Attracting Pollinators: How to Plant a Bees and Butterfly Flower Bed

Five Steps to a Beautiful Pollinator Garden

Pollinators like bees and butterflies play a crucial role in supporting healthy ecosystems and productive gardens. If you’re interested in creating a pollinator-friendly space, a bees and butterfly flower bed is a great way to contribute to biodiversity while beautifying your yard.

1. Choose Pollinator-Friendly Flowers for your Missoula Garden

Pollinators are attracted to bright, fragrant flowers that provide nectar and pollen. Some of the best Montana flower seeds for a pollinator garden include:

• Echinacea (Coneflower) – A favorite of bees and butterflies

• Lupine – Native to Montana and a great early-season nectar source

• Bee balm – Attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies

• Sunflowers – A magnet for pollinators and great for seed-eating birds in the fall

2. Support Local and Buy Seeds in Missoula

When selecting seeds, opt for varieties from a Missoula seed store that are well-suited to the local environment. Supporting small local plant stores ensures you get high-quality seeds adapted to Missoula’s growing conditions.

3. Plan Your Pollinator Garden Layout

• Plant in clusters – Large groups of flowers are easier for pollinators to locate.
• Include a variety of bloom times – Ensure flowers are available from early spring through late fall.
• Use native plants – They require less maintenance and are better adapted to local pollinators.

4. Provide Essential Pollinator Habitats

Beyond flowers, make sure to include:

• Flat stones for butterflies to sunbathe
• A shallow water dish with pebbles for bees to drink
• Undisturbed soil areas for native ground-nesting bees

5. Avoid Pesticides

Many chemicals harm pollinators. Use organic gardening practices and introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs to control pests naturally.

Creating a flower garden that supports bees and butterflies is a rewarding way to contribute to the environment while enhancing the beauty of your garden. Leaf + Quiet offers a wide selection of pollinator friendly seed mixes rated to thrive in Missoula.