Pollinator Food Preferences (and How to Keep Them Coming Back)

When most people think “pollinator,” they picture a honey bee. Bees are important—but they’re only one part of the crew. In the East Kootenays, gardens thrive thanks to bumble bees, solitary bees, hoverflies, butterflies, moths, beetles, wasps, and even hummingbirds. Each one has different flower preferences (shape, scent, colour, and bloom timing), and when we plant with that in mind, we get better harvests, healthier ecosystems, and a garden that feels truly alive.

In this post you’ll learn:

• Why pollinators are the workhorses of the garden

• Which pollinators visit our region and what flowers they prefer

• How to keep them coming back year after year (food + water + shelter + homes)

Why pollinators are the workhorses of the garden

Pollinators top job in their lives are to collect and move pollen from plants to their homes and bellies. As pollinators move between flowers, the pollen that they have collected, or rubbed off on their bodies, is then transferred to each new flower they touch. Which helps plants set fruit and seed. That means:

• better yields (especially fruit trees, berries, squash-family crops)

• stronger seed set for self-sowing flowers and native plants

• more biodiversity (which supports pest control and soil health)

Even better: when pollinators can find food and nesting habitat close by, many will return and build up local populations over time.

Types of Pollinators

1) Bumble bees

Flower preferences

• Shape: open bowls, clusters, and some tubular flowers.

• Smell: mild to sweet.

• Colour: blues, purples, yellows, whites. (Fun fact Bee's cannot see the color red. It just looks black to them)

When they show up: Early spring

Flower examples

• Early: crocus, willow catkins, lungwort (Pulmonaria), currants/gooseberries (Ribes), dandelion

• Mid: comfrey, borage, catmint (Nepeta), clover, penstemon, salvia

• Late: bee balm (Monarda), sedum/stonecrop, asters, goldenrod

Quick Tip: If you only plant one “bumble bee magnet,” choose borage or bee balm as these will continue to bloom most of the season.

2) Honey bees

Flower preferences

• Shape: clusters of small flowers; many shapes

• Smell: sweet, noticeable

• Colour: blues/purples/whites/yellows

When they show up: Mid–late spring once days are reliably warm

Flower examples

• Fruit blossoms: apple, cherry, plum, pear, saskatoon/serviceberry

• Herbs: thyme, basil, oregano, lavender, sage, mint (let some bloom)

• Flowers: clover, calendula, sunflowers, phacelia

Quick Tip: Let a few herbs bolt and bloom—oregano, basil and thyme flowers are tiny but powerful. And if you companion plant them with Tomatoes they will encourage more pollinators for your tomato plants each season.

3) Solitary bees (mason, leafcutter, mining, sweat bees)

Flower preferences

• Shape: open/shallow flowers; small clustered blooms

• Smell: mild to sweet

• Colour: blues, purples, whites, yellows

When they show up: Early spring through summer (varies by species)

Flower examples

• Early: fruit blossoms, willow, currants/gooseberries, dandelion

• Summer: yarrow, cosmos, zinnias, echinacea, blanketflower (Gaillardia)

• Leafcutter-friendly: clover, alfalfa, roses (they use leaf pieces for nests)

Quick Tip: Skip “double” flowers when you can—single blooms are usually easier for bees to access.

4) Hoverflies (Can be mistaken for tiny bees)

Adults pollinate; many larvae eat aphids.

Flower preferences

• Shape: tiny, shallow flowers; flat-topped clusters (umbels)

• Smell: light, herbal

• Colour: especially white and yellow

When they show up: Mid-spring through fall

Flower examples

• Umbels: dill, fennel, cilantro/coriander (let it flower), parsley (bolted), angelica

• Others: sweet alyssum, yarrow, daisies, calendula

Quick Tip: Plant sweet alyssum near veggies—it feeds hoverflies and can help with aphid pressure.

5) Butterflies

Though not always the most efficient pollinators, but important and a great sign of habitat quality.

Flower preferences

• Shape: landing platforms; clustered blooms

• Smell: usually light

• Colour: bright pinks, purples, oranges, yellows

When they show up: Late spring through summer, some into early fall

Flower examples (nectar)

• bee balm, coneflower (Echinacea), asters, blazing star (Liatris), verbena, zinnias (single), yarrow

Host plant examples (for caterpillars)

• violets, nettles (if you can tolerate a patch), native grasses, willows

Quick Tip: A “butterfly garden” needs host plants too—not just nectar flowers.

6) Moths (including hawk/sphinx moths)

Why they matter: Night-shift pollinators; some specialize in deep tubular flowers.

