Most of us consider perennials when we think of plants that are great pollinators. Several annuals make great pollinator plants. There is a wide selection in both color and variety to satisfy almost any gardener. Some reseed themselves. Cosmos is a popular annual for the middle or back of your garden. The foliage is feathery. It comes in shades of pink, white, and orange. Cosmos attracts butterflies, moths, bees, syrphid flies, and beetles. These annuals grow in full sun and well-drained soils. Place the seed in the ground after all danger of frost or purchase small plants at your local greenhouse or nursery.
Zinnias are a popular annual that comes in almost every color of the rainbow. Most zinnias can be placed in the front of a garden because they grow to a foot tall. It is best to grow these in full sun and well-drained soils. Zinnias attract butterflies, moths, bees, syrphid flies, and beetles.
Petunias are great for groundcover plants as well as pollinators. Petunias come in many combinations of colors. The New Wave and other varieties need no deadheading. They can be placed in front of a garden or grown in mass in a section of the garden. Petunias attract butterflies, bees, bee flies, and hummingbirds.
Annual Daisies are great as a showy annual with yellow flowers. These will bloom from May through October. They like well-drained, average soils and full sun. These do equally well in containers and garden beds. They make a great showy border of yellow.
Linda Langelo is a Colorado State University Extension Horticulture Specialist, a member of Garden Communicators International, and a regular contributor for AARP Colorado.