Pollinator Gardens

 
 

Planting a Pollinator Garden: Support Nature, one Flower at a Time

Pollinators like bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and even some beetles are vital to a healthy ecosystem. Without them, much of the food we enjoy—and many of the beautiful flowers we love—would simply not exist. One of the easiest and most rewarding ways to support pollinator populations is by planting a pollinator garden.

🌿 Why Pollinator Gardens Matter

Pollinators play a critical role in fertilizing flowering plants, helping them produce fruit, seeds, and new plants. But due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change, pollinator populations have declined dramatically in recent years.

Creating a pollinator-friendly garden helps:

🐝 Support biodiversity

🌎 Promote a balanced, thriving ecosystem

🌸 Boost the productivity of fruit and vegetable gardens

💧 Encourage water-wise, resilient planting

🌼 What to Plant in a Pollinator Garden

A successful pollinator garden provides continuous blooms from early spring through fall. Choose nectar- and pollen-rich plants, especially those native to your area, which pollinators recognize and prefer. In Victoria, BC, which falls within a temperate coastal ecosystem, there are several native plants that are nectar- and pollen-rich and excellent for supporting local pollinators like bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and yes—moths.

🌸 Wildflowers & Perennials

  • Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum) – Late spring to summer; loved by bees

  • Western Columbine (Aquilegia formosa) – Attracts hummingbirds & butterflies

  • Sea Blush (Plectritis congesta) – Early spring bloomer; bee magnet

  • Common Camas (Camassia quamash) – Stunning blue spring blooms; attracts native bees

  • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – Long bloom time, drought tolerant, great for a variety of pollinators

  • Douglas Aster (Symphyotrichum subspicatum) – Late-season blooms; important food source into fall

🌿 Shrubs & Small Trees

  • Red-flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum) – Early spring blooms for hummingbirds and bees

  • Ocean Spray (Holodiscus discolor) – Frothy white summer flowers; excellent for native bees

  • Mock Orange (Philadelphus lewisii) – Fragrant blooms; attracts butterflies and bees

  • Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) – Early nectar source; edible fruit for birds

  • Pacific Ninebark (Physocarpus capitatus) – Early blooming shrub; supports many insects

🌲 Other Notables

  • Bigleaf Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus) – Fixes nitrogen and feeds bumblebees

  • Sword Fern & Native Grasses – While not nectar sources, they provide habitat for pollinators and larvae

Mix heights, colors, and bloom times to keep your garden attractive and active throughout the seasons.

🌿 Other Key Tips

Avoid pesticides, especially neonaticides. They’re toxic to pollinators—even in small amounts. (At Patio Gardens, we proudly do not use neonaticides.)

  1. Provide water. A shallow dish with pebbles can offer a safe drinking spot.

  2. Add habitat. Leave some bare soil for ground-nesting bees and let a few garden corners stay wild.

  3. Use clusters. Grouping plants together makes them easier for pollinators to find.

🌎 Every Garden Counts

Whether you have a large yard or a few pots on a balcony, you can make a difference. Pollinator gardens don’t just benefit insects—they support a healthier, more vibrant planet for all of us.

Ready to start planting?

Stop by Patio Gardens for pollinator-friendly plants, soil tips, and design advice.

Let’s grow something beautiful—together.