By Melissa Starkey
Beyond bees, animals including butterflies, hummingbirds, beetles, flies, and beneficial wasps all provide the important service of pollination. Here at Mt. Cuba Center, we see firsthand how native plants support an incredible variety of pollinators. In fact, a native bee study conducted in our gardens found species previously unknown to exist in Delaware and even the Northeastern United States, reinforcing a simple but powerful lesson: if you plant it, they will come.
Every Garden Can Make a Difference
You don’t need acres of land, a dedicated native plant botanic garden, or specialized expertise to help support pollinators—every gardener can make a difference. From containers on front steps to yards brimming with plants, every effort helps. Small actions, multiplied across many gardens, can have a significant impact. Read on for ways you can help.
Plant Native Species
Native plants provide crucial resources such as nectar, pollen, nesting sites, and shelter for pollinators and other wildlife. One of the most effective things gardeners can do to help pollinators is increase the abundance and diversity of native plants in their landscapes. Aim to include species that bloom from spring through fall so pollinators have resources throughout the growing season.
Selecting a variety of native plants is also beneficial. Native plants provide food not only for adult pollinators but also for the specialist insects whose life cycles depend on them. For example, monarch caterpillars can only eat the leaves of milkweed plants, and many specialist bees collect pollen only from select groups of plants.
Some plants, known as keystone species, support a vast range of wildlife and make great additions to any garden. Fall-blooming favorites such as goldenrods (Solidago spp.) and asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) are keystone genera that each support more than 100 species of butterfly and moth caterpillars.
If you want to attract hummingbirds to your garden, plants with abundant nectar and red, tubular flowers are a great choice. A few examples include wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), Jacob Cline scarlet bee balm (Monarda didyma ‘Jacob Cline’), and cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), which is not only enjoyed by but also mainly pollinated by hummingbirds.
Get Insights from Mt. Cuba’s Trial Garden
Not sure where to start or what plants to choose? Research from Mt. Cuba’s Trial Garden helps identify native plants that excel not only as garden performers but also as ecological powerhouses. Our staff and volunteers track pollinator visitation throughout plant trials, documenting which insects visit, how often they visit, and which plants provide the greatest benefits. This information helps gardeners make informed decisions when selecting plants for their landscapes. One standout example is Phlox paniculata ‘Jeana’’, which was overwhelmingly favored by butterflies compared to the other phlox in the trial. Its dense clusters of small pink flowers create efficient feeding stations that allow butterflies to move easily from bloom to bloom. Trial reports are published online, and visitors can explore the Trial Garden to see current evaluations in person.
Reduce or Eliminate Broad-Spectrum Pesticides
Many commonly used insecticides kill beneficial insects along with pest species. Broad-spectrum sprays applied for mosquito control or lawn management can negatively affect bees, butterflies, wasps, and countless other insects that contribute to healthy ecosystems. Avoiding these products whenever possible is one of the most meaningful actions gardeners can take.
Create Habitat and Nesting Sites
Most native bees do not live in hives. Many nest underground, while others use hollow stems, dead wood, or existing cavities. Creating patches of bare soil, leaving 8-24″ of dead stems standing, and minimizing excessive garden cleanup can provide valuable habitat.
Whether you’re just getting started with native plants, replacing part of your lawn with native perennials, or installing native plants in containers on your patio, you’re contributing to a larger network of wildlife habitat that helps sustain healthy ecosystems. Every garden can make a difference.
- Melissa Starkey, PhD, is an instructor in Mt. Cuba Center’s Ecological Gardening Certificate Program and the marketing and communications manager.