Pollinator Garden

A pollinator garden pairs edible crops with flowering herbs to attract bees and other beneficial insects. It can improve the garden's activity while adding herbs, berries, and vegetables for the table.

What to grow in a Pollinator Garden

How to design it

Site the garden in at least six hours of sun and arrange taller flowering herbs toward the back or center. Group the same flowering crops in clusters so they are easy for pollinators to find, while leaving open paths for harvest. Keep cucumber and squash near a trellis or bed edge so their vines do not smother herbs.

Care through the season

Water new plants regularly until rooted, then water deeply when the top few inches of soil are dry. Use compost and gentle organic amendments rather than overfeeding, which can produce leafy growth with fewer flowers. Let selected herbs bloom, and sow dill or borage in stages for an extended flowering period.

Tips

Avoid spraying open flowers with insecticides, even products labeled organic. Leave some basil, dill, and borage flowers for pollinators, then harvest the remaining foliage. Strawberry flowers benefit from good pollinator activity early in the season.

General planning ideas for US home gardens; adjust plant choices to your climate, space, and local frost dates. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.