Many people actually love dragonflies. They are known as mosquito predators, which is probably one of the reasons why. And if you’ve been looking for natural ways to get rid of mosquitoes in your garden, dragonflies can definitely help you. Therefore, you’ll need to take note of what plants attract dragonflies. Here are some of them.
Meadow Sage Plant
The beautiful thing about Meadow sage is it grows purple flowers that add color to your garden.
So, if you like to attract dragonflies and have some beautiful flowers around, this is something you’d love to plant. Plus, it doesn’t need that much maintenance.
You can grow it under full sun or partial shade and it can survive dry soils. You barely need to water it.
Swamp Milkweed
Another one that attracts dragonflies is the swamp milkweed plant. They bloom white and pink flowers that grow each year. This plant grows best in moist soils or wetlands and prefers full sun.
Plants for Dragonflies: Black-Eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susans are the most popular choice among dragonflies. These bright beauties attract most pollinators, so expect that dragonflies will come flying in and out of your yard when you have this one.
It adapts well to almost any soil and requires regular watering and full sunlight.
However, they don’t live long during winter, especially in cooler climates. But neither do mosquitos.
White Yarrow
Also known as Yarrow White Wildflower, white yarrows are perennials that grow in flat clusters and bloom a beautiful white spread through your garden.
This plant also attracts bugs like butterflies and dragonflies.
People love growing white yarrows because they grow quickly. As long as your soil is well-drained with dry-to-medium moisture, this plant will thrive in your garden.
Joe-Pye Weed
Looks attractive, isn’t it? These pink-purple flowers are a product of the Joe-Pye weed. This attracts multiple pollinators like bees, butterflies, and dragonflies.
This plant grows in moist meadows and loves either full or partial sunlight. The bonus? The flowers smell like vanilla. Isn’t that sweet?
Coneflowers
Coneflowers look a lot like a daisy but come with a more conical petal. It grows in various colors like purple, white, pink, yellow, and orange. Perfect, if you like to attract dragonflies for mosquito control and make your garden look pretty.
It is a low-maintenance plant, so you don’t have to worry so much about it.
Water Lily
We’re all familiar with this one! Water lilies attract dragonflies who love to lay their eggs here. Younger, smaller dragonflies also use the flowers as a place to hide and the rocks that weigh this plant down.
If you have a nearby pond or water in your yard, you’ll find these will come in handy in mosquito control.
Also, if you’ve been wondering do dragonflies eat mosquitoes, the answer is yes. That’s what makes them great for mosquito control.
What Plants Attract Dragonflies: Pickerel Rush
Another aquatic plant that attracts dragonflies is the pickerel rush. It has violet blooms that look like a bottle brush, and its leaves are glossy.
The flower is home to many insects, which attracts predators like dragonflies all the more. Pickerel rush can grow in water at three feet deep at most.
Arrowhead
Also called Duck-potato, arrowheads grow flowers with white petals in a whorled formation.
They grow in moist land or above water up to three feet. Dragonflies love this plant and often lays their egg here.
Takeaway
If there are people you know who are asking, are dragonflies good for gardens, you can answer them with a big yes. Moreover, if they want to attract more dragonflies to their yard, you can recommend these plants to them. If you’ve been wondering what plants attract dragonflies, we hope this article helps you.
Source: US CDC, Live Love Fruit, Flowerchick, Insteading.com, International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences