Hardly an episode goes by where we don’t mention a pollinator plant. But we have never dedicated an entire episode to the topic, which in our minds is bananas! So today we’re fixing that track record and discussing 11 of our favorite pollinator plants. Native plant expert Cheyenne Wine joins us from Rare Roots Nursery in Virginia to add her top picks to the conversation, as well. Listen now to find trees, shrubs, perennials, and even some bulbs to plant if you’re interested in turning your garden into an insect party buzzing with activity!  

Expert: Cheyenne Wine is a writer and photographer for Rare Roots nursery in Mechanicsville, Virginia.   

Learn more:

A Hole in Every Host Plant

Designing a Stylish Pollinator Garden

Danielle’s Plants 

Cobalt-n-Gold™ St. John’s wort (Hypericum kalmianum ‘PIIHYP-I’, Zones 4-7) 

 ‘Woodlanders Sarah’ summersweet (Clethra alnifolia var. tomentosa ‘Woodlanders Sarah’, Zones 4-9) 

Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium, Zones 4-8) 

Mapleleaf viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium, Zones 4-8) 

Carol’s Plants  

Red maple (Acer rubrum, Zones 3-9)  

Nodding onion (Allium cernuum, Zones 4-8) 

‘Bee-Yond’ dahlia (Dahlia ‘Bee-yond’, Zones 8-10) 

‘October Skies’ aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium ‘October Skies’, Zones 4-8) 

Expert’s Plants  

‘Little Pye’ Joe pye weed (Eutrochium dubium ‘Little Pye’, Zones 3-8) 

Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens, Zones 4-9) 

‘Fragrant Angel’ purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea ‘Fragrant Angel’, Zones 3-9)