Start with your locality, not a national plant list. Enter your ZIP code or named locality in the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder, use a Xerces Society state or regional list to cover several insect needs, and then reject any candidate that does not fit your actual sun, moisture and soil conditions. The right planting is a locally native mix of plant forms—such as flowers, grasses, shrubs, trees or vines—that supplies food, host foliage and habitat for insects throughout their life cycles.
Because no state or ecoregion is specified here, an exact species list would be misleading. Native status is local, and the best choices in one region may be inappropriate in another. Use the method below to build a defensible list for your own site.
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Why “native” has to be decided locally
The National Wildlife Federation defines a native plant as “A plant is native if it has occurred naturally for thousands of years in a region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction.” That definition makes geography central: a plant can be native somewhere in a country yet be non-native to your locality or ecoregion.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Regional plant communities differ because climate, rainfall and soils differ. A candidate therefore needs two checks: it must be naturally associated with your region, and it must be suited to the particular conditions in your yard, balcony planting area or community site. A nationwide “pollinator mix” cannot establish either point for every seed or plant it contains.
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Use a ZIP code or named locality as your first filter, not as an automatic planting prescription. A location search narrows the field; your site observations decide which plants can actually thrive.
What insects need from a planting
Supporting adult pollinators is useful, but it is only one part of insect habitat. A stronger plan combines plants that meet different needs. Xerces regional lists identify several functions that can be considered together.
| Insect need | What to look for in a candidate | How to verify the choice |
|---|---|---|
| Adult food | Nectar and pollen resources supplied by locally appropriate flowering plants and other suitable forms | Check the Xerces list for your state or region, then confirm the plant’s natural association with your locality |
| Larval food | Foliage used by butterfly and moth caterpillars; host relationships are especially useful for ranking candidates | Use the National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Finder’s caterpillar-association information |
| Bee nesting | Plants and surrounding vegetation that provide nesting sites or materials | Look for the nesting-site or nesting-material function in regional guidance and assess whether your site can retain those conditions |
| Specialist-bee support | Pollen from plants used by bees with particular pollen requirements | Use regional lists that identify pollen resources for specialist bees rather than assuming every flower serves every bee |
| Beneficial insects | Plants that support predatory or parasitoid insects, which can contribute to a broader food web | Check whether the regional list assigns this function to the candidate |
These functions are not interchangeable. A plant that offers conspicuous flowers for adults may not be a documented caterpillar host, while a host plant can be valuable even when its flowers are not the main feature of the planting. Plan for several roles instead of searching for one universally “best” flower.
Use the National Wildlife Federation Native Plant Finder
The Native Plant Finder accepts a ZIP code and presents local plant results. It separates results into flowers and grasses, and trees and shrubs, and ranks butterfly and moth host plants by their caterpillar associations. That makes it particularly useful for finding plants that support the juvenile stages many general pollinator guides omit.
Step 1: Enter the site’s ZIP code
Use the ZIP code for the place that will actually be planted. If the project spans a large area or sits near an ecological boundary, treat the results as a starting set and verify candidates with a regional source.
Step 2: Review both plant groups
Do not stop at flowering herbs. Examine the flowers-and-grasses results as well as the trees-and-shrubs results. A planting can combine several growth forms when they are locally native and fit the site.
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Step 3: Prioritize documented host relationships
Use the caterpillar-association ranking to identify candidate host plants for butterflies and moths. Record the plants that appear relevant to your location, but do not treat the ranking as a universal quality score for every insect or every region.
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Step 4: Recheck current entries
The Native Plant Finder page currently notes that its data updates are in progress. Verify the current result and any plant details when you make your selection rather than relying on an old saved list.
Cross-check with Xerces regional lists
Xerces Society pollinator-friendly native plant lists are organized by state or region and describe more than adult nectar. Depending on the list, they can identify nectar and pollen resources, butterfly and moth caterpillar host plants, bee nesting sites or materials, pollen for specialist bees, and plants that support beneficial predatory or parasitoid insects.
Use the list as a menu, not a complete flora
Xerces says its regional lists are not exhaustive. Absence from a list does not prove that a plant is unsuitable, and inclusion does not remove the need to check local native status and site fit. Use the list to broaden the functions represented in your plan, then consult local native plant societies, extension resources or other knowledgeable regional sources for additional context.
Look for complementary plant forms
Regional guidance may include flowers, grasses, shrubs, trees, vines or other forms. Combining forms can support different insect life stages and provide habitat structure beyond a single bed of flowering plants. The exact combination depends on your locality, available space and growing conditions.
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Match every candidate to the actual site
After the geographic screen, compare each candidate with the place where it will grow. The National Wildlife Federation recommends planting native species in conditions where they naturally occur. That means a locally native plant is not automatically a good choice for every corner of your property.
Sun exposure
Describe the site’s light before choosing from a list. Separate areas with strong direct sun from those with shade or changing exposure. Keep a candidate only when its natural setting is compatible with the light available in the intended planting spot.
Soil moisture
Note whether the soil stays wet, drains quickly or falls between those extremes. Match candidates to the moisture conditions associated with their natural occurrence. A plant that is locally native but consistently placed outside its moisture range is a poor long-term selection.
