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If you’ve spent any time planting a garden, strolling through a wildflower meadow, or even just enjoying a juicy slice of watermelon on a hot summer day, you’ve benefited from the tireless work of pollinators. These tiny, often-overlooked creatures are the unsung heroes of both wild and cultivated landscapes.
In fact, pollinators are responsible for making much of the food we eat—and the flowers we love—possible. Yet today, pollinators are facing serious threats. Understanding their importance, the challenges they face, and how we can help is one of the most powerful steps we can take toward building a resilient, thriving ecosystem right in our own backyards.
What Are Pollinators, Anyway?
Pollinators are any creatures that help move pollen from one flower to another, allowing plants to reproduce. Most of us think of bees (and rightly so—they’re among the most efficient pollinators out there), but the pollinator club is much bigger than that.
It includes:
- Bees (both native bees and honey bees)
- Butterflies and moths
- Hummingbirds
- Beetles
- Flies (especially hoverflies)
- Wasps
- Bats (in some tropical regions)
Pollination isn’t just about producing seeds or fruit—it’s fundamental to plant diversity, reproduction, and survival. And by extension, it supports a host of other creatures, including us.
How Pollinators Support Our Lives
Let’s put it in perspective. Roughly 75% of all flowering plant species rely on pollinators to some degree. That includes about 180,000 different types of plants—and approximately 1,200 agricultural crops.
A widely cited statistic from the USDA states that one out of every three bites of food you eat exists because of pollinators. That includes everything from apples and almonds to cucumbers and coffee.
Pollinators also play key roles in producing:
- Nuts and berries that wildlife depends on
- Fibers like cotton
- Oils and spices
- Many of the seeds used to replant the next season’s crops
But it doesn’t stop there. Pollinators help sustain ecosystems by supporting plant life, which in turn:
- Stabilizes soil and prevents erosion
- Improves water quality
- Cleans our air
- Provides food and shelter for wildlife
- Stores carbon, helping to mitigate climate change
So, when you protect pollinators, you’re also investing in the broader health of the planet. And your neighborhood.
Pollinators in Peril
Unfortunately, pollinators are in trouble. And while this problem may feel big and complicated (because, in truth, it is), it’s also deeply local—and fixable.
What’s Causing Pollinator Decline?
Researchers have been tracking the decline of managed honey bee populations for decades. Since 2006, the average annual loss rate of bee colonies in the United States has hovered around 30%—a staggering number by any standard.
A 2016 United Nations report brought global attention to the issue. It involved 127 researchers from across the globe and found that many pollinator species are at risk of extinction—not just bees, but butterflies, moths, beetles, and even birds and bats.
The causes are complex and overlapping, but key threats include:
- Habitat loss and fragmentation due to development and agriculture
- Pesticide use, especially neonicotinoids and fungicides
- Parasites and diseases, such as Varroa destructor mites in honey bees
- Climate change, which disrupts the timing of plant blooming and insect activity
- Invasive plant and animal species that compete with native flora and fauna
Many of these threats are human-caused. The good news? That means we can take action to reverse the trend.
What Can You Do to Help Pollinators?
Even a small yard, community garden, or patio planter can become a pollinator haven. Here’s how to make your space more pollinator-friendly—no matter the size.
1. Plant a Pollinator Garden
Diversity is key. Aim for a mix of native flowering plants that bloom at different times throughout the year—spring, summer, and fall. This ensures a continuous source of nectar and pollen.
In Western North Carolina, you can create beautiful seasonal interest while supporting local pollinators by mixing plants such as:
- Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower)
- Asclepias tuberosa (butterfly weed)
- Rudbeckia fulgida (black-eyed Susan)
- Monarda didyma (bee balm)
- Liatris spicata (blazing star)
See the list of even more pollinator-friendly perennials below!
2. Go Native
Native plants are adapted to our local climate, pests, and pollinators. They typically need less water, fertilizer, and care than non-native species, and they provide better-quality nectar and pollen.
Look for regional native plant sales or nurseries specializing in native species. The North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox is a fantastic resource.
3. Avoid Pesticides
Pesticides—including insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides—can be deadly to pollinators. Even so-called “organic” sprays can be harmful if used improperly.
If you must treat pests, follow these pollinator-safe tips:
- Apply early in the morning or late in the evening, when pollinators are less active
- Never spray open flowers
- Use the least-toxic option and target it carefully
Better yet, embrace a little imperfection. A few chewed leaves won’t ruin your garden, but a pesticide-treated yard might discourage bees and butterflies from visiting.
4. Provide Water
All creatures need water, and pollinators are no exception. A shallow dish or birdbath with a few flat rocks for perching makes a perfect pollinator watering hole.
Just remember to clean it out regularly to avoid mosquito larvae.
5. Create Shelter
Pollinators need safe places to rest, nest, and overwinter. Here are a few simple ways to help:
- Leave dead wood or tree stumps for solitary bees and beetles
- Add a bee hotel or pollinator box
- Skip the fall cleanup and leave plant stems and leaf litter through winter (many native bees overwinter in stems and under leaves)
If you have room, you can even plant a hedgerow or install a brush pile.
6. Support Local Groups
Getting involved is a great way to learn more and build community. Here in WNC, you might check out:
- Buncombe County Beekeepers Chapter
- Blue Ridge Audubon Society – for pollinator-friendly bird gardens
Many organizations also host plant swaps, workshops, and citizen science projects. Keep your eyes peeled for those…
Perennial Pollinator Favorites
Need some inspiration for your planting list? Below is a collection of easy-to-grow, pollinator-friendly perennials that thrive in WNC gardens. Mix and match for color, texture, and seasonal blooms:
Agastache foeniculum: anise hyssop
Astilbe spp.: astilbe
Monarda didyma: bee balm
Gaillardia x grandiflora: blanket flower
Asclepias tuberosa: butterfly weed
Nepeta spp.: catmint
Echinacea purpurea: purple coneflower
Lavandula angustifolia: lavender
Liatris spicata: blazing star
Penstemon digitalis: beardtongue
Phlox paniculata: garden phlox
Rudbeckia fulgida: black-eyed Susan
Perovskia atriplicifolia: Russian sage
Hylotelephium spectabile: Autumn sedum
Leucanthemum × superbum: shasta daisy
Veronica spicata: spike speedwell
Achillea millefolium: yarrow
Many of these plants are drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and beautiful in both formal and naturalistic garden settings. And they’re magnets for butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.
Let’s Bee the Change
Supporting pollinators doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does take intention. By choosing the right plants, skipping the pesticides, and creating a more natural, welcoming garden, you’re not only making a haven for bees and butterflies—you’re making a statement about the kind of world you want to live in.
A world full of color. Full of birdsong. Full of buzzing, blooming life.
So next time you see a bumble bee lazily bouncing from flower to flower, take a moment to appreciate the incredible work they’re doing. Then ask yourself: what else can I do to help?
Want help designing a pollinator-friendly garden in the Asheville area? Reach out to our team—we’d love to help you plan a space that’s both beautiful and beneficial.
Let’s get planting and help our valuable pollinators!
