Updated on September 30, 2025 by Ruth
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We hear about pollinators and how important they are, but what are pollinators and what do they do?
Welcome to the power of pollinators! Pollinators play a crucial role in our ecosystem, allowing plants to reproduce and thrive. Without pollinators, our food supply and natural environment would suffer greatly. Did you know that you can help support pollinators by planting the right flowers in your garden? We will explore the benefits of pollinators, the flowers that attract them, and how you can create a beautiful and thriving garden that supports these essential creatures.
Table of Contents
Types of pollinators
What kinds of pollinators help your garden thrive? There are many different types of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, birds, bats, and even some species of beetles and flies. Bees and butterflies are perhaps the best known of the pollinators and the most frequently observed in the garden as they actively seek nectar and pollen from flowers. Birds and bats are important pollinators in tropical regions, where they help to pollinate fruit and other crops.
There are specific varieties of flies which are very helpful in the garden. The bee fly, which has a fuzzy body reminiscent of a bee, does not sting and feeds on the nectar of flowers. Flower flies, also known as hover flies or syrphid flies, have a yellow and black striped body, and are welcome in the garden, as the syrphid larvae consume aphids.
All of these pollinators play a crucial role in helping plants reproduce and ensuring a healthy food supply, making them an essential part of any garden or ecosystem. By planting a variety of flowers and other plants that attract different pollinators, gardeners can help support a healthy ecosystem.
The benefits of having pollinators
I was skeptical about how much benefit there would be for the crops if there were honeybee hives on the property. Surely the plants would get pollinated the way they always did, right? I found out differently. Having hives on the farm and making the habitat pollinator friendly increased the production of the vegetable plants and the fruit crops by over 40%. Now, I cannot imagine trying to grow without our pollinators. In addition to honeybees, we keep areas friendly for other pollinators, such as ground bees, hoverflies, and butterflies.
When I see the butterflies among the flowers in the cut flower garden, I know that the ecosystem is healthy. Pollinators are sensitive to disruptions in the biome and it is critical to maintain the environment in a way that supports the plants and the pollinators, meaning available water sources and no pesticides.
Importance of planting flowers
Planting various types of flowers can attract greater numbers of pollinators to your garden, ensuring more efficient pollination. The pollinators, whether butterflies, bees, flies, or bats, feed on the nectar of the flowers, making any type of flower essential for the survival of the pollinators. This applies to flowers of vegetable plants, fruit shrubs and trees, as well as decorative flowers. All help feed the diverse pollinators.
Flowers that attract lots of pollinators include native perennials, which are plants that are hardy in your area and help support your local ecosystem. Native perennials attract beneficial insects and help repel pests. Be sure to have flowers early and late in the growing season, as the pollinators are active at those times as well. They need food sources!
Tips for creating a pollinator-friendly garden
There are three ways to help build a garden that is pollinator-friendly.
Include a variety of flowers that bloom at different times of the year. Try to have something in flower throughout the entire growing season. From winter pansies through spring flowers, summer vegetables, and fall fruits and chrysanthemums, a diversity of flowers supports a wide variety of pollinators. Particularly critical are plants in the earliest part of the sea.on, when butterflies emerge from cocoons, and in the latest part of the season, when bees are stockpiling supplies for the winter.
Have nesting boxes for bees, butterflies, or plant areas of the garden that can be undisturbed by foot traffic or planting. Quiet areas that are out of the way provide safe breeding areas for your pollinators.
Avoid the use of pesticides, even organic sprays. All of the pollinators are highly sensitive to any sprays or dusts that may be used. If you find it necessary to apply anything, try later in the day at dusk or early in the morning, when the pollinators are inactive.
FAQs
Q: What are pollinators?
A: Pollinators are insects and mammals, such as bees, butterflies, moths, birds, bats, and even some species of beetles and flies, that help plant flowers pollinate in order to reproduce.
Q: What do pollinators do?
A: As the pollinators move from one flower to another, they carry the pollen of the flower with them, which provides the completion of the development process. This can improve fruit and vegetable production dramatically.
Q: Are pollinators hard to sustain in the garden?
A: It is pretty easy to sustain populations of diverse pollinators by providing a safe, undisturbed breeding location and access to water. Avoid chemicals and sprays.
Conclusion: The importance of pollinators
In conclusion, pollinators play a vital role in our ecosystem, and without their diligent efforts, many of the fruits, vegetables, and flowers that we enjoy today would not be possible.
By planting a diverse range of flowers in your garden, you can attract a wide variety of pollinators and help support their populations. Not only will your garden thrive, but you will also be doing your part to protect these essential insects and birds as well as the environment as a whole.
So why not give it a try? Head to your local nursery or farm, pick up some pollinator-friendly flowers, and watch your garden come to life with the power of pollinators.
If you are looking for pollinator friendly plants, you can find them at garden centers, nurseries, or farm markets. Look for growers who have different kinds of native plants, as you will have the greatest success there. Knowledgeable staff can help answer questions about perennials or annuals and which pollinators they attract, or other native perennials that can grow easily in your area. Check out the different varieties available and determine which will best suit your purposes.
Happy growing!
~Ruth
Additional resources:
For lots of information about all kinds of flies, including beneficial flower flies and bee flies, go to https://greennature.com/flies/ .
For specific flower perennials to plant in order to attract pollinators, go to: https://highlandorchardsfarmmarket.com/perennials-to-plant-in-2023/.
To attract hummingbirds to your garden, check out this blog: https://highlandorchardsfarmmarket.com/how-can-i-attract-hummingbirds-to-my-garden/
About Ruth: I am the 6th generation of my family to farm here at Highland Orchards in Delaware. I grew up here, learning from my grandparents and parents how to plant, weed, harvest, and store fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. My graduate degree is in history, so I love to research anything and everything. I have taught at all levels, including university and continuing education. I have done everything on the farm, from planting to selling to social media. I love that I can share knowledge with people through books, blogs, and courses. For more information on the farm, go to https://highlandorchardsfarmmarket.com/.
