CLEVELAND SAGE, Salvia clevelandii 

Drought tolerant 
CA Native
Flowers: Late April-Summer (often longer)
Fragrant foliage all year round

Not only do pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love this plant for its flowers, but it is widely considered by people to have the best smelling foliage of all California native plants. This drought-tolerant shrub is also one of the best plants to grow at home because it is adaptable, tolerates heat, and grows well in many soils. In addition, this fragrant plant helps keep away unwanted pests, while still inviting pollinators to visit.

WESTERN REDBUD, Cersis occidentalis

Drought tolerant
CA Native
Flowers: Late winter/Early Spring start
Deciduous, colorful small tree

Native to dry slopes and seasonal creeks, the western redbud is an excellent plant for pollinators and is often used as a specimen centerpiece of a pollinator garden. These small trees are grown in single trunk and multiple trunk varieties that are more shrub-like. Glossy heart-shaped leaves can be seen for most of the year until they are dropped in Fall through Winter. They are followed by pea-shaped pink to purple flowers that serve as important pollinator foods for native bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects in late Winter and early Spring. 

San Miguel Island Buckwheat, Eriogonum grande var. rubescens

Drought tolerant
CA Native
Flowers: Late Spring - late Summer
Excellent food source for seed eaters

Endemic (naturally found) to three of the northern Channel Islands, this plant is related to California’s other native buckwheats and is an important food source for pollinators, seed eaters, and many animals in between. Its long summer bloom time ensures that local pollinators, especially butterflies and bees have nectar during hot days. While this plant is natively found on cooler islands, it can be grown inland with afternoon shade and a little irrigation on our hottest days.

GULF FRITILLARY, Agraulis vanillae

Gulf fritillary butterflies are summer loving pops of color. These orange butterflies and their caterpillars are colored brightly to warn predators that they are poisonous to eat. This defense mechanism is useful when they are able to move as a caterpillar or butterfly, but when a caterpillar turns into a pupa and forms a chrysalis they are stuck in this cocoon stage for up to two weeks. Instead of showing bright colors, the chrysalis is brown and gray looking more like a mottled leaf. This is an example of camouflage amongst their plant pal's stems and leaves.

CALIFORNIA CARPENTER BEE, Xylocopa californica

California carpenter bees are one of the more interesting pollinators in our area. On the one hand, they can be excellent beneficial pollinators. On the other hand, they are masters at tunneling into dead wood and often will tunnel through a large flower in search of nectar, essentially bypassing pollination altogether and enjoying all of the nectar reserves a flower produces. These crafty pollinators are so effective at pollinating flowers typically with their strong buzzing vibration and hairy bodies that this behavior is considered redeemable by most observers. 

FIERY SKIPPER, Hylephila phyleus

Fiery Skippers are one of the smallest butterfly pollinators coming in at only about an inch or so. But their small size doesn’t stop these flighty flyers from pollinating and feeding on nectar from many flowers. Often seen in parks, gardens, and open meadows, Fiery Skippers hold their four wings, which are often mistaken for just two wings, in a triangle shape while sitting that is unique to skipper butterflies. This position and triangle shape is thought to help absorb the sun’s rays on a tiny body.

PURPLE LANTANA, Lantana montevidensis

Low water
Flowers: Spring-Summer
Great for slopes and ground cover

This strongly scented and low growing flowering ornamental plant is a favorite of many nectar loving pollinators like bees and butterflies. While most lantanas are upright shrubs, Lantana montevidensis is a trailing, almost vining variety that makes an excellent ground cover. Native to tropical South America, lantana supports a wide variety of pollinators because its flowers are arranged in tufts that make excellent landing platforms and clusters of small flowers are easy to access. These long lasting perennials are fairly disease and pest resistant making them a good option for tough to grow spaces.