Flower preferences

• Shape: tubular/deep flowers; some open bowls at night

• Smell: strong, sweet (often strongest in evening)

• Colour: white/pale blooms

When they show up: Summer through early fall, especially warm evenings

Flower examples

• evening primrose (Oenothera), nicotiana (flowering tobacco), phlox, honeysuckle, some penstemons

Quick Tip: Add at least one evening-scented plant so your garden supports pollinators after sunset.

7) Beetles

Why they matter: Ancient pollinators; sometimes messy but still helpful.

Flower preferences

• Shape: open, bowl-shaped flowers with lots of pollen

• Smell: spicy/fruity/fermented

• Colour: often whites/greens, but varied

When they show up: Late spring through summer

Flower examples

• single/open roses, peonies (open), sunflowers, goldenrod, yarrow

Quick Tip: If you notice chewed petals but lots of visitors, your garden may be feeding more than just bees—and that’s okay.

8) Wasps (paper wasps, yellowjackets, parasitoid wasps)

Why they matter: Adults drink nectar and can pollinate; many also help control pests.

Flower preferences

• Shape: shallow, accessible flowers; small clusters

• Smell: sweet or herbal

• Colour: whites and yellows

When they show up: Late spring through fall

Flower examples

• dill, fennel, yarrow, sweet alyssum, mint flowers, goldenrod, asters

Quick Tip: Many tiny wasps are harmless to people and excellent pest control—avoid broad sprays that wipe them out.

9) Hummingbirds

Why they matter: Specialized nectar feeders; important for tubular flowers; also eat small insects.

Flower preferences

• Shape: tubular

• Smell: minimal

• Colour: red/orange/bright pink

When they show up: Spring into summer (varies year to year, they like it warm)

Flower examples

• columbine (Aquilegia), bee balm (Monarda), honeysuckle, scarlet runner beans, tubular salvias (hardy types)

Quick Tip: Plant columbine + honeysuckle for an early-to-mid hummingbird buffet.

10) Other pollinating flies (bee flies, tachinid flies, etc.)

Why they matter: Often active in cooler/cloudier conditions; some are also beneficial predators/parasitoids.

Flower preferences

• Shape: open/shallow flowers; some like deeper blooms

• Smell: varies

• Colour: often whites/yellows

When they show up: Early spring through fall

Flower examples

• yarrow, daisies, asters, goldenrod, sweet alyssum, flowering shrubs with clustered blooms

Quick Tip: If your garden has lots of small flowers (like yarrow and herbs), you’ll support a whole hidden world of beneficial insects.

How to keep pollinators coming back year after year

Keeping pollinators coming back year after year is about more than planting a few “bee flowers.” Pollinators stay loyal to places that meet all their needs: steady food from early spring to fall, safe water, shelter from heat and wind, and nearby nesting spots where they can raise the next generation. When your yard provides both meals and habitat, it becomes a reliable home base—and your pollinator population can grow a little more each season.

1) Add safe water

Set out a shallow dish with pebbles/marbles for landing. Refill during hot spells.

Quick Tip: Put water in morning sun so it warms slightly—many insects prefer that.

2) Provide shade and shelter

Windbreaks and resting spots matter.

Ideas:

• shrubs and small trees

• taller perennials

• a “wild edge” that isn’t constantly trimmed

Quick Tip: A little messiness is habitat.

3) Avoid chemicals that harm pollinators

Skip spraying flowering plants and lawns with products that can harm pollinators directly or indirectly.

Quick Tip: Mulch + dense planting solves a surprising number of “weed problems” without sprays.

4) Plant for continuous bloom

Aim for at least 3–5 reliable bloomers in each seasonal window.

Quick Tip: Herbs that flower (thyme, oregano, mint, dill) are some of the easiest high-value pollinator plants.

Pollinator homes: where they like to live

Once we encourage them, it is important to recognize their homes. So we can give them space, and protection al year long.

Bumble bees

• Often nest underground (old rodent burrows) or in grass tussocks. Last year the Bumblebees set up shop in my compost bin, so I was unable to harvest until the spring when they were ready to move again.

Honey bees

• Live in hives (managed) or cavities (wild colonies).

Solitary bees

• Many nest in bare/patchy soil (ground nesters).

• Others use hollow stems and holes in wood (cavity nesters).

Butterflies and moths

• Need host plants for caterpillars and safe places to pupate/overwinter (leaf litter, stems, bark crevices).

Quick Tip: Leave some stems standing and some leaf litter until spring warms up—many beneficial insects overwinter there.

Top pollinator plants (Based on bloom Season)

Quick Tip: Think in “bloom windows,” not exact dates

Spring timing changes year to year. Instead of aiming for specific calendar dates, aim for continuous bloom across:

• Early spