Planting Native Flowers (Not Keeping Beehives) Saves Pollinators

How you can support native pollinators (bees, birds, butterflies) in your own backyard or neighborhood—and actually see the impact of your actions

Enjoy this article that is part of my ongoing series called Rewilding Your Yard for Wildlife and Biodiversity.

The reality is this: bee populations are declining around the world—not good for the pollinators themselves, the plants they pollinate, or the animals (including humans) who rely on those plants for food.

And here’s a warning to light a little fire under your tookus: Albert Einstein once said: “If the bee disappeared off the face of the Earth, man would only have four years left to live.”

Whether you have a backyard, balcony, or a neglected corner by the sidewalk, there’s a place for wildflowers—and a place for you in this rewilding movement. What doesn’t have a place is the misconception that helping honeybees means helping all pollinators.

Native Bees vs. Honey Bees

There are more than 25,000 bee species globally, but when most people think about bees, they tend to think only of the European honeybee — a species not native to the U.S. — that has been domesticated for crop pollination and honey production.

We cultivate honey bees just like we cultivate chickens, cows, and pigs, and like all non-native agriculture animals, their high population is a harm to native wild populations

• they compete directly for nectar and pollen

• they transmit diseases

• and they push wild bees out of their native areas.

Well-intentioned though it may be, keeping honey bees and managing beehives does nothing to protect the wild pollinators. Scientists who study bees say it's like farming chickens to save wild birds.

Despite this, beekeeping has experienced a notable surge in popularity in both the United States and the United Kingdom in recent years.

Recognizing this, there has been a growing emphasis on planting native flowering plants to support indigenous pollinators (and honey bees benefit, too)! Initiatives such as Pollinator Week, organized by the Pollinator Partnership, aim to raise awareness about the importance of creating habitats for native pollinators through strategic planting.

Become a Pollinator Steward

In fact, this is exactly why I decided to deepen my own knowledge and experience and enroll in Pollinator Partnership’s Pollinator Steward Certification program. I can’t wait to share everything I’m learning with you — and how I’m essentially restoring our gardens to a native pollinator habitat — but you don’t pursue a certification to make a difference for pollinators — wherever you live, however large or small your space is.

Now is the perfect time to start planning how you can support native pollinators in your own backyard or community.

1. Learn 5 (or more) plants native to your area.

   I’ve been guilty of buying non-native pollinator plants—and many were already in our gardens when we bought this house. So, wanting to better understand how well I’m supporting native wildlife, I’ve been meticulously identifying every plant in our gardens (and there are many!). The most accurate and helpful app I’ve found for this is PictureThis, which I subscribe to annually. I created two collections—Native Plants at Home and Non-Native Plants at Home—and the process has been truly eye-opening. If you want to use online databases, here are more tools:

   • U.S.: Pollinator Partnership has a great database you can search by zip code.

   • Canada: Pollinator Partnership Canada’s Ecoregional Plant Guides

   • U.K.: The Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s BeeKind Tool

2. Plant a native habitat in your outdoor space.
   Whether you have a large backyard, a small patio, or just a balcony, you can create a pollinator-friendly habitat. If you don’t have space for an in-ground garden, plant native flowers in pots, window boxes, or hanging baskets—even a few nectar-rich blooms can make a difference! If you live in an apartment or urban area, consider working with neighbors, local conservation groups, or your city council to establish bee-friendly spaces in parks, community gardens, or along roadsides. Every flower counts! That’s not an exaggeration.

3. Resist and avoid ornamental non-natives.
   Ornamental non-native plants often fail native bees because they lack accessible nectar and pollen, bloom at the wrong time, or don’t provide suitable nesting habitats. Many are bred for looks rather than function, leaving bees without food or shelter. It’s not that you have to remove all of the ones you have, particularly well-established shrubs and trees, but my suggestions is to plant two new native plants for every one non-native you have. Ask your local nursery for native plant recommendations, or buy seeds or starters online.

