5 Pollinator-Friendly Perennials for Northern Nevada Gardens

Creating a garden that attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators doesn't require a huge landscape. Even a few thoughtfully chosen flowering plants can provide valuable food and habitat while adding color and texture to your yard.

Northern Nevada's high-desert climate presents some challenges, so choosing plants suited to your particular sun exposure, soil and available water is important.

Here are five pollinator-friendly perennials to consider for your garden.

1. Milkweed

Milkweed has an especially important relationship with monarch butterflies: it is the host plant monarch caterpillars need to complete their life cycle. Its flowers can also attract a variety of other pollinating insects.

Different milkweed species have different growing requirements, so choose one appropriate for your location rather than treating all milkweeds alike.

Butterfly Weed prefers sunny locations and well-draining soil, while Swamp Milkweed, as its name suggests, generally prefers more consistent moisture.

When shopping for milkweed, ask which varieties are best suited to your particular Northern Nevada growing conditions.

2. Penstemon

Penstemons are a natural fit for many Western gardens. Their colorful, tubular flowers can attract hummingbirds, bees and other pollinators, and many varieties perform well in sunny, relatively dry conditions once established.

With numerous species and cultivars available, flower colors range from vivid blues and purples to pinks and reds.

Most appreciate good drainage, and choosing a variety appropriate for your site's conditions can make them a beautiful addition to a high-desert garden.

3. Trollius

If you have a part of your landscape with richer soil and more consistent moisture, Trollius—often called globeflower—offers something quite different from many of our dry-climate favorites.

Its rounded, brightly colored flowers can provide an eye-catching contrast to more drought-tolerant plants.

Because its moisture requirements differ considerably from plants such as lavender and many penstemons, think carefully about placement. Grouping plants with similar water requirements can make irrigation easier and more efficient.

4. Yarrow

Yarrow is a versatile perennial with fern-like foliage and broad clusters of small flowers that attract a variety of beneficial insects.

Many yarrows tolerate sun, heat and relatively dry conditions once established, making them useful in Northern Nevada landscapes. Varieties are available in numerous colors and sizes, so consider the plant's mature dimensions when deciding where to place it.

Yarrow can also be a good choice for gardeners looking for a more informal, naturalistic planting style.

5. English Lavender

English lavender isn't native to Nevada, but that doesn't mean it can't earn a place in a pollinator-friendly garden.

Lavender's fragrant flowers are highly attractive to bees, while its silvery foliage and compact growth make it a beautiful landscape plant.

It performs best with plenty of sun and excellent drainage. Avoid planting lavender where its roots will remain consistently wet.

Hardy varieties such as Munstead can be worth considering for Northern Nevada gardens, depending on your specific site and winter conditions.

And, of course, the flowers can be harvested and dried for sachets, arrangements and other uses.

Build a Garden That Blooms Through the Seasons

A pollinator-friendly garden doesn't depend on one particular plant. Consider combining plants with different bloom periods so something is providing flowers from spring through fall.

You can also mix native and well-adapted non-native plants rather than feeling that every plant in the landscape must fit into one category.

The goal is to create a garden that works in your space—taking into account sunlight, soil, water, mature plant size and our Northern Nevada climate.

Plant availability changes throughout the growing season, so stop by Bonsai Blue Garden Market to see what's currently available and talk with our team about plants that may work well in your garden.