How to Attract Pollinators to a Garden
How to Attract Pollinators to a Garden
Pollinators are essential to the reproduction of flowering plants and the production of many fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Bees are among the best-known pollinators, but butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, wasps, hummingbirds, bats, and other animals also transfer pollen between flowers.
A successful pollinator garden provides more than attractive blossoms. It supplies a dependable combination of nectar, pollen, host plants, water, nesting locations, shelter, and relatively undisturbed overwintering habitat. Even a balcony, window box, container garden, converted lawn, or small urban planting can become a useful part of a larger habitat network.
Planning a Pollinator Garden
Begin by examining the garden’s sunlight, soil, drainage, moisture, available space, and surrounding vegetation. Most flowering pollinator plants perform best in sunny locations, although shade-tolerant plants can support insects in woodland gardens and other areas receiving limited direct sunlight.
Choose plants suited to the site rather than attempting to alter the location extensively. Consider each plant’s mature height and spread, water requirements, flowering period, and preferred soil conditions. Starting with a manageable planting area makes establishment, watering, and weed control easier. The garden can be expanded after the first plants become established.
Arrange flowers in groups or drifts instead of scattering individual specimens throughout the landscape. Clusters are easier for pollinators to locate and allow them to gather nectar and pollen efficiently. A structurally varied garden containing groundcovers, flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees can support more species than a uniform planting.
Selecting Pollinator-Friendly Plants
Locally native plants are generally the foundation of an effective pollinator garden. They are adapted to regional soils and climate and often have long-standing ecological relationships with native bees, butterflies, moths, caterpillars, birds, and other wildlife. Regional native-plant guides and plant-finder tools can help gardeners identify appropriate species.
Include flowers with different colors, fragrances, shapes, and sizes. Broad, open flowers are accessible to beetles, flies, hoverflies, and short-tongued bees. Deep or tubular flowers may be especially attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, and long-tongued bees.
Trees and shrubs should not be overlooked. A single flowering tree or shrub can produce thousands of blossoms and become an important early-season feeding station. Woody plants also provide shelter, nesting cover, fruit, caterpillar food, and structural diversity.
Herbs and edible plants can supplement native flowers. Basil, oregano, thyme, mint, chives, dill, fennel, parsley, sage, and other herbs become useful nectar sources when some stems are allowed to flower. Sunflowers, borage, flowering vegetables, fruit trees, and berry plants can also benefit pollinators.
Avoid generic wildflower mixtures unless their contents and regional suitability are known. Some mixtures contain nonnative, poorly adapted, or invasive plants. Purchase untreated plants when possible and ask nurseries whether systemic insecticides were used during production.
Providing Flowers Throughout the Year
A pollinator garden should contain overlapping flowering periods from early spring through late autumn. In mild climates, winter-flowering plants can provide additional food. Aim to have several plant species blooming during every part of the growing season.
Early flowers are particularly important to queen bumblebees, mason bees, mining bees, and other insects emerging after winter. Spring bulbs, willows, maples, redbuds, fruit trees, native shrubs, and early perennials can help bridge seasonal food shortages.
Summer generally brings the greatest pollinator activity. A diverse mixture of native perennials, annuals, flowering herbs, shrubs, and vegetables can supply abundant nectar and pollen during this period.
Late-blooming asters, goldenrods, sedums, sunflowers, and similar plants help bees prepare for winter and provide fuel for migrating butterflies and moths. Leaving these plants standing after flowering also supplies seeds, stems, and shelter.
Supporting Bees and Other Insect Pollinators
Native bees have widely different nesting habits. Many species excavate nests in sunny, well-drained soil, while others occupy hollow stems, beetle tunnels, dead wood, or natural cavities. Preserve patches of exposed soil and avoid covering the entire garden with landscape fabric, heavy mulch, or pavement.
Leave some dead stems standing and retain logs, branches, brush piles, and other woody material where practical. Natural nesting features are often safer than artificial bee hotels. Bee hotels can support cavity-nesting species, but they require suitable tunnel dimensions, protection from rain, replaceable materials, and regular cleaning to limit parasites and disease.
Bumblebees need abundant flowers, sheltered nesting places, and undisturbed locations where newly produced queens can overwinter. Beetles, flies, hoverflies, and wasps also need suitable flowers and shelter. Many of these insects provide additional benefits by consuming aphids and other garden pests.
Attracting Butterflies and Moths
Butterflies require nectar flowers for adults and host plants for their caterpillars. A garden containing only nectar plants may attract passing adults but cannot support their complete life cycle. Gardeners should expect and tolerate some leaf damage because caterpillars must consume plant foliage to develop.
Monarch habitat should include regionally appropriate native milkweed, the only food eaten by monarch caterpillars. Spring, summer, and autumn nectar plants are also necessary to support adult monarchs during breeding and migration.
Butterflies benefit from sunny, wind-protected areas, shallow water, damp soil, and places where they can rest and warm themselves. Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides that can kill eggs, caterpillars, and adults.
Moths benefit from pale, fragrant, night-blooming flowers and appropriate caterpillar host plants. Retaining leaf litter, reducing unnecessary outdoor lighting, using warm-colored bulbs, and directing essential lighting downward can make a garden more hospitable to nocturnal species.
Welcoming Hummingbirds and Other Pollinators
Hummingbirds are especially attracted to abundant tubular, nectar-rich flowers. Native trees and shrubs provide flowers, perches, nesting cover, and shelter from weather and predators. A garden containing natural food throughout the season is more dependable than one relying entirely on feeders.
If hummingbird feeders are used, they should be cleaned and refilled regularly. The garden should also provide safe water and avoid pesticides that reduce the insects hummingbirds need as a source of protein.
Flowering plants may also attract beetles, flies, wasps, ants, and, in suitable regions, nectar-feeding bats. Including flowers that open at different times and accommodate different feeding structures increases the range of visitors.
Providing Water, Shelter, and Nesting Habitat
Pollinators need safe access to water. Shallow dishes containing stones or other landing surfaces can reduce drowning risks. Damp soil, wet sand, muddy margins, and shallow puddling areas may supply both water and minerals. Mason bees also use moist soil to construct partitions inside their nests.
Dense vegetation, bunchgrasses, shrubs, brush, dead wood, fallen leaves, and standing stems provide shelter from wind, heat, predators, and severe weather. These materials are also used for nesting and overwintering.
Avoid intensive autumn cleanup. Fallen leaves shelter overwintering butterflies, moths, bees, beetles, and other organisms. Leave seed heads and stems standing through winter, and delay spring cleanup until insects have had time to emerge. Natural material can be moved into less-visible garden areas when a tidier appearance is required.
Reducing Pesticide Risks
Pesticide reduction is one of the most important elements of pollinator gardening. Correctly identify pests and determine whether treatment is truly necessary. Healthy plants can usually tolerate limited insect feeding without serious harm.
Use prevention, hand removal, barriers, pruning, biological controls, and other nonchemical methods whenever practical. If a pesticide is required, select the most targeted, lowest-risk option available and follow all label instructions.
Do not spray open flowers or apply products while pollinators are actively foraging. Prevent drift into neighboring flowers, water sources, and nesting areas. Be cautious with systemic insecticides, including neonicotinoids, because residues may enter plant tissues, pollen, or nectar.
Managing Lawns and Small Spaces
Replacing part of a conventional lawn with native flowers, flowering groundcovers, shrubs, or prairie plants can substantially improve habitat. Bee lawns containing durable, low-growing flowers can provide forage while requiring less mowing, irrigation, fertilizer, and herbicide.
Mow less frequently and retain unmown refuges when possible. Avoid cutting every habitat area at the same time so insects always have a place to feed and shelter. Short-term campaigns such as delaying mowing can help, but permanent native plantings and year-round management provide greater benefits.
Containers, window boxes, patios, rooftops, balconies, and narrow planting beds can all support pollinators. Use compact plants with successive flowering periods and group containers together to create a noticeable feeding patch. Even small gardens can function as stepping stones between larger habitats.
Pollinators in Vegetable and Fruit Gardens
Squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, melons, berries, fruit trees, and many other crops depend on or benefit from insect pollination. Poor fruit development and low yields may result from incomplete pollination rather than disease, inadequate fertilizer, or improper watering.
Interplant vegetables with native flowers, flowering herbs, and suitable annuals. Flowering borders bring bees, hoverflies, wasps, butterflies, and beneficial predators into food-producing areas. Allow some culinary herbs to bloom rather than harvesting every stem.
Protect bare soil near squash, pumpkin, and gourd plants because specialist squash bees may nest there. Fruit gardens also benefit from compatible cultivars, overlapping bloom periods, abundant early flowers, nearby nesting habitat, and pesticide-conscious management.
