Most lists of nectar plants are not very comprehensive, or consist only of temperate perennials, of which I have very few. I've been compiling a list from variously located scholarly sources, watching documentaries, looking at the flowers hummingbirds and b'flies are visiting in pics, and including tropical plants that are considered house plants outside of their natural regions but known as a nectar source. The more I realize how many nectar-producing plants there are, I will not add any more plants to my yard that do not fit this category. Not all b'flies or hummers would visit every plant on this list, and I tried to weed-out any synonyms but there may be a few for plants I'm unfamiliar with, a common name added when found or known, though I'm sure some of these plants have others. Anything else seen being used as a nectar source?

Acanthus
Achillea, yarrow
Aeschynanthus, lipstick plant
Agastache
Aguilegia formosa, western columbine
Alcea rosea, hollyhock
Alstroemeria, Peruvian lily
Angelonia
Antirrhinum, snapdragon
Asclepias tuberosa, butterfly weed
Asclepias, various, any = milkweed
Aster
Begonia
Buddleia, butterfly bush
Calibrachoa, million bells
Campsis radicans, trumpet creeper
Cannas
Ceanothus americanus, New Jersey tea, CA lilac
Centranthus ruber, Jupiter's beard
Cephalanthus occidentalis, buttonbush
Chrysothemis pulchella, sunset bells
Clematis heracleifolia
Clematis virginiana, virgin bower
Cleome
Coleus
Coreopsis
Crocosmia, cardinal flower
Cuphea, cigar flower
Dahlia
Delphinium
Delphinium, larkspur
Dianthus, pinks, sweet William
Dicentra spectabilis, bleeding heart
Digitalis, foxglove
Eupatorium, Joe pye
Fuchsia
Gladiolus
Heliconia
Heliotrope
Hemerocallis, daylily
Hesperaloe parviflora, false yucca
Hesperis, dame's rocket
Heuchera sanguinea, coral bells
Hibiscus syriacus, rose of Sharon
Hosta
Hoya
Hyssop
Impatiens balsamina, jewelweed
Impatiens capensis, jewelweed
Ipomoea coccinea, red morning glory
Ipomoea multifida, cardinal climber
Ipomoea purpurea, morning glory
Ipomoea quamoclit, cypress vine
Jasminum, Jasmine
Justicia brandegeeana, shrimp plant
Kniphofia, red hot poker
Lantana
Lavendula, lavender
Liatris
Lilium, Lilies
Lobelia cardinalis, cardinal flower
Lobelia siphilitica, blue lobelia
Lonicera sempervirens, honeysuckle
Lupine
Lychnis, rose campion
Malva, rose mallow
Manzanita
Maranta, prayer plant
Mentha, mint
Mimosa, invasive tree in certain spots, but good to know it has this quality
Mirabilis jalapa , 4'o'clocks
Monarda, beebalm
Nepeta, catmint
Nicotania silvestris
Nicotiana alata, flowering tobacco
Ocimum basilicum, basil
Pelargonium, annual geraniums
Penstemon, beardstongue
Pentas
Petunia, petunia
Phaseolus coccineus, scarlet runner bean
Phlox
Phygelius, cape figwort
Physostegia, obedient plant
Plectranthus, 'Mona lavender'
Rhododendron, azalea
Salvia, sage
Saponaria, soapwort
Saponaria officinalis, bouncing bet
Scabiosa, pin cushion flower
Sidalcea, prairie mallow
Silene
Streptocarpus saxorum, Streptocarpella
Tropaeolum majus, nasturtium
Tropaeolum peregrinum, canary creeper vine
Verbena
Veronica
Vitex, wild grape
Weigela
Zinnia

I live in a temperate area so I'm only familiar with these plants. This list consists of plants that I currently grow or have grown in the past.

