23 Fall Blooming Plants for Pollinators

Searching for some Fall blooming plants for pollinators? With cooler temperatures approaching, many gardeners like to add Fall color to their gardens. There are many fall blooming plants for pollinators that provide excellent nectar and seeds. Some of these plants begin blooming at the end of Summer and others in early Fall. Many pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, and birds still need multiply sources of food throughout the Fall season.  

If you find that your garden is lacking in Fall color, take a look at these Fall blooming plants for pollinators. Let us know what you think.

1. Rudbeckia Goldsturm or Black-eyed Susan  

Rudbeckia Goldsturm or Black-eyed Susan is one of the most recognized Summer native plants. Topping out at 30 to 40 inches tall, Goldsturm grows in zones 4 to 8 in full Sun. An upright perennial, the Black-eyed Susan has bright golden yellow daisy-like blooms with dark centers. Black-eyed Susan blooms from July until October. This Fall blooming period makes for a great food source for pollinators.

Fall Blooming Plants for Pollinators – Phlox or Garden Phlox  

2. Phlox David or Garden Phlox  

Phlox David or Garden Phlox has white fragrant cluster of blooms from July until September. With its white blooms, Phlox David makes a great selection for a Moon Garden. Sun loving Phlox David tops out at 40 inches tall. Free flowering and sturdy Phlox David grows in zones 4 to 8.    

Fall Blooming Plants for Pollinators – Sedum or Stonecrop

3. Sedum Autumn Joy or Stonecrop  

The fiery colors of Sedum Autumn Joy, or Stonecrop begin as a rosy pink color. It then deepens to Salmon and Rust color. Autumn Joy has the lovely blue green thick succulent leaves. Blooms appear from August through October giving your Fall garden a perfect Fall coloring. Sun loving Sedum Autumn Joy grows in zones 3 to 8 and tops off at 18 to 24 inches tall. Long blooming Autumn Joy is tolerant of clay soil. A great selection from Fall blooming plants for pollinators!  

Fall Blooming Plants for Pollinators – Agastache or Hummingbird Mint

4. Agastache Blue Fortune or Hummingbird Mint  

Agastache Blue Fortune or Hummingbird Mint, a robust perennial with soft powder blue floral spikes that appear from July to October. Deer resistant Agastache Blue Fortune grows between 3 to 4 feet tall. Grows in zones 5 to 9, Agastache Blue Fortune likes full Sun. Fall blooming plants for pollinators such as butterflies.

5. Agastache Firebird or Hummingbird Mint   

A Sun lover perennial, Agastache Firebird or Hummingbird Mint has fiery copper orange and coral blooms. Reaching 2 to 3 feet tall with aromatic gray-green foliage makes Firebird a treat for pollinators. Firebird tubular flowers draws birds, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Both deer and rabbit resistant, Agastache Firebird grows in zones 6 to 10. Long blooming perennial that can be used in containers and tolerant of hot dry garden sites. Nectar rich Firebird blooms appear from early Summer to mid Fall. Orange blooms with copper accents will become a Fall favorite.     

6. Calamintha nepeta nepeta or Calamint   

Calamintha nepeta nepeta or Calamint has delicate lavender and white flowers that bloom from August to October. A lover of full Sun, Calamint tops out at 12 to 18 inches tall. Deer resistant Calamint grows in zones 5 to 7. Crushed leaves give off a minty fragrance.

Fall Blooming Plants for Pollinators – Lilac Falls

7. Stachys Lilac Falls    

Stachys Lilac Falls has lavender flowers from June to September. Long blooming Lilac Falls reaches between 8 to 12 inches tall. Grows in zones 5 to 8, Lilac Falls loves full Sun attracting hummingbirds. For Fall blooming plants for pollinators, plant Lilac Falls in containers or in garden borders for great impact.  

Fall Blooming Plants for Pollinators – Rudbeckia or Gloriosa Daisy

8. Rudbeckia Prairie Sun or Gloriosa Daisy

Deer resistant Rudbeckia Prairie Sun or Gloriosa Daisy has peachy orange daisy like blooms with green centers. Topping out between 30 to 36 inches, Prairie Sun grows in full Sun in zones 5 to 8. Blooms from early Summer to early Fall, Prairie Sun does well in normal, clay, sandy, or acidic soil conditions. Can be used as cut flowers or used in garden containers. Long blooming perennial that attracts birds and butterflies as well as beneficial pollinators. Tolerant of seaside/salt garden conditions.    

