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Dragonflies do like lavender, but not for the reasons you might think.
These dazzling aerial predators aren’t sipping nectar from the purple blooms like bees or butterflies do.
Instead, dragonflies are drawn to lavender because it’s a magnet for the tiny insects they love to eat.
So, if you’ve been asking yourself, do dragonflies like lavender because they’re flower visitors, the answer is a little more nuanced and it’s all about the food chain.
In this post, we’ll break down exactly why dragonflies like lavender, how the plant supports them, and how you can design a garden that keeps these beneficial hunters around all season long.
Let’s dig into the fascinating relationship between these ancient insects and this fragrant herb.
Why Dragonflies Like Lavender in Your Garden
When you see a dragonfly hovering near a lavender bush, it’s rarely the flower itself that’s attracting it.
Do dragonflies like lavender for its pollen? No, because dragonflies don’t eat pollen at all.
Do dragonflies like lavender for its nectar? Not really, since their mouthparts aren’t designed for sipping sweet liquids from deep flower tubes.
The real reason dragonflies like lavender boils down to one thing: prey availability.
Lavender is a powerhouse when it comes to attracting small flying insects, and those insects are basically a dragonfly’s version of a gourmet meal.
Let’s look at the specific ways lavender serves dragonflies.
1. Lavender Attracts a Buffet of Small Insects
Lavender’s fragrant purple flowers are irresistible to many tiny insects.
Aphids, thrips, leafhoppers, and even small flies all flock to lavender’s blooms and stems.
And where there are lots of small insects, dragonflies like lavender because they can easily patrol the area and snatch these morsels mid-air.
It’s like setting up a fast-food drive-thru for a hungry dragonfly right in your flower bed.
The more bug life your lavender supports, the more attractive that spot becomes to these aerial acrobats.
2. Lavender Provides a Convenient Perch
Another reason dragonflies like lavender is because the plant’s structure is perfect for perching.
Dragonflies are not constantly flying; they need to rest frequently to conserve energy and regulate their body temperature.
Lavender’s sturdy, upright stems and branching habit offer excellent lookout posts.
A dragonfly can land on a lavender stem, scan the surrounding airspace for passing prey, and launch off in a flash when it spots something tasty.
So, do dragonflies like lavender simply because it’s a comfortable resting spot with a great view? Absolutely, and it’s a huge part of the appeal.
3. Lavender Encourages Insect Diversity
A healthy lavender plant doesn’t just attract pests; it also attracts pollinators and other beneficial insects.
Bees, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps are all common visitors to lavender flowers.
For dragonflies, this increased insect traffic means more potential meals buzzing around.
Since dragonflies like lavender for its ability to host a wide variety of insects, having lavender in your garden essentially creates a lively hunting ground.
You might even see dragonflies patrolling a specific lavender patch as if it were their personal territory, which is exactly how they treat prime hunting spots.
How to Make Your Lavender Even More Dragonfly-Friendly
Planting lavender is a great start, but if you want to maximize its dragonfly appeal, you’ll need to think about the bigger picture.
Dragonflies like lavender when it’s planted in the right conditions that support their entire life cycle.
Here are some practical tips to turn your lavender patch into a dragonfly hotspot.
1. Choose the Right Lavender Varieties
Not all lavender is created equal when it comes to attracting insects.
English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and French lavender (Lavandula stoechas) are both excellent choices because they produce abundant, fragrant blooms.
These varieties tend to attract more small insects than some hybrid types.
When you plant these, don’t be surprised if you notice dragonflies like lavender more than the other plants in your garden.
The key is to provide a continuous bloom from late spring through early fall, so you always have a food source to draw in dragonflies.
2. Provide a Water Source Nearby
This is the single most important factor for dragonflies.
Do dragonflies like lavender only if there’s water nearby? Well, dragonflies need water to breed and lay their eggs.
Your lavender is great for feeding adult dragonflies, but they won’t stick around permanently unless they have a pond or water feature within a short flight distance.
You don’t need a massive lake either; even a small backyard pond or a large water-filled container can do the trick.
Planting lavender around the edge of this water source creates the perfect dragonfly habitat.
They can hunt over the lavender and then dart back to the water for breeding.
3. Plant Lavender in Full Sun
Dragonflies are sun-loving creatures, and so is lavender.
Dragonflies like lavender that’s planted in a warm, sunny spot because it helps them stay active and warm.
Cold dragonflies are sluggish and unable to hunt effectively.
By planting lavender in a spot that gets at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight, you’ll create a warm, inviting basking area.
You’ll often see dragonflies perched on top of lavender stems, soaking up the sun’s rays early in the morning.
This sun exposure is critical for their flight muscles to function properly.
Other Plants That Attract Dragonflies
While lavender is fantastic, combining it with other dragonfly-friendly plants will supercharge your garden.
Dragonflies like lavender, but they also love a diverse planting scheme that mimics their natural environment.
1. Native Grasses and Rushes
Tall, spiky plants like ornamental grasses and rushes are excellent companions for lavender.
They provide vertical structure and additional perching opportunities for dragonflies.
More importantly, they offer shelter for immature dragonflies, called nymphs, when they crawl out of the water to emerge as adults.
Combining these with lavender creates a layered habitat that supports dragonflies at every stage of life.
2. Other Nectar-Rich Flowers
Even though dragonflies don’t need nectar, the insects they eat do.
Planting other nectar-rich flowers alongside lavender, like coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and yarrow, will draw in even more potential prey.
This increases the overall insect population in your garden, which in turn makes the area more appealing to dragonflies.
Dragonflies like lavender more when it’s part of a larger, thriving ecosystem.
So, Do Dragonflies Like Lavender in Your Landscape?
Dragonflies like lavender, and the answer is a resounding yes, but for the smartest of reasons.
It’s not about the flower’s beauty or fragrance to the dragonfly; it’s about the food and the perch that this plant provides.
When you plant lavender, you’re essentially creating a hunting ground and a resting station that these beneficial insects find irresistible.
So, if you want to attract more dragonflies to your yard, adding lavender is a smart, effective strategy.
Just remember to pair it with a water source and plenty of sun, and you’ll be rewarded with a stunning garden full of life.
Dragonflies like lavender, and now you know exactly how to use that knowledge to your advantage.