Agapanthus africanus (Lily of the Nile) - nectar source for hummingbirds
Aloe maculata (Soap Aloe) - nectar source for hummingbirds
Asclepias curassavica (Tropical Milkweed) - nectar source for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds; host food for Monarch Caterpillar
Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengheri' - food source for birds
Buddleja davidii (Butterfly Bush) - nectar source for bees, butterflies
Callicarpa americana (American Beautyberry) - nectar source for bees, fruit is food source for birds
Callistemon rigidus (Stiff Bottlebrush) - nectar source for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Callistemon viminalis (Weeping Bottlebrush) - nectar source for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar Periwinkle) - nectar source for butterflies
Clerodendrum paniculatum (Pagoda Flower) - nectar sourse for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Cuphea hyssopifolia (Mexican False Heather) - nectar source for bees, butterflies
Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) - nectar source for bees and butterflies
Eriobotrya japonica (Loquat) - nectar source for bees, fruit is a food source for birds
Flaveria linearis (Yellowtop) - nectar source for bees, butterflies
Koelreuteria elegans (Golden Rain Tree) - nectar source for bees
Hamelia patens (Firecracker Shrub) - nectar source for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Helianthus annus (Common Sunflower) - food source for birds
Hibiscus rosa sinensis (Tropical Hibiscus) - nectar source for bees
Lantana camara - nectar source for bees, butterflies and moths, fruit is food source for birds
Monarda punctata (Dotted Bee Balm) - nectar source for bees, butterflies
Nandina domestica 'Compacta' - nectar source for bees, butterflies
Odontonema strictum (Firespike) - nectar source for butterflies, hummingbirds
Passiflora - nectar source for butterflies, host food source for Gulf Fritillary Butterfly
Pentas lanceolata (Egyptian Star Flower) - nectar source for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Plumbago auriculata (Blue Plumbago) - nectar source for bees and butterflies
Prunus caroliniana (Carolina Cherry Laurel) - nectar source for bees, berries are food source for birds
Prunus serotina (Wild Black Cherry) - nectar source for bees, fruit is food source for birds
Salvia coccinea (Tropical Sage) - nectar source for bees, butterflies
Salvia coerulea (Anise-scented Sage - nectar source for bees, butterflies
Senna bicapsularis (Christmas Senna) - nectar source for butterflies, host food for Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar
Spaghneticolia trilobata (Creeping Daisy) - nectar source for bees, butterflies
Tecoma stans (Yellow Bells) - nectar source for bees
Trachelospermum jasminoides (Confederate Jasmine) - nectar source for bees, butterflies
Viburnum odoratissimum (Sweet Viburnum) - nectar source for bees
Wisteria frutescens - (American Wisteria) - nectar source for bees and butterflies

Thanks!! That's an awesome list.

Thanks for sharing those lists Tiffany and Lin.

It's obvious…A lot of work went into compiling these lists!
Very much appreciated! And I'll certainly be "using" this as I look for new additions for my garden!

Additions I've encountered since posting:
Bletilla
Calotropis
Cleistocactus
Ipomopsis rubra
Kohleria
Rhipsalis
Ruellia
Schlumbergera

I have many agapanthus + Callistemons in the garden...

Welcome to All Things Plants sriitann! Your photo's are lovely!

Ms Tan where is this beautiful garden at, you don't have your location listed.

Bert

Roberta: Tanah Rata is in the country of Malaysia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T...

Just ordered mixes of seeds to attract the rare critters.
AM has sale on this week on the mixes to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees and beneficial insects.

I can hardly wait for your hummer pictures to roll in!!!

Added another plant to list:
Echium candicans

That's a determined hummer who comes all the way to Calgary. I'm looking forward to pics too, Caroline! Hope you get lots of awesome, hungry visitors.

I only see one or two every year.
They go through in May, and then back again in August.
I am hoping to entice some to spend the summer.

This butterfly loves my pink blooms:
Lewisia


Crassula Springtime

I have a goodlooking bed of bee balm right now

but there is an insect eating holes in some of the leaves
what do I need to do to stop it?

I bought this beebalm last year and it has not mildewed as others did I tried
years ago..I do find bee balm likes moist soil and it gets morning sun here
in my flower bed..
Help on stopping this insect I can not see it but do see hundreds of tiny
holes on my beautiful healthy plants

thanks sheri/sheridragonfly

If you look on the bottom of leaves, you may find some tiny caterpillars. Do you know which species of Monarda you have? If you find a caterpillar (or whatever critter you find) & are able to share its' pic, someone might recognize it. Not really a question about nectar, might get the most answers if the question is in its' own discussion. A brief search led to info about various kinds of butterflies using various species of Monarda as host plant, or it could be the larvae of some kind of pest like armyworms, or completely different kind of plant muncher.

I'll have to come up with a more fleshed out list, but at first blush...

Tithonia (Mexican sunflower) - blooms until frost and everything loves it... Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, etc. I will never be without this plant again.

Swamp milkweed
Common milkweed
Butterfly weed
Speedwell's... Honestly every member of this genus that I've seen
Rudbeckias
Echinaceas
Delphinium
Huecheras / Coral bells - don't overlook these. Most native bees are quite small and Huecheras seem to only draw them here.
Cannas - confirmed, great for certain bees and hummingbirds
Swamp hibiscus, a.k.a. Swamp Rose Mallow - love watching hibiscus bee males patiently awaiting female arrivals in the flowers
Almost any Helianthus spp.
Monardas
Sedums - any of the tall showy types. I have a lot of Autumn Fire and Autumn Joy but do have a couple of others. All are bee and butterfly magnets.
Echeverias - we found out by accident that hummingbirds like them... So we now have more!
Zinnias
Cosmos
,

I saw some YouTube videos today on an Australian plant and a number of cultivars of (kangaroo paw) . Wow! Does anyone grow them in a place with an actual winter?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wik...

Great lists

here are a few that may have been overlooked
growing in my garden

Herbs :
Dill
fennel
parsley( these three host black swallow tail)
Allium ,always loaded with wings

weeds:
Clover (for the little hairstreaks and asures)
Nettle ( host Red admiral & questionmark)

Trees
Hackberry ... Host to at least 5 including the American snout
Sassafras for the spicebush , tiger and pale swallowtails
Pawpaw , zebra swallowtail
Willow also host to several