Silky Oak, Grevillea robusta

Low water
Flowers: Spring-Summer
Great tall flowering tree - up to 75 ft

The Silky Oak is an evergreen tree that is commonly called an oak, though it is not related to true oak trees like Monrovia’s Coast Live Oak or Quercus agrifolia. Native to coastal Australia, these trees were brought to Southern California at the same time Eucalyptus trees were transplanted. Unlike Eucalyptus which have a reputation to be invasive, Silk Oaks instead provide good habitat and food for daredevil high-flying local hummingbirds and bees, and in Australia, pollinating bats and insects.

CLEVELAND SAGE, Salvia clevelandii

Drought tolerant 
CA Native
Flowers: Late April-Summer (often longer)
Fragrant foliage all year round

Not only do pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love this plant for its flowers, but it is widely considered to have the best smelling foliage of all California native plants. This drought-tolerant shrub is also one of the best plants to grow at home because it is adaptable, tolerates heat, and grows well in many soils. In addition, this fragrant plant helps keep away unwanted pests, while still inviting pollinators to visit.

PAINTED LADY BUTTERFLY, Vanessa cardui

One of the most globally prolific and widespread butterflies is the painted lady butterfly. Monrovia experienced a large migration of these butterflies in 2019 with an estimated over 1 billion butterflies filling the skies traveling from Mexico to the Pacific Northwest. This mass migration was tied to wildflower blooms in the desert and heavy rains contributing to extensive plant growth. Important pollinator plants that live in between migratory paths help these short lived butterflies travel large distances. Living only 6 weeks, a butterfly generation leaving Texas and Mexico can make it as far as northern California and then find host plants and lay caterpillars that will form a new generation of butterflies that make their way to the final stretch of migration to the Pacific Northwest. Along their annual migration, painted lady butterflies will pollinate a huge variety of plants and support many hungry birds. 

ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD Selasphorus sasin

Allen’s hummingbirds are one of the most charismatic birds in town. These feisty little coppery orange and green birds are so important for our local ecosystem. Because of their ability to hover and zip between flowers, they can pollinate hundreds of flowers in a day. Adult males display a deep reddish orange gorget (throat feathers) that is iridescent and shines in the sun. Males defend territory from other males and even predators as large as hawks. Females are more muted in color and select only the most talented of male flyers. One of the best ways to attract hummingbirds to your home is to plant pollinator friendly plants. Hummingbirds are attracted to red, orange, yellow, pink, and purple flowers with tube shaped flowers that fit their long beaks and tongues. 

GULF FRITILLARY, Agraulis vanillae

Gulf fritillary butterflies are summer loving pops of color. These orange butterflies and their caterpillars are colored brightly to warn predators that they are poisonous to eat. This defense mechanism is useful when they are able to move as a caterpillar or butterfly, but when a caterpillar turns into a pupa and forms a chrysalis they are stuck in this cocoon stage for up to two weeks. Instead of showing bright colors, the chrysalis is brown and gray looking more like a mottled leaf. This is an example of camouflage amongst their plant pal's stems and leaves.

BUTTERFLY BUSH, Buddleia davidii 

Moderate water
Flowers: Spring-Summer
Fragrant flowers, largely evergreen in California

Native to central China and Japan, this pollinator favorite has been in cultivation since the late 19th century. With over 180 varieties ranging from white to deep purple flowers, this plant is striking in any garden. This plant is aptly named butterfly bush because it truly is a favorite of so many types of butterflies. Each inflorescence, or head of flowers, is perfectly shaped for butterfly mouths and its shape acts as landing platforms for all types of butterflies. If you spend any time around this plant, chances are a butterfly will stop by.

DWARF BOTTLEBRUSH, Callistemon viminalis

Low water
Flowers: Spring-Summer (almost all year round) 
Pollinator magnet

Often called the Little John Bottlebrush, this plant is one of the most adaptable plants available in Southern California. This plant is tolerant of many soils and does well in containers and in the ground. Dwarf bottlebrush attracts hummingbirds and bees like no other plant. Fiery red flowers can be seen almost year round, but explode in the spring and summer. In addition, the densely packed leaves smell like citrus when crushed and attractively accent the bright red flowers.

