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If you’re thinking, I don’t know what a perennial is, don’t worry! There are no dumb questions here. We’re gardeners and educators first, and we want to help you feel empowered and excited about your garden. (Perennials are plants that come back year after year. You plant them once, and they keep growing and blooming for many seasons. Annuals, on the other hand, complete their entire life cycle in just one year. You plant them in the spring, they grow, flower, set seed, and then die by winter. The key difference is that perennials return each year, while annuals need to be replanted each growing season.)
Whether you’re new to gardening or a seasoned green thumb, creating a pollinator garden is a joyful and rewarding project that benefits your landscape and your local ecosystem.
Why Pollinators Matter
Pollinators are the unsung heroes of the plant world. Bees, butterflies, beetles, hummingbirds, and moths transfer pollen from one flower to another, helping plants reproduce. Without them, we wouldn’t have many of the fruits, vegetables, and flowers we enjoy.
What Makes a Garden Pollinator-Friendly?
A pollinator garden isn’t just a pretty mix of flowers, though it certainly can be stunning. Here are the essential elements:
1. A Variety of Plants
Pollinators need food throughout the growing season, so choose a range of plants that bloom from early spring to late fall. Include native plants whenever possible, since local pollinators have evolved alongside them and often prefer them.
2. Layers of Color and Texture
Pollinators are attracted to different shapes, sizes, and colors. Include flat, daisy-like blooms for butterflies, tubular flowers for hummingbirds, and clusters of tiny flowers for bees.
3. No Pesticides
Avoid using pesticides, herbicides, or chemical fertilizers that can harm pollinators. Healthy soil and integrated pest management go a long way toward keeping your garden thriving without chemicals.
4. A Water Source
A shallow dish of water with a few pebbles for landing can help thirsty pollinators. Change the water regularly to prevent mosquito larvae.
5. Shelter and Nesting Sites
Leave some leaf litter, bare patches of soil, and undisturbed twigs. Consider adding a bee hotel for solitary bees or keeping a brush pile for overwintering insects.
Handy Design Plan for Your Pollinator Garden
If you’re ready to get started, but not sure where to begin, we’ve made it easy. Download our pollinator garden planting design with bloom schedule. This layout and plant selection was designed for continuous bloom and visual appeal. Then keep scrolling to see photos of the plants we’ve included!
- Group Plants in Drifts: Pollinators are more likely to find plants when they’re grouped together. Aim for clusters of three to five plants.
- Keep Taller Plants to the Back: If your garden is viewed from one side, place taller plants like feather reed grass and Joe Pye weed toward the back.
- Mix Bloom Times: Distribute early, mid, and late-season bloomers throughout the bed to ensure constant color and nectar.
Maintenance Tips
Pollinator gardens are lower maintenance than many traditional beds, but they still need some care:
- Weed Regularly: Especially in the first year as plants are establishing.
- Water Deeply, but Infrequently: Especially during dry spells. Once plants are established, they’ll be more drought-tolerant.
- Deadhead to Encourage More Blooms: That said, it’s okay to leave some seed heads for the birds.
- Leave the Leaves: In the fall, don’t be too tidy. Leaf litter and stems provide habitat for overwintering insects.
Plant Spotlights: Meet the Stars of the Pollinator Garden
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium):
Drought-tolerant and resilient, yarrow produces flat-topped clusters of tiny flowers in a variety of colors, perfect for pollinators. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
Ornamental onion (Allium spp.):
Known for their striking globe-shaped flowers, ornamental onions bloom in late spring and early summer. Bees adore them, and their scent helps deter pests. Plant in full sun.
Japanese anemone (Anemone x hybrida):
These elegant late bloomers provide nectar in fall, when other options are scarce. Partial shade and moist, well-drained soil keep them happiest.
Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa):
A native must-have, its bright orange flowers support monarch caterpillars and a host of other pollinators. It loves full sun and dry soil.
False indigo (Baptisia australis):
This spring-blooming native legume features spires of blue-violet flowers and tough, shrubby foliage. It’s a pollinator magnet and thrives in full sun.
Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii):
True to its name, it draws butterflies in droves. Look for sterile or native-friendly cultivars to reduce invasive risk. Requires full sun.
Feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’):
While not a nectar source, this ornamental grass offers excellent shelter and structure. It pairs beautifully with pollinator plants.
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea):
A classic native perennial, loved by bees, butterflies, and goldfinches. Coneflowers bloom through summer and thrive in sun and well-drained soil.
Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum):
Towering, vanilla-scented blooms attract pollinators by the dozens. Prefers moist soil and can handle part shade.
Bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum):
This low-growing, long-blooming perennial brings magenta color and nectar to sunny borders. It’s deer-resistant and hardy.
Catmint (Nepeta spp.):
Highly aromatic and long-blooming, catmint attracts bees and butterflies while repelling deer. Full sun and good drainage are ideal.
Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata):
With big, fragrant clusters of blooms in mid to late summer, this phlox attracts hummingbirds and butterflies alike. Provide good air circulation to prevent mildew.
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius):
This native shrub offers spring flowers, summer foliage interest, and fall seed heads. Bees love the blooms, and it’s low-maintenance to boot.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida):
These cheerful golden daisies bloom for weeks and feed a wide range of pollinators. Full sun and average soil are all they ask.
Stonecrop (Sedum spp.):
Especially attractive to late-season pollinators, stonecrop varieties like ‘Autumn Joy’ offer nectar well into fall. They thrive in poor, dry soil.
Celebrate Perennials and Pollinators!
Creating a pollinator garden is one of the most gratifying ways to support biodiversity and beautify your yard. As we celebrate Perennial Gardening Month and National Pollinator Week in June, take a moment to imagine your new garden buzzing with life: bees hopping from coneflower to bee balm, butterflies fluttering around catmint, and a hummingbird sipping from your garden phlox.
Download our free garden design and bloom calendar. It’s your roadmap to building a thriving pollinator paradise. All you need to do is grab your plant list, head to your favorite local garden center (ahem), and start planting.
Soon the bees will be buzzing and the butterflies swarming. Enjoy this living celebration in your garden this summer, and every season after.
