Create Big Impact with Small Space Pollinator Gardens
Top 6 container plants for inviting bees, hummingbirds and butterflies to the garden.

By: Kathleen Hennessy for Monrovia

If you’re looking to invite more pollinators into your landscape, you’re not alone. Providing food and habitat for bees, birds and butterflies is on many gardeners’ lists this year. The good news is that you don’t need a lot of space to welcome pollinators. Container gardens are an easy way to create a thriving pollinator habitat.

“Gardeners are more in tune with the need for pollinators in our ecosystem,” says Katie Tamony, plant expert and trend-spotter at Monrovia. “The key to attracting these beneficial insects and birds to your yard is choosing the right plants. Look for a variety of colorful, nectar- and pollen-rich blooms to create a tempting buffet even in a small space.”

Here are our top 6 container plants for pollinators:

Cuphea adds vibrant color and nectar-rich blooms to containers. The tubular shaped blooms are a favorite for hummingbirds. The aptly named Hummingbird’s Lunch Cuphea brings more than just those favorite pollinators to the garden, bees and butterflies love it too!

Coneflowers are a must-have in the pollinator garden. The blooms do double duty, providing a food source for pollinators, while the center cones offer a large landing pad. SunMagic® Petite Burgundy Coneflower is a petite echinacea that is perfect for containers.

SunBelievable™ Brown Eyed Girl Helianthus is a favorite for gardeners and pollinators alike. This outstanding container sunflower does not produce seeds, so it puts all its energy into creating more than 1,000 blooms per season on every plant. Although it doesn’t provide pollen, it is nectar-rich and loved by pollinators.

Monrovia’s plant hunters chose Honey Blush™ Rose specifically because of its exceptional ability to attract pollinators. It’s pretty, free flowing blooms create a beautiful container and entice pollinators to visit. Plus, it is easy to grow!

Pink Pearl Agastache – Gardeners and pollinators are captivated by Pink Pearl’s tall spikes of beautiful, dainty flowers. This variety has a more compact habit and dense blooms, that are outstanding in a container. Light pink flowers with darker buds cover the entire plant and provide a gorgeous two-tone effect from late spring until frost. Also known as Hummingbird Mint, it’s the perfect plant for bringing hummingbirds, along with other pollinators, to the garden.

Every pollinator garden needs a Honeysuckle. Goldflame Honeysuckle features purple and deep pink buds that open to golden yellow tubular flowers pollinators love. Planted in large containers, this honeysuckle can add height to the garden growing up a trellis. Goldflame also works well when pruned to form a dense shrub-like shape in containers.

Whether you choose one plant or combine several pollinator-friendly varieties, your container gardens are sure to create buzz in the landscape.

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