollen for native pollinators. Most native plants require little irrigation, bloom without fertilizers, and are unlikely to become weedy.
  • Plant in the sun – Your pollinator-friendly plants should receive full sun throughout most of the day. Butterfly adults generally feed only in the sun.
  • Provide long-lasting blooms – Sustain pollinators throughout the seasons. Plant a variety of plants that flower at different times providing nectar and pollen sources throughout the growing season.
  • Plant in groups – Clumps of flowering plants will attract more pollinators than single plants scattered in the landscape.
  • No insecticides – Insecticides have the potential to poison or kill pollinators.

Here is a list of Northern California native plants that are very attractive to pollinators and are well-suited for plantings in gardens.

Guide Information

Native Plants California, United States
Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bees

Great Pollinator Plants for Northern California

Acer circinatum (Vine Maple)
Asclepias speciosa (Showy Milkweed)
Baccharis pilularis (Coyote Bush)
Camassia quamash (Camas)
Ceanothus cuneatus (Buckbrush)
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus (Blue Blossom)
Collomia grandiflora (Large Flowered Collomia)
Frangula purshiana (Cascara Buckthorn)
Gaultheria shallon (Shallon)
Holodiscus discolor (Ocean Spray)
Limnanthes douglasii (Poached Egg Plant)
Lupinus polyphyllus (Bigleaf Lupine)
Lupinus rivularis (Riverbank Lupine)
Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape Holly)
Physocarpus capitatus (Pacific Ninebark)
Rosa nutkana (Nootka Rose)
Solidago canadensis (Canada Goldenrod)
Spiraea douglasii (Western Spirea)
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Northern California
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Native Plants California, United States
Attracts Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Bees
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Northern California

Related Items

Please Login to Proceed

You Have Reached The Free Limit, Please Subscribe to Proceed

Subscribe to Gardenia

To create additional collections, you must be a paid member of Gardenia
  • Add as many plants as you wish
  • Create and save up to 25 garden collections
Become a Member

Plant Added Successfully

You have Reached Your Limit

To add more plants, you must be a paid member of our site Become a Member

Update Your Credit
Card Information

Cancel

Create a New Collection

Sign Up to Our Newsletter

    You have been subscribed successfully

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Join Gardenia.net

    Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

    Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

    Join now and start creating your dream garden!

    Find your Hardiness Zone

    Find your Heat Zone

    Find your Climate Zone