You’ve seen them — those tiny “bee lookalikes” hovering mid-air, darting between petals like living drones. Most gardeners mistake them for small wasps or ignore them entirely. But hoverflies are quietly holding your garden together.
Across fields and flower beds, they pollinate crops twice as efficiently as bees — and their larvae feast on aphids, thrips, and whiteflies, making them natural pest-control agents. Yet their numbers are slipping. Research across Europe and North America shows hoverfly populations have declined sharply over the past 20 years, largely due to pesticide use, habitat loss, and the absence of the right kind of flowers.
The good news? You can change that.
Planting nectar-rich natives with open centers gives hoverflies everything they’ve been losing — safe feeding, space to breed, and steady nectar over many weeks instead of a short bloom burst. When those flowers are chosen season-by-season — fall, early spring, late spring and summer — nectar never runs out, and hoverflies stay instead of passing through.
Below are 12 native U.S. flowers that keep hoverflies supplied from the first warm days of spring to the last weeks before frost — restoring pollination, strengthening pest control, and keeping the garden alive all season.
FALL PLANTING (September–November)
(These need winter cold for strongest spring germination.)
1. Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
Wild Geranium is one of the gentlest signs of spring — soft, pink-violet flowers rising above maple-shaped leaves just as the woods begin to warm. Its blooms look delicate but carry a quiet glow, opening wide in morning light and inviting early hoverflies to make slow, deliberate visits. In shady edges, open woodlands, and garden understories, these flowers bring a calm, natural elegance that feels like the season’s first real exhale. Watch closely and you’ll see hoverflies moving between blossoms before many other pollinators have even appeared.
This native thrives in partial shade and rich, moist soil, returning each year in tidy clumps that spread just enough to fill gaps without taking over. It bridges the earliest bloomers and the burst of summer color, providing one of the most dependable nectar sources during the cool, unstable weeks of mid-spring. For hoverflies, Wild Geranium is an early anchor — a steady, accessible flower that supports adult activity long before the main pollinator season begins.
Why Hoverflies Love It
It opens during the cooler part of spring when hoverflies first emerge, giving them reliable nectar before sun-loving natives start their show.
- Zones: 3–8
- Size: 12–18 in tall × 12–18 in wide
- Light: Partial shade to light sun
- Soil: Moist, rich soil; tolerates woodland conditions
- Bloom Time: Mid-spring to early summer
- Best Planting Time: Fall for seeds (needs cold); spring for transplants
2. Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)
Golden Alexanders are the spark that wakes up a spring garden. When the landscape is still shaking off winter and color is hard to find, these bright yellow umbels lift themselves above fresh green foliage and signal the real beginning of the season. They bloom with a soft, glowing confidence along meadows, prairies, and woodland edges, drawing the first hoverflies of the year into tight, deliberate circuits as they move from cluster to cluster. In a moment when the garden still feels half-asleep, this plant brings the first pulse of movement.
It’s a steady, unfussy native that adapts to everything from rich garden beds to clay-heavy slopes. Once established, it settles into neat clumps that return without fuss and bridge the gap between fleeting spring ephemerals and the big summer bloomers. For hoverflies, Golden Alexanders provide the early-season stability they rarely get — a dependable nectar source that helps adults feed and larvae develop long before summer pests explode.
Why Hoverflies Love It
It offers one of the earliest consistent nectar supplies of the year, giving hoverflies the energy to build their first generation while most gardens are still waking up.
- Zones: 3–9
- Size: 12–24 in tall × 12–18 in wide
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Moist, moderately rich; handles clay
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Best Planting Time: Fall for seed (needs winter cold) or early spring for plants
3. Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
Wild Blue Phlox arrives just as spring begins to settle in — soft, lavender-blue flowers drifting above slender green stems when the woods are still cool and quiet. Its star-shaped blooms look fragile but shine with a gentle radiance, opening fully in the morning light and drawing early hoverflies into calm, unhurried visits. Along woodland paths, shaded borders, and garden understories, these blossoms bring a soothing, natural grace that feels like the season’s first breath of color. Watch for a moment and you’ll see hoverflies slipping between the clusters, feeding steadily at a time when very few other flowers are open.
