Do Dragonflies Like Lavender

Dragonflies do like lavender, and it’s one of the best plants you can add to your garden if you want to attract these beautiful aerial acrobats.

When you’re wondering if dragonflies like lavender, the answer is a resounding yes, but not for the reason you might think.

Dragonflies aren’t actually drawn to the nectar of lavender flowers like bees or butterflies are.

Instead, they’re attracted to the insects that lavender attracts, making it a prime hunting ground for these predatory flyers.

In this post, we’ll explore why dragonflies like lavender, how to create the perfect habitat for them, and other plants that can bring these stunning insects to your yard.

Let’s dive in and see how you can make your garden a dragonfly hotspot.
 

Why Dragonflies Like Lavender So Much

Dragonflies like lavender because it acts as a magnet for their favorite food sources.

If you’ve planted lavender, you’ve probably noticed it’s covered in bees, butterflies, and various small flies.

These tiny insects are exactly what dragonflies love to feast on during their hunting flights.

Lavender’s fragrant purple blooms don’t feed dragonflies directly, but they create a buzzing buffet that dragonflies simply can’t resist.
 

1. A Reliable Insect Buffet

The main reason dragonflies like lavender is the abundance of prey it supports.

Lavender flowers produce nectar that attracts a wide variety of small insects.

These insects gather around the blooms, making them easy targets for hungry dragonflies.

When a dragonfly patrols your lavender patch, it’s essentially flying through a drive-thru of delicious snacks.
 
So while dragonflies don’t pollinate lavender or sip its nectar, they definitely like lavender for the hunting opportunities it provides.
 

2. Open Airspace for Hunting

Dragonflies like lavender because it doesn’t create dense, impenetrable foliage.

Lavender plants have an airy, open structure that allows dragonflies to maneuver easily around them.

These skilled hunters need clear airspace to spot and chase their prey.

Unlike thick shrubs, lavender gives them the perfect vantage point to hover and strike.
 
The upright flower spikes also offer perching spots where dragonflies can rest and survey their territory.

So, do dragonflies like lavender for shelter? Not exactly for hiding, but they do like it for its strategic hunting layout.
 

3. Sunlight and Warmth

Dragonflies are cold-blooded creatures that rely on external heat to stay active.

Lavender thrives in full sun, which means it grows in bright, open areas that absorb plenty of warmth.

Since dragonflies like lavender, they also like the sunny environment it grows in, as they use solar heat to warm their flight muscles.

You’ll often spot dragonflies basking on warm rocks or paths near lavender beds, soaking up rays before their next hunting sortie.
 
This combination of sun, space, and prey makes lavender an ideal plant to have near any dragonfly-friendly water feature.
 

How to Attract More Dragonflies With Lavender

If you want to maximize how much dragonflies like lavender in your yard, you need to plant it strategically.

Simply having a few lavender bushes isn’t enough if there’s no water source nearby for dragonflies to breed and lay eggs.
 
Here are the best ways to create a dragonfly paradise using lavender and a little planning.
 

1. Plant Lavender Near a Water Source

Dragonflies like lavender, but they love water even more.

To attract them, plant lavender around the edges of a pond, water garden, or even a large birdbath.

Dragonflies spend most of their early life in the water as nymphs before emerging as adults.

Having water within a short flight of your lavender ensures a steady population of adult dragonflies hunting near your blooms.
 
Plus, standing water encourages mosquitoes, and while that sounds bad, it’s actually a feast for dragonflies who will quickly control the population.
 

2. Create a Cluster of Lavender Plants

A single lavender plant might attract a few passing dragonflies, but a large grouping is much more effective.

When you plant lavender in clusters, you increase the concentration of insect activity in that area.

This concentrated food source will signal to any dragonfly in the vicinity that your garden is a reliable dining spot.
 
So when you’re planning your garden, think about planting at least three to five lavender plants together in a sunny spot.
 

3. Provide Perching Stakes

Dragonflies like lavender stalks, but they also need prominent perches to survey their territory.

You can enhance your lavender bed by adding a few tall, thin stakes or bamboo canes poking up above the flowers.

These make perfect lookout posts for dragonflies and will give them an even better reason to stick around.

The combination of lavender for food and stakes for perching creates an irresistible habitat for these agile insects.
 

Other Plants Dragonflies Love (Besides Lavender)

You now know that dragonflies like lavender, but there are other plants that can support them even more directly.

Lavender attracts prey insects, but certain aquatic and marginal plants provide essential breeding grounds for dragonfly nymphs.
 

1. Native Grasses and Rushes

While dragonflies like lavender for hunting, they need emergent vegetation like rushes and sedges to lay their eggs.

Females deposit eggs into plant stems just above the waterline.

Tall, slender grasses alongside your pond also give newly emerged dragonflies a safe place to climb out of the water and dry their wings.
 
So pair your lavender with native grasses for a complete dragonfly habitat.
 

2. Black-Eyed Susans and Coneflowers

These daisy-like flowers attract a huge range of pollinators and tiny insects.

Just like lavender, dragonflies like these flowers for the abundant prey they attract.

Planting a mix of lavender, coneflowers, and black-eyed Susans creates a diverse buffet that will keep dragonflies patrolling your garden all summer.
 

3. Yarrow and Dill

Yarrow and dill produce clusters of tiny flowers that host many small insects.

These umbrella-shaped blooms are very attractive to parasitic wasps and flies, which are favorite snacks for dragonflies.

While dragonflies like lavender, mixing in these herbs will only increase the insect traffic and make your yard even more appealing.
 

So, Do Dragonflies Like Lavender?

Dragonflies do like lavender, and it’s because lavender creates the perfect hunting environment for them.

We’ve covered that dragonflies like lavender due to the abundance of prey insects it attracts, its open structure for easy flight, and the sunny conditions it grows in.

By planting lavender near water and providing perching spots, you can easily turn your garden into a dragonfly destination.

So if you’ve been wondering whether to add lavender for dragonflies, go for it and enjoy these incredible creatures gracing your garden.