1. Choosing the Right Location

Most pollinator-friendly plants thrive in full sun, so select a space that receives at least six hours of sunlight each day. A visible location near a patio, walkway, or window allows you to enjoy watching butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds visit throughout the season.

Good drainage is also important. If your soil tends to stay wet, consider raised beds or choose plants that tolerate moisture.

2. Planning for Continuous Blooms

A successful pollinator garden provides nectar and pollen from early spring through fall. By planting flowers with staggered bloom times, you ensure pollinators always have a reliable food source.

Early Season Pollinator Plants

These early bloomers provide important nectar and pollen sources for pollinators emerging in spring.

• Creeping Phlox (Groundcover Perennial | Attracts: Bees, butterflies)

• Columbine (Perennial | Attracts: Hummingbirds, bees)

• Lungwort (Perennial | Attracts: Early native bees, bumblebees)

• Wild Geranium (Native Perennial | Attracts: Bees, small butterflies)

• Serviceberry (Small Tree | Attracts: Bees, butterflies)

• Red Twig Dogwood (Shrub | Attracts: Native bees)

• Blueberry Bush (Shrub | Attracts: Bumblebees, native bees)

• Prunus (Flowering Cherry) (Tree | Attracts: Bees, early pollinators)

  
  

Mid-Season Pollinator Plants

Summer blooms bring the garden to life and provide reliable food sources during peak pollinator activity.

• Bee Balm (Native Perennial | Attracts: Hummingbirds, bees, butterflies)

• Catmint (Perennial | Attracts: Bees, butterflies)

• Purple Coneflower (Perennial | Attracts: Bees, butterflies)

• Black-eyed Susan (Native Perennial | Attracts: Bees, butterflies)

• Butterfly Weed (Native Perennial | Attracts: Monarch butterflies, bees)

• Lavender (Herb/Perennial | Attracts: Bees, butterflies)

• Oregano (Herb/Perennial | Attracts: Bees, butterflies)

• Creeping Thyme (Groundcover Herb/Perennial | Attracts: Bees)

• Sunflowers (Annual | Attracts: Bees, butterflies, birds)

• Buddleia (Butterfly Bush) (Shrub | Attracts: Butterflies, hummingbirds)

  
  

Late-Season Pollinator Plants

Late-season flowers help support pollinators as they prepare for migration and winter.

• Sedum (Perennial/Groundcover | Attracts: Bees, late-season butterflies)

• New England Aster (Native Perennial | Attracts: Migrating butterflies, native bees)

• Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) (Native Perennial | Attracts: Butterflies, bees)

• Cosmos (Annual | Attracts: Bees, butterflies)

• Black-eyed Susan (Native Perennial | Attracts: Bees, butterflies)

• Sunflowers (Annual | Attracts: Bees, butterflies, birds)

3. Designing with Layers

Layering plants creates both visual interest and valuable habitat diversity.

• Tall plants like sunflowers and Joe-Pye weed work well in the back

• Mid-sized bloomers like coneflowers and bee balm fit nicely in the center

• Low-growing plants like creeping thyme and sedum soften borders and pathways

Mixing heights, textures, and bloom shapes helps attract a wider variety of pollinators. 

4. Prioritizing Native Plants

Native plants are especially valuable because they evolved alongside local pollinators and are naturally adapted to southwest Michigan’s climate and soils. They often require less water and maintenance once established.

Native species also help support declining pollinator populations, including monarch butterflies and native bee species.

Excellent native choices include:

• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

• Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

• New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

• Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)

5. Thinking About More Than Just Flowers

Pollinators need shelter, water, and safe nesting spaces in addition to nectar-rich blooms.

Consider adding:

• Host plants for caterpillars, such as milkweed for monarch butterflies

• A shallow water dish with stones or pebbles for landing spots

• Brush piles, ornamental grasses, or logs for shelter

• Areas of undisturbed soil for native ground-nesting bees

Avoid pesticides whenever possible, and especially during bloom periods when pollinators are most active.

6. Creating a Space You Enjoy

A pollinator garden can be as welcoming for people as it is for wildlife. Add personal touches like benches, stepping stones, pathways, garden art, and water features like bird baths or fountains. These details encourage you to slow down, observe nature, and enjoy the changing activity throughout the growing season.

Small Gardens Can Make a Big Impact

You don’t need acres of land to support pollinators. Even a small flower bed, balcony planter, or container garden can provide valuable habitat and food sources. Our staff at Westside Garden Center would be happy to assist you in creating a pollinator-friendly space. We can help you select the plants and items you need, just stop in and ask!