U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Attracting Pollinators
to Your Garden
Wild Cherries
Carolina Rose
Thistle Seeds
Wild Stawberries
Elderberry
Blue Berries
Sunflower Seeds
Why are Pollinators Important?
�� Pollinators are nearly as important as sunlight, soil and water to the
reproductive success of over 75% of the world’s flowering plants.
• They are crucial to the production of most fruits, nuts, and berries
on which people and wildlife depend.
• Over 150 food crops in the United States depend on pollinators,
including blueberries, apples, oranges, squash, tomatoes and almonds.
What is Pollination?
Pollination occurs when pollen grains from a flower’s male parts
(anthers) are moved to the female part (stigma) of the same species.
Once on the stigma, the pollen grain grows a tube that runs down the
style to the ovary, where fertilization occurs, producing seeds.
Most plants depend on pollinators to move the pollen from one flower to
the next, while others rely on wind or water to move pollen.
Plants produce nectar to attract pollinators. As the pollinator moves
from flower to flower collecting nectar, they are also moving pollen from
flower to flower. Certain fruits and seeds will not be produced if their
flowers are not pollinated.
Worldwide there are more than 100,000 different animal species that
pollinate plants. Insects are the most common pollinators, but as
many as 1,500 species of vertebrates also help pollinate plants.
ovule
ovary
style
stigma
petal
anther
filament
pistil
stamen
Meet the Pollinators
Hummingbirds are attracted to scarlet,
orange, red or white tubular-shaped flowers
with no distinct odors.
Bats are attracted to dull white, green or
purple flowers that emit strong, musty
odors at night.
Bees are attracted to bright white, yellow
or blue flowers and flowers with contrasting
ultraviolet patterns that have fresh, mild or
pleasant odors.
A Good Pollinator:
• Is highly mobile
and can travel
from flower to
flower. Moving
pollen from
flowers on one
plant to another
plant (rather
than on the same
plant) is called
cross-pollination.
Plants resulting
from cross-pollination
have
greater genetic
diversity and
are more capable
of withstanding
environmental
change.
• Has hairs, scales
or feathers.
Pollen grains
from one flower
get caught in the
hairs, scales, and
feathers then are
brushed off on
another flower
as the pollinator
moves from plant
to plant collecting
nectar.
• Has specialized
mouth parts for
collecting nectar
from the plants it
visits.
Raspberry
Bumble bee
Saguaro cactus
Ruby throated hummingbird
Trumpet
honeysuckle
Lesser
long-nosed
bat
Flies are attracted to green, white or
cream flowers with little odor or dark
brown and purple flowers that have
putrid odors.
Butterflies are attracted to bright red
and purple flowers with a faint but fresh
odor.
The hummingbird moth is active during
the day however most moths are active
at night and are attracted to pale red,
purple, pink or white flowers that emit a
strong, sweet odor at night.
Beetles are attracted to white or green
flowers with odors ranging from none to
strongly fruity or foul.
Pollinators in Peril!
Pollinator
populations are
declining. The most
probable causes
include:
• Habitat loss,
fragmentation
and degradation
(including the
introduction and
spread of invasive
plant species)
• Misuse of pesticides
• Disease, including
parasites carried
to the U.S. on
introduced species
Hover fly
(flower fly)
Daisy
Monarch butterfly
Butterfly
milkweed
Dense
blazing
star
Soldier beetle
American
black
elderberry
Hummingbird
moth
What You Can Do for Pollinators
Plant a garden using native flowering
plants:
• Choose a variety of colors and shapes that will attract a
variety of pollinators
• Choose plants that flower at different times providing
nectar and pollen sources throughout the growing season.
• Plant in clumps rather than single plants to better
attract pollinators
For more information: http://pollinator.org/guides.htm
Provide habitat for nesting and egg-laying,
such as:
•
Shrubs, tall grasses, and low-growing plants
• Patches of fallen branches and brush
• Small patches of bare ground
• Bee nesting block
For more information: http://www.fws.gov/pollinators/PollinatorPages/
YourHelp.html#bee
Avoid or limit pesticide use:
• For natural pest control provide a diverse
garden habitat with a variety of plant
sizes, heights, and types to encourage beneficial
insects
• Expect and accept a little bit of pest activity
• Try removing pests by hand (wearing garden gloves)
• If you must use a pesticide, choose one that is the
least toxic to non-pest species, does not persist on
vegetation, and apply it in the evening when
most pollinators are not as active
For more information: http://www.fws.gov/pollinators/PollinatorPages/
YourHelp.html#pesticide
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
http://www.fws.gov/pollinators/
1/800 344 WILD
August 2011
Item # FW 7005
All Illustrations by
USFWS/Tim Knepp
