Why Native Plants Attract More Pollinators
The science behind why plants that evolved alongside local pollinators are dramatically more effective at supporting wildlife.
The Co-evolution Advantage
Native plants and local pollinators have spent thousands of years evolving together. The result is a deeply specialized relationship — the bloom timing of native wildflowers often matches the emergence of the bees and butterflies that depend on them.
Introduced ornamentals, even beautiful ones, typically lack the chemical and structural cues that native pollinators recognize. Studies have found that native plantings support up to 4x more native bee species than equivalent non-native plantings.
Bloom Timing Matters
When you plant a mix of early, mid, and late-season natives, you create a continuous food source from first thaw to last frost. Monarchs need late-blooming goldenrod and asters in autumn. Bumblebee queens depend on early-blooming willows and native cherries to build their spring colonies.
Getting Started
Browse our plant catalog filtered by your region to find the natives that will make the biggest difference in your yard. Even a small patch of three or four well-chosen species can dramatically increase the wildlife activity you observe.