What are the best native flowers to plant to help Wisconsin pollinators?

Planting native flowers is one of the best ways to support Wisconsin’s 400+ species of native bees, migrating Monarchs, and local hummingbirds. To give pollinators the best support, the Wisconsin DNR and UW Extension recommend choosing plants that provide continuous blooms from early spring through late fall.

Quick Summary: These 11 Native Wisconsin Flowers will help pollinators and give you blooms from Spring to Fall.

1. Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis): Beautiful red-and-yellow bell-shaped flowers that are an absolute magnet for returning hummingbirds and bees.

2. Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea): Bright yellow, lace-like clusters provides accessible nectar for tiny native bees and can host Black Swallowtail caterpillars.

3. Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis): Gorgeous blue-purple spikes. Crucial because it is the only host plant for the endangered Karner Blue butterfly found in Wisconsin.

4. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) or Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa): Absolute necessities for Monarch butterflies to lay their eggs. Bonus: Swamp milkweed is much more “well-behaved” in managed garden beds than common milkweed.

5. Wild Bergamot / Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa): Lavender, pom-pom-like flowers. Bumblebees, clearwing moths, and butterflies go completely wild for it.

6. Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum): Features licorice-scented leaves and purple flower spikes that remain coated in native bees for weeks.

7. Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida): A hardy, deep-rooted favorite for native bees and butterflies.

8. Native Asters (e.g., New England Aster or Sky Blue Aster): Packed with late-season nectar in vibrant shades of purple and blue.

9. Native Goldenrods (e.g., Showy Goldenrod or Stiff Goldenrod): Providing bright yellow pollen. (Don’t worry: native goldenrod does not cause hay fever—that blame belongs to ragweed, which blooms at the same time but is wind-pollinated!)

10. Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum): Towering plants with massive, dusty-pink flower heads that attract swallowtails and large bumblebees.

11. Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis): Intense, brilliant red spikes that bloom into September, great for hummingbirds.

If you spend any time in gardening communities online, you will see a lot of talk about planting with purpose by transforming your yard into a bustling pollinator haven. To do so, you need a strategy that feeds our local insects from the moment the snow melts until the hard frosts of November. Here are some tips for planting your Wisconsin pollinator garden and choosing the best native flowering plants.

Quick Tips for Your Wisconsin Pollinator Garden

• Plant in “Sweeps”: Instead of scattering single plants, put groups of 3 to 5 of the same species together. It makes it much easier for pollinators to spot them from the air.
• Match your site: If you have dry, sandy soil (common in parts of Central/Western WI), lean toward Butterfly Milkweed and Lupine. If you have heavy clay (common in Southeast WI), Swamp Milkweed and Joe Pye Weed will thrive.
• Embrace a little mess: Many of Wisconsin’s native bees are solitary and nest in the ground or inside hollow plant stems. Leave your garden standing over the winter and wait until late spring (when temperatures are consistently above 50°F) to clean it up.

What Flowers to Plant to Have Continuous Blooms?

The biggest mistake I see enthusiastic beginners make is buying everything at the nursery during its peak bloom in July. You plant it, your yard looks amazing for three weeks, and then by September, your garden is completely done. Meanwhile, migrating Monarch butterflies and overwintering queen bees are left stranded without food.

To truly help Wisconsin’s 400-plus species of native bees and other pollinators, you have to stagger your bloom times across three distinct waves. You want to create a relay race of nectar where one species finishes blooming just as the next one takes the baton. Here are the different flowers to plant so that you can have various bloom times – – -which will help all the pollinators.

Early Spring Bloomers (Critical for Emerging Queens)

Early spring is the most fragile time for our native pollinators. Queen bumblebees are trying to establish new colonies entirely on their own, and they need immediate, high-quality energy to survive.

