Small gardens can support pollinators with nectar, pollen

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Gardeners who want to help support pollinators do not need a complicated, elaborately planned landscape.

Eddie Smith, host of Mississippi State University Extension Service’s Southern Gardening, said a few well-chosen plants can be very beneficial.

“A container with blooming annuals on a porch, a small bed along a walkway or even a couple of hanging baskets can provide valuable nectar and pollen. 

“Plants like lantana, pentas, salvias and even herbs when they are allowed to bloom can turn a simple space into a pollinator stopover,” said Smith, who is also an Extension agent in Pearl River County.

Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, birds, bats, insects, moths and wasps, have a big job. According to the Xerces Society, they are responsible for transferring pollen on over 85% of the world’s flowering plants, which provide food for humans and other wildlife.

That statistic may sound overwhelming, but anyone can make a big impact in a small amount of space if they follow a few simple guidelines. Smith shared five tips for gardeners interested in beefing up their plant offerings for pollinators:

• Focus on continuous blooms. Try to have something flowering from early spring through fall. Pollinators like bees, butterflies and hummingbirds need reliable food sources throughout the seasons, not just during one peak window.
• Plant in groups or clusters instead of scattering individual plants throughout a space. A mass of color is easier for pollinators to spot and more efficient for them to forage.
• Limit or avoid pesticides, especially insecticides. Even products labeled as natural can harm beneficial insects. A few holes in leaves are often a sign your garden is doing exactly what it should.
• Provide a water source. It can be as simple as a shallow dish with pebbles for landing spots. Pollinators need water just like any other wildlife.
• Include a variety of flower shapes and sizes. Different pollinators have different feeding habits. What attracts a butterfly may not work for a native bee.

Jeff Wilson, an Extension horticulture specialist, said it is important to do a little research before buying or planting plants, especially if someone is new to gardening.

“Read our Extension publications and other materials from trusted sources on which pollinator plants are best for your area,” he said. “Also learn which ones are best as a pollen source versus shelter and habitat. Then decide which pollinators you are interested in attracting to your garden. Finally, place new plants in the proper location in the landscape, determined by the amount of sunlight each requires.”

Gardeners who want to help native pollinators may need to plant certain native plants because these plants evolved alongside these pollinators and can provide the most compatible nutrition and habitat, Smith said. However, non-native plants can also be good for pollinators.

“Many non-native plants, especially those that are not invasive, produce abundant nectar and pollen and are heavily visited by pollinators,” he said. “In Southern gardens, plants like zinnias, cosmos, and certain salvias are excellent examples. They can help fill in bloom gaps and extend the feeding season.

“The best approach is a balanced mix,” Smith added. “Use native plants as your foundation, then complement them with well-behaved, pollinator-friendly non-natives. This creates a diverse, resilient landscape that supports a wide range of pollinators over a longer period.”

Another tip for happy pollinators he offered: Leave the landscape a little messy.

“A perfect-looking yard can actually be less beneficial,” Smith said. “A landscape that’s overly tidy with no leaf litter, no spent blooms and no stems left standing removes habitat and food sources.

“Many native bees nest in the ground or in hollow stems, and butterflies often rely on specific host plants that may look a little chewed up,” he added. “Supporting pollinators sometimes means embracing a bit of natural messiness.”

Find more information and plant suggestions for pollinator gardening in MSU Extension Publication 3839, “Creating a Pollinator Garden,” on the Extension website.