Desert Marigold
Baileya multiradiata
Works hard for pollinators — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees while it blooms Mar through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Mar–Oct
Arizona · Zones 5–10
Native Pollinator Plants in Arizona
Native plants that turn a yard into a season-long buffet for bees, butterflies, and the insects that keep the food web running. For Arizona, the right natives are shaped by Sonoran & Chihuahuan deserts, Mogollon Rim and a arid, hot low desert to cool high country climate. Every species below, from Desert Marigold and Pasque Flower to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to Arizona and the wider flora of the desert Southwest and hardy through zones 5–10. A garden that feeds pollinators all season needs something in bloom from the first warm days of spring through the last of fall. Aim for at least three species flowering at any given time, plant in generous drifts of one kind rather than singletons so foragers can work efficiently, and leave seed heads and hollow stems standing over winter to shelter the next generation.
The plants
23 native species for Arizona
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–10 · see this collection in other states.
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
Nectar and pollen for the garden — it draws pollinators, native bees, and specialist bees while it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
Nectar and pollen for the garden — it draws pollinators, native bees, and seed-eating birds while it blooms Apr through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Firecracker Penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees while it blooms Mar through May.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and butterflies right through when it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
A pollinator magnet — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees while it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Gregg's Mistflower
Conoclinium greggii
Works hard for pollinators — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees while it blooms May through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees right through when it blooms Apr through Jul.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jul
Autumn Sage
Salvia greggii
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and butterflies right through when it blooms Apr through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Oct
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Nectar and pollen for the garden — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and butterflies right through when it blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Flame Acanthus
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
A pollinator magnet — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and butterflies right through when it blooms Jun through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Oct
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
A pollinator magnet — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees while it blooms May through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Desert Willow
Chilopsis linearis
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees while it blooms May through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 15–25 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees while it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Keeps pollinators fed — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and butterflies while it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Penstemon strictus
Nectar and pollen for the garden — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees as it blooms May through Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Nectar and pollen for the garden — it draws pollinators, native bees, and specialist bees right through when it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Purple Prairie Clover
Dalea purpurea
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, native bees, and specialist bees while it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–3 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees while it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Fragrant Sumac
Rhus aromatica
Works hard for pollinators — it draws pollinators, native bees, and seed-eating birds right through when it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Red-Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
Keeps pollinators fed — it draws pollinators, native bees, and songbirds right through when it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–9 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium
Keeps pollinators fed — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees right through when it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Works hard for pollinators — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Sourcing
Where to find these in Arizona
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.