Pollinator Gardens

skipper insect on a black-eyed susan flower

Updated: September 27, 2024

Gardens to support bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects

Pollinators need what every animal needs: food, shelter, water, and a place to raise a family. Nature usually provides all that pollinators need; we just need to stay out of the way and resist disturbing their natural environment.
Construct pollinator gardens with a variety of colors, shapes, and heights of plants and include plants that flower throughout the growing season to provide nectar and pollen.
Eco-region variation in Maryland (mountain, Piedmont plateau, and coastal plain) should be considered when planting pollinator gardens.
You don’t need a large yard or budget. Even a few plants will help.
Provide host plants in addition to nectar plants, and habitat for reproduction, life cycle completion, and winter shelter. Some pollinators and beneficial insects need the shelter provided by perennial plants growing in untilled areas, woody plant material such as unused firewood and dead branches, and undisturbed soil in areas that are not mowed or cultivated. See Additional Resources below for lists of host plants.
Avoid planting invasive species like butterfly bush. There are many alternatives like blazing star (Liatris spicata), New York ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis), and butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) to plant instead.
Add a water source in or near the pollinator garden. Consider a dish or birdbath, or even a small pond, and change the water every other day to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
Do not use pesticides in your yard or garden. Learn to tolerate some damage and control pests in natural ways.

Pollinators & Climate Change

Planting native species and providing nesting spaces helps to support pollinators that may be migrating into new areas due to climate change.

Read More about Pollinators & Climate Change

Plants for Maryland gardens

Maryland can be divided into three broad physiographic regions, each with unique features such as soil type, climate, precipitation, geology, and topography. The three regions include the (1) western mountains with cooler temperatures and higher average elevations, (2) the rolling hills of the central Piedmont plateau, and (3) the warmer coastal plain.
There are some plants that are common throughout all three regions, while others are found in only small pockets of the state. The variety of ecosystems in Maryland makes gardening a challenge and a delight!
Learn more about Maryland's different regions and host plants for Maryland native bees.

Pollinator garden — Garden showing native bee balm in bloom. Credit Diane Mitchell, Harford County

Plant native when possible

We all want to plant native species! There are many benefits to using native plants. Mainly, they are adapted to the environment in which they naturally occur. This means they generally require less tending from gardeners because they are more resistant to regional pests, require less additional watering and fertilizing once established, and in some cases provide the only food source for specialist insects that need specific plant nutrients or products (pollen, nectar, oils) in critical stages of their life cycle.
Seek out sources of native plants. Though your favorite local nursery may supply some native plants you may want to visit nurseries that specialize in native plants or order them from online sources.

There are several websites to help you find nurseries that provide native plants in your area:

Garden design

Ideally, you want to design your garden with native plants that are specific to the region of Maryland in which you live. Before running to your local nursery, let's examine how to choose the right plants for your unique garden that will attract beneficial natural enemies and pollinators.

Take note of your garden space and check the sun exposure, soil moisture, and soil type. Pick plants that compliment your yard conditions rather than forcing plants that will not thrive in your yard or container.
Use the resources below to find plants that will thrive in your region.
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed
- Xerces Society - Pollinator-Friendly Plant Lists
- Pollinator Partnership - Selecting Plants for Pollinators
Consider how much space you have. Plants best suited for container gardens may differ from those in a large yard. Pollinator container gardens for space-limited living situations also make attractive ornamental container gardens.

Helping pollinators in small green spaces

Designing a garden doesn’t have to be a daunting task! Here are some key factors to consider when you sit down to design your garden space.

Provide nectar and pollen resources for as long as possible, choose plants that have overlapping periods of bloom. For example, use plants from the daisy or sunflower family (Asteraceae) in a mixture with those of the carrot family (Umbelliferae).
Design a garden with structural complexity and variety, making sure to be aware of the sun needs of plants. Be cautious not to shade plants that need full sun.
Different plants attract different pollinators. If you want to target specific pollinators, such as butterflies, try to plant flowers they are attracted to. Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds are attracted to larger blossoms and tubular-shaped flowers.
For butterflies, also include host plants that feed young caterpillars. For example, black swallowtail butterfly caterpillars feed on the foliage of native and some non-native plants in the carrot family. Plant some extra carrots, parsley, or dill to share with them!

Pollinator garden design templates for central Maryland

Pollinator Garden Design Templates, courtesy of Live Green Howard, Howard County Government

Maintenance of a pollinator garden

Pollinator gardens are natural places. They are planted to create a habitat for protecting and providing pollinators and beneficial insects with what they need, not just in the summer but all year round.
Garden maintenance is different from cultivating a perennial or vegetable garden. Pollinator gardens require less maintenance and perhaps to some can look unkempt. But unpruned perennials and ornamental grasses, leaves, and other garden debris are overwintering places for many of the insects we enjoy seeing in summer.
Leave dead plant stalks in the fall and don't prune them back too early in the spring either. Leaf-cutter bees and mason bees nest in the hollow stems of some perennial plants. If you can't wait to prune old stalks, place the clippings in a pile in a less visible section of your garden or yard where stem-nesting bees can make use of them.
Download Fall Actions for Conserving Beneficial Insects and check off the actions you want to take in your garden or green space.