The Type Of Flowers That Attract Pest-Eating Dragonflies To Your Garden

Dragonflies are some of the most whimsical, mystical insects that could possibly buzz their way into your garden. In some cultures, the presence of a dragonfly even indicates good luck in your future. These amazing creatures can also bring good luck to your garden in the form of pest control. Dragonflies feed on basically any flying insect smaller than them, including mosquitos, flies, moths, and even other dragonflies. If you struggle with an unmanageable number of mosquitos or gnats in your garden, you need to attract this beneficial insect to your yard. 

But, how does one attract dragonflies to their garden? By planting native plants, of course. Dragonflies are attracted to native wildflowers. Basically, any native plant that brings more pollinators to your yard and garden will also attract dragonflies, who like to eat those pollinators (and will then be eaten by larger flying animals like birds and bats). If you're ready to attract more dragonflies to naturally reduce the number of flying pests in your garden, keep reading to discover the plants 

The first step in the process of attracting more dragonflies to your garden is finding out which colorful wildflowers you can grow in your garden. Consider which plants are native in your region or U.S. hardiness zone. If you're not sure, you can find this out by researching online, calling your county's agricultural department, or heading to a local plant nursery and asking. They will be able to provide information on flowers native to the region. For example, Michigan State University's Native Plants and Ecosystem Services webpage can direct Michiganders to the most localized native wildflower varieties, like buttonbush and evening primrose.

You can also head to an interactive site like the National Wildlife Federation's Native Plant Finder to enter your zip code and receive a list of plants native to your area. Those in Southern California, for example, might discover that goldenrod, rabbitbrush, or lupine would be excellent dragonfly attractants in their region. In addition to adding native wildflowers to your garden, be sure to provide a source of water, if you'd like dragonflies to move in. It is required for these insects to reproduce and complete their life cycle.