As summer begins to transition toward fall in the Berkshires, bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial pollinators are still busy searching for nectar. By adding plants that continue blooming into the late season, you can enjoy weeks of beautiful color while providing an important food source for the pollinators that help gardens, orchards, and landscapes thrive.
A thoughtful mix of long-blooming perennials, native plants, flowering herbs, and colorful annuals will keep your garden blooming and buzzing well into autumn.
Choose Long-Blooming Perennials
Perennials provide dependable color year after year while offering valuable nectar for pollinators.
Excellent choices include:
- Coneflowers
- Black-Eyed Susans
- Salvia
- Sedum
- Bee Balm
- Asters
These late-season favorites continue blooming as many spring and early summer flowers begin to fade.
Plant Native Favorites
Native plants are naturally adapted to Massachusetts growing conditions and play an important role in supporting local wildlife.
Consider adding:
- New England Aster
- Joe Pye Weed
- Goldenrod
- Blazing Star (Liatris)
- Mountain Mint
- Native Milkweed
Native plants provide nectar, pollen, shelter, and habitat while requiring relatively little maintenance once established.
Let Herbs Flower
Many herbs become pollinator magnets when allowed to bloom.
Leave a few stems unharvested on:
- Basil
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Chives
- Lavender
- Mint
Their flowers attract bees and butterflies while adding fragrance and beauty to your garden.
Add Color with Annuals
Annual flowers continue blooming until frost and help fill open spaces in beds and containers.
Pollinator-friendly favorites include:
- Zinnias
- Cosmos
- Lantana
- Verbena
- Sunflowers
- Marigolds
Regular deadheading encourages many annuals to produce flowers for weeks to come.
Plant Flowers in Groups
Pollinators are naturally drawn to larger patches of color.
Grouping several plants of the same variety together makes it easier for bees and butterflies to gather nectar while creating a bold, eye-catching display in your landscape.
Create a Pollinator-Friendly Habitat
Flowers are only part of what pollinators need.
Help create a welcoming garden by:
- Providing a shallow water source
- Leaving some perennial seed heads standing
- Including ornamental grasses and shrubs for shelter
- Limiting pesticide use whenever possible
- Planting flowers that bloom from spring through fall
Even a small garden or patio container can become an important stop for pollinators.
Keep the Blooms Coming
The best pollinator gardens provide a continuous source of nectar throughout the growing season.
Combine:
- Long-blooming perennials
- Native flowering plants
- Flowering herbs
- Colorful annuals
- Late-season asters and goldenrod
This creates a beautiful landscape while supporting bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects well into fall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which flowers attract the most butterflies?
Coneflowers, asters, milkweed, Joe Pye Weed, salvia, zinnias, and butterfly bush are all excellent butterfly favorites.
Why are native plants important?
Native plants provide food and habitat for local pollinators and are naturally adapted to Massachusetts growing conditions.
Can flowering herbs attract bees?
Absolutely! Basil, oregano, thyme, chives, lavender, and mint all become excellent nectar sources when allowed to bloom.
Should I deadhead pollinator plants?
Deadhead annuals to encourage more flowers, but consider leaving some perennial seed heads later in the season to provide food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects.
Can I still plant pollinator-friendly plants?
Yes! Many perennials, native plants, herbs, and annuals establish well in late summer with regular watering.
Visit Us
Whether you’re creating a pollinator paradise, adding colorful perennials, planting native species, or refreshing your landscape, Whitney’s Farm Market & Garden Center has everything you need to keep your garden blooming and buzzing into fall.
Whitney’s Farm Market & Garden Center
1775 S. State Rd. – Rt. 8
Cheshire, MA 01225
Phone: (413) 442-4749
Hours
Open Daily: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Visit us today and let our knowledgeable team help you choose beautiful, pollinator-friendly plants that will keep your landscape thriving through the seasons.