This native thrives in partial shade and moist, humus-rich soil, returning each spring in loose, spreading clumps that weave between ferns and early perennials without overtaking them. It fills the quiet space between the earliest ephemerals and the brighter blooms of summer, offering one of the most reliable nectar sources during the uncertain, fluctuating weeks of mid-spring. For hoverflies, Wild Blue Phlox becomes a gentle but vital constant — a mid-spring lifeline that supports adults just as their seasonal activity begins to rise.
Why Hoverflies Love It
Its flat, open flowers and sweet mid-spring nectar give hoverflies effortless access to food during a period when shady gardens often have very few blossoms.
Zones: 3–8
Size: 12–18 in tall × 12–24 in wide
Light: Partial shade; dappled woodland sun
Soil: Moist, humus-rich soil; woodland-loam preferred
Bloom Time: Mid–spring
Best Planting Time: Fall for seeds (needs cold stratification); Spring for transplants
4. Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum)
Blue Mistflower turns late summer into a second spring. When heat has washed the color out of the garden and most perennials are winding down, this lavender-blue haze suddenly lifts the whole border. Its soft, tufted blooms rise along edges, meadows, and woodland margins, creating a cool-toned cloud that catches the eye from far away. Stand closer, and the scene shifts — hoverflies drift in tight loops around the clusters, dropping in with quick, precise movements that make the blooms look alive.
It’s a reliable native that handles tough soil, uneven moisture, and intense heat without losing its rhythm. Once settled, it spreads gently and fills the empty weeks between summer and frost with steady, generous color. For hoverflies, it’s one of the season’s richest resources — a nectar-heavy bloom that arrives exactly when they need it most, supporting their late broods when other flowers have already begun to fade.
Why Hoverflies Love It
It delivers a strong late-season nectar pulse in August and September, fueling the year’s final generations when few other natives are still producing heavily.
- Zones: 5–9
- Size: 18–36 in tall × 12–24 in wide
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Moist to medium; tolerates clay
- Bloom Time: Late summer to frost
- Best Planting Time: Fall (for seed stratification) or spring (for transplants)
5. Prairie Blazing Star (Liatris pycnostachya)
Prairie Blazing Star rises out of summer grasslands like a purple exclamation mark. Its tall, upright spikes are packed with hundreds of tiny, fluffy violet blooms that open from top to bottom, turning each stem into a vertical feeding tower. In open meadows, it often stands above the grasses, and the sight of hoverflies moving up and down the column — pausing briefly, then skimming to the next flower — gives the plant a sense of constant, quiet motion. Even a single spike in a home garden becomes a landing strip for pollinators.
This native is built for tough conditions. It thrives in hot sun, lean soil, and long stretches of drought, yet still delivers an unforgettable show in mid to late summer. As it matures, it forms stately clumps that return every year with even more spikes, making it one of the strongest architectural plants you can add to a hoverfly-friendly garden. Because its bloom period is long and steady, it bridges the space between mid-summer and fall when nectar demand is at its highest.
Why Hoverflies Love It
The densely packed florets release nectar gradually, letting hoverflies move upward along the spike and feed in a smooth, continuous run instead of hopping between scattered blooms.
- Zones: 3–9
- Size: 3–5 ft tall × 1–2 ft wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Dry to medium; thrives in lean, well-drained soil
- Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
- Best Planting Time: Spring for transplants; fall for seeds (needs cold stratification)
EARLY SPRING PLANTING (March–April)
(Transplants or divisions do best now.)
6. Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa)
Showy Milkweed lives up to its name in every way — tall, silvery-green stems topped with big, star-shaped clusters of blush-pink flowers that look almost sculpted. In open fields and dry prairies, the blooms glow softly in the sun, and their sweet fragrance can carry surprisingly far. Stand near a patch in early summer and you’ll see constant activity: hoverflies drifting between the flower balls, pausing at each tiny star before lifting off again. It’s one of those plants that feels alive from morning to evening.
This native is built for harsh conditions. It thrives in lean, dry soil, tolerates roadside heat, and grows steadily even in long stretches without rain. Once established, it forms sturdy clumps that return every year with stronger stems and larger flower heads. While known for supporting monarchs, its nectar-rich blooms also play a major role in feeding hoverflies throughout early and mid-summer — especially in sunny, open landscapes where insects rely on dependable, long-lasting floral resources.
