7 Native Pollinator Perennials for Your Garden

7 Native Pollinator Perennials for Your Garden

With the decline of natural pollinators, interest in native and pollinator-friendly gardening has increased substantially, and for a good reason. If you are looking to create a beautiful garden that supports bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, planting native perennials is one of the best investments you can make. Native plants have evolved alongside local wildlife, making them excellent sources of nectar, pollen, and habitat while requiring less maintenance than many non-native ornamentals. In addition to native Milkweed, which is an essential host plant for Monarch butterfly caterpillars, here are seven additional native pollinator plants for the northeast. 

Coreopsis (Tickseed): Coreopsis is one of the longest-blooming native perennials, producing cheerful yellow flowers from early summer into fall. Its bright blooms attract native bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects throughout the growing season.

● Full sun

● Well-drained soil

● Drought tolerant once established

● Deadheading spent flowers can encourage further  blooming

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): A true garden favorite, purple coneflower is as tough as it is beautiful. Its large purple blooms are magnets for butterflies and native bees, while its seed heads become an important winter food source for goldfinches and other birds.

● Full sun 

● Average, well-drained soil

● Highly drought tolerant

●Leave seed heads through winter for wildlife

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): Black-eyed Susan are iconic native wildflowers known for their golden petals surrounding dark centers. They bloom heavily throughout summer, attracting bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects while adding color to the landscape.

● Full sun

● Adaptable to most soil types

● Drought tolerant

Bee Balm (Monarda): Bee balm, also known as wild bergamot, is a standout native perennial with vibrant blooms in shades of red, pink, purple, or white. Its nectar-rich flowers are especially attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, and its aromatic foliage adds another layer of garden appeal.

● Full sun to partial shade

● Moist, well-drained soil

●Divide clumps every few years to keep plants vigorous.

Blazing Star (Liatris spicata): With its tall spikes of fluffy purple flowers, blazing star adds dramatic vertical interest while serving as one of the best nectar plants for butterflies, native bees, hummingbirds, and even hummingbird moths.

● Full sun

● Well-drained soil

● Moderate drought tolerance

● Plant in groups for the visual impact

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis): Cardinal flower is a stunning native perennial with brilliant red blooms that are especially attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees. Its tall flower spikes add bold color to garden spaces from midsummer into early fall and it is perfect for shadier, moist spots.

Growing Tips:

● Partial shade 

● Moist, rich soil

● Keep soil consistently damp

● Great for rain gardens, pond edges, and woodland borders

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae): When most summer flowers begin to fade, New England aster steals the show. Its vibrant purple flowers bloom from late summer into fall, providing critical nectar for migrating monarch butterflies and late-season pollinators.

● Full sun

● Moist, well-drained soil

● Pinch stems in early summer for bushier growth

● Excellent for naturalized landscapes

By incorporating these native plants into your landscape, you can enjoy months of colorful blooms while creating a valuable habitat for pollinators. Together, Coreopsis, Echinacea,  Black Eyed Susan, Bee Balm, Liatris, Cardinal Flower and New England Aster provide nectar and pollen from early summer through fall, helping sustain bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial wildlife.

Whether you are planting a dedicated pollinator garden or simply adding a few native perennials to existing beds, every flower makes a difference. Your garden won’t just look beautiful, it will become part of a healthier, more resilient ecosystem.

Author: Lee Miller @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2026. All rights reserved.

12 Landscape Plants for Fall & Winter Wildlife

This Month in the Garden: 12 Landscape Plants That Support Wildlife

Welcome to This Month in the Garden. A thriving landscape can also be a vital source of food, shelter, and nesting space for local wildlife. By thoughtfully choosing the plants we grow, we can create a landscape that is not only beautiful, but also play an important role in sustaining the natural world around us. With autumn upon us and winter on the way, here are twelve landscape plants that can help to support our local wildlife. 

American Holly (Ilex opaca)

American Holly: American Holly is an evergreen tree native to the eastern and southeastern regions of the United States and hardy in USDA zone 5-9. This species is found in moist woods, forest bottomlands, and swamp edges, and often serves as an understory tree. Female trees produce clusters of bright red berry-like fruits that are visually striking in winter and provide food for many bird species throughout winter. The flowers which appear in late spring to early summer are an important nectar source for bees and butterflies.  

Beautyberry (Callicarpa spp.)

American beautyberry: The most widely known cultivar is American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), which is native to the southeastern United States and thrives in woodlands, meadows, and along water margins. Hardy in USDA zones 5-8, the American species displays clusters of magenta to violet berries tightly encircling stems, a trait distinguishing it from many non-native varieties. The vibrant purple-pink berries can linger throughout fall and into winter, supplying food for birds and small mammals including armadillos, raccoons, opossums, squirrels.

Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)

Arrowwood Viburnum: Hardy in USDA zones 3-8, Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum) is a native deciduous shrub to northeastern America which is valued for its wildlife support. White blooms lead to bluish-black fruits  persisting into winter and providing food for a range of birds, including Northern cardinal, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, and Mockingbird. The berries are also consumed by various mammals, such as Eastern gray squirrel, rabbits, and deer.

Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)

Winterberry: Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) is a deciduous holly shrub hardyin USDA zones 3-9 and native to eastern North America, including the United States and southeast Canada. It typically grows 3 to 15 feet tall, and often forms dense thickets, especially in wetland habitats like swamps, pond edges, and moist woods. The shrub is known for its bright red berries that persist throughout the winter, providing a feast for robins and mockingbirds. Winterberry is dioecious, meaning it must have male and female plants nearby for fruit to form.

Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)

Spicebush: Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is a deciduous shrub in the laurel family (Lauraceae) and is native to central and eastern United States. It is typically found in moist woodlands, bottomlands, ravines, valleys, swamps, and along streams. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9, Spicebush produces red berries which attract thrushes and cardinals in late fall and early winter and serve as a food source.

American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

American Elderberry: Hardy in USDA zones 3-9, American Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) provides ornamental value with its fragrant flowers and showy bluish-black fruits, while attracting butterflies, birds, and other pollinators. It grows fastest in rich soil but can spread aggressively by root suckers, so planting location and maintenance should be under consideration. Birds are particularly attracted not only to the berries but also to the dense foliage, which provides nesting opportunities and protection. The berries serve as a nutritious resource especially in late summer and early fall, benefiting migrating and resident birds alike.

American Cranberry Bush (Viburnum opulus var. americanum)

American Cranberry Bush: The American Cranberry Bush (Viburnum opulus var. americanum), also known as American Cranberry bush Viburnum or highbush cranberry, is a broadleaf deciduous shrub native to northern North America. Hardy in USDA zones 2-7, this shrub produces flat-topped clusters of white lacecap flowers in mid- spring, followed by bright red, cranberry-like edible berries in late summer to fall. The to be enjoyed by wildlife.

Juniper (Juniperus spp.)

Juniper: Juniper (Juniperus spp.) is hardy in USDA zones 2-6 and is known to provide an important source of food and shelter for wildlife.  The female juniper cones, commonly called berries, are a significant food source for many mammals and birds, especially during winter when other food is scarce. These berries contain carbohydrates and fats, making them valuable for energy. Birds such as American robins, cedar waxwings, and several jay species eat the berries, often consuming large quantities in harsh seasons. Small mammals like rabbits, rodents, and coyotes also feed on the berries, helping disperse the seeds. Junipers also provide shelter and nesting cover for birds and some mammals and the dense evergreen foliage offers protection from harsh weather conditions. The plant's strong scent and sharp needles also tend to discourage deer from browsing.

Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Eastern White Pine: Hardy in USDA zones 3-8, Pine offer both shelter and high-fat seeds for crossbills, chickadees, nuthatches, and squirrels, all through the coldest months. Its seeds, cones, foliage, buds, and bark are consumed by animals such as squirrels, rabbits, deer, beavers, black bears, and various small mammals. Many birds, including species like Red-breasted Nuthatches, woodpeckers, and grosbeaks, rely on the pine’s seeds and use it for nesting sites. Large Eastern White Pines also serve as important nesting trees for hawks, owls, and other cavity-nesting birds.

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

Black-eyed Susan: Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is hardy in USDA zones 3-9 and serves as an excellent food source for American Goldfinches, Bobwhite Quail, and Wild Turkeys, once the flowers have matured and gone to seed. The nectar from the flowers is an important food source for pollinators, and a home for larval host for certain moths and butterflies.

Echinacea (Coneflower)

Echinacea: Echinacea, or coneflower are native to eastern and central North America and includes a vast selection of species, ranging in both size and color. Hardy in USDA zones 4-9, Echinacea prefers to be grown in full sun and in a well-drained soil. Flowers emerge from mid-summer to mid-fall which are a favorite feeding station for many butterflies. After blooming, seed heads are a huge attraction to a number of bird species, including Blue Jays, Cardinals and finches.

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

Bearberry: Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), hardy in USDA zones 2-6, is a low-growing, evergreen shrub native to northern North America, spreading horizontally to form a dense ground cover. The plant exhibits small, leathery, dark green leaves that turn reddish to bronze in fall and produce small, white to pink flowers in late spring. Bright red berries form that last into winter and are eaten by a variety of wildlife including birds, foxes, coyotes and bears. The plant's common name, bearberry, references to bears, which particularly enjoy the fruit, but many bird species also rely on the berries as a food source into late fall and winter. Additionally, the berries serve as an important food source for some small mammals. 