PRIDE OF MADEIRA, Echium candicans

Drought tolerant
Flowers: Spring-Summer
Fast growing and large flowers

This Mediterranean native is a prolific grower, flower producer, and pollinating bee magnet. Bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies are attracted to the large flowers that tower above velvety leaved stems. Flowers can be as large as twenty inches and are a striking blue to purple color. This plant does not live long, typically around four years, but readily reseeds itself and large groupings can last and continue to flower for a long time. 

FIERY SKIPPER, Hylephila phyleus

Fiery Skippers are one of the smallest butterfly pollinators coming in at only about an inch or so. But their small size doesn’t stop these flighty flyers from pollinating and feeding on nectar from many flowers. Often seen in parks, gardens, and open meadows, Fiery Skippers hold their four wings, which are often mistaken for just two wings, in a triangle shape while sitting that is unique to skipper butterflies. This position and triangle shape is thought to help absorb the sun’s rays on a tiny body.

ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD, Selasphorus sasin

Allen’s hummingbirds are one of the most charismatic birds in town. These feisty little coppery orange and green birds are so important for our local ecosystem. Because of their ability to hover and zip between flowers, they can pollinate hundreds of flowers in a day. Adult males display a deep reddish orange gorget (throat feathers) that is iridescent and shines in the sun. Males defend territory from other males and even predators as large as hawks. Females are more muted in color and select only the most talented of male flyers. One of the best ways to attract hummingbirds to your home is to plant pollinator friendly plants. Hummingbirds are attracted to red, orange, yellow, pink, and purple flowers with tube shaped flowers that fit their long beaks and tongues. 

CALIFORNIA CARPENTER BEE, Xylocopa californica

California carpenter bees are one of the more interesting pollinators in our area. On the one hand, they can be excellent beneficial pollinators. On the other hand, they are masters at tunneling into dead wood and often will tunnel through a large flower in search of nectar, essentially bypassing pollination altogether and enjoying all of the nectar reserves a flower produces. These crafty pollinators are so effective at pollinating flowers typically with their strong buzzing vibration and hairy bodies that this behavior is considered redeemable by most observers. 

RED YUCCA, Hesperaloe parviflora

Drought tolerant
Flowers: Late Spring-Summer
Low maintenance and heat resistant

This yucca-like evergreen plant is a hummingbird favorite while not being a true yucca. Native to the Chihuahuan desert, red yucca is drought tolerant, but never loses its great unique shape of colorful flowers. Red yucca leaves form little white threadlike hairs adding interest. Clumps of these leaves can grow around four feet wide. Red flowers sit on top of its branching flower stalk or inflorescence; yellow varieties are also available. Both grow to five feet tall. This flower stalk is the perfect height for local hummingbirds. Hummingbirds and bats are the primary pollinator of red yucca. This plant has evolved to mutually optimize pollination by growing similar sized flowers to hummingbird beaks and bat tongues so that they can reach nectar inside of flowers while also collecting pollen on their heads as they move between flowers.

CRAPE MYRTLE, Lagerstroemia indica

Low water
Flowers: Fall/Spring/Summer 
Small tree and diverse colors

Crape Myrtles belong to a diverse group of deciduous and evergreen plants that are known for long-lasting and diversely colorful flowers. They are native to southeast Asia, northern Australia, and parts of Oceania. Horticulturalists are fond of this tree in landscaping and gardening for its versatility and toughness. As a specimen tree, crape myrtles come in bright red to white to deep purple to pink, and every shade in between those colors. Named after their crinkled thin crêpe-like textured flowers, pollinators readily visit their flowers and their leaves can be used by caterpillars of local butterflies. This tree has been widely cultivated for its unique bark patterns and has nearly naturalized into our urban ecosystem as a food source for native birds and as host plants for butterflies and moths. 

ROSE, Rosa sp.

