How to Attract Pollinators to Your Garden

Support your native birds, bees, butterflies, and more—and get their help in making your garden thrive

(Georgi Baird/Shutterstock)

Don’t be so quick to shoo that bee away. Virtually all seeds need to be pollinated; happily, there are insects and wildlife ready to help.

The USDA reports that there are more than 3,500 species of bees alone increasing crop yields, and it estimates that one out of every three bites of food we eat exists because of animal pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, birds, bats, beetles, and other insects.

Here’s how to make them work for you.

Honey bees, the most commonly known pollinator, are almost entirely responsible for pollinating certain crops such as blueberries, apples, and cherries. (Daniel Prudek/Shutterstock)

The Welcome Mat

Pollinators love blooming plants, so plant a lot, and plant them in clumps rather than single plants to present a more attractive treat.

Choose at least a few native plants; they’re usually easier to grow, and the bees, butterflies, and birds are keeping an eye out for them. While you’re at it, plant some night-blooming plants for moths and bats. You can plant modern hybrids for looks, but don’t count on them to attract pollinators, as hybridization often leads to a lack of pollen, nectar, and that all-important attractant—fragrance—in the quest for gorgeous blooms.

Consider adding some larval host plants for butterflies. There are few things as stress-reducing as a butterfly garden, according to Chris Maler, senior director of horticulture at Flamingo Gardens in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

“First, the act of gardening itself is a peaceful, therapeutic exercise, and then you have the added benefit of the showy flowers, and of course the butterflies themselves, which serve as the main attraction.” Butterfly gardens also attract other insects and wildlife, “creating a truly living garden.”

But be aware that these plants will be eaten while the butterfly is in the caterpillar stage, so you may want to place them where the leaf damage won’t bother you.

Bring different species of butterflies to your yard by growing their specific host plants. (Media Marketing/Shutterstock)

Seeds or Plants?

The Pollinator Partnership has 32 highly detailed planting guides—cheat sheets, if you will—to start a pollinator habitat in your specific location. Just enter your ZIP code at Pollinator.org/guides.

Once you’ve chosen the types of plants, the next question is seeds versus plants. Seeds are less expensive and the best choice for a large garden, but they require an early start (ideally indoors). If you’re already into the season, you may want to buy some nursery plants to get a quick return on your investment. You can reduce that cost by tossing out some seeds to fill in between the purchased plants or act as a second flowering in long-season temperate climates.

If you’re planning a butterfly garden, keep in mind that it needs both host and nectar plants.

“Plant and keep host plants for each species of butterfly you want to see in your garden,” Maler said. “Each species of butterfly has a specific host plant, and you will need to have each plant in the garden. You’ll also want to plant a wide variety of nectar plants that flower throughout the entire season (or year-round in the deep South). Be sure to include as many locally native flower species as possible.”

The Surprising Exceptions

Some fruits and vegetables are self-pollinating, as they have “perfect” or “complete” flowers, meaning that each individual flower has both a male part (anther) and female part (stigma). A light breeze, an animal passing by, or a manual gentle shake is usually enough to achieve fertilization. Tomatoes, sweet peas, green beans, green peppers, and chile peppers fall into this category, which is why they’re such great starter plants for new gardeners.

However, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, collards, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, muskmelon, mustard, okra, parsley, peppers, pumpkins, rutabaga, squash, and watermelon, to name a few, need pollinators.

Bright nectar flowers attract hummingbirds, a key pollinator of wildflowers and some food crops. (Petr Simon/Shutterstock)

Rethinking Pest Control

What you keep out of a pollinator garden is at least as important as what you put in, so don’t use pesticides.

“Bees and butterflies are insects which feed on plants and will be killed if you use pesticides, even on your lawn or nearby plants or trees,” Maler said. “Specific pests such as fire ants and mosquitoes can be controlled by baits or biological agents which won’t harm beneficial insects.”

Sometimes, though, we must break the rules. If you must use a “safe” product, such as Organocide Bee-Safe Organic 3-in-1 garden spray with insecticide, fungicide, and miticide, it’s best to spray at night, when most pollinators aren’t active. We want to take the best care possible of our gardening partners.

Sun, Soil, Water, and Patience

“If you build it, they will come” may be best associated with the movie “Field of Dreams,” but it also applies to Chris Maler’s pollinator garden tips.

Bring the Rays

Pollinator gardens have similar requirements to vegetable gardens’. Full sun locations are best, but light shade will also do well. Avoid deeply shaded locations because most butterfly-attracting plants won’t flower well in deep shade.

Fertile Ground

Average garden soil should be fine, but if your site is compacted clay, limestone, or pure sand, you'll need to amend it with a good garden soil/compost blend or plant in raised garden beds.

A Drink for a Drought

A pollinator garden needs to be watered to become established, and during periods of drought, a handy hose spigot or other irrigation system is a lifesaver. A pond or other water feature is an added benefit; even a shallow dish filled with wet sand can provide a water source for butterflies.