How to Attract Pollinators to Your Garden

Over the past year, I have heard more and more about how important bees and other pollinators are for the environment and our food supply. As gardeners, we can do our part to save bees and other pollinators. Keep reading to learn how to attract pollinators to your garden.

Table of Contents

What are Pollinators?

Pollinators are animals that enjoy feeding off of various plants and flowers that also transport pollen while moving to and from different plants. Many people recognize popular pollinators such as butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

Beetles, bats, and other insects and birds can also be pollinators. They enjoy plants and flowers as much as other pollinators.

Usually I try to shoo away bees, wasps, and other insects from my garden. Now when I see them, I leave them alone to take advantage of the many flowers and plants in my patio garden.

Why Pollinators are Important

Pollinators are very important! Pollinators are the reason why we are able to grow the food we have and plants we get to enjoy in our gardens.

Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other critters transport pollen to other areas to promote the spread and growth of many plants that we eat. They are also responsible for helping farmers and growers expand the food supply through the pollination of plants.

Pollinators are important to attract to any size garden. I’ve seen plenty of butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other critters in my patio garden and enjoy watching them feed off my flowers.

Plants and pollinators go hand in hand and are so important for the continuation and expansion of food throughout the country and the world.

Pollinator Plant List

There are many plants you can grow in your garden to attract pollinators. Below is a list of plants to attract specific types of pollinators to your garden. You may already have some of these plants in your garden!

Pollinator Flowers for Bees

Flowers bees like to pollinate include:

Bee Balm
Bee Plant
Alliums
Zinnias
Poppies
Cosmos
Lupines
Lavender
Aster
Sunflowers

Butterfly Pollinator

Butterflies enjoy many of the same flowers as bees, as well as:

Butterfly Bush
Yarrow
Alyssum
Hollyhock
Marigold
Shasta Daisies
Calendula
Nasturtium
Phlox
Dianthus

If you don’t want to buy the above plants separately, check out this seed collection for butterflies!

Hummingbird Pollinators and Flowers

Hummingbirds enjoy many of the same plants and flowers as bees and butterflies. Hummingbirds also enjoy:

Gladiolus
Fuchsias
Petunias
Sweet Williams
Lantanas
Impatiens
Bleeding Hearts
Canna
Columbine
Geraniums

Hummingbirds and other pollinators will love this mix of flowers just for pollinators!

Herbs for Pollinators

Pollinators also enjoy feeding off of many herbs. Let some of your herbs bloom into flowers so that bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators can take advantage of the blooms.

Grow these herbs to attract pollinators:

Rosemary
Oregano
Sage
Mint
Dill

Trees and Other Plants

There are plenty of fruit, shrubs, and trees that can attract pollinators to your garden as well. These include:

Willow Trees
Almond Trees
Strawberries
Pear Trees
Cherry Trees
Raspberry
Plum Trees
Blackcurrant
Apple Trees

If you only have room for one or two of these plants, don’t worry! I have a small patio and manage to bring in plenty of pollinators with the plants I grow. I love flowers, so most of my garden is made up of flowers, which attract plenty of pollinators.

If you are just starting out a garden, make a layout that includes a section for pollinators. Mix and match these plants throughout your garden to attract a wide variety of butterflies, birds, bees, and other pollinators to your garden.

Other Ways to Attract Pollinators

Install a birdbath to keep birds and other pollinators in your garden. Add some rocks to the bath so that bees and other insects can have a water break as well!

If you don’t want to purchase a birdbath or don’t have the room, use an old plate and keep plenty of water on it for your garden visitors to enjoy during their stay.