Pollinator Paradise

A Bold Container Recipe for Bees, Butterflies & Beyond

This April container garden recipe is packed with vibrant color and pollinator-friendly plants to attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. From host plants for caterpillars to nectar-rich blooms, it’s a mini ecosystem in a pot that supports wildlife and looks stunning all season long.

1.Vermillionaire® Cuphea (Cuphea hybrid) – Known as the firecracker plant, this long-blooming beauty is a hummingbird magnet with its tubular orange-red flowers. It loves the heat and continues blooming nonstop with little maintenance.

2. Celosia’ Cream Cherry’ (celosia cristata) – These bold, cherry-red plumes bring rich color and texture while also attracting bees and other pollinators. They’re heat-tolerant and bloom reliably through the warmer months.

3. Little Lucky™ Lantana (Lantana camara) – Compact and colorful, this lantana produces clusters of blooms that change color as they mature, drawing in butterflies and pollinators with their sweet nectar. It’s a tough, sun-loving plant perfect for Florida gardens.

4. Milkweed Blood Flower ‘Silky Deep Red’ (Asclepias curassavica) – A favorite host plant for monarch butterflies, this milkweed variety features eye-catching red and orange blooms that provide essential food for caterpillars and nectar for adults. It thrives in full sun and is drought-tolerant once established.

5. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) – This aromatic herb serves as a host plant for black swallowtail butterflies, offering a feathery, textural backdrop and food source for their larvae. It also adds a soft vertical accent and a unique fragrance to your container.