10 plants that attract ladybugs to your garden

Ladybugs are beloved by gardeners for their natural pest-control abilities, particularly against aphids, mites, and scale insects. 

These small beetles are beneficial insects, playing a vital role in keeping your plants healthy and your garden balanced without relying on chemical pesticides. 

To attract ladybugs naturally, choose plants that provide them with shelter, pollen, nectar, and food sources like aphids. Here’s a guide to some of the top plants that will make your garden irresistible to ladybugs.

Marigolds: The Colorful Lure

Marigolds are one of the best plants for attracting ladybugs. With their vibrant orange, yellow, and red flowers, marigolds bring visual warmth to any garden. 

Their scent is particularly effective in repelling harmful insects, while attracting ladybugs, which come seeking the aphids that often visit marigolds. 

Placing marigolds around your vegetable garden also creates a natural barrier against pests, encouraging ladybugs to stay close by.

Dill and Fennel: Aromatic Herbs for Ladybug Delight

Herbs like dill and fennel are favorites among ladybugs. These plants feature delicate, feathery foliage and clusters of tiny flowers, making them ideal habitats for ladybugs.

Dill’s small, aromatic flowers attract ladybugs and provide them with a safe space to lay eggs.

Fennel, with its licorice scent and clusters of bright yellow blooms, offers similar benefits. These herbs can also draw other beneficial insects, such as hoverflies and lacewings, which further assist in pest control.

Yarrow: A Pollen Powerhouse

Yarrow is a hardy perennial known for its clusters of small, flat flowers in shades of white, yellow, pink, and red. Ladybugs love yarrow for its pollen, and this plant provides an ample food supply for the beetles when pests are scarce. 

Yarrow also attracts various other pollinators and beneficial insects, making it an excellent addition to a diverse garden. Because it grows well in a range of soils, yarrow is a versatile option for different garden types.

Angelica: Shelter and Sustenance

Angelica’s tall stalks and umbrella-shaped flowers make it an appealing plant for ladybugs. This herbaceous plant provides nectar and pollen, offering food sources for ladybugs and shelter for laying eggs. 

Angelica’s large leaves also provide hiding spots from predators, helping ladybugs establish a safe home base in your garden. 

Beyond ladybugs, angelica attracts other beneficial pollinators, supporting an overall healthy garden ecosystem.

Alyssum: A Fragrant Blanket for Ladybugs

Alyssum is a low-growing, fragrant plant that spreads beautifully across garden beds. Its tiny clusters of white, pink, or purple flowers attract ladybugs by offering easy access to pollen and nectar. 

The dense, ground-covering nature of alyssum provides shelter and shade for ladybugs, making it a popular choice for gardeners looking to invite these beetles. Additionally, alyssum helps prevent weed growth, benefiting your garden on multiple levels.

Cosmos: The Nectar-Rich Annual

Cosmos is an easy-to-grow annual that boasts daisy-like flowers in vivid colors such as pink, purple, and white. Ladybugs are drawn to cosmos for its abundant nectar, which provides energy and nourishment. 

Cosmos flowers also attract other beneficial insects, such as bees and butterflies, promoting a balanced ecosystem. Since cosmos grow well in poorer soils and require little maintenance, they’re a practical choice for attracting ladybugs.

Calendula: The Golden Attraction

Calendula, or pot marigold, is known for its brilliant orange or yellow flowers that attract ladybugs looking for aphids. This edible flower serves a dual purpose by drawing in ladybugs and providing beautiful blooms for your garden. 

Calendula’s high nectar content also sustains ladybugs between meals of aphids, making it a powerful addition to a ladybug-friendly garden.

Tansy: An Edgy Choice for Ladybug Attraction

Tansy is a hardy plant with clusters of yellow, button-like flowers that can add visual interest to your garden. Though tansy is sometimes considered a weed, it’s a valuable plant for attracting ladybugs, thanks to its abundant pollen and nectar. 

Tansy also deters ants, which can disrupt ladybug populations by protecting aphids. As a companion plant, tansy is especially effective around vegetables.

Coneflowers: A Burst of Summer Color

Coneflowers, or echinacea, offer vibrant purple, pink, and white flowers with a high nectar content. Ladybugs are drawn to the flowers and foliage, where they can find shelter and aphids. 

Coneflowers also attract butterflies and bees, enhancing the pollinator population in your garden. As hardy perennials, coneflowers provide a year-after-year home for ladybugs and require minimal maintenance.

Coreopsis: The Resilient Pollinator Magnet

Coreopsis, with its sunny yellow or orange blooms, is a resilient perennial that attracts ladybugs with its open flowers and plentiful pollen. It’s a particularly hardy plant, thriving in poor soils and tolerating drought, making it a reliable option for various garden conditions. 

The bright blooms of coreopsis draw ladybugs and other pollinators, supporting a healthy and vibrant garden.

Conclusion

Planting a variety of these ladybug-friendly plants will naturally increase the ladybug population in your garden. This variety provides shelter, pollen, nectar, and even the pests they feed on, creating a balanced habitat that helps your garden flourish.

By integrating these plants, you’ll encourage natural pest control and enjoy the beauty and biodiversity that ladybugs bring.