A successful pollinator garden design gives bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators what they need through the whole growing season: regionally appropriate flowers for nectar and pollen, host plants for caterpillars, places to nest and overwinter, and protection from unnecessary pesticide exposure.
Start with native plants that are adapted to your region, then add non-invasive flowers and herbs that fit your garden and the pollinators you want to attract. You do not need a huge yard. Even a small bed, raised garden, or group of containers can become useful pollinator habitat when you plant with purpose.
And the payoff is beautiful. You support God’s creation, bring more life into the garden, and help many fruiting and seed-producing plants do what they were designed to do.
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Attracting a Variety of Pollinators to Your Garden
Spending time in my garden is one of my favorite activities. It is so easy to feel connected to God when your hands are busy in the earth, working to grow wonderful, healthful things to sustain your family. And with pollinator-attracting plants, you’ll be surrounded by a plethora of little helpers that make the whole garden feel alive.
Honey bees are the best-known pollinators, but they are only part of the picture. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service notes that more than 3,500 species of native bees help increase crop yields, and animal pollinators also include butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, birds, and bats. USDA also estimates that about three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants and roughly 35% of food crops depend on animal pollinators to reproduce.
Some of the garden visitors you may see include:
- Honey bees, both managed and feral
- Bumble bees and many solitary native bees, including ground-nesting species
- Butterflies and moths, including monarch butterflies and other native species
- Hummingbirds, especially where tubular, nectar-rich flowers and shelter are available
Different pollinators notice different flower colors, shapes, scents, and bloom times, so diversity matters more than finding one “perfect” flower. A garden with several kinds of blooms, flowering at different times, gives more pollinators a reason to visit and stay.
The Benefits of Garden Pollinators
Bees sometimes get a bad rap, but they, along with butterflies, hummingbirds, wasps, moths, beetles, flies, and other visitors who frequent your garden, really are your friends. They aren’t just buzzing around trying to sting you. They’re moving pollen as they visit flowers for nectar and pollen, helping many plants produce fruit and fertile seeds.
Pollinators are essential to far more than a backyard harvest. They help reproduce wild flowering plants that feed and shelter other wildlife, and they support many of the crops families depend on. That does not mean every garden plant needs an animal pollinator. Some crops are wind-pollinated or self-pollinating. But healthy pollinator populations are foundational to diverse gardens and ecosystems.
And then there are the extra blessings, like the benefits of raw honey from one of my favorite pollinators, the honey bee.
Best Pollinator Garden Plants for Your Design
One important part of building a pollinator patch is understanding which flowering plants will serve the pollinators in your region.
The best starting point is native plants. Native flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees evolved alongside local insects and wildlife, and many provide nectar, pollen, nesting materials, or caterpillar host plants that ornamental flowers cannot replace. The Xerces Society provides regional pollinator-friendly native plant lists so you can choose plants suited to your part of the country.
Try to include plants that bloom in spring, summer, and fall rather than having everything flower at once. Also think beyond adult butterflies. If you want monarchs, for example, plant milkweed native to your region because monarch caterpillars can only eat milkweed. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommends pairing native milkweed with native nectar plants that bloom across the growing season.
Our own garden also includes beautiful non-native ornamentals and useful herbs that pollinators enjoy. The key is to choose non-invasive plants that fit your climate and use them to complement, not replace, a strong native-plant foundation.
What Are the Best Flowers for a Pollinator Garden Design?
- Canna (Canna indica) – The vibrant, tropical look of canna flowers is a visually stunning addition to the garden, and hummingbirds are often drawn to their bold blooms. Cannas grow from rhizomes, which are fleshy underground stems that can be divided and replanted. They can be started indoors when you have a shorter growing season. Follow the planting depth recommended for your variety and climate, then give them warmth, sun, and room to grow.
- Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) – Tropical hibiscus flowers are another hummingbird favorite. Grow them as warm-season ornamentals or keep them in containers so they can be moved indoors before frost in colder climates. We’ve grown them successfully this way in cold-weather climates. One important clarification: the hibiscus traditionally harvested for tart red tea is usually roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa, not tropical Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. If you want an edible tea plant, see our hibiscus iced tea and choose the correct edible species.
- Lantana (Lantana camara) – Colorful lantana flower clusters attract butterflies, bees, and other pollinators, and established plants can handle heat and dry conditions well. Lantana grows beautifully in containers, borders, and sunny beds. But Lantana camara is considered invasive in some warm regions, so check your state or county Extension guidance before planting and choose a sterile cultivar or locally appropriate alternative where needed.