Soil conditions
Consider the soil setting represented by the candidate’s regional habitat. Compare your site’s conditions with the settings described by local guidance, and prefer plants whose natural environments resemble yours.
Available space and growth form
Decide whether the site can accommodate a flower, grass, shrub, tree or vine without forcing it into an unsuitable setting. Use the growth-form categories in the two national and regional tools to build a realistic mix rather than treating every result as interchangeable.
A repeatable selection workflow
- Define the geography. Write down the ZIP code, municipality, state and, when available, the ecoregion for the planting site. This prevents a broad regional result from being mistaken for a site-specific answer.
- Generate candidates with the Native Plant Finder. Enter the ZIP code, inspect flowers and grasses as well as trees and shrubs, and note plants with documented butterfly or moth caterpillar associations.
- Open the matching Xerces list. Use the state or regional list to add candidates that supply nectar or pollen, host caterpillars, provide bee nesting resources, offer specialist-bee pollen, or support predatory and parasitoid insects.
- Verify local native status. Check each candidate against local native plant societies, extension resources or another knowledgeable regional source. Keep the locality attached to every plant name in your notes.
- Screen for site fit. Compare sunlight, soil moisture, soil conditions and available space with the settings in which the plant naturally occurs. Remove candidates that fail this screen.
- Build functional coverage. Retain a mix that covers more than adult feeding. Include documented host foliage and, where regional guidance supports it, nesting resources, specialist-bee pollen or beneficial-insect support.
- Confirm provenance before purchase. Use regional native plant societies and their associated resources to find native seed vendors or producers. Ask whether the stock is appropriate for your locality and confirm its provenance.
- Recheck volatile information. Review current tool entries and vendor details close to the time of purchase. The Native Plant Finder is undergoing data updates, and nursery inventories can change.
How to compare two surviving candidates
When several plants pass the geographic and site screens, compare them explicitly instead of declaring one species best everywhere. The available sources do not establish a single universal ranking across all regions.
- Local native status: Is the plant documented as naturally occurring in your locality or ecoregion?
- Insect function: Does it provide adult nectar or pollen, caterpillar host foliage, bee nesting material or sites, specialist-bee pollen, beneficial-insect support, or more than one of these?
- Site fit: Does its natural habitat resemble your site’s sun exposure, soil moisture and soil conditions?
- Plant form: Can the site accommodate the plant as a flower, grass, shrub, tree, vine or another locally appropriate form?
- Source confidence: Can you obtain stock from a regional producer with clear local suitability and provenance?
This comparison keeps the decision grounded in evidence that applies to your place rather than in a national popularity list.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why generic mixes and isolated “pollinator flowers” fall short
A packaged mix may contain plants that are native somewhere but not in your region, and it rarely establishes that every included species supports the insect functions you need. Even a locally native flowering plant may address adult feeding without supplying caterpillar host foliage or nesting resources. Use a mix only after checking every component against local guidance and your site conditions.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11A single “pollinator flower” also narrows the habitat you provide. A more complete plan can combine flowering plants with grasses, shrubs, trees, vines or other forms when those forms are native and suited to the site. The goal is functional coverage, not a particular visual style or one universally superior species.
Finding locally appropriate plants and seed
Xerces points readers toward regional resources and native plant societies that can identify native seed vendors and producers. These channels are more useful than selecting stock solely by a national label because they can connect plant identity with regional suitability.
Before buying, confirm the plant’s native status for your locality, ask about provenance, and check that the producer’s material matches the conditions of your site. No specific retailer, inventory or supplier arrangement is established here, so treat any vendor information as something to verify directly.
Optional further reading
Xerces lists Attracting Native Pollinators among its books for additional plant suggestions. A book can help you understand insect relationships, but local plant lists and site conditions still govern which species belong in your planting.
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Common mistakes and corrections
- Mistake: treating “native” as national. Correction: verify the species for your own locality or ecoregion.
- Mistake: using a ZIP-code result without inspecting the site. Correction: match every candidate to sun, moisture, soil and available space.
- Mistake: planning only for adult pollinators. Correction: add caterpillar hosts, bee nesting resources, specialist-bee pollen and beneficial-insect support where regional guidance identifies them.
- Mistake: treating one list as exhaustive. Correction: combine the Native Plant Finder, Xerces regional material and local expert resources.
- Mistake: buying without checking provenance. Correction: use regional societies and producers, and confirm local suitability before purchase.
- Mistake: relying on an old online result. Correction: recheck current entries, especially while the Native Plant Finder data update is in progress.
A practical checklist before you plant
- Have you recorded the exact ZIP code or locality?
- Is each candidate documented as native to that place or its ecoregion?
- Did you consult both the National Wildlife Federation tool and the appropriate Xerces regional list?
- Does the plan include functions beyond adult nectar—such as caterpillar hosts or nesting resources?
- Do the candidates match the site’s sun, soil moisture and soil conditions?
- Does the mix include suitable plant forms for the available space?
- Have you checked local native plant societies, extension resources or knowledgeable regional sources?
- Can the supplier explain provenance and local suitability?
- Did you verify current tool information before finalizing the list?
The defensible answer to “What should I plant?” is therefore a location-specific set of locally native plants selected for both insect function and habitat fit. Until the state, ecoregion or locality is known, naming exact species or a planting calendar would overstate what the available guidance can support.
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