Community, School, and Public Pollinator Gardens
Pollinator habitat can be established in schools, community gardens, parks, roadsides, public plazas, demonstration gardens, and other shared spaces. These projects restore habitat while creating opportunities for environmental education, citizen science, and community participation.
Shared gardens can dedicate borders and unused areas to native flowers, herbs, water sources, and nesting habitat. Clearly communicated pesticide policies protect pollinators moving between individual plots.
Urban gardens become more valuable when they are connected through a network of yards, balconies, rooftops, parks, roadside plantings, rain gardens, and pocket prairies. Numerous small habitats distributed across a community can collectively support substantial pollinator diversity.
Maintaining the Garden Through the Seasons
New native plants require regular watering while their root systems become established. Deep, appropriately spaced watering generally encourages stronger roots than frequent shallow irrigation. Many climate-appropriate native plants need substantially less supplemental water after establishment.
Monitor weeds and remove invasive plants before they spread. Replace invasive nectar plants with regional natives that provide food without degrading surrounding ecosystems. Divide crowded perennials and collect mature seed responsibly to expand the garden inexpensively.
Observe which plants attract the greatest number and variety of visitors. Record flowering periods, pollinator activity, weather conditions, and gaps in seasonal bloom. These observations can guide future planting decisions and may also contribute to citizen-science programs.
A pollinator garden will change over time. Some plants will spread, others may disappear, and flowering periods may shift with weather and climate. Periodic evaluation, thoughtful plant replacement, and restrained maintenance will keep the habitat productive.
Conclusion
Attracting pollinators requires a garden designed around their complete life cycles rather than flowers alone. Diverse native plants, continuous bloom, host foliage, clean water, bare soil, stems, leaves, woody debris, and pesticide-free management work together to create dependable habitat.
Gardens do not need to be large or perfectly maintained to be useful. A container garden, flowering vegetable border, converted patch of lawn, school planting, or urban pocket prairie can supply essential resources. When many gardeners create and connect these small habitats, they strengthen local biodiversity while improving the pollination of wild plants and food crops.
Garden Planning and Design
Your Frequently Asked Questions About Pollinator Gardening at Home
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | July 9, 2026
Native plants, pesticide-free gardening, nesting habitat, and season-long flowers can transform an ordinary yard into a valuable refuge for pollinators.
How to Make a Pollinator Garden
| Angela Laws | Xerces Society | June 16, 2025
Choose locally native, pesticide-free plants suited to the site and combine flowers, nesting places, water, and undisturbed shelter.
Pollinator Gardens
| University of Maryland Extension staff | University of Maryland Extension | June 13, 2025
A successful pollinator garden supplies food, water, shelter, nesting space, and flowers of varied colors, forms, heights, and blooming seasons.
Planting Pollinator-Friendly Gardens
| Penn State Extension staff | Penn State Extension | June 2, 2025
Plant diverse native flowers with different shapes and overlapping bloom periods, grouping them in noticeable clusters that pollinators can forage efficiently.
Pollinator Gardening
| Clemson Cooperative Extension staff | Clemson Cooperative Extension | February 22, 2023
Begin with a sunny site, evaluate existing resources, and add plants supplying nectar and pollen throughout spring, summer, and fall.
Gardening for Pollinators
| USDA Forest Service staff | U.S. Forest Service | 2023
Use native plants, arrange flowers in clumps, maintain blooms from spring through fall, and include night-blooming species for moths and bats.
How to Create a Healthy Pollinator Garden
| UNH Extension staff | UNH Extension | February 23, 2022
Creating genuinely healthy habitat requires more than attractive flowers; gardeners should consider plant quality, diversity, nesting needs, and pesticide exposure.
Growing a Pollinator Garden
| Justin Moore | NC State Extension | August 16, 2019
Introduces pollination and explains how thoughtfully selected garden plants can supply essential food and habitat for pollinating animals.
Checklist of Actions to Promote Pollinators in Yards, Gardens, and Parks
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | 2019
A practical checklist recommends reducing lawn, planting native flowers and bunchgrasses, retaining habitat, and protecting pollinators from pesticides.
Pollinator Gardening Tip Sheet
| National Wildlife Federation staff | National Wildlife Federation | 2019
Plant native flowers and provide the food, water, cover, and nesting places required by bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife.
Create a Home Landscape for Pollinators
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | 2018
Combine native and suitable ornamental plants to create a home landscape serving bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial wildlife.
Six Tips for Pollinator Gardens in Small Spaces
| National Wildlife Federation staff | National Wildlife Federation | June 6, 2017
Balconies, patios, and small yards can support pollinators by offering native flowers, clean water, shelter, and pesticide-free growing conditions.
Gardening for Pollinators
| National Wildlife Federation staff | National Wildlife | March 30, 2016
Pollinator-friendly gardening strengthens wildlife habitat while improving pollination of crops such as apples, cherries, blueberries, peppers, and pumpkins.
Creating a Pollinator Garden
| Mississippi State University Extension staff | Mississippi State University Extension | Undated
Instructions cover choosing a location, preparing an in-ground bed, selecting containers, providing drainage, and establishing flowers that serve visiting pollinators.
Help Bees! Make Gardens Pollinator Friendly
| Penn State Master Gardeners | Penn State Extension | Undated
Plant flowers for adult pollinators and tolerate some leaf damage by including the larval food plants needed by butterflies and moths.
Planting for Pollinators
| Penn State Master Gardeners | Penn State Extension | Undated
Pollinator plantings should combine native nectar flowers with host plants such as butterfly weed that feed caterpillars during their development.
Plants and Landscapes to Support Pollinators
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Gardeners can support bees, butterflies, beetles, flies, birds, and other pollinators by increasing floral diversity and improving habitat throughout the landscape.
Pollinator Garden Certification
| UNH Extension staff | UNH Extension | Undated
This science-based certification program helps gardeners assess plant selection, habitat features, and management practices that protect native pollinators.
Pollinator Garden
| University of Minnesota Bee Lab staff | University of Minnesota Bee Lab | Undated
A pollinator garden of any size can restore urban habitat while supplying pesticide-free forage and nesting opportunities for bees and butterflies.
Pollinator Pockets
| University of Illinois Extension staff | University of Illinois Extension | Undated
Ready-made planting plans help gardeners establish compact native habitats in sunny, shaded, wet, dry, and woodland-edge locations.
Selecting Pollinator-Friendly Plants
Fragrant Plants Invite Pollinators to Your Garden
| Linda Geist | University of Missouri Extension | May 28, 2026
Fragrant flowers, herbs, shrubs, and trees can attract pollinators while adding sensory interest and extended seasonal value to a landscape.
Native Shrubs for Pollinators
| Penn State Extension staff | Penn State Extension | May 21, 2026
Native flowering shrubs provide abundant forage, structure, and host foliage, often supporting pollinators when relatively few herbaceous plants are blooming.
Pollinator-Friendly Plants That Are Easy to Grow and Maintain
| Linda Geist | University of Missouri Extension | April 10, 2026
Low-maintenance annuals can support birds, bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and beneficial insects in gardens, raised beds, and containers.
Sedum: A Durable, Perennial Pollinator
| Linda Geist | University of Missouri Extension | March 18, 2026
Tall sedums offer drought tolerance and clusters of late-season flowers that extend nectar availability into late summer and fall.
Native Plant List for Planting for Pollinators
| Penn State Master Gardeners | Penn State Extension | March 2, 2026
The list identifies regional host and nectar plants serving native bees, honey bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, and their larvae.
What Are the Best Annuals for Pollinators?
| University of Maryland Extension expert | Ask Extension | May 27, 2025
Evaluates commonly sold annual flowers, including salvia, zinnia, alyssum, calendula, nasturtium, cosmos, marigold, and sunflower, for their pollinator value.
Native Plants Support Wildlife and Sustainability in Minnesota Gardens
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | April 7, 2025
Plants including purple coneflower and wild bergamot furnish nectar while increasing resilience and reducing the resource demands of residential landscapes.
Thirty Essential Pollinator Plants for Your Garden
| Garden Design editors | Garden Design | 2023
Profiles flowers such as cosmos that provide accessible pollen and nectar to bees, butterflies, hoverflies, lacewings, beetles, and other beneficial insects.
Which Native Groundcovers Are Good for Wildlife and Pollinators?
| Emma Erler | UNH Extension | May 22, 2019
Native groundcovers can replace portions of lawn while providing blossoms, berries, foliage, and shelter for bees, butterflies, birds, and mammals.
Pollinator Plants for Northern New England Gardens
| Cathy Neal | UNH Extension | 2018
Recommended perennials, annuals, herbs, shrubs, and trees provide nectar and pollen to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds in northern New England.
Pollinator Plants of the Central United States: Native Milkweeds
| James Cane and colleagues | University of Missouri Extension | June 24, 2013
Native milkweeds feed monarch caterpillars and offer nectar to pollinators, predators, and parasitoids that help suppress garden and crop pests.
Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden Using Native Plants
| USDA Forest Service staff | U.S. Forest Service | 2011
This Eastern United States guide matches native flowers with hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators having different feeding structures.
About the Native Plant Finder
| National Wildlife Federation staff | National Wildlife Federation | Undated
The tool applies Douglas Tallamy’s research to identify native plants that support the greatest numbers of local butterflies and moths.
Annual Flowers That Attract Pollinators
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Research-tested annuals bring immediate color and accessible nectar and pollen to gardens, raised beds, and containers throughout the growing season.
Herbs for Pollinator Gardens
| UF/IFAS Extension staff | Gardening Solutions | Undated
Letting basil, marjoram, mint, oregano, sage, and other herbs flower creates dense, energy-efficient feeding stations for visiting bees.
Native Gardening
| USDA Forest Service staff | U.S. Forest Service | Undated
Native wildflowers are adapted to regional soils and climates and provide nectar, pollen, seeds, and shelter for locally occurring wildlife.
Native Plant Finder
| National Wildlife Federation | National Wildlife Federation | Undated
Entering a ZIP code produces locally appropriate plants ranked by their ability to support butterflies, moths, caterpillars, and other wildlife.
Native Plant Habitats
| National Wildlife Federation staff | National Wildlife Federation | Undated
Native plants restore ecological function while furnishing wildlife with food, cover, water, nesting opportunities, and climate-appropriate habitat.
Pollinator-Friendly Native Plant Lists
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | Undated
Regional lists help gardeners identify native plants that provide nectar, pollen, host foliage, and other resources for local pollinator communities.
Salvia
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Salvias act as pollinator magnets, drawing bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, but should be combined with other plants and habitat resources.
Trees and Shrubs for Pollinators
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Flowering trees and shrubs such as crabapples and pears deliver large concentrations of early-season blossoms useful to numerous pollinators.
Bees and Other Insect Pollinators
Pollinators: Patience Pays Off
| Linda Geist | University of Missouri Extension | March 4, 2026
Early-flowering self-heal, violets, and other low-growing plants provide food when pollinators emerge, even before conventional gardens reach peak bloom.
About Pollinators
| National Park Service staff | National Park Service | June 13, 2025
Introduces the bees, butterflies, birds, bats, mammals, and other animals that transfer pollen and allow plants to form seeds and fruits.
Choosing Colors in the Garden to Attract Pollinators
| Penn State Extension staff | Penn State Extension | May 22, 2025
Different pollinators respond to different floral colors and forms, so varied plantings can attract bees, butterflies, flies, beetles, and birds.
Who Are the Pollinators?
| USDA Forest Service staff | U.S. Forest Service | 2023
Animal pollinators enable flowering plants to produce seeds and fruits and contribute directly to the production of many staple crops.
Pollinator Plants
| Extension expert | Ask Extension | September 5, 2022
Explains why gardens should support not only familiar bees and butterflies but also ants, flies, beetles, wasps, birds, and other pollinators.
Pollinators
| U.S. Department of Agriculture staff | USDA | June 25, 2020
Pollinators underpin production of more than one hundred American crops, making habitat enhancement important to agriculture, nutrition, and ecosystem health.
How to Help Collapsing Insect Populations
| UNH Extension staff | UNH Extension | May 8, 2019
Gardeners can assist insects by maintaining wildflower patches, planting milkweed and coneflowers, and recording the species using their landscapes.
Conserving Missouri’s Wild and Managed Pollinators
| University of Missouri Extension staff | University of Missouri Extension | August 30, 2018
Select varied flower colors, maintain continuous bloom, use native species, and arrange each plant species in groups or drifts.
Pollination Mechanisms and Plant-Pollinator Relationships
| University of Missouri Extension staff | University of Missouri Extension | 2018
Understanding flower shapes and pollinator anatomy helps gardeners select complementary plants, including flowering oregano and fennel, for a wider visitor range.
About Pollinators
| Pollinator Partnership staff | Pollinator Partnership | Undated
Pollinating birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles, and mammals support wild ecosystems, agricultural production, and much of the food people consume.
Attract Beneficial Insects with These Amazing Native Pollinator Plants
| Penn State Master Gardeners | Penn State Extension | Undated
Native plants such as bee balm attract butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, bees, and beneficial insects that can contribute to natural pest control.
Bee Pollination
| USDA Forest Service staff | U.S. Forest Service | Undated
Planting a flower-rich bee garden replaces lost forage habitat and improves the pollination of fruits, vegetables, seeds, and ornamental flowers.
Enhancing Conservation for Native Pollinators
| National Wildlife Federation staff | National Wildlife Federation | Undated
Pollinators need landscapes containing native grasses, trees, shrubs, and flowers rather than isolated blossoms or intensively managed turf.
Master Pollinator Steward
| University of Missouri Extension staff | University of Missouri Extension | Undated
This educational program develops practical knowledge about pollinator biology, conservation, habitat establishment, public outreach, and responsible land management.
Pollinator Conservation Program
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | Undated
Provides regional resources for creating flower-rich, pesticide-free pollinator habitat in homes, farms, parks, campuses, and community landscapes.
Pollinators
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Undated
Describes declining pollinator populations and national efforts to restore habitat, protect vulnerable species, and improve scientific understanding.
Pollinators
| University of Wisconsin Extension staff | Wisconsin Horticulture | Undated
A collection of guides covers native bees, beneficial insects, native garden design, regional plants, and practical pollinator-conservation methods.
The Why, What, When, Where, Who, and How of Pollination
| Smithsonian Gardens staff | Smithsonian Gardens | Undated
An accessible overview explains pollination, flower anatomy, pollinator behavior, and the process through which fertilized flowers create fruits and seeds.
What Are Pollinators?
| Pollinator Partnership staff | Pollinator Partnership | Undated
Explains how animals and environmental forces move pollen between flower structures, enabling fertilization, fruit production, and seed development.
Who Are the Pollinators?
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | Undated
Bees, butterflies, moths, flies, wasps, and beetles have distinct life cycles and habitat requirements that gardeners can accommodate through diverse plantings.
Butterflies, Moths, and Hummingbirds
Gardening Can Protect Monarch Butterflies
| Linda Geist | University of Missouri Extension | February 26, 2025
Help monarchs by planting regionally native milkweeds, maintaining spring and fall nectar flowers, reducing pesticides, and providing water and shelter.
Create a Monarch Habitat
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | June 2015
Plant native milkweed and diverse nectar flowers to provide the breeding and feeding habitat monarch butterflies require across their migratory range.
Attracting Hummingbirds
| Penn State Extension staff | Penn State Extension | Undated
Combine nectar-producing flowers, safe perches, cover, water, and carefully maintained feeders to welcome hummingbirds into residential gardens.
Butterflies and Moths
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | Undated
Conservation guidance explains why protecting host plants, nectar sources, breeding areas, and overwintering habitat is essential for vulnerable species.
Butterfly Gardening in Containers
| UF/IFAS Extension staff | Gardening Solutions | Undated
Containers can supply nectar and host plants for butterflies when gardeners select appropriate species and maintain adequate sun, moisture, and drainage.
Butterfly Gardening
| UF/IFAS Extension staff | Gardening Solutions | Undated
A butterfly garden combines nectar flowers with species-specific larval host plants and places them in sunny, sheltered, pesticide-free surroundings.
Creating a Butterfly Garden
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Group colorful nectar flowers, provide continuous bloom, add caterpillar host plants, and emphasize mid-to-late summer when butterfly activity is greatest.
Gardening for Butterflies
| USDA Forest Service staff | U.S. Forest Service | Undated
Butterfly habitat must include nectar for adults, food plants for caterpillars, sunny resting areas, moisture, and shelter from wind and weather.
Hummingbird Gardens
| USDA Forest Service staff | U.S. Forest Service | Undated
Tubular, nectar-rich flowers can attract hummingbirds while native shrubs, trees, and pesticide-free garden management provide shelter and dependable habitat.
Milkweed for Monarchs
| National Wildlife Federation staff | National Wildlife Federation | Undated
Regionally appropriate milkweed supplies the only food eaten by monarch caterpillars and also offers nectar to adult butterflies and other pollinators.
Monarch Nectar Plant Guides
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | Undated
Regional guides identify high-value native nectar plants that sustain monarchs and other pollinators during breeding, migration, and seasonal transitions.
Monarch Waystation Program
| Monarch Watch staff | Monarch Watch | Undated
Gardens containing milkweed, nectar plants, shelter, and responsible management can become registered waystations supporting monarch reproduction and migration.
Moth Gardening
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | Undated
Night-blooming and strongly scented flowers, host plants, leaf litter, and reduced outdoor lighting make gardens more useful to moths.
Plant a Butterfly Garden
| National Wildlife Federation staff | National Wildlife Federation | Undated
To attract butterflies permanently, gardens must support their complete life cycle with host plants, nectar flowers, water, cover, and pesticide-free care.
Planting Milkweed for Monarchs
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | Undated
Regional milkweed resources help gardeners choose ecologically appropriate species while avoiding potentially unsuitable plants and poorly adapted seed sources.
Supporting Monarch Butterflies
| USDA Forest Service staff | U.S. Forest Service | Undated
Monarch conservation depends on restoring native milkweed for caterpillars and flowering nectar corridors used by adults during their long migrations.
Habitat, Water, Shelter, and Garden Management
Pollinator Garden Plants
| Ask Extension expert | Ask Extension | June 15, 2026
Native plants are generally preferred because they coevolved with local insects, although carefully selected nonnative flowers may provide supplemental forage.
Pollinating with Purpose
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | May 6, 2025
A demonstration garden uses butterfly weed, yarrow, coneflower, and salvia while tracking which flowers receive the greatest numbers of visitors.
Beyond No-Mow May for Pollinator and Bird Habitat
| UNH Extension staff | UNH Extension | April 8, 2025
Temporarily delaying mowing can help, but lasting habitat requires native plants, reduced lawn area, shelter, and pollinator-friendly management throughout the year.
Volunteers Plant a Pollinator Garden in Manchester
| Alexandra Cusson | UNH Extension | August 6, 2024
A community pocket garden demonstrates clustering native plants, arranging vegetation by height, and incorporating education into a small urban habitat.
Looking to Plant a Native Flower Pollinator Garden
| Ask Extension expert | Ask Extension | April 8, 2024
Avoid generic wildflower mixtures containing nonnative or invasive species and instead select native plants that supply resources across multiple life stages.
Good Weeds for Pollinators?
| University of Maryland Extension expert | Ask Extension | March 27, 2023
Although some lawn weeds offer nectar, locally native garden plants usually support a broader range of specialized and conservation-priority insects.
How to Support Pollinators, Insects, and Birds During Winter
| Penn State Master Gardeners | Penn State Extension | January 31, 2023
Leave hollow stems, seed heads, leaf litter, and other natural material standing so wildlife can find food and winter shelter.
Creating Perennial Habitat for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects Using Flowering Plugs
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | 2023
Flowering plugs, native grasses, and sedges can establish durable habitat supplying forage, host foliage, nesting areas, and overwintering shelter.
For Wildlife and Humans, Native Plants Are a Key to Climate Resilience
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | April 20, 2022
Native plants support substantially more insect diversity while improving habitat resilience and contributing to broader nature-based climate solutions.
Planting for Three Seasons
| National Wildlife Federation staff | National Wildlife Federation | May 30, 2019
Combine spring, summer, and fall native flowers with a shallow, stone-filled water dish to provide continuous food and safe drinking access.
Edible Gardens: A Win-Win for Pollinators and People
| National Wildlife Federation staff | National Wildlife Federation | August 22, 2018
Flowering herbs and edible blossoms supplement native plants, provide additional nectar, and make food gardens more productive and wildlife-friendly.
Simple Ways to Help Pollinators
| UNH Extension staff | UNH Extension | February 13, 2018
Maintain diverse vegetation, remove invasive plants, provide continuous blossoms, and minimize pesticides that can poison pollinators or contaminate their food.
Nesting and Overwintering Habitat
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | 2018
Retain bare soil, dead stems, cavities, brush, and leaf litter so bees and other beneficial insects can nest and survive winter.
Creating a Pollinator Management Plan
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
A written plan can coordinate organic practices, flower strips, native perennial habitat, crop production, firebreaks, maintenance, and public use.
Lincoln Woods Native Plant Pollinator Garden
| USDA Forest Service staff | U.S. Forest Service | Undated
A compact public garden illustrates how native plants can create attractive pollinator habitat and serve as an outdoor environmental learning space.
Planting and Maintaining a Bee Lawn
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Low-input turf mixed with flowers such as white clover and self-heal can provide forage for dozens of native bee species.
Pollinator Garden at Smedley Park
| Penn State Master Gardeners | Penn State Extension | Undated
This teaching garden demonstrates how primarily native plantings can support adult pollinators, caterpillars, birds, bees, and other beneficial wildlife.
Southern California Residential Pollinator Habitat Kits
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | Undated
Regionally native plant kits combine multiple species with staggered flowering periods to provide pollen, nectar, and habitat across residential landscapes.
Woodlands for Pollinators
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Open woodland canopies, flowering understories, dead wood, brush piles, and undisturbed soil support pollinators throughout their complete life cycles.
Xerces Society Pollinator Habitat Kit Program
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | Undated
Habitat kits help qualifying farms, gardens, schools, and community organizations establish diverse native plantings selected for their particular regions.
Pollinator Garden Planning
Pollinator Paradise
| Purdue Extension staff | Purdue Extension | May 12, 2026
A converted parking island demonstrates how overlooked urban land can become a planted habitat and certified monarch waystation.
The Story of My Native Pollinator Garden
| UGA Extension staff | University of Georgia Extension | July 29, 2024
A gardener describes establishing a native flower bed that now attracts bumblebees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and many other visiting birds.
Creating Sustainable School and Home Gardens: Welcoming Pollinators
| Utah State University Extension staff | Utah State University Extension | 2024
Build structurally diverse habitat, plant flowers in clumps, retain stems and leaves, avoid ground barriers, and provide homes for solitary bees.
Pollinators’ Garden: Be a Bee
| University of Georgia Extension staff | Paulding Vine | July 17, 2023
Pollinator plants encourage bees, butterflies, birds, and beneficial insects to visit flowers and transfer pollen throughout a garden.
Pollinator Gardening
| Jacob Williams | University of Georgia Extension | December 6, 2022
Butterfly weed, bee balm, coneflowers, and other flowering plants can make a residential landscape more inviting to butterflies and native bees.
Providing Pollinator Habitats
| Mark Evans | Purdue Extension | June 23, 2022
Combine native flowers of different colors, forms, and heights with spring-through-fall bloom to accommodate Indiana’s diverse pollinator species.
Make Pollinators a Priority
| David Hillock | Oklahoma State University Extension | April 17, 2022
Select pollinator-friendly trees, shrubs, and flowers with overlapping bloom periods to maintain nectar and pollen from spring through fall.
Planning a Pollinator Garden
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | March 25, 2022
Evaluate sunlight, soil, moisture, plant height, bloom season, and mature spread before purchasing plants for a pollinator bed.
Building a Pollinator Garden from the Ground Up
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | May 14, 2021
Begin with site preparation and a manageable planting area, then expand as native perennials establish and maintenance becomes easier.
Creating Pollinator Habitat
| Colorado State University Extension staff | CSU Extension | January 1, 2018
Supply food, water, shelter, and space with diverse flowering plants to support bees, beetles, flies, moths, butterflies, hummingbirds, and bats.
Attracting Pollinators to the Garden
| University of Georgia Extension staff | UGA Cooperative Extension | Undated
Gardens attract a wider range of pollinators when they combine varied flower forms, colors, fragrances, and flowering times.
Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Landscape
| Michigan State University Extension staff | Michigan State University Extension | Undated
Landscape planning can integrate flowering plants, nesting spaces, pesticide reduction, and season-long resources without sacrificing beauty or function.
Creating Pollinator Habitat in Your Garden
| Colorado Master Gardeners | CSU Extension | Undated
Include extra host plants for caterpillars and accept some leaf damage as a necessary part of maintaining butterfly populations.
El Paso County Pollinator Garden
| Colorado Master Gardeners | CSU Extension | Undated
A season-long succession of flowering plants ensures that bees and butterflies can find forage throughout the local growing period.
How to Design a Pollinator Garden
| Oklahoma State University Extension staff | Oklahoma State University Extension | Undated
Garden-design resources explain bed preparation, flower selection, seasonal planning, and habitat practices that encourage beneficial pollinating animals.
Lima Plaza Pollinator Garden
| Arapahoe Master Gardeners | CSU Extension | Undated
This demonstration landscape shows homeowners how low-water native plants can provide colorful, sustainable habitat for urban pollinators.
Low-Water Native Plants for Pollinators
| Sherie Shaffer | CSU Extension | Undated
Regionally native, drought-tolerant plants conserve water while providing the familiar food resources needed by native pollinating insects.
Pollinator Gardens for Small Spaces
| Penn State Extension staff | Penn State Extension | Undated
Containers, balconies, and narrow planting beds can provide meaningful nectar and pollen when planted densely with suitable flowers.
Pollinators in the Garden
| Iowa State University Extension staff | Iowa State University Extension | Undated
A well-designed garden provides a sequence of nectar and pollen sources while protecting the nesting and overwintering needs of pollinators.
