When adding new flowering plants to home gardens, experts encourage gardeners to consider the needs of pollinators. Pollinator-friendly gardening can attract bees, butterflies, birds, and other insects while helping increase the productivity of edible plants.
Pollinators are essential for most terrestrial ecosystems. The most common are insects such as bees—both social and solitary—as well as butterflies, moths, beetles, and flies. Birds like hummingbirds and some bats also play a role. Pollination occurs when pollen moves from the male part of a flower to the female part, leading to seed and fruit formation.
Plants that attract pollinators offer pollen or nectar. Pollen supplies proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients; nectar is a sugary liquid providing energy. These plants use scents and colors to signal their resources. Bees see ultraviolet light patterns on flowers invisible to humans.
Animal pollinators enable reproduction in about 90% of flowering plants and many food crops. They support food chains and provide shelter for wildlife. “Healthy pollinator populations, and the plants that feed them, mean healthy ecosystems.” However, habitat loss and pesticide use have reduced many pollinator populations. Home gardens with pollinator-friendly plants can serve as refuges for these species.
Several examples of suitable plants are available at the Butte County Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden at Patrick Ranch near Durham and Chico. Manzanita varieties there attract bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects that prey on pests. Small trees such as California buckeye (Aesculus californica) and Chaste tree (Vitus agnus-castus) draw butterflies; Chaste tree also attracts hummingbirds, bees, other insect pollinators and beneficial predators. Other options include sages (Salvia sp.), penstemons (Penstemon sp.), red fairy duster (Caliandra californica), all known for attracting hummingbirds.
Milkweeds (Asclepias sp.) found in the garden are vital for monarch butterflies’ life cycle—they depend on milkweed for nectar as adults and as food for caterpillars: “Monarch butterflies are dependent on milkweeds to complete their life cycle… growing these ‘weeds’ in the home garden is an essential step in preserving both.”
To create a successful pollinator garden:
– Choose plant varieties with overlapping bloom times from spring through fall.
– Offer diverse flower types.
– Plant in sunny locations since most pollinators prefer sunlight.
– Maintain blooms by dead-heading spent flowers; composting can help extend flowering.
– Water regularly but note that established native species often need little summer irrigation.
– Avoid pesticides which harm not only pests but also beneficial insects.
Gardeners interested in learning more can attend a workshop on Pollinator Gardens on March 9 as part of the Master Gardeners Spring 2026 Workshop Series; registration is required via their workshop webpage.
The UC Master Gardeners of Butte County operate under UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), which is affiliated with the University of California (https://ucanr.edu/). UC ANR delivers science-based knowledge statewide through research facilities across nine Research and Extension Centers covering diverse ecosystems (https://ucanr.edu/). The organization maintains offices in all 58 California counties (https://ucanr.edu/) where it applies University expertise to community needs through outreach initiatives (https://ucanr.edu/).
Glenda Humiston serves as vice president of UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (https://ucanr.edu/).
For further information or assistance with gardening questions in Butte County, residents may visit the UC Master Gardener website or contact their hotline.