Grow a multi-purpose pollinator garden

Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, play a crucial role in our ecosystem by helping to fertilize plants and ensure their reproduction. 

Unfortunately, many pollinator populations are in decline due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and other factors. One way that you can help support native pollinators is by creating a pollinator garden, which provides a habitat for these important creatures to thrive. 

Adding culinary herbs to a pollinator garden not only benefits the pollinators but also provides fresh ingredients for the kitchen.

Plus, some of these fabulous culinary plants do triple whammy by looking great in the vase!

Why Grow a Pollinator Garden?

Pollinator gardens are not only beneficial for the pollinators themselves but also for the environment as a whole. By providing a habitat for pollinators, you help to maintain the biodiversity of our planet. Thank you gardening friend!

Additionally, pollinators are responsible for fertilizing a large percentage of our food crops, so by supporting their populations, we are also supporting our own food systems. 

You can’t grow a garden without pollinators!

Many pollinator-friendly plants are also beautiful additions to your garden. And, as mentioned earlier, adding culinary herbs to a pollinator garden can provide both beauty and practical benefits.

Choosing the Right Plants for your Pollinator Garden

When selecting plants for a pollinator garden, it is important to choose varieties that are attractive to pollinators. This typically includes plants with brightly colored flowers that are easy for pollinators to access. Native plants are often a great option, as they have evolved alongside the local pollinator populations and are well-suited to their needs.

When choosing culinary herbs to include in a pollinator garden, there are several options to consider. Many herbs have flowers that are attractive to pollinators, while others have foliage that can provide shelter for them.

Some popular culinary herbs that pollinators love include the following:

Addition #1 for your multi-purpose pollinator garden: Basil

Basil is a popular culinary herb that also has flowers that are attractive to bees and other pollinators.

It is an annual plant that grows well in warm weather. When planting basil in a pollinator garden, be sure to space the plants at least 12 inches apart to allow room for growth. 

Basil can be trickier to grow in northern climates. I grow mine exclusively in a hoop house. In warmer climates it does well outdoors. The variety I love for cooking is Genovese. If growing for the vase, shop for varieties with deep purple leaves - they are amazing.

Any variety will produce interesting flowers for you and for your pollinators.

Addition #2 for your multi-purpose pollinator garden: Thyme

Thyme is a low-growing perennial herb that has small, fragrant flowers that are attractive to bees and butterflies.

It’s a great option for a pollinator garden because it can grow in a variety of soils and is drought-tolerant.

Thyme can be started from seed early in the season. It’s a perennial in northern climates although I plant extra each year in case I lose some over the winter.

Addition #3 for your multi-purpose pollinator garden: Cilantro

Cilantro/coriander is a fabulous fresh annual herb.

Since cilantro will bolt in the summer, I grow mine for culinary uses in the early summer and then let it bolt (go to flower).

Cilantro flowers smell heavenly - pollinators love them and they are a great filler flower for the vase. 

Let a few of the flower heads go to seed. This seed is coriander! You can save it for planting next year or harvest for some super cool bouquet elements.

Addition #4 for your multi-purpose pollinator garden: Sage

Sage is a culinary herb that also has attractive flowers that are popular with pollinators.

It’s a perennial plant that prefers well-draining soil and can be grown easily from seed. In my experience it survives 2-3 years and then dies back. Flowers usually develop in the second year. You can use the foliage and flowers to fill out your home arrangements.

Sage, flowering in it’s second year in my backyard garden.

Addition #5 for your multi-purpose pollinator garden: Oregano

Oregano is a perennial herb that is commonly used in Italian and Mediterranean cuisine.

It produces small, pink or purple flowers in the summer, which are a great source of nectar for bees and other pollinators.

Oregano is also known to repel some garden pests, making it a great companion plant. I love popping oregano into a bouquet - it’s purple flowers make a nicely scented filler.

Addition #6 for your multi-purpose pollinator garden: Mint

Mint is a hardy herb that is easy to grow and has a refreshing scent.

It produces small, white or purple flowers in the summer, which are a great source of nectar for pollinators.

Mint spreads enthusiastically, so it is best to plant it in a container or a designated area of the garden. You will have extra plants to dig up and give away or compost every year.

Addition #7 for your multi-purpose pollinator garden: Chives

Chives are another easy-to-grow herb that can be used in pollinator gardens.

They produce pretty pink or purple flowers in the summer, which are a great source of nectar for bees and other pollinators.

Chives are also known to repel some garden pests, making them a great companion plant. Every year they grow into bigger clumps that can then be divided and spread out or given away to your neighbors. The flowers are edible, look great in a vase and dry well hung upside down.

Chives are a fabulous herb, attract pollinators and look great in a vase.

Maintaining your Pollinator Garden

Once you’ve established your culinary-pollinator-cutting-garden, maintain it properly to ensure that it continues to provide a habitat for pollinators.

This includes watering the plants regularly, fertilizing as needed (with organic fertilizers and compost) and frequently cutting flowers for your bouquets so the plants keep producing more stems.

Remember to avoid the use of pesticides (natural and conventional) in a pollinator garden, as you will kill not only the bad bugs but the good bugs too. This is the reason I’ve never sprayed anything in my garden. Even some of the natural and organic sprays will kill the beneficial bugs.

Creating a pollinator garden with culinary herbs is a great way to support pollinator populations while also providing a source of food and flavor for yourself and super cool additions to your home grown bouquets.

By following the tips outlined here, you can create a beautiful and functional pollinator garden that will benefit both pollinators and humans alike.

Storage Notes:

I keep all the herbs I cut from my garden in a small jar of water on the counter.

Some dislike the fridge (basil) and will often get lost in the crisper.

No one likes to discover rotten home-grown herbs weeks later in the bottom of the crisper!