• Wild Columbine: This is my absolute favorite spring native. The red and yellow nodding bells are tailor-made for returning ruby-throated hummingbirds. They are incredibly hardy, shade-tolerant, and will happily self-seed in the quiet corners of your yard.
• Golden Alexanders: Often mistaken for wild parsnip, this bright yellow beauty blooms early and serves as a vital host plant for Black Swallowtail caterpillars. The flat flower clusters make nectar easily accessible for tiny native sweat bees.
• Wild Lupine: If you have sandy soil, this is a must-grow plant. It features striking blue-purple spikes and is famously the only food source for the endangered Karner Blue butterfly, which holds a special place in Wisconsin’s conservation efforts.

The Best Mid-Summer Powerhouses for Peak Pollinator Activity

By mid-summer, the garden should feel alive, almost vibrating with activity. This is when your host plants and heavy-hitter nectar producers do the bulk of the lifting.

• Swamp Milkweed and Butterfly Milkweed: You cannot talk about native gardening without milkweed. If you are worried about common milkweed aggressively taking over your garden beds via underground runners, plant Swamp Milkweed instead. It behaves beautifully in standard garden soil, features gorgeous pink clusters, and smells like vanilla. Monarch butterflies depend on these plants for their caterpillars to survive.
• Wild Bergamot: Also known as Bee Balm, this plant produces lavender, pom-pom-like flowers. In my garden, this is the specific plant that causes a literal traffic jam of bumblebees, clearwing hummingbird moths, and swallowtails.
• Anise Hyssop: The leaves smell delightfully like licorice, and the purple flower spikes stay covered in tiny native bees for weeks on end. It is one of the most drought-resilient plants in my yard once established.

Late Summer to Fall Bloomers to Help With Migration & Overwintering

Late summer and autumn are when the migration rush hits. Monarchs need massive amounts of fuel to fly all the way to Mexico, and queen bees are packing on resources to survive the brutal Wisconsin winter ahead.

• Showy Goldenrod: Let us clear up a massive piece of misinformation right now: goldenrod does not cause your fall hay fever. That blame belongs entirely to ragweed, which blooms at the exact same time but has tiny, wind-blown pollen. Goldenrod pollen is heavy and sticky, meaning it requires insects to move it. It is one of the most ecologically valuable plants you can add to a landscape.
• New England Aster: The vibrant purple petals and bright yellow centers of these asters look stunning next to the yellow goldenrods. They bloom well into October, providing a literal lifesaver of late-season nectar when almost everything else has browned out.
• Joe Pye Weed: If you have the space for a massive statement plant, put this in the back of your beds. It easily grows over six feet tall and produces huge, dusty-pink flower heads that look like landing pads for giant swallowtail butterflies.

Advice for Dealing With Wisconsin Clay Dirt and Pests That Love to Eat Our Flowers

If there is one thing I have learned from years of trial and error, it is that you have to work with your specific plot of land rather than fighting it. If you live in southeastern Wisconsin, you are likely dealing with heavy, stubborn clay. Do not despair. Plant Swamp Milkweed, New England Aster, and Joe Pye Weed, which absolutely love those moisture-retaining soils. If you are in Central or Western Wisconsin with sandy, fast-draining soil, stick to Butterfly Milkweed, Pale Purple Coneflower, and Wild Lupine.

Another hard truth of Wisconsin native gardening is the local wildlife. Our neighborhood bunnies love native plants just as much as the pollinators do, especially when the tender green shoots first pop out of the ground in May. I highly recommend caging your new plants with little chicken wire plant protectors for their first full growing season to protect from squirrels, bunnies, deer, etc. But, once their root systems are deep and established, most native plants can bounce back from a little nibbling without a problem.

You will also have to learn to embrace a little bit of mess. Over seventy percent of our native bees nest in the ground or inside the hollow stems of last year’s plants, so if you cut your entire garden down to the dirt in October, you are throwing away next year’s pollinators. You should leave the dead stalks standing through the winter because they provide seeds for hungry goldfinches during January blizzards and they also protect the hibernating insects. It is best to wait until spring to clear all the dead stalks and clean up your garden, when the temperatures are consistently above fifty degrees.