Why Hoverflies Love It
Its star-shaped florets hold nectar deep within a sturdy structure, allowing hoverflies to feed efficiently even on windy, exposed sites where other blooms get tossed around.
- Zones: 3–9
- Size: 2–4 ft tall × 1–3 ft wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Dry to medium; thrives in sandy or well-drained soils
- Bloom Time: Early to mid-summer
- Best Planting Time: Spring for plants; fall for seeds (requires winter cold)
7. Blue Wild Indigo (Baptisia australis)
Blue Wild Indigo is one of the first true statements of early summer — tall, elegant spires of indigo-blue flowers rising above fresh, full foliage that looks almost sculptural. In prairies and open fields, the blooms stand in clean vertical lines, catching the morning light in a way that makes the whole plant look polished and deliberate. Hoverflies move through these spikes with surprising precision, slipping between each pea-like blossom to take advantage of nectar that appears before many warm-season flowers have even opened. It brings both structure and color at a moment when the garden is just gaining momentum.
This native is famously tough. It thrives in dry, sandy, or lean soils, handles long periods without rain, and returns each year with larger, more impressive clumps. By midsummer, its seed pods rattle softly in the breeze, adding an extra layer of texture to the garden. For hoverflies, Blue Wild Indigo is an early anchor — one of the few sturdy, long-lived natives that provides consistent nectar just as temperatures rise and their activity sharply increases.
Why Hoverflies Love It
It flowers early in the warm season, providing stable nectar right as hoverfly populations begin building toward their summer peak.
- Zones: 3–9
- Size: 3–4 ft tall × 3–4 ft wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Dry to medium; thrives in poor, sandy, or well-drained soil
- Bloom Time: Late spring to early summer
- Best Planting Time: Spring for transplants; fall for seeds (needs winter chill)
LATE SPRING PLANTING (April–June)
(Ideal for moisture-loving and heat-season perennials.)
8. Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma)
Scarlet Beebalm doesn’t just bloom — it erupts.
In midsummer, when the heat is at its worst and many perennials start to collapse, this plant throws out bright, firework-like red blooms that look almost electric against green foliage. In prairies, cottage gardens, and meadow edges, the flowers stand tall and dramatic, drawing instant attention from anything that flies. Hoverflies weave through the shaggy petals with their signature quick, darting movements, slipping between the tubes as if the flower was built just for them. The whole plant becomes a magnet for motion — hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and hoverflies all crowding into the same glowing red clusters.
It’s a bold, generous native that thrives in moisture, handles partial shade, and makes even difficult corners feel alive. Over time, it expands into lush clumps that return larger each year, delivering a long stretch of color just when summer gardens often look tired. For hoverflies, Scarlet Beebalm is a midsummer lifeline — a steady, nectar-rich bloom that keeps them active through the hottest months, powering both adults and the next generation.
Why Hoverflies Love It
Its tubular blooms leak small amounts of nectar during heat waves, giving hoverflies a reliable midsummer food source when drought stresses other flowers.
- Zones: 4–9
- Size: 24–36 in tall × 18–36 in wide
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Moist, rich, well-drained; dislikes prolonged dryness
- Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
- Best Planting Time: Spring for plants; fall for seeds (benefits from winter chill)
9. Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
Wild Bergamot brings a different kind of drama to the garden — softer, cooler, and more restrained than its scarlet cousin, but no less magnetic. Its smoky lavender blooms appear in mid-summer just as the heat settles in, rising above the foliage in elegant, tufted crowns that sway in the slightest breeze. In prairies and open fields, the plants often bloom in hazy drifts, and the air above them is rarely empty. Hoverflies trace small, fast loops around the florets, landing for only a heartbeat before lifting off again. From a distance, the whole patch seems to shimmer.
This native is as dependable as it is graceful. It thrives in lean soil, handles dry spells without complaint, and holds its color even when July sun feels unforgiving. Once established, it returns year after year, slowly forming generous clumps that anchor a meadow-style garden with long, fragrant bloom cycles. For hoverflies, Wild Bergamot is a midsummer engine — offering a rolling supply of new florets each day, ensuring fresh nectar is always available.
Why Hoverflies Love It
Each bloom opens in a slow spiral, producing fresh, tiny florets daily — giving hoverflies a continuous nectar source instead of a single rush.