4. Provide water for thirsty bees.
   Fill a shallow dish or birdbath with pebbles and water so bees can drink without drowning. Rinse and refill every few days to prevent mosquito breeding.

   

   Photo by George Nifakos

5. Ditch the pesticides.
   Many insecticides and herbicides harm pollinators. Instead, use organic, bee-safe alternatives or let nature take its course.

6. Create nesting sites for native bees.
   Most native bees don’t live in hives like honeybees; instead, they nest in the ground, hollow plant stems, or dead wood. Support them by leaving some areas of your yard undisturbed—bare soil patches, fallen logs, and untrimmed plants provide essential nesting sites.

   1. Many ground-nesting bees need loose, sandy, or well-drained soil, so avoid heavy mulch or landscape fabric that can block access. (The mulch in the photo below is on one of our hillsides, but we have many areas that are just bare ground and naturally mulched by leafdrop.)

   2. Cavity-nesting bees, like mason and leafcutter bees, lay their eggs in hollow stems or tunnels in wood. You can encourage them by leaving last season’s flower stalks standing until spring and keeping dead trees or logs where it’s safe to do so.

7. Rethink your lawn.
   If you can’t or don’t want to get rid of it altogether, how about half of it? Swap 50% of it for a wildflower garden or at least allow native “weeds” like dandelions and clover to bloom—they’re valuable food sources for pollinators. If anyone questions your uncut lawn, just say you’re doing your science-backed part for the bees!

8. Remove invasive non-natives. These aggressive plants displace native species and spread rapidly, disrupting local ecosystems. Using my trusty PictureThis app, I’ve been able to identify the most invasive non-natives in my yard, so I’ve been pulling out (by hand, one at a time!) hairy bittercress, dove’s foot crane’s bill, poison hemlock, and panic veld grass. Each region has its own problem species, so identifying and removing them is key to restoring biodiversity. (Here’s me removing invasive panic veld grass one by one)

   Here’s a before and after. 😊

   

9. Keep native “weeds” that benefit pollinators. One of the most fun aspects of this project (I realize “fun” is subjective here 😊) is discovering that plants I would have called “weeds” in the past are actually native re-seeders! So, now that I’ve become acquainted with our volunteer rough hedgenettle and ladies’ tobacco, I can’t wait to see them flower and support our local pollinators!

10. For more resources and inspiration, join Pollinator Week 2025 (June 16-22)! Hosted by Pollinator Partnership, this annual event raises awareness about pollinators and how to protect them. Get involved by planting native flowers, creating bee-friendly spaces, or joining community events. Learn more at Pollinator Partnership!

A Few More Tips to Inspire Biodiversity

• Check out SF in Bloom for wildflower seeds native to your area. I ordered packets of SF Bay Area seeds, sowed them, and I’m already seeding a ton of beautiful new seedlings. Now is the time to sow those seeds!

• Find a local native nursery near you. You may be surprised! I am lucky enough to live near a native nursery (called East Bay Wilds) we visited for the first time! They’re open only once a week, and I had a list prepared before going. (See video below!)

• Identify the native plants you want and ask your local nursery to order them for you. Most nurseries specialize in ornamentals but may have a small section dedicated to natives and can most likely special-order what they don’t carry.

• Don’t stress about doing it all at once. Start by learning just five native flowers or shrubs, and build from there. With so many options, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed—just pick a place to begin!

As always, don’t do nothing because you can’t do everything. Do something. Anything.

For the animals, thank you for reading! I would love to hear your thoughts, comments, and questions!

Remember: this article that is part of an ongoing series called Rewilding Your Yard for Wildlife and Biodiversity. There are many articles there to inspire and inform you, including one on growing wildflowers from seed or starters. (Includes links to retailers.)

More Inspiration for Making a Difference

My new book, A Year of Compassion: 52 Weeks of Living Zero-Waste, Plant-Based, and Cruelty-Free is now officially out! Find all the retailers (large and small), where you can buy your copy (including signed copies).