9. Rudbeckia Cherry Brandy or Gloriosa Daisy  

Rudbeckia Cherry Brandy or Gloriosa Daisy has deep maroon red flowers with dark chocolate centers. Blooms from early Summer to early Fall. Fall blooming Rudbeckia Cherry Brandy grows in full Sun in zones 5 to 8. Reaches 24 inches tall, Cherry Brandy attracts birds and butterflies. Tolerant of seaside/salt garden conditions and road salt. Grows in either normal or clay soil conditions.   

Fall Blooming Plants for Pollinators – Asters

10. Aster Blueberry or Michaelmas Daisy

Aster Blueberry or Michaelmas Daisy has dusky sky-blue flower clusters in late Summer to late Fall. Sun loving Aster Blueberry grows in zones 4 to 9. Reaches 4 feet tall, Aster Blueberry attracts pollinators such as birds and butterflies. Tolerates clay soil and seaside/salt conditions. One of many fantastic Fall blooming plants for pollinators.     

11. Aster Purple Dome or New England Aster

Aster Purple Dome or New England Aster has purple blooms from late Summer to late Fall. A full Sun perennial, Aster Purple Dome grows in zones 3 to 8. At 18 inches tall, Aster Purple Dome attracts pollinators such as birds and butterflies. Can be grown in normal or clay soil and seaside/salt conditions. Purple Dome can be grown in containers to add to your porch, patio, or deck.     

Fall Blooming Plants for Pollinators – Echinacea or Coneflower

12. Echinacea Butterfly Julia or Coneflower  

Fragrant Echinacea Butterfly Julia or Coneflower has orange shades of blooms from early Summer to early Fall. Fall blooming Echinacea Butterfly Julia grows in zones 3 to 9 topping out at 15 to 18 inches. Grows in full Sun to part Sun and part shade. Pollinator attracting Butterfly Julia attracts birds and butterflies. Deer resistant and tolerant of hot dry sites and humidity. Butterfly Julia can be grown in containers and adds Winter interest to the garden.   

13. Echinacea Puff Vanilla or Coneflower   

Echinacea Puff Vanilla or Coneflower have white petals with a jagged collar around puffs of creamy ivory pom-poms. Blooms appear from early Summer to early Fall. Long blooming Puff Vanilla grows in full Sun in zones 4 to 9. Compact and strong Puff Vanilla tops out at 18 inches. Can be grown in normal or clay soil. Another of many Fall blooming plants for pollinators that attracts birds, butterflies, and pollinators. Deer resistant, tolerant of hot dry sites and humid garden areas. This echinacea will add Winter interest to your garden if coneflowers remain on the plants.   

14. Echinacea Meteor Yellow or Coneflower

Fragrant Echinacea Meteor Yellow or Coneflower has bright yellow pom-pom centers with creamy yellow tails. These gorgeous yellow comet shaped flower heads appear midSummer until mid Fall. Sun loving Meteor Yellow Coneflower grows in zones 4 to 9, topping out at 24 inches. Deer resistant Meteor Yellow can be grown in containers. Echinaceas provide Winter interest in the garden when flower heads remain on the stems. Another of the fantastic fall blooming plants for pollinators. Attracts birds and butterflies to these vibrant floral blooms.   

Fall Blooming Plants for Pollinators – Anemone, Japanese Anemone, or Windflower

15. Anemone Robustissima or Japanese Anemone, Windflower   

Anemone Robustissima or Japanese Anemone, Windflower has soft pink single, cup-shaped flowers that bloom late Summer to Fall. Topping out at 3 to 4 feet tall, Anemone Robustissima grows in zones 4 to 8. Robustissima grows in full Sun to part Sun and part shade. Does well in either normal, clay, or acidic soil conditions. Deer and rabbit tolerant, Robustissima is tolerant of wet garden sites. Beneficial for pollinators, Anemone Robustissima is long blooming.     

16. Anemone Pamina or Japanese Anemone, Windflower   

A compact perennial, Anemone Pamina or Windflower has elegant bright rose-pink blossoms with bright yellow stamens. Blooms from late Summer to late Fall. Anemone Pamina grows in zones 5 to 8, topping out at 2 to 3 feet tall. Grows in full Sun to part Sun and part shade garden areas. Resistant to both rabbit and deer, Pamina grows in normal, clay, or acidic soil conditions. Tolerant of wet garden sites and attracts butterflies.  