I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden and have found the information to be useful. Landscaping with wildlife in mind not only enhances the beauty of outdoor spaces but also strengthens local ecosystems. By incorporating certain plantings into your landscape you can play a major role in helping to support local wildlife, especially during the fall and winter months when food sources are scarce. 

Looking for some Garden Inspiration? Purchase My Books:

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations  

Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener

Gardening by Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern & Mid-Atlantic Garden

Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

The Houseplant Guide: How to Easily Select & Maintain Indoor Plants

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2025. All rights reserved.  

This Month in the Garden: Swan River Preserve-From Parking Lot to Native Habitat

Swan River Preserve

There is nothing more satisfying than seeing the result of an environmental movement by a town to restore land back to its natural state, while beautifying an area for residents to enjoy. The Swan River Preserve in the town of Patchogue, located on the South shore of Long Island, New York is the result of such an effort. With grants from the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation and New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, a three year restoration project turned a vacant car dealership into a man-made wetlands preserve filled with native plantings, walking trails and a natural bio-filtration system for the cleansing of storm water. 

The movement started back in 2011 when a car dealership moved its location, leaving an abandoned building, which was further damaged by Tropical Storm Irene and Hurricane Sandy. A natural tidal stream had been hidden the entire time behind the dealership and to the north, Swan Lake could be found behind a pharmacy, appliance repair shop and other small businesses along Montauk Highway. Almost two decades before, one of the largest buildings in Patchogue at the time had come down, followed by the removal of the remaining dilapidated buildings several years later. A bridge was built over the spillway leading to a small parking area with trees in an effort to beautify the area. By this time, the town had purchased the property with open space funds and had obtained the grants to revitalize the site. The plan was to restore the area back to a natural state, bringing environmental awareness and allowing the public to enjoy the property once again. 

The first step was to remove the existing drainage pipe that had carried polluted storm-water (containing garbage, sand and road salt) straight into the Swan river. Ponds were constructed, with the first one designed to catch floating bits of garbage before the water hit the settling ponds, which filtered out the remaining dirt and silt. Special aquatic plants were added to the ponds to soak up harmful chemicals, while naturally cleaning the water before it entered the river. 

A walking trail was constructed of environmentally friendly permeable pavers, the town planted a vast selection of native trees, shrubs, wildflowers and wetland plants, and the park officially opened to visitors on November 15th of 2014. After some time, local wildlife gradually moved into the renovated area and now it is the home to geese, swans, mallards, gulls and other inhabitants. Even a blue heron and a belted kingfisher have been occasionally spotted.

The ponds have also gained new residents over the years, including frogs, turtles, and naturally reproducing fish, including Large-mouth Bass and Yellow Perch, and is stocked with Brook Trout and Rainbow Trout. The abandoned buildings and parking lot of the past with a once hidden tidal stream were now transformed into a vast 3.8 acre natural habitat.

The river is open to visitors to enjoy kayaking, so a permeable paved path leading down to the river was constructed to serve as a landing. Trees such as Fir, Spruce, Cedar, Swamp White Oak, Tulip Popular and Cottonwood can be seen along the river banks.

Wildflowers including (clockwise left to right) Rudbeckia, New England Aster, Goldenrod and Thistle can be seen as you walk along the paths throughout the park. Other natives include Purple Coneflower, Blue Vervain and Purple Bergamot. The wildflowers bloom throughout the seasons and are an invitation to pollinators.

A quaint bride crosses the Swan River, creating a serene place to stop and do some reflecting on nature. 

As you can see, there are native wildflowers that can be enjoyed everywhere...

as you cross over the bridge connecting the two sides of the man-made pond.

These local Mallards have made it home here.

The system is quite remarkable. The water goes through a stone weir under the bridge that crosses Montauk Highway and flows through a drainage structure which extends into the Swan River. The water is naturally bio-filtered by the wetlands themselves and creates a water source for the plants and animals that live there in return. Under the direction of L.K. McLean Associates P.C., the engineers had designed the park to maintain the wetlands indefinitely. 

The Swan River flows south from Swan Lake to Patchogue Bay. It is one of the few free-flowing, spring fed streams on Long Island that still exists as a relatively natural habitat. The wetlands provide a critical habitat for the plants and animals that co-exist here, as well as provide a beautiful place for residents to enjoy. 

More About Swan River Preserve

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2018. All rights reserved 

Book Launching: Introducing A Guide to Northeastern Gardening and the Story Behind It

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening

All my life I have been an avid gardener and my passion for everything green had led to me start up a landscape design business 20 years ago. The idea of writing a book came to me when I decided that I wanted to share my gardening experiences on a much grander scale and have a legacy to leave behind.