Flowers: Spring (Summer/Fall occasionally)
Climbing, groundcover, and shrub varieties in all colors
Fragrant smell

The rose family is so expansive that it covers over 300 species and tens of thousands of cultivars or varieties that can be found in the garden. The perfume of roses not only attracts human noses, but pollinators find roses irresistible. Bumble bees enjoy visiting roses because of the wide landing platforms their large petals provide as well as a nice bed for them to nap in between. Thorns aside, roses make colorful companions for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, beetles, and many diverse pollinators.

ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD, Selasphorus sasin

Allen’s hummingbirds are one of the most charismatic birds in town. These feisty little coppery orange and green birds are so important for our local ecosystem. Because of their ability to hover and zip between flowers, they can pollinate hundreds of flowers in a day. Adult males display a deep reddish orange gorget (throat feathers) that is iridescent and shines in the sun. Males defend territory from other males and even predators as large as hawks. Females are more muted in color and select only the most talented of male flyers. One of the best ways to attract hummingbirds to your home is to plant pollinator friendly plants. Hummingbirds are attracted to red, orange, yellow, pink, and purple flowers with tube shaped flowers that fit their long beaks and tongues. 

WESTERN HONEY BEE, Apis mellifera

Which bee do you imagine when you hear "Save the Bees" or bees making honey?It's most likely the western honey bee! Honey bees were first domesticated for their honey and other products like beeswax and propolis which has wide applications from wood finishes to medicines. Honey bees are not only important to our global economy and markets, but they are primary pollinators for so many plants. In Monrovia, they share garden spaces with native bees. Native bees can differ in behavior and social grouping, often being solitary or living in simple groups instead of complex honey bee hive societies. Without honey bees and native bees, we would lose so many plants, foods, and ecosystems. Next time you take a bite of food from the 1200 crops they pollinate, thank a bee!

YELLOW-FACED BUMBLE BEE, Bombus vosnesenskii

Yellow-faced bumble bees are the large and fluffy pals of many native California plants. The Yellow-faced bumble bee strategically visits many types of flowers to diversify their diets and because flexibility with flower choice allows them to feed on many flowers that bloom over long periods of time at different intervals. Yellow-faced bumble bees are known to fly great distances to forage from patches of flowers that other bees don’t visit as often. Did you know that the genus Bombus, which includes the yellow-faced bumble bee, are the primary pollinators of greenhouse tomatoes? They are more efficient at pollinating tomatoes and have proven to help produce higher quality fruit!

CORAL BELLS, Heuchera sp. 

Low water (in cool areas/shade) CA Native
Flowers: Spring/Summer
Great shade color and low growing

Coral bells are named after the bell shaped flowers that hang off a shared flower stem that lifts above the varied and unique foliage at the base of the plant. Ethnobotanically speaking, coral bells have been used by indigenous groups for its strong tannins in traditional medicines and dyes. These tannins help this plant defend itself from predators. As a pollinator plant, coral bells attract bees, hummingbirds, and some moths and butterflies. As an ornamental plant, coral bells are one of the few shade plants that provide lots of color and can grow under the greedy roots of oak trees.

STICKY MONKEY-FLOWER, Diplacus (Mimulus) sp.

Low water (in cool areas/shade)
CA Native
Flowers: Spring/Summer
Upright growth and tolerates difficult soils

Sticky monkey-flower is one of California’s hidden native plant gems. Yellow, orange, and red flowers can be found in this monkey flower genus and cousins of this plant range in nearly every color of the rainbow. Monkey-flowers range from wet riparian zones to dry hillside cliffs in a wide diversity of habitats. Although there are not any monkeys native to California, these plants were named by early observers for blossoms that resemble a monkey’s face sticking out its tongue and leaves with surfaces coated in mildly sticky resin. This delightfully cheeky plant supports butterflies, bees, and many other native pollinators.