17. Anemone Whirlwind or Japanese Anemone, Windflower

Anemone Whirlwind or Windflower has elegant, ruffled semi-double, white petals with frilly yellow centers. Blooms early to late Fall. Topping out at 36 inches, Anemone Whirlwind grows in zones 5 to 8. Does well in gardens with full Sun to part Sun and part shade. Whirlwind grows in normal, clay, or acidic soil conditions. Rabbit and deer resistant, Anemone Whirlwind attracts butterflies and pollinators that are beneficial. Tolerant of wet garden sites but doesn’t like humidity.

Fall Blooming Plants for Pollinators – Coreopsis or Tickseed

18. Coreopsis Moonbeam or Tickseed   

Coreopsis Moonbeam or Tickseed has soft yellow flowers on finely-cut foliage. From early Summer to mid Fall, Moonbeam produces stunning blooms. Topping out at 18 inches, Coreopsis Moonbeam grows in full Sun. Grows in soil conditions that are normal or sandy. Moonbeam Tickseed grows in zones 3 to 9 and can be planted in containers. Can be planted on a slope or bank, tolerant of hot dry garden sites, humidity conditions, and seaside/salt conditions. A deer resistant perennial that is beneficial for pollinators, and attracts birds, butterflies. Long blooming flower that make for great cut flowers.    

19. Salvia New Dimension Blue or Meadow Sage    

Salvia New Dimension Blue or Meadow Sage has intense deep violet blue floral spikes. They initially appear from early to late Summer. After the Summer blooming ends, do a quick shearing that triggers a repeat bloom period from mid to late Fall. Growing in zones 5 to 8, New Dimension Blue tops out at 8 to 10 inches tall. A Sun lover, New Dimension Blue can be grown in normal or sandy soil. Fall blooming perennial that is both rabbit and deer resistant, attracts birds, butterflies, and hummingbirds. A dwarf Salvia, it can be planted on a slope or bank, garden edge, or in containers. Tolerant of hot dry garden sites, beneficial for pollinators with its aromatic leaves.   

Fall Blooming Plants for Pollinators – Joe Pye Weed

20. Eupatorium Gateway or Joe Pye Weed

Eupatorium Gateway or Joe Pye Weed flowers from July until September. This variety has wine-red floral clusters that are deep pink. Hardy from zones 4 to 8 and can reach 6 feet tall! This perennial grows in full Sun to part Sun and part shade with either normal or clay soil. Attracts birds and butterflies, beneficial for pollinators, Joe Pye Weed is showy and decorative. Deer resistant, tolerant of wet garden sites and seaside/salt conditions.    

Fall Blooming Plants for Pollinators – Verbena or Vervain

21. Verbena Lollipop or Vervain   

Verbena Lollipop or Vervain has lavender-pink clusters of flowers from mid Summer to mid Fall. Sun loving and long blooming, Verbena Lollipop reaches 24 inches tall. Grows in zones 6 to 10, Verbena Lollipop lures butterflies and hummingbirds to its lavender floral clusters. Nectar rich blossoms are beneficial for many pollinators that can even be used in containers. One of many Fall blooming plants for pollinators that are lovely in the Fall.     

22. Verbena Homestead Purple or Vervain

Verbena Homestead Purple or Vervain has rich velvety purple flowers that bloom from early Summer until late Fall. Deer resistant Homestead Purple grows in zones 6 to 10 in full Sun. Reaches 12 inches tall and can be planted in containers. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, beneficial for pollinators. A low maintenance perennial that is long blooming, Homestead Purple are Fall blooming plants for pollinators.     

23. Verbena Apple Blossom or Vervain        

Verbena Apple Blossom or Vervain has light pink blossoms with dark pink centers that bloom late Summer to late Fall. Topping out at 14 inches, Verbena Apple Blossom grows in full Sun in zones 6 to 10. Beneficial for pollinators, Verbena Apple Blossom is deer resistant. Apple Blossom attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Can be used in garden containers. Long lasting blooms with low maintenance appeal for gardeners with limited time to garden.       

Fall color  . . .

For adding some Fall color to your garden consider any of these Fall blooming plants. Plants that can transition your Summer garden into a Fall garden. But most important of all, these Fall blooming plants for pollinators can provide valuable nourishment to wildlife. Be prepared to welcome wildlife to your Fall garden as the cooler temperatures arrive. The wildlife such as bees, birds, hummingbirds, butterflies, and moths will reward you with their presence in your garden.    

For More Information . . .  

For information on the native North American coneflower, see our post 14 Colorful Coneflowers to Brighten Your Summer Garden. For help with creating a Moonlight Garden, see our post 20 Plants to Brighten Your Garden by Moonlight. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us in the comments below. We always are ready to help you out.