Starting a Pollinator Garden: Design Principles and Plant Selection

How to start a pollinator garden — what to actually plant (and what to avoid), design principles that maximize insect diversity, and why the species list matters more than the aesthetic.

When to plant

Fall is ideal for most native pollinator plants — cooler temperatures and rainfall support establishment, and many natives need a cold period to break dormancy for spring growth. Spring planting works for most species with consistent irrigation for the first season. Per Xerces Society, "the most common mistake is planting a pollinator garden in May when everything at the garden center is in bloom — this misses the fall planting window and produces plants that must survive their first summer drought before establishing."