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) – Lavender has so many amazing benefits both in the home and in the garden. Bees, in particular, love the flowers. Give lavender full sun, excellent drainage, and enough airflow. In hot, humid climates, drainage and variety selection are especially important.
- Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) – Bees and butterflies adore sunflowers, and so do I! They are colorful, uplifting, and easy to tuck into open garden spaces. Check with your regional Extension office or native plant society if you want locally native Helianthus species that provide even more habitat value. I start sunflowers in mobile greenhouses and transplant them wherever I can squeeze them in around the garden.
- Zinnia (Zinnia elegans) – An easy-to-grow annual that can be seeded right in the garden, zinnias come in a wide variety of colors and are wonderful for bringing bees and butterflies into vegetable and flower beds. The name Zinnia violacea, used in older references, is now generally treated as a synonym of Zinnia elegans. Tuck zinnias into open spaces for long-lasting summer color and easy pollinator access.
What Are the Best Herbs for a Pollinator Garden?
The fragrance and flowers of many herbs make them useful additions to a pollinator garden. They do double duty: you can harvest them for the kitchen while allowing some plants to flower for insects.
As we put together our pollinator garden, we were sure to include these useful herbs with pollinator-friendly blooms.
- Basil (Ocimum basilicum) – When basil reaches the point of flowering, bees and other pollinators come to the small blooms. Don’t harvest every plant aggressively. Let one or two plants flower so they can serve both your kitchen and the garden visitors.
- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) – Fennel flowers attract beneficial insects, and the foliage can serve as a host plant for swallowtail caterpillars, including black swallowtails in much of the eastern United States. Plant one for you to harvest and another you are willing to share with caterpillars.
- Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum) – Allow some of your garlic chives to flower because their white blooms attract bees and other insects. As tempting as it can be to harvest everything for the kitchen, leave some abundant blooms for your insect friends.
- Mint (Mentha spp.) – Mint flowers attract many small pollinators. Remember that mint tends to spread rapidly, so take care when planting. We usually grow it in pots or containers so it doesn’t take over every available patch of soil.
- Oregano (Origanum vulgare) – Another favorite herb of mine that attracts bees is oregano. I love using oregano in Italian dishes and more, and it is beautiful in the garden. While it is usually listed as a full-sun plant, in warmer climates it can benefit from a little afternoon shade. When it gets ready to flower, it stretches taller and becomes a magnet for insects.
How to Make a Pollinator Garden Successful
Building a pollinator garden design that works for you takes more than buying a few flowers labeled “bee-friendly.” A successful garden provides food, shelter, nesting opportunities, and safer habitat across the whole season.
Here are the principles I would start with:
- Select Plants for Your Growing Zone. Choose plants that fit your climate, sunlight, soil, and moisture conditions. Visit a local greenhouse or nursery for design inspiration, and use your county Extension office or native plant society for recommendations specific to your location.
- Build the Garden Around Native Plants. Native plants should be the backbone of a pollinator garden because local insects and wildlife have longstanding relationships with them. You can still enjoy non-native flowers and herbs, but choose non-invasive varieties and use them to complement your natives rather than replace them.
- Grow Plants in Drifts. Plant several of the same species together instead of scattering single plants everywhere. Groups are easier for pollinators to notice and forage from efficiently. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service specifically recommends planting native flowers in clumps and repeating them through the garden.
- Plan for Blooms From Spring Through Fall. Pollinators need food for more than a few weeks. Choose early-, mid-, and late-season flowers so nectar and pollen are available for as much of the growing season as possible.
- Provide Host Plants and Nesting Habitat. Nectar flowers feed adults, but butterflies also need host plants for their caterpillars, and native bees need places to nest. Leave a little bare soil for ground-nesting bees, keep some hollow or pithy stems, and allow a few leaves, logs, or natural garden materials to remain for overwintering habitat where practical. The Xerces Society recommends combining abundant flowers with shelter, nesting sites, and pesticide protection.
- Organic Gardening Only! Our preference is to manage the pollinator garden without routine pesticide spraying. Start with healthy plants, hand-picking, barriers, pruning, beneficial insects, and other nonchemical controls. Remember that “organic” does not automatically mean harmless to bees. If a pesticide becomes necessary, identify the problem first, choose the least disruptive targeted option, follow the label exactly, and never spray insecticides on open blooms or when pollinators are actively foraging.
You do not need acres of land to help pollinators. A few well-chosen containers, a small backyard bed, or a larger organic garden can all contribute food and habitat when the plants are chosen intentionally.
Learn more about safe organic gardening techniques that you can implement right on your porch or in your backyard in our Organic Gardening Masterclass course in our Bible Health Academy.