- Zones: 3–9
- Size: 24–48 in tall × 18–36 in wide
- Light: Full sun to light shade
- Soil: Dry to medium, well-drained; drought tolerant
- Bloom Time: Mid–late summer
- Best Planting Time: Spring for transplants; fall for seeds (prefers stratification)
SUMMER PLANTING (June–July)
(Great time for drought-adapted or fast-establishing natives.)
10. Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata)
Blanket Flower is one of the brightest, most cheerful natives you can grow — a true summer workhorse that never seems to run out of color. Its red-and-gold petals flare out like tiny sunbursts, bringing instant warmth to borders, rock gardens, and drought-prone spots where other plants hesitate. From a distance, it reads as a glowing band of orange fire; up close, you’ll see hoverflies tracing fast, playful loops above the blooms before settling right into the open centers. Even in full heat, the flowers don’t fade — they hold their color as if built for sunlight.
This plant is a master of tough conditions. It thrives in dry, poor soil, shrugs off intense sun, and keeps blooming long after more delicate perennials have given up for the season. Once established, it becomes a nonstop source of nectar, opening fresh flowers every few days and carrying that rhythm deep into fall. For hoverflies, it’s a reliable mid-to-late season stop — a bright, generous nectar bar that stays open long after summer wears thin.
Why Hoverflies Love It
Its open, sun-warmed centers produce nectar steadily throughout the day, letting hoverflies feed even during peak heat when many flowers temporarily shut down.
- Zones: 3–9
- Size: 12–18 in tall × 12–24 in wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Dry to well-drained; thrives in sandy or poor soil
- Bloom Time: Early summer to fall
- Best Planting Time: Spring for plants; fall or early spring for seed
11. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Black-Eyed Susan is the wildflower that never disappears into the background. Its golden petals and deep chocolate center stand out even in the harshest heat, turning summer borders into bright ribbons of color. In prairies and open fields, they bloom in wide drifts that hoverflies rarely ignore — the kind of flower you can spot from a distance, and the kind hoverflies circle with quick, confident passes before dropping onto the warm central cone. Even a small cluster in a home garden can feel like a magnet for motion.
This native thrives where many others struggle. Dry roadsides, sandy slopes, poor soil — it doesn’t matter. Once it settles in, it produces wave after wave of blooms from early summer into fall, holding its color long after other flowers look worn out. For hoverflies, it’s one of the most dependable summer stations, offering long hours of sun-warmed nectar and a steady bloom cycle that rarely breaks.
Why Hoverflies Love It
The dark cone warms rapidly each morning, creating a heat pocket that helps early hoverflies warm up and start feeding sooner than on paler blooms.
- Zones: 3–8
- Size: 18–30 in tall × 12–18 in wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Dry to average; thrives even in poor or sandy soil
- Bloom Time: Summer to early fall
- Best Planting Time: Spring or fall; fall sowing best for cold-region germination
LATE SUMMER–EARLY FALL BLOOMS (August–October)
(These bloom now but are best planted earlier)
12. New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
New England Aster is the plant that saves the garden at the end of the season.
When most flowers have faded and the air starts to cool, these violet-magenta blooms rise above the tired foliage and bring the last big burst of color to meadows, roadsides, and fall gardens. Their daisy-like faces open wide in the afternoon sun, and hoverflies flock to them in noticeable numbers — tracing tight arcs around the flower heads, dipping in for nectar, then lifting off in that quick, weightless way they move. In September and October, aster patches look almost animated from a distance.
This native is tough, tall, and generous. It thrives in clay, poor soil, and full sun, and spreads into large, upright clumps that come back reliably each year. As the season winds down, it becomes one of the most important nectar sources left in the landscape, feeding not only hoverflies but migrating monarchs, native bees, and late-season butterflies. For hoverflies, it’s a final anchor — a dependable supply of nectar that keeps them active until frost finally shuts the garden down.
Why Hoverflies Love It
It blooms at the exact moment late-season hoverflies need fuel most, offering abundant nectar when nearly every other native has already finished for the year.
- Zones: 3–8
- Size: 3–6 ft tall × 2–3 ft wide
- Light: Full sun
- Soil: Average to moist; tolerates clay
- Bloom Time: Late summer to fall
- Best Planting Time: Spring or fall; fall sowing ideal for seed stratification