CRAPE MYRTLE, Lagerstroemia indica

Low water
Flowers: Fall/Spring/Summer
Small tree and diverse colors

Crape Myrtles belong to a diverse group of deciduous and evergreen plants that are known for long-lasting and diversely colorful flowers. They are native to southeast Asia, northern Australia, and parts of Oceania. Horticulturalists are fond of this tree in landscaping and gardening for its versatility and toughness. As a specimen tree, crape myrtles come in bright red to white to deep purple to pink, and every shade in between those colors. Named after their crinkled thin crêpe-like textured flowers, pollinators readily visit their flowers and their leaves can be used by caterpillars of local butterflies. This tree has been widely cultivated for its unique bark patterns and has nearly naturalized into our urban ecosystem as a food source for native birds and as host plants for butterflies and moths. 

ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, Calypte anna

Anna’s hummingbirds can be found in parks, backyards, coastal scrub, oak groves, riverside woods, and open savannas. Female Anna’s are mostly green and gray without orange marks on their body. Males can sport iridescent red-pink feathers on their head and throat that shine in the sunlight. These busy and fast fliers help move pollen that collects on their heads and beaks and is blown by their wings as they fly between flowers. One of the best ways to attract hummingbirds to your home is to plant pollinator friendly plants. Hummingbirds are attracted to red, orange, yellow, pink, and purple flowers with tube shaped flowers that fit their long beaks and tongues. 

TIGER SWALLOWTAIL, Papilio rutulus

Western Tiger Swallowtails can be found all over western North America and are common in canyons, riparian areas, woodlands, and parks and gardens. These brightly colored butterflies have yellow wings with black stripes, and orange and blue spots near the ends of the “tail” on the hindwings. Swallowtails use many native plants as host plants for little caterpillars which actually resemble bird droppings as a way to avoid predators. Over time these caterpillars turn bright green and eat their way into forming a chrysalis. Swallowtail butterflies emerge from winter chrysalids between February and May and set out to feed on nectar while pollinating Spring and Summer flowers. 

WESTERN HONEY BEE, Apis mellifera

Which bee do you imagine when you hear "Save the Bees" or bees making honey? It's most likely the western honey bee! Honey bees were first domesticated for their honey and other products like beeswax and propolis which has wide applications from wood finishes to medicines. Honey bees are not only important to our global economy and markets, but they are primary pollinators for so many plants. In Monrovia, they share garden spaces with native bees. Native bees can differ in behavior and social grouping, often being solitary or living in simple groups instead of complex honey bee hive societies. Without honey bees and native bees, we would lose so many plants, foods, and ecosystems. Next time you take a bite of food from the 1200 crops they pollinate, thank a bee!

DESERT WILLOW, Chilopsis linearis

Drought tolerant 
CA Native
Flowers: April-September
Fragrant and sweet smell

Native to desert streams and dry sandy washes in California, this small tree gets its name from its willow-like leaves. It blooms heaviest in May to June. Flowers range in color from white to pink to dark purple, and combinations of each color. This pollinator plant feeds nectar loving pals like hummingbirds, butterflies, and other insects as well as produces seeds and nesting material for native birds and bees. Desert willows also serve as an important food source and host plant for native caterpillars. More than just a beautiful flowering tree, its wood is used by the indigenous peoples of California for bows, basketry and in traditional medicines.

LAVENDER, Lavandula sp.

Drought tolerant   
Flowers: April-September   
Fragrant and sweet smell

Lavender is a low water, fragrant, culinary herb, and essential oil producing plant that is a favorite of pollinators. Different varieties of lavender can be found around the world and the most commonly cultivated, Lavandula angustifolia, is a California garden staple. Because lavenders pollinate so readily and easily, cross pollination has created an abundance of leaf shapes, flower colors, and varieties of lavender with distinct uses. The aromatic flowers of lavender are great landing platforms for pollinators like bees and butterflies and the buds add great flavors in the kitchen.

YARROW, Achillea millefolium 

Drought tolerant
CA Native 
Flowers: April-September
Ground cover - lawn alternative

This small perennial can be found in many California ecosystems ranging from chaparral, to valley grasslands, to oak woodland, and is prolific as a garden plant. Clusters of white flowers are not only great in dried or fresh arrangements, but have incredible value to California’s native bees as a food source. Yarrows sport soft green leaves that have a pleasant smell when crushed and have been used for medicinal purposes to break fevers by increasing perspiration and traditionally as a tea by the indigenous peoples of California to cure stomach disorders by steeping leaves. 

ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, Calypte anna

Anna’s hummingbirds can be found in parks, backyards, coastal scrub, oak groves, riverside woods, and open savannas. Female Anna’s are mostly green and gray without orange marks on their body. Males have iridescent red-pink feathers on their head and throat that shine in the sunlight. These busy, fast fliers help move pollen that collects on their heads and beaks and is blown by their wings as they fly between flowers. One of the best ways to attract hummingbirds to your home is to plant pollinator friendly plants. Hummingbirds are attracted to red, orange, yellow, pink, and purple flowers with tube shaped flowers that fit their long beaks and tongues. 

TIGER SWALLOWTAIL, Papilio rutulus

Western Tiger Swallowtails can be found all over western North America and are common in canyons, riparian areas, woodlands, parks and gardens. These brightly colored butterflies have yellow wings with black stripes, and orange and blue spots near the ends of the “tail” on the hindwings. Swallowtails use many native plants as host plants for little caterpillars which actually resemble bird droppings as a way to avoid predators. Over time these caterpillars turn bright green and eat their way into forming a chrysalis. Swallowtail butterflies emerge from winter chrysalids between February and May and set out to feed on nectar while pollinating Spring and Summer flowers. 

HONEY-TAILED STRIPED-SWEAT BEE, Agapostemon melliventrus

Like the common honey bee, sweat bees are excellent pollinators and love being near pollen. Their genus Agapostemon actually translates to “stamen loving” - the stamen is the part of a flower that produces pollen! Female sweat bees collect pollen and nectar to fashion a pollen ball upon which she will lay an egg. These pollen balls are kept in underground nests and unlike honey bees, sweat bees can be communal, but not social with divisions of labor with single female queens. Sweat bees are strikingly colored metallic green and are named after their interest in human sweat which contains nutritious salt that is lacking in their diets. But don’t bee alarmed if you see one. They generally don’t sting and are not aggressive, unless their ground nest is disturbed. 

CLEVELAND SAGE, Salvia clevelandii

Drought tolerant

CA Native

Flowers: Late April-Summer (often longer)

Fragrant foliage all year round 

Not only do pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds love this plant for its flowers, but it is widely considered by people to have the best smelling foliage of all California native plants. This drought-tolerant shrub is
also one of the best plants to grow at home because it is adaptable, tolerates heat, and grows well in many soils. In addition, this fragrant plant helps keep away unwanted pests, while still inviting pollinators to visit.

WESTERN REDBUD, Cersis occidentalis

Drought tolerant
CA Native
Flowers: Late winter/Early Spring start
Deciduous, colorful small tree

Native to dry slopes and seasonal creeks, the western redbud is an excellent plant for pollinators and is often used as a specimen centerpiece of a pollinator garden. These small trees are grown in single trunk and multiple
trunk varieties that are more shrub-like. Glossy heart-shaped leaves can be seen for most of the year until they are dropped in Fall through Winter. They are followed by pea-shaped pink to purple flowers that serve as important
pollinator foods for native bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects in late Winter and early Spring.

YARROW CA, Achillea millefolium

Drought tolerant
CA Native
Flowers: April-September
Ground cover - lawn alternative

This small perennial can be found in many California ecosystems ranging from chaparral, to valley grasslands, to oak woodland, and is prolific as a garden plant. Clusters of white flowers are not only great in dried or fresh arrangements, but have  incredible value to California's native bees as a food source. Yarrows sport soft green
leaves that have a pleasant smell when crushed and have been used for medicinal purposes to break fevers by increasing perspiration and traditionally as a tea by the indigenous peoples of California to cure stomach disorders by steeping leaves.

GULF FRITILLARY, Agraulis vanillae