Summer in Birmingham brings long, hot days and plenty of sunshine. That’s great for gardeners, but it can be tough on pollinators if nectar and pollen sources dry up. Choosing summer-blooming plants that are heat-tolerant, long-flowering, and rich in nectar and pollen helps sustain bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects when they need food most. They also make for a great cutting garden. Here are a few easy-to-grow options to get you started.
Prolific Perennials
Plant them once, and these returning bloomers provide an excellent framework for a pollinator garden.
Purple Coneflower
(Echinacea purpurea) This native favorite blooms June through August offering sturdy, nectar-rich flowers that attract bees and butterflies.
Black-eyed Susan
(Rudbeckia hirta/fulgida) Enjoy prolific sunny yellow blooms that will shine all summer and into fall. Black-eyed Susan is great for bees, butterflies, and later seed-eating birds.
Bee Balm
(Monarda spp.) The fragrant red, pink, or purple blooms show their colors from June-September and are beloved by bees and hummingbirds.
Blazing Star/Gayfeather
(Liatris spicata) These tall spikes of purple flowers show best in mid- to late summer and are irresistible to butterflies.
Native Milkweeds
(A. tuberosa), (A. syriaca), (A. incarnata) These varieties are essential caterpillar host plants. Monarchs migrate through Alabama from spring to late fall, relying on these host plants to survive.
Coreopsis
(Coreopsis spp.) Plant these cheerful daisy-like flowers for blooms all summer long with minimal fuss.
Fast Bloomers
Worth replanting year after year, these annuals provide season-long color to keep nectar flowing:
Zinnias
(Zinnia elegans) Showing a profusion of colors, zinnias are butterfly magnets that offer a rainbow of vibrant blooms from June until frost.
Lantana
(Lantana spp.) Producing clusters of tiny flowers, lantana draws butterflies and bees. Once established, they are very drought-tolerant.
Pentas
(Pentas lanceolata) Hummingbirds adore the star-shaped flowers in pinks, reds, and whites.
Sunflowers
(Helianthus annuus) Available in a variety of heights, sunflowers are a cheerful addition that nourishes bees and later birds
Want tips for heat-tolerant blooms?
Learn about sun requirements, watering schedules, and how to support local pollinators in Birmingham (HERE).
