Douglas Aster
Symphyotrichum subspicatum
Keeps pollinators fed — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees right through when it blooms Aug through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
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- California
- Pollinators
California · Zones 5–10
Native Pollinator Plants in California
Native plants that turn a yard into a season-long buffet for bees, butterflies, and the insects that keep the food web running. For California, the right natives are shaped by Coast Ranges, Central Valley & Sierra Nevada and a Mediterranean, summer-dry climate. Every species below, from Douglas Aster and Desert Willow to the rest of the list, is genuinely native to California 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
25 native species for California
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 5–10 · see this collection in other states.
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
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Keeps pollinators fed — it draws pollinators, native bees, and specialist bees as it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Desert Marigold
Baileya multiradiata
A pollinator magnet — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees as it blooms Mar through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 12–18 in
- Blooms Mar–Oct
Firecracker Penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
Keeps pollinators fed — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees right through when it blooms Mar through May.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Penstemon strictus
Nectar and pollen for the garden — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees while it blooms May through Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Gregg's Mistflower
Conoclinium greggii
Works hard for pollinators — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees as it blooms May through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Oct
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Works hard for pollinators — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and butterflies while it blooms Jul through Sep.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jul–Sep
Red-Flowering Currant
Ribes sanguineum
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees while it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 5–9 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees while 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 as it blooms Apr through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 2–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Oct
California Poppy
Eschscholzia californica
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, native bees, and specialist bees while it blooms Mar through Jun.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 8–18 in
- Blooms Mar–Jun
Flame Acanthus
Anisacanthus quadrifidus var. wrightii
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and butterflies right through when it blooms Jun through Oct.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Oct
Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Nectar and pollen for the garden — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and butterflies right through when it blooms Jun through Aug.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 5–10 ft
- Blooms Jun–Aug
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Keeps pollinators fed — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees while it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Keeps pollinators fed — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees while it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
California Lilac
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees while it blooms Mar through May.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–20 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, native bees, and seed-eating birds as it blooms Apr through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Chocolate Flower
Berlandiera lyrata
Keeps pollinators fed — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees right through when it blooms May through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2 ft
- Blooms May–Sep
Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium
Works hard for pollinators — 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
Hairy Manzanita
Arctostaphylos columbiana
Keeps pollinators fed — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees right through when it blooms Mar through May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 3–9 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Keeps pollinators fed — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees right through when it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Toyon
Heteromeles arbutifolia
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees right through when it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 8–15 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Red-Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, native bees, and songbirds as it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–9 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
1 more also qualify: Showy Milkweed.
Sourcing
Where to find these in California
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.