Planting for pollinators

Pollinators can be found everywhere but some gardens seem to attract larger numbers. If you have pollinator envy and want to attract even more pollinators to your yard here are a few tips. Proper garden placement and plant selection can invite even more pollinators to the native garden.

Planting tips for pollinators:

Plant in the sun. Pollinator bodies need sunlight to warm up their flight muscles.

Plan your bloom times to be continuous throughout the year. Try to have a few species blooming at all times that pollinators are active. This includes warm winter days.

Clump plants in 3 ft square or larger plantings. Larger plantings are needed to support a sustainable pollinator population. Clumping plants together makes it easier for pollinators to find their favorite plants and forage.

Space your plants correctly. Plants should be close enough that they don’t leave gaps for weeds to grow but allow enough space for them to not crowd each other as they grow to full size.

Flower traits to attract certain pollinators:

Bees

Bees are attracted to flowers that are fragrant. They like flowers that are blue, white, yellow, violet, purple, or ultraviolet. Their flowers often have nectar guides to guide them to the center of the flower. Bees like flowers with nectar and sticky scented pollen. Bees have a variety of tongue lengths so some are adapted to visit trumpet shaped flowers.

Butterflies

Butterflies like bright flowers that are red, orange, yellow, or purple. Butterflies taste with their feet so scent is not as important to them. They like flowers that keep the nectar hidden within the flower so they can use their long tongue to slurp it out. Wide disk-shaped flowers give butterflies an easy landing pad for their long legs. Butterflies also use nectar guides.

Moths

Moths also enjoy flowers that have large landing platforms or clusters of flowers. Since moths fly at night many of their flowers open in the early morning or late evening but close for the heat of the day. Scent is important to moths so their flowers have a sweet scent in the evening. They prefer flowers that are pale in color like pink, hazy red or purple. Moths like lots of dilute nectar deep within the flower.

Beetles

Beetles like stinky flowers that are very fragrant and may smell like fermenting fruit or something rotten. Beetles like lots of pollen and nectar to be available. Their flowers are often dull white or green. They prefer flowers that are bowl shaped.

Flies

Flies like flowers that are dark brown or purple. Their flowers can smell rotten or fetid. Flies are more interested in pollen than nectar. Fly pollenated flowers are often funnel shaped.