I had some extra time in my life starting in the winter of 2013, after retiring from a career as an educator for 32 years. The writing process started off with an online publishing program that offered writing templates and advice. After two years of composing the book, I finally decided it was time to publish and found that the e-book version was doable, but the production costs of the printed version were way higher than I had anticipated. I published the e-book on a website called Blurb and hired a computer technician to convert the manuscript for the amazon kindle, which published in 2015. My frustrations of not being able to produce the book in print continued to eat away at me, as I had already vested so much time into this endeavor. As time went on I would get numerous requests for a hard-copy form, but had to continuously apologize that it was just not doable, and continued to investigate.

Thanks to my stubbornness and determination, I proceeded to entirely re-write the manuscript in a word format which could be published in print at an affordable price. After numerous visits to the mailbox awaiting proofs, stomach dropping moments when I would find that one error, and after an uncountable number of revisions, I finally was able publish my book in print. After the long journey, I am thankful that I had the drive and willingness not to give up, and hope that my readers will find the book to be useful to them in their gardening endeavors.

A little bit about the book:

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening is a comprehensive guide of valuable information on plants hardy in a range of zones from 3-9, and gardening techniques backed up by my own personal experiences as a professional landscape designer, along with answers to frequently asked questions. Learn about landscape design principles, butterfly gardening, deer resistant plants, long blooming perennials, globe and weeping evergreens, flowering trees and shrubs, native plantings, shade gardening and more. Whether you are a novice or experienced gardener, A Guide to Northeastern Gardening will help you to create your own dream garden. Come along on my journey into the world of gardening!

A little bit about the author:

Lee Miller is a professional landscape/garden designer involved in the horticultural industry since 1996. Having started a gardening blog in 2010, she is the author of over 150 articles on general gardening, landscape design principles, gardening tips, planting, pruning, garden maintenance, feature plants and more. Her published book, A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, is an accumulation of information touching on a wide variety of gardening topics, all backed up by her own personal experiences.

A preview of my book is now online at Amazon and it is FINALLY available in printed format as well as kindle edition. I hope you'll take a look and share this with anyone you know who may be interested in this publication. My heartfelt thanks go out to you for your support! Now..I feel published!

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer on Amazon 

All the best and As Always…Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide to Northeastern Gardening,© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved

A Beautiful Day on the New York City High Line

New York City High Line Park Early May 

It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon on the High Line in NYC. The High Line (also known as the High Line Park is a 1.45-mile-long (2.33 km) New York City linear park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets of Manhattan's West side. The park runs from Gansevoort Street (three blocks below 14th Street) in the Meat Packing District through to the northern edge of the West Side Yard 34th Street near the Javits Center.

The NYC High Line in Early May

Tulips (Tulipa turkestanica)

The Park, owned by the City of New York, is maintained and operated by Friends of the High Line which was founded in 1999 by a community of residents.  Friends of the High Line fought for the High Line’s preservation and transformation at a time when the historic structure was under the threat of demolition. 

High Line RR Tracks and Gardens

Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) in Bloom

The refurbishing of the railway into an urban park began construction in 2006, with the first phase opening in 2009 and the second phase opening in 2011.The third and final phase officially opened to the public in September of 2014. A once abandoned railroad track has now become an array of blooms for residents and visitors to enjoy.

'Sherwood Purple' creeping phlox Early May High Line Gardens

New York City High Line Park

The High Line was constructed back in 1847 when street-level railroads utilized to transport goods to businesses and warehouses were deemed unsafe due to increased traffic demands.  The city and state of New York and the New York Central Railroad decided to construct the elevated High Line as part of the Manhattan West Side Improvement Project. 

Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa ‘Toyo-Nishiki’) NYC High Line

Tulipa linifolia ‘Red Hunter’ Early May High Line

Artwork Along the High Line

The High Line has been developed with various works of public art and the native greenery incorporated into the long forgotten tracks has preserved the history of the area, leading to a beautiful and dynamic park. The New York City skyline as well as the Hudson River can be seen as a backdrop to the gardens.

Fothergilla x intermedia ‘Mount Airy’ (Mount Airy fothergilla)

Tulipa sylvestris  (Wild Tulips) High Line

Allegheny Serviceberry Blooms on the High Line Early May

View of Hudson River from High Line

Cornus florida ‘Jean’s Appalachian Snow’ Dogwood in Bloom

NYC High Line Park

The High Line gardens are a welcomed addition and have certainly added a certain charm by combining urban atmosphere with the beauty of nature, right in the heart of New York City.  The park's carefully planned display of native plantings, mature trees, blooms and artwork has developed into an extraordinary public space for visitors of all ages to enjoy.  To walk the High Line takes approximately two hours and as of September 2014, the park gets nearly 5 million visitors annually.

March Bloom List High Line    April Bloom List High Line   May Bloom List High Line

  June Bloom List High Line 

Visit the High Line on-line!

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee@A Guide To Northeastern Gardening, ©Copyright 2015. All rights reserved