Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
Nectar and pollen for the garden — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees while it blooms Apr through Jul.
- Part shade
- Average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Apr–Jul
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- Pollinators
Washington · Zones 4–8
Native Pollinator Plants in Washington
Native plants that turn a yard into a season-long buffet for bees, butterflies, and the insects that keep the food web running. Every species here is genuinely native to Washington and the wider flora of the Pacific Northwest and hardy through zones 4–8 — proven performers for Washington's wet maritime west, dry east climate across Puget lowland, Cascades & Columbia Plateau, not a generic list. Local standouts include Western Columbine and California Lilac. A garden that feeds pollinators all season needs something in bloom from the first warm days of spring through the last of fall. Aim for at least three species flowering at any given time, plant in generous drifts of one kind rather than singletons so foragers can work efficiently, and leave seed heads and hollow stems standing over winter to shelter the next generation.
The plants
16 native species for Washington
Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 4–8 · see this collection in other states.
California Lilac
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees while it blooms Mar through May.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–20 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Red-Flowering Currant
Ribes sanguineum
Nectar and pollen for the garden — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees right through when it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full–part sun
- Dry–average
- 5–9 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Common Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Works hard for pollinators — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees as it blooms May through Aug.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms May–Aug
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Keeps pollinators fed — it draws pollinators, native bees, and specialist bees right through when it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 6–16 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Douglas Aster
Symphyotrichum subspicatum
Works hard for pollinators — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees while it blooms Aug through Oct.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Aug–Oct
Apache Plume
Fallugia paradoxa
Works hard for pollinators — it draws pollinators, native bees, and seed-eating birds as it blooms Apr through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Apr–Sep
Rocky Mountain Penstemon
Penstemon strictus
Keeps pollinators fed — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees right through when it blooms May through Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–2.5 ft
- Blooms May–Jul
Pasque Flower
Pulsatilla patens
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, native bees, and specialist bees as it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 6–12 in
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Firecracker Penstemon
Penstemon eatonii
Nectar and pollen for the garden — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees right through when it blooms Mar through May.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1.5–3 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees while it blooms Jun through Sep.
- Full sun
- Dry
- 1–2.5 ft
- Blooms Jun–Sep
Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium
Nectar and pollen for the garden — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees while it flowers in Mar and Apr.
- Sun to shade
- Dry–average
- 3–6 ft
- Blooms Mar–Apr
Bearberry
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Keeps pollinators fed — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees right through when it flowers in Apr and May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 4–8 in
- Blooms Apr–May
Showy Milkweed
Asclepias speciosa
Works hard for pollinators — it draws pollinators, butterflies, and native bees right through when it flowers in Jun and Jul.
- Full sun
- Dry–average
- 2–4 ft
- Blooms Jun–Jul
Hairy Manzanita
Arctostaphylos columbiana
Keeps pollinators fed — it draws pollinators, hummingbirds, and native bees while it blooms Mar through May.
- Full–part sun
- Dry
- 3–9 ft
- Blooms Mar–May
Red-Twig Dogwood
Cornus sericea
A reliable nectar stop — it draws pollinators, native bees, and songbirds right through when it flowers in May and Jun.
- Full–part sun
- Average–wet
- 6–9 ft
- Blooms May–Jun
Sourcing
Where to find these in Washington
Seeds & live plants on Amazon
Seed packets, plugs, and starter plants for many of these species ship to your door.
Browse on AmazonSome links here are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The surest source of locally-adapted stock is a native-plant nursery or a native plant society sale in your area.