If there is one question I hear more than any other from Fort Collins gardeners, it is: how do I attract more butterflies and hummingbirds to my yard? The answer is deceptively simple — plant the natives they evolved with. Not butterfly bush (Buddleja), which is a non-native that provides nectar but zero larval food. Not impatiens or petunias, which are bred for human visual appeal but offer little to pollinators. Plant the real thing.
Here are my top ten Colorado native plants for pollinator gardens, ranked by the sheer volume and diversity of pollinator activity I have observed in gardens across Northern Colorado. Every one of these plants is proven in Fort Collins clay soils, requires minimal supplemental water once established, and is hardy to our USDA Zone 5 conditions.
1. Rocky Mountain Bee Plant (Cleome serrulata)
This is the single most effective pollinator magnet I have ever planted. On a warm July afternoon, a mature Rocky Mountain Bee Plant can have dozens of different pollinator species working it simultaneously — honeybees, bumblebees, sweat bees, skippers, sulfur butterflies, and even the occasional hummingbird. It is an annual that self-sows readily, growing three to four feet tall with showy pink-purple flower clusters. Give it full sun and stand back.
2. Narrowleaf Milkweed (Asclepias stenophylla)
Every pollinator garden in Colorado needs milkweed, and this native species is adapted to our dry, alkaline conditions far better than the common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) from the eastern US. Narrowleaf Milkweed is the larval food plant for Monarch butterflies — without it, Monarchs cannot reproduce. The fragrant white flower clusters also attract a wide range of native bees. Plant it in full sun, in dry to medium soil, and do not overwater.
3. Lavender Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
If I could only plant one perennial in a Fort Collins pollinator garden, this might be it. Lavender Hyssop blooms from June through September — an incredibly long bloom period that overlaps with the flight seasons of dozens of pollinator species. The purple flower spikes are a favorite of bumblebees, and the anise-scented foliage is a pleasant bonus. It is also a Colorado native that handles our clay and drought with ease. Two to three feet tall, full sun.
4. Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata)
These cheerful red-and-yellow daisy-like flowers bloom from late spring through fall, providing a critical long-season nectar source. Blanketflower is especially attractive to butterflies, including Painted Ladies, Fritillaries, and Skippers. It is one of the most forgiving native perennials for Fort Collins conditions — it laughs at our clay, shrugs off our drought, and blooms relentlessly even without deadheading.
5. Scarlet Bugler (Penstemon barbatus)
This is the hummingbird plant. The tubular red flowers are perfectly shaped for hummingbird bills, and when Scarlet Bugler is in bloom in June and July, Broad-tailed and Rufous Hummingbirds visit constantly. Plant a mass of ten or more, and you will have hummingbird traffic that rivals a feeder station — except this one feeds them naturally and does not require refilling. Two to three feet tall, full sun to light shade, very drought tolerant once established.
6. Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
A classic for good reason. Purple Coneflower provides both nectar (from the ray flowers) and seeds (from the cone center) that feed pollinators and goldfinches respectively. Butterflies love the flat landing platform of the flower head, and I regularly see Painted Ladies, Monarchs, and Swallowtails nectaring on Coneflower. It blooms from July through September and the seed heads provide winter interest and bird food if you leave them standing.
7. Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera)
The tall, drooping yellow petals surrounding a prominent cone make this one of the most recognizable prairie wildflowers. Prairie Coneflower is a pollinator workhorse that blooms prolifically from June through August. It is especially attractive to small native bees and hover flies. This plant thrives in the hottest, driest parts of your garden and will self-sow to fill gaps naturally. Extremely drought tolerant.
8. Blue Flax (Linum lewisii)
The sky-blue flowers of Blue Flax only last a single day, but the plant produces new flowers continuously from May through July. It is one of the earliest native bloomers, providing critical early-season nectar when many pollinators are emerging from hibernation and need food urgently. The delicate flowers are particularly attractive to small native bees and syrphid flies. Blue Flax is short-lived but self-sows freely, creating a permanent colony.
9. Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa)
This three-to-five-foot native shrub is a late-season hero. When Rabbitbrush explodes into bloom in September and October, it provides one of the last major nectar sources before winter. On a warm fall day, a Rabbitbrush in full bloom is swarming with bees, wasps, butterflies, and beetle species. It is the plant that carries pollinators through the final weeks before dormancy. Silver-gray foliage, brilliant yellow flowers, zero supplemental water needed.
10. Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
The lavender pompom flowers of Wild Bergamot are a magnet for long-tongued bees, butterflies, and hummingbird moths. It blooms in July and August and spreads gently by rhizomes to form attractive colonies. The foliage has a pleasant oregano-like fragrance, and the dried seed heads add winter structure. It handles light shade better than most prairie natives, making it a good choice for the edge of a tree canopy or the north side of a fence.
Designing for Continuous Bloom
The real power of a pollinator garden comes from sequencing bloom times so something is always flowering from April through October. Here is how these ten plants layer: April through May you get Blue Flax and the earliest Penstemon buds. June through July brings Scarlet Bugler, Blanketflower, Lavender Hyssop, Prairie Coneflower, and Rocky Mountain Bee Plant. July through August adds Purple Coneflower and Wild Bergamot. September through October finishes with Rabbitbrush carrying the season home.
Plant in masses, not singles. A single plant of anything is easy for a pollinator to miss. A drift of twelve Blanketflowers is a billboard that says dinner is served. Group your plants in clusters of five to twelve of each species, use odd numbers for natural-looking arrangements, and place the tallest plants at the back or center of the bed.
Every one of these plants is available from native plant nurseries along the Front Range, and several can be grown from seed. If you want help designing a pollinator garden for your specific site, that is exactly what I do — reach out and we will create a plan that brings your garden to life.