How do you define a pollinator? It can be any of these: birds, bees, butterflies, moths and even some other animals are pollinators by transferring pollen for production to fruits and vegetables. You can help to preserve pollinators that are on the decline by planting a variety of plants. Here are some to consider:
Bee Balm, Monarda spp. attracts hummingbirds to the garden. A bonus of the plant is that bee balm's leaves make a nice bergamot tea.
Black-eyed Susan, Rudbeckia spp. is often seen in a meadow garden. The plant loves full sun and a well-drained soil. Black-eyed Susans will bring lots of pollinators, and it also is a beautiful cut flower.
Cilantro, Cilantro sativum is an herb. Honeybees, syrphid flies and parasitic wasps are frequent visitors to this herb's lacy white umbels. In hot climate zones, a second crop will provide late-season nectar for pollinators. I have found in my herb garden several plants are needed to ensure we enjoy the culinary uses of the herb since the pollinators like cilantro as well as we do.
Coneflower, Echinacea spp. attracts bumblebees, honeybees, butterflies, moths and flies. Leave cutting back coneflowers until spring, and you will find birds enjoying the coneflower's seeds through late fall and winter.
Cosmos, Cosmos spp. comes in many lovely colors: white, soft pink, deep burgundy and orange. Pollinator friendly, cosmos is pretty in a bouquet and even pairs nicely planted alongside vegetables. It is known to attract many beneficial insects such as lacewings.
Milkweed, Asclepias spp. is a nectar source for the Monarch butterfly and a food source for its larvae. It also attracts bumblebees, fritillaries and swallowtails. Milkweed prefers moist soil.
Sweet Alyssum, Lobularia maritima, will attract syrphid flies whose larvae consume aphids. Many types of bees are attracted to the flower's low-growing scented blooms.
Zinnia, Zinnia spp. has an array of colorful flowers, and are liked by butterflies such as Monarchs, Painted Ladies and Swallowtails. Zinnias are a favorite cut flower of gardeners for striking bouquets.
The habitat you can create for attracting pollinators might be a small or a large garden; even creating a window box or a container garden can be your part in preserving pollinators that are declining.
