12 Vibrant Flowers That Attract Dragonflies Like Magnets

There are more than 5,000 species of dragonfly worldwide and they vary in size and color. The largest dragonfly is over five inches in length! Their lifecycle requires them to live near bodies of water such as streams, lakes, and rivers. However, if you have a pond in your yard, they may also pay you a visit! The bigger the pond the better and they also like it to be in full sun. But don’t fill it with fish! You can also buy certain types of plants that attract dragonflies.

Their wings have an iridescent or metallic appearance which is extraordinarily beautiful, making them a popular visitor to people’s gardens. Many people find them fascinating. So, why not combine some stunning blooms with these colorful visitors? Flowers provide resting places for dragonflies, they also attract insects that the dragonflies like to eat. Here is a list of 12 flowers that dragonflies find irresistible.

Water Lily

Nymphaeaceae
Location: calm and small ponds or large containers.
Top tip: plant rhizome in an upright position.

Broadleaf Arrowhead

Sagittaria latifolia
Location: semi-aquatic with full sun to partial shade.
Top tip: remove the yellowing or dead leaves to keep it growing.

Black-Eyed Susan

hand full of black eye susans — Black-eyed Susan flowers are rich in nectar that attracts dragonflies.
©LauraTabor/iStock via Getty Images

Rudbeckia hirta
Location: under full sun or partial shade.
Top tip: they do best in well-draining soil.

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium
Location: full sun and well-draining soil.
Top tip: prune any deadhead flowers to maintain growth.

Swamp Milkweed

Asclepias incarnata
Location: a sunny spot with moist to wet soil.
Top tip: you must water regularly during the first growing season.

Pickerelweed

Pontederia cordata
Location: shallow ponds, marshes, or the edges of water bodies.
Top tip: keep removing decaying or yellowing parts of the plant.

Joe Pye Weed

Eutrochium pupureum
Location: full sun to partial shade.
Top tip: in dry climates, it needs water regularly – especially in the first growing season.

Borage

Borago officinalis
Location: full sun in constantly moist soil.
Top tip: keep it healthy by removing dead flowers and foliage.

Meadow Sage

Close up of salvia flowers — Meadow sage blooms throughout the summer and into the fall attracting dragonflies.
©olko1975/Shutterstock.com

Salvia pratensis
Location: full sun, well draining soil.
Top tip: wilted foliage and dead flowers should be removed.

Purple Coneflower

best perennial flower — Purple coneflowers are native to North America and produce dragonfly-attracting flowers.
©iStock.com/Air Footy

Echinacea purpurea
Location: full sun or partial shade.
Top tip: water regularly until the plant is established.

Aster

Symphyotrichum spp
Location: full to partial sunlight.
Top tip: Plant in loamy well drained soil.

Wild Celery

High-country wildflower in autumn: Closeup of cow parsnip (binomial name: Heracleum maximum), also known as Indian celery, with Olympic Mountains in the background (shallow depth of field) — Wild Celery provides a useful surface for dragonflies to lay their eggs on.
©ESB Essentials/Shutterstock.com

Vallisneria americana
Location: full, partial sunlight.
Top tip: Likes clay, loamy, sandy soil.

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About the Author

Sharon Parry

Dr Sharon Parry is a writer at A-Z animals where her primary focus is on dogs, animal behavior, and research. Sharon holds a PhD from Leeds University, UK which she earned in 1998 and has been working as a science writer for the last 15 years. A resident of Wales, UK, Sharon loves taking care of her spaniel named Dexter and hiking around coastlines and mountains.

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