Plant Selection and Seasonal Bloom
Planting Pollinator Plants in the Fall
| University of Georgia Extension staff | Newton County Extension | August 12, 2025
Fall planting helps asters, goldenrods, sedums, and other late-blooming natives establish before they are needed by migrating pollinators.
Bees and Birds and Native Blooms
| University of Georgia Extension staff | Fulton County Extension | May 8, 2025
Native pollinator plants can maximize benefits for bees, birds, and butterflies while adding color and fragrance to residential yards.
Oklahoma Proven Plant Selections
| Oklahoma State University Extension staff | Oklahoma State University Extension | 2024
Regionally tested trees, shrubs, and perennials include species that support butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, birds, and other wildlife.
Planting for Pollinators
| Utah State University Botanical Center staff | Utah State University Extension | June 2023
This plant list pairs flower shape, color, sun requirements, and group planting recommendations with the preferences of different pollinators.
Native Trees and Shrubs for Pollinators
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | April 7, 2023
Woody native plants produce concentrated seasonal blooms and add nesting cover, caterpillar food, fruit, and structural diversity to gardens.
Pollinator Plant List
| Utah State University Botanical Center staff | Utah State University Extension | 2023
Choose open flowers for bees and butterflies, tubular flowers for hummingbirds, and grouped plantings that bloom across the season.
Oklahoma Proven Selections Are Announced
| David Hillock | Oklahoma State University Extension | January 30, 2022
Native buttonbush attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies and works particularly well in rain gardens and moist pollinator plantings.
Georgia Pollinator Plants of the Year
| University of Georgia Master Gardener Program | Trellis Blog | February 9, 2021
Sweet pepperbush and downy goldenrod extend seasonal forage while supporting bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, birds, and other wildlife.
Planting a Continuous Bloom Garden
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | June 12, 2020
Combining spring, summer, and autumn bloomers prevents seasonal food shortages and keeps pollinators returning throughout the growing year.
Low-Water Native Plants for Pollinators
| Colorado State University Extension staff | CSU Extension | 2020
Maintain at least three species in bloom at once and arrange each species in clumps to conserve pollinator foraging energy.
Nectar and Pollen Plants of Oklahoma
| Oklahoma State University Extension staff | Oklahoma State University Extension | 2017
Lists major and minor nectar and pollen sources—including willow, maple, redbud, fruit trees, and wildflowers—according to blooming season.
Early-Blooming Plants for Pollinators
| Michigan State University Extension staff | MSU Extension | Undated
Early flowers from trees, shrubs, bulbs, and perennials supply vital food to queen bumblebees and solitary bees emerging in spring.
Flowers for Pollinators
| Michigan State University Extension staff | MSU Extension | Undated
Regional planting resources help match pollinator-supporting species to soil moisture, sunlight, mature size, and seasonal flowering needs.
Garden Plants for Pollinators
| Iowa State University Extension staff | Iowa State University Extension | Undated
Selecting multiple flower forms and arranging them in visible groups helps pollinators locate suitable nectar and pollen efficiently.
Late-Blooming Plants for Pollinators
| Michigan State University Extension staff | MSU Extension | Undated
Asters, goldenrods, and other autumn flowers sustain bees and migrating butterflies after many familiar garden plants have finished blooming.
Native Plants for Pollinators
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Illinois Extension | Undated
Locally native flowers have long-standing ecological relationships with specialist bees, caterpillars, butterflies, moths, and other insects.
Ogden Botanical Gardens Pollinator Garden Plant List
| Utah State University Extension staff | Ogden Botanical Gardens | Undated
A demonstration-garden list includes butterfly weed, columbine, asters, sedges, and other ornamental plants visited by pollinators.
Plants and Their Pollinators
| Colorado Master Gardeners | CSU Extension | Undated
Native agastache offers abundant tubular flowers that appeal simultaneously to bees, butterflies, and nectar-seeking hummingbirds.
Pollinator-Friendly Plants
| Utah State University Extension staff | Utah State University Extension | Undated
Flower gardens can become valuable feeding stations for native bees displaced by pavement, buildings, lawns, and flower-poor agricultural landscapes.
Recommended Indiana-Native Plants for Attracting Pollinators
| Purdue Extension staff | Purdue Extension | Undated
Plant tables identify bloom time, flower color, mature size, growing conditions, availability, and the pollinators served by each Indiana native.
Native Bees and Nesting Habitat
The Buzz About Bees
| Utah State University Extension staff | Utah State University Extension | 2025
Bees pollinate wildflowers and crops, allowing plants to reproduce while supporting the animals and ecosystems that depend upon them.
The Importance of Native Bees and Pollinators
| University of Georgia Extension staff | Lincoln County Extension | September 11, 2024
Native pollinators sustain balanced ecosystems, agriculture, food production, and the reproductive cycles of both crops and wild plants.
Factors Contributing to Bee Decline
| Utah State University Extension staff | Utah State University Extension | 2023
Habitat loss, pesticides, climate change, pathogens, poor nutrition, and competition can be countered with flowers, nesting sites, and safer management.
Creating a Bee-Friendly Garden
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | June 17, 2022
Supply continuous flowers and multiple nesting substrates while avoiding practices that destroy nests or expose bees to insecticides.
Honey Bees Are Famous, but Native Bees Are Powerful Pollinators
| Gail Ellis | Oklahoma State University Extension | June 16, 2022
Native bees, wasps, butterflies, birds, and other animals pollinate crops and wild plants while supporting healthy soil and ecosystems.
Attracting Native Bees to Your Landscape
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | June 18, 2021
Native flowers, exposed soil, standing stems, dead wood, and pesticide reduction can accommodate bees with very different nesting habits.
Building and Managing Bee Hotels
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | March 19, 2021
Proper tunnel dimensions, replaceable nesting materials, rain protection, placement, and annual maintenance reduce disease and parasite problems in bee hotels.
Beginner’s Guide to Common Native Bees
| Utah State University Extension staff | Utah State University Extension | 2021
Learn to recognize carpenter, mason, mining, leafcutter, sweat, and other bees and understand the flowers each group can access.
Gardening and Landscaping Practices for Nesting Native Bees
| Utah State University Extension staff | Utah State University Extension | 2021
Preserve bare soil, hollow stems, and beetle tunnels in dead wood to accommodate ground-nesting and cavity-nesting solitary bees.
Gardening for Native Bees in Utah and Beyond
| Joseph Wilson and colleagues | Utah State University Extension | 2021
Design bee gardens around season-long bloom, diverse flower structures, aromatic foliage, appropriate nesting materials, and pesticide-free management.
Year-Round Gardening: Bee-Friendly Pollinator Plants
| Colorado Master Gardeners | CSU Extension | August 19, 2017
Native bees, bats, wasps, flies, birds, moths, beetles, and butterflies all benefit from thoughtfully selected flowering plants.
Bumble Bees in the Garden
| Iowa State University Extension staff | Iowa State University Extension | Undated
Bumblebees need abundant nectar, pollen, protected nesting cavities, and undisturbed overwintering places for newly produced queens.
Helping Cavity-Nesting Bees
| Michigan State University Extension staff | MSU Extension | Undated
Retain natural stems and wood cavities or manage artificial nests carefully to support mason, leafcutter, and other cavity-nesting bees.
Helping Ground-Nesting Bees
| Michigan State University Extension staff | MSU Extension | Undated
Leave sunny patches of well-drained, pesticide-free soil unmulched so solitary females can excavate and provision underground nests.
Mason Bees in the Home Garden
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Mason bees are efficient spring pollinators that can be supported with suitable flowers, clean nesting tunnels, mud, and responsible nest maintenance.
Native Bee Nesting Habitat
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Small changes involving bare soil, stems, woody debris, and reduced disturbance can provide secure nesting and overwintering locations.
Native Bees: Important Pollinators
| Iowa State University Extension staff | Iowa State University Extension | Undated
Solitary native bees perform valuable crop and garden pollination and generally pose little risk to people working nearby.
Pollinators
| Colorado State University Extension staff | Boulder County Extension | Undated
Pollinator-friendly yards provide more than flowers by including nesting locations and host plants where insects can lay eggs.
Protecting Pollinators in Home Lawns and Landscapes
| Purdue Extension staff | Purdue Extension | Undated
Reduce insecticide exposure by treating only when necessary, avoiding blooming plants, observing label restrictions, and using nonchemical alternatives.
Supporting Native Bees
| Penn State Extension staff | Penn State Extension | Undated
Gardeners can support native bees with native flowers, untreated plants, nesting substrates, water, and careful pest-management decisions.
Vegetable, Herb, and Edible Gardens
Pollinators in Vegetable and Herb Gardens
| Arapahoe County Master Gardeners | CSU Extension | June 15, 2026
Squash, cucumbers, melons, and related crops depend on insects to move pollen from male flowers to fruit-producing female flowers.
Using Flowers to Attract Beneficial Insects
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | May 19, 2023
Small, accessible flowers bring hoverflies, wasps, bees, beetles, and predators into food gardens, strengthening pollination and pest control.
Pollinator-Friendly Community Vegetable Gardens
| Purdue Extension staff | Purdue Extension | May 2023
Shared gardens can improve food-crop pollination by dedicating borders and unused spaces to native flowers, herbs, water, and nesting habitat.
Companion Planting Flowers and Vegetables Can Boost Pollination
| Gail Ellis | Oklahoma State University Extension | April 14, 2023
Interplanting ornamentals with vegetables attracts bees, wasps, moths, and butterflies and may improve crop pollination and garden yields.
Borage in the Pollinator Garden
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | July 8, 2022
Borage produces abundant blue flowers that are readily visited by bees and can be integrated into ornamental or edible plantings.
Dill, Fennel, and Parsley for Pollinators
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | August 13, 2021
These culinary herbs provide nectar to small beneficial insects and foliage for black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars.
Squash Bees in the Vegetable Garden
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | July 16, 2021
Specialist squash bees nest in garden soil and are highly effective pollinators of pumpkins, squash, gourds, and related plants.
Growing Herbs for Pollinators
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | August 14, 2020
Allow basil, oregano, thyme, chives, dill, cilantro, and other culinary herbs to flower rather than harvesting every stem.
Pollination in the Vegetable Garden
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | July 10, 2020
Understanding which crops require insect pollination helps gardeners diagnose misshapen fruit, poor fruit set, and seemingly unproductive blossoms.
Attracting Pollinators to Vegetable Gardens
| Iowa State University Extension staff | Iowa State University Extension | Undated
Interplant flowering herbs and annuals, provide water and shelter, and limit pesticides to increase pollinator activity around food crops.
Bee-Friendly Fruit Gardens
| Michigan State University Extension staff | MSU Extension | Undated
Early flowers, nesting habitat, and pesticide-conscious management encourage the wild and managed bees responsible for productive fruit harvests.
Flowering Herbs Attract Beneficial Insects
| Michigan State University Extension staff | MSU Extension | Undated
Herb flowers provide accessible nectar and pollen for bees, hoverflies, parasitoid wasps, and predators that contribute to natural pest suppression.
Improving Pollination in Small Fruit Gardens
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Diverse nearby flowers and reduced pesticide use help maintain the insects needed to pollinate berries and other small-fruit crops.
Planting Flowers Among Vegetables
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Flower strips and interplanted blossoms draw pollinators through vegetable beds while increasing garden diversity and visual appeal.
Pollination in Home Fruit Plantings
| Iowa State University Extension staff | Iowa State University Extension | Undated
Fruit production depends on compatible cultivars, overlapping bloom, suitable weather, and adequate populations of bees and other pollinating insects.
Pollination of Vine Crops
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, and melons need repeated bee visits to produce well-shaped fruit and dependable yields.
Pollination Problems in Cucurbits
| University of Georgia Extension staff | UGA Cooperative Extension | Undated
Poorly developed squash and cucumbers often result from incomplete pollination rather than disease, nutrient deficiency, or inadequate watering.
Pollination Requirements of Fruit Crops
| Penn State Extension staff | Penn State Extension | Undated
Successful fruit growing requires suitable pollen sources, compatible varieties, overlapping bloom periods, and sufficient insect activity during flowering.
Pollinators and the Vegetable Garden
| University of Georgia Extension staff | UGA Cooperative Extension | Undated
Flowering borders and herbs attract pollinators to gardens where they improve fruit set in squash, cucumbers, melons, and other crops.
Sunflowers for Pollinators and Birds
| Iowa State University Extension staff | Iowa State University Extension | Undated
Pollen-producing sunflower varieties feed bees during bloom and later produce seeds eaten by finches and other garden birds.
Water, Pesticides, and Year-Round Care
Pollinators Are Nature’s Workforce
| John E. Woodmansee | Purdue Extension | June 19, 2026
Homeowners can protect pollinators by planting habitat, retaining winter debris, installing well-managed bee hotels, and reducing insecticide exposure.
Welcoming Pollinators with Thoughtful Watering Stations
| University of Georgia Extension staff | Newton County Extension | September 2, 2025
Shallow watering stations with safe landing surfaces provide hydration, cooling, larval water, and minerals without exposing insects to drowning.
What’s Buzzing in Your Backyard?
| Olivia De Young | Purdue Extension | June 3, 2025
Research-based educational resources help gardeners recognize native bees, understand common threats, and make practical improvements to residential habitat.
Maintaining a Pollinator Garden Through the Seasons
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | September 15, 2023
Thoughtful weeding, watering, division, seed collection, delayed cleanup, and plant replacement keep habitat productive without excessive disturbance.
Celebrate Pollinators During Pollinator Week
| David Hillock | Oklahoma State University Extension | June 18, 2023
Plant native flowers, eliminate unnecessary pesticides, provide water, maintain continuous bloom, and install appropriately managed bee or bat houses.
Mowing Practices for Pollinator Habitat
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | June 16, 2023
Mow less frequently, retain unmown refuges, and avoid cutting every habitat patch simultaneously so insects always have somewhere to shelter.
Pollinators Are Important
| John E. Woodmansee | Purdue Extension | June 9, 2023
Avoid neonicotinoids on flowering plants, maintain untreated buffers, use insecticides only when necessary, and consider building pollinator habitat.
Spring Cleanup and Overwintering Pollinators
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | March 17, 2023
Delay cutting stems and removing leaves until insects have emerged, then retain some natural material in less-visible garden areas.
Fall Garden Cleanup for Pollinators
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | October 14, 2022
Leaving stems, seed heads, and fallen leaves until spring preserves winter habitat for insects and food for birds.
Managing Invasive Plants in Pollinator Gardens
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | August 19, 2022
Remove invasive plants carefully and replace them with regional natives that offer dependable food without displacing surrounding natural vegetation.
Pollinator-Safe Pest Management
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | May 20, 2022
Correct pest identification, thresholds, nonchemical controls, careful timing, and targeted products can reduce risks to flower-visiting insects.
Recognizing the Importance of Pollinators
| John E. Woodmansee | Purdue Extension | June 18, 2021
Pollinators maintain plant diversity, support wildlife food webs, and improve production of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and berries.
Neonicotinoids and Pollinators
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | April 16, 2021
Systemic insecticides can enter plant tissues, pollen, or nectar, making careful product selection important in pollinator plantings.
Highlighting the Importance of Pollinators
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 2021
Reduce environmental impacts, plant pollinator forage, and share conservation knowledge to counter habitat loss and declining pollinator populations.
Climate-Resilient Pollinator Gardens
| Michigan State University Extension staff | MSU Extension | Undated
Diverse, deeply rooted native plants improve tolerance of heat, drought, intense rain, and shifting bloom conditions while maintaining pollinator resources.
Leave the Leaves for Pollinators
| Michigan State University Extension staff | MSU Extension | Undated
A layer of fallen leaves shelters overwintering butterflies, moths, bees, beetles, and other organisms that cannot survive intensive cleanup.
Protecting Bees from Pesticides
| Michigan State University Extension staff | MSU Extension | Undated
Avoid spraying open flowers, read labels, prevent drift, choose lower-risk controls, and apply treatments when bees are not foraging.
Protecting Pollinators
| University of Georgia Extension staff | UGA Cooperative Extension | Undated
Pollinators enable crop and wild-plant reproduction while some beneficial insects also contribute to decomposition and agricultural pest control.
Providing Water for Bees and Butterflies
| Iowa State University Extension staff | Iowa State University Extension | Undated
Shallow dishes, damp soil, and stones provide safer drinking and mineral-gathering places than deep, steep-sided water containers.
Reducing Lawn for Pollinators
| Michigan State University Extension staff | MSU Extension | Undated
Replacing selected turf areas with native flowering beds increases forage and shelter while reducing mowing, irrigation, and chemical inputs.
Regional Pollinator-Garden Guides
Not Garden—Bee Habitat
| Yakima County Master Gardeners | Washington State University Extension | August 17, 2024
A bee-focused landscape combines early, middle, and late-season flowers, including productive plants such as raspberries and lavender.
Are Native Trees and Shrubs Better Choices for Wildlife?
| Washington State University Extension staff | WSU Extension Publications | Undated
Native woody plants can furnish familiar flowers, foliage, fruit, shelter, and natural pest-control habitat for regional wildlife.
Bulletin 2500: Gardening to Conserve Maine’s Native Landscape
| Lois Berg Stack | University of Maine Cooperative Extension | Undated
Gardening with Maine native plants preserves regional character while providing food and shelter to insects, birds, and other wildlife.
Creating a Pollinator Garden
Maine gardeners can provide continuous flowers, nesting places, water, shelter, and pesticide-free conditions for native pollinating insects.
Creating Inviting Habitats for Pollinators
| Virginia Cooperative Extension staff | Virginia Cooperative Extension | Undated
A layered landscape containing flowering plants, host species, water, and nesting cover can support pollinators throughout their life cycles.
Florida-Friendly Plants for Pollinators
| UF/IFAS Extension staff | Gardening Solutions | Undated
Florida gardens can attract bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, wasps, and hummingbirds with suitable flowers and wildlife-friendly maintenance.
Keystone Plants Tip Sheet
| Pierce County Master Gardeners | Washington State University Extension | Undated
Keystone native plants support numerous caterpillars and both specialist and generalist bees, making them especially valuable in limited garden space.
Leavenworth Fish Hatchery Pollinator Garden
| Chelan-Douglas Master Gardeners | Washington State University Extension | Undated
More than two hundred milkweeds and numerous Washington native plants provide nectar, breeding resources, and educational opportunities.
Native Bees
| Snohomish County Master Gardeners | Washington State University Extension | Undated
A collection of identification, biology, nesting, and conservation resources helps gardeners understand and accommodate locally occurring native bees.
Native Plants for Georgia Pollinators
| University of Georgia Extension staff | UGA Cooperative Extension | Undated
Recommended Georgia plants offer nectar, pollen, host foliage, or shelter to bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and beneficial insects.
Native Plants: A Maine Source List
A nursery and plant-resource guide helps gardeners find locally appropriate species for pollinator gardens and ecological landscapes.
Pollination in Home Gardens
| Snohomish County Master Gardeners | Washington State University Extension | Undated
More than one hundred important crops benefit from native pollinators, making residential gardens valuable components of the regional habitat network.
Pollinator Gardening in North Carolina
| NC State Extension staff | NC State Extension | Undated
Choose diverse flowers and native host plants while protecting nesting areas and avoiding insecticides that can harm visiting pollinators.
Pollinator Gardening in Virginia
| Virginia Cooperative Extension staff | Virginia Cooperative Extension | Undated
Combine Virginia native plants, staggered bloom periods, nesting resources, water, and pesticide-conscious maintenance to attract diverse pollinators.
Pollinator-Friendly Gardening
| King County Master Gardeners | Washington State University Extension | Undated
Select Pacific Northwest plants that provide nectar, pollen, host foliage, and nesting resources for birds, bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
Pollinators
| Washington State University Extension staff | Pacific Northwest Gardener’s Handbook | Undated
Gardeners can improve conditions for honey bees and native bees by planting forage, protecting nests, and managing pesticides responsibly.
South Puget Sound Bee and Pollinator Resources
| Thurston County Extension staff | Washington State University Extension | Undated
Region-specific plant lists help gardeners establish flower beds that meet the seasonal needs of South Puget Sound pollinators.
Texas Pollinator Gardening
| Texas A&M AgriLife Extension staff | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension | Undated
Native and adapted Texas plants can furnish nectar and pollen under hot, dry conditions while reducing irrigation and chemical requirements.
Understanding Native Bees, the Great Pollinators
Native bees differ in size, behavior, flower preference, and nesting strategy, so diverse habitats support more species than uniform gardens.
Virginia Native Plant Guides
| Plant Virginia Natives partners | Plant Virginia Natives | Undated
Regional guides identify native trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and flowers suited to local soils, climate, wildlife, and pollinators.
Flowering Plants for Every Season
RHS Plants for Pollinators
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | May 17, 2026
Evidence-based lists identify thousands of cultivated and wild plants that supply food to bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies, and other pollinators.
How Gardeners Can Help Pollinators
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | 2026
Grow abundant flowers, avoid harmful pesticides, provide nesting habitat, and recognize the important pollination performed by many insect groups.
Plants to Attract Pollinators in Shade
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | 2026
A coordinated selection of shade-tolerant flowering plants provides a succession of pollen and nectar where full-sun meadow plants cannot thrive.
Top Ten Garden Plants for Specialist Bees
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | 2026
Certain bees collect pollen from restricted plant groups, so including their preferred flowers supports species overlooked by general pollinator mixtures.
RHS Scientists Reveal New Plants for Pollinators
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | July 30, 2025
An extensive scientific review expanded the RHS pollinator list to more than ten thousand plants covering many gardens and insect groups.
Top Plants to Attract Bees, Butterflies, and Hummingbirds
| Kym Pokorny | Oregon State University Extension | May 2, 2024
Oregon natives such as serviceberry and red-flowering currant can be combined with suitable ornamentals to increase pollinator diversity.
Grow a Year-Round Bee Buffet
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | May 5, 2022
Hellebores, lungwort, grape hyacinths, willow, cherry, and later-blooming plants can maintain a garden’s food supply across the seasons.
Asters for Pollinators
| Penn State Extension staff | Penn State Extension | Undated
Native asters extend garden color and furnish crucial autumn food for bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and other flower visitors.
Bee-Friendly Winter Plants
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | Undated
Hellebores, willows, crocuses, snowdrops, aconites, clematis, and mahonias provide winter and very early spring forage.
Best Early Spring Flowers for Bees
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Early bulbs, shrubs, trees, and herbaceous flowers bridge the food gap encountered by bees emerging during cool spring weather.
Fall Flowers for Pollinators
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Late-blooming garden flowers sustain bees and migrating butterflies after summer plants begin producing seeds or entering dormancy.
Goldenrods for Gardens and Pollinators
| Penn State Extension staff | Penn State Extension | Undated
Native goldenrods provide late nectar and pollen without causing hay fever, which is associated primarily with wind-pollinated ragweed.
Perennials for Pollinators
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | Undated
Combine open flowers for short-tongued insects with tubular blossoms for long-tongued bees, butterflies, and moths.
Plants for Autumn Pollinators
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | Undated
Late flowers help bees prepare for winter and provide fuel to butterflies and moths moving through autumn landscapes.
Plants for Spring Pollinators
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | Undated
Spring bulbs, perennials, shrubs, and trees provide urgently needed nectar and pollen to insects emerging from winter dormancy.
Plants for Summer Pollinators
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | Undated
A varied summer planting supplies abundant forage during peak pollinator activity while serving insects with different tongue lengths and behaviors.
Spring Flowering Trees for Pollinators
| Penn State Extension staff | Penn State Extension | Undated
Flowering trees produce thousands of blossoms at once and can become major early-season feeding stations for bees and other insects.
Sunflowers and Pollinators
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Pollen-bearing sunflower varieties offer broad landing platforms and abundant resources to bees before producing nutritious seeds for birds.
Ten Award-Winning Spring Plants for Pollinators
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | Undated
Early-flowering plants feed queen bumblebees, mason bees, hoverflies, and other insects when relatively little natural forage is available.
Top Ten Patio Plants for Bees
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | Undated
Compact cosmos, asters, dahlias, verbena, and other container plants help bees and butterflies in patios, balconies, and window boxes.
Bees, Butterflies, Moths, and Other Visitors
Native Bees Are Essential Pollinators
Native bees complement honey bees and frequently provide specialized or highly efficient pollination to wild plants and food crops.
Common Pollinators in Minnesota Landscapes
| Jeffrey Hahn and colleagues | University of Minnesota Extension | 2007
Identification guidance introduces bees, flies, beetles, butterflies, moths, wasps, and other pollinators commonly observed in gardens and landscapes.
Ant Pollination
| USDA Forest Service staff | U.S. Forest Service | Undated
Although less efficient than flying insects, ants pollinate certain low-growing plants while moving through vegetation in search of food.
Attracting Butterflies to the Garden
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Butterflies require sunny nectar flowers, caterpillar host plants, shelter, moisture, and freedom from broad-spectrum insecticides.
Bees in Your Garden
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | Undated
Plant abundant flowers across the year and retain nesting materials for bumblebees, solitary bees, and managed honey bees.
Beetles as Pollinators
| USDA Forest Service staff | U.S. Forest Service | Undated
Beetles visit broad, accessible flowers for pollen, nectar, and floral tissue and represent an ancient form of animal pollination.
Bumblebees in the Garden
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Bumblebees tolerate cool conditions, perform buzz pollination, and need flowers, protected nesting sites, and safe overwintering habitat.
Butterflies in Your Garden
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | Undated
Nectar flowers, larval food plants, sunny basking areas, and sheltered vegetation help butterflies breed rather than merely pass through.
Enhancing Urban and Suburban Landscapes to Protect Pollinators
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Urban landscapes can support pollinators through native plantings, reduced pesticides, nesting habitat, and connected patches of flowering vegetation.
Flies as Pollinators
| USDA Forest Service staff | U.S. Forest Service | Undated
Flies are important pollinators in cool, high-elevation, wet, and shaded environments where bees may be less numerous.
Gardening for Moths
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | Undated
Fragrant night-blooming flowers, caterpillar food plants, reduced lighting, and less intensive cleanup can attract and sustain moths.
Gardening for Native Pollinators
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
A native-pollinator garden should contain flowers, host plants, nesting substrates, water, and protection from pesticide contamination.
Help Wild Pollinators
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Gardeners can support wild pollinators by planting forage, creating nests, learning native bee identification, and contributing observations to citizen science.
Hoverflies in the Garden
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | Undated
Adult hoverflies pollinate flowers, while the larvae of many species consume aphids and provide valuable biological pest control.
Identifying Pollinators in the Garden
| Penn State Extension staff | Penn State Extension | Undated
Recognizing bees, flies, wasps, beetles, butterflies, and moths helps gardeners evaluate which habitat features and plants are working.
Meet Oregon’s Native Bees
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Oregon’s native bee fauna includes species with different body sizes, nesting strategies, flight seasons, and floral relationships.
Minnesota’s Managed and Native Pollinators
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Native bees include effective buzz pollinators that release pollen from tomatoes, blueberries, and other flowers through vibration.
Nests for Pollinators
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Natural stems, bare ground, leaves, and brush piles often provide safer nesting habitat than poorly maintained artificial bee houses.
Top Ten Plants for Moths
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | Undated
Night-scented flowers feed adult moths while suitable host vegetation supports the caterpillars that become the next generation.
Wasps as Pollinators
| USDA Forest Service staff | U.S. Forest Service | Undated
Adult wasps visit flowers for energy-rich nectar while many species also control garden pests by provisioning nests with prey.
Small Spaces, Lawns, and Community Gardens
Balcony Gardens for Pollinators
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | April 19, 2024
Sunny balconies can support bees and butterflies through flowering herbs, compact annuals, perennials, shallow water, and pesticide-free care.
Pocket Prairies for Pollinators
| University of Illinois Extension staff | Good Growing | July 14, 2023
Small combinations of prairie flowers and grasses can create dense, attractive habitat in conventional residential landscapes.
Converting Lawn to Pollinator Habitat
Start with manageable sections, suppress existing turf, choose appropriate native plants, and plan for several years of establishment care.
Creating a Pollinator Garden in a Small Yard
Concentrate high-value native flowers and nesting features in a compact area rather than assuming pollinator habitat requires extensive land.
Urban Pollinator Gardens
| USDA Forest Service researchers | U.S. Forest Service | 2021
Even small urban plantings contribute to habitat connectivity when they contain diverse flowers and are distributed throughout developed neighborhoods.
Community Gardens and Pollinators
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Shared flower borders, herb beds, and pesticide policies can increase pollinator activity and improve yields across community plots.
Demonstration Gardens for Pollinators
| Washington State University Master Gardeners | Washington State University Extension | Undated
Public demonstration gardens show how regional plants and research-based management can create attractive, functional pollinator habitat.
Establishing a Bee Lawn
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Mix durable flowering species with appropriate turfgrasses and manage them with less mowing, irrigation, fertilizer, and herbicide.
Planting and Maintaining a Prairie Garden
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Native prairie flowers and grasses create deep-rooted, resilient habitat that supports pollinators and requires less water after establishment.
Pollinator Gardens at Schools
| KidsGardening staff | KidsGardening | Undated
School gardens combine habitat restoration with lessons about plant reproduction, insect life cycles, observation, food systems, and environmental stewardship.
Pollinator Gardens in Public Spaces
| National Park Service staff | National Park Service | Undated
Gardens at parks, visitor centers, schools, and community sites provide both wildlife habitat and opportunities for public education.
Pollinator Hedgerows
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | Undated
Flowering shrubs, native trees, perennial herbs, and grasses form permanent corridors offering forage, nesting locations, wind protection, and connectivity.
Pollinator-Friendly Container Gardening
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Containers allow renters and people with limited land to offer diverse flowers on balconies, patios, steps, and paved yards.
Pollinator-Friendly Lawns
| Michigan State University Extension staff | Michigan State University Extension | Undated
Low-growing flowers and reduced pesticide, fertilizer, and mowing inputs can turn selected turf areas into useful bee forage.
Pollinator-Friendly Window Boxes
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | Undated
Window boxes planted for successive bloom can offer useful stepping-stone habitat in densely developed neighborhoods.
Rain Gardens for Pollinators
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Rain gardens planted with native flowers capture runoff and furnish nectar, pollen, host foliage, and shelter under changing moisture conditions.
Roadside Pollinator Gardens
| Federal Highway Administration staff | Federal Highway Administration | Undated
Roadsides managed with appropriate native vegetation can create extensive corridors of nectar, pollen, and breeding habitat.
Rooftop Gardens for Pollinators
| U.S. Environmental Protection Agency staff | EPA | Undated
Vegetated roofs can manage stormwater while providing flowering habitat for mobile insects capable of reaching elevated urban spaces.
Schoolyard Pollinator Gardens
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | Undated
Students can restore native habitat on school grounds while conducting investigations and observing pollinators through the seasons.
Small-Space Plants for Pollinators
| Royal Horticultural Society staff | Royal Horticultural Society | Undated
Window boxes, pots, hanging baskets, and small beds can create productive feeding patches when planted with nectar-rich flowers.
Management, Safety, and Long-Term Habitat
Managing Leaf Litter in Pollinator Gardens
Move leaves into garden beds rather than removing them entirely so overwintering insects retain insulation and shelter.
Dividing Pollinator-Friendly Perennials
Dividing established perennials rejuvenates crowded plants and produces additional specimens that can expand flower-rich habitat inexpensively.
Water Sources for Pollinators
Shallow water with stones, wet sand, or muddy margins lets insects drink and gather minerals without a serious drowning hazard.
Avoiding Invasive Plants in Pollinator Gardens
Replace invasive nectar plants with native alternatives that feed pollinators without escaping cultivation or degrading surrounding natural communities.
Watering New Native Plants
Deep, appropriately spaced irrigation during establishment encourages strong roots, after which many native plants need substantially less supplemental water.
Buying Bee-Safe Plants
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Ask nurseries how plants were grown and whether systemic insecticides were used before placing flowers into pollinator habitat.
Collecting Native Seed for Pollinator Gardens
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Collect mature seed responsibly, preserve regional genetics, follow any land-use restrictions, and learn each species’ germination requirements.
Drought-Tolerant Pollinator Gardens
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Climate-appropriate native plants can maintain flowers for pollinators while reducing irrigation after their root systems become established.
Habitat for Pollinators on Fruit and Vegetable Farms
| University of Minnesota Extension staff | University of Minnesota Extension | Undated
Flower strips and nesting areas support crop pollinators, but placement should minimize pesticide drift from nearby conventionally managed fields.
How to Reduce Bee Poisoning from Pesticides
| Pacific Northwest Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Detailed pesticide tables and management practices help growers and gardeners reduce acute and chronic exposure of bees.
Integrated Pest Management for Pollinator Gardens
Prevention, monitoring, correct identification, physical controls, and selective treatments protect garden plants while conserving beneficial organisms.
Leave Leaves for Wildlife
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | Undated
Retaining fallen leaves protects overwintering butterflies, moths, beetles, bees, and other beneficial invertebrates from weather and disturbance.
Leaving Garden Stems for Bees
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Cut some dead stems at varied heights in spring and leave them standing long enough for cavity-nesting bees to complete development.
Maintaining Artificial Bee Nests
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Replace nesting materials regularly, protect them from rain, and prevent parasite buildup rather than leaving bee hotels unmanaged indefinitely.
Monitoring Pollinators in Your Garden
| University of Maine Cooperative Extension staff | Signs of the Seasons | Undated
Repeated observations of pollinators and flowering times help gardeners evaluate habitat while contributing useful information to citizen-science programs.
Mulching Without Harming Ground-Nesting Bees
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Keep selected sunny soil patches free from landscape fabric and heavy mulch so solitary bees can enter and excavate nests.
Pesticide Safety for Pollinators
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Pacific Northwest Extension | Undated
Protect bees by selecting lower-risk pesticides, observing bloom restrictions, preventing drift, and applying treatments when pollinators are inactive.
Pollinator-Safe Garden Pest Control
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
Tolerate minor damage, identify pests correctly, use cultural controls, and reserve targeted pesticides for problems requiring intervention.
Providing Mud for Mason Bees
| Oregon State University Extension staff | Oregon State University Extension | Undated
A nearby source of moist, workable soil enables female mason bees to construct partitions and seal their nesting tunnels.
Reducing Outdoor Lighting for Moths
| Xerces Society staff | Xerces Society | Undated
Turn off unnecessary lights, use warm-colored bulbs, and direct illumination downward to reduce disruption of nocturnal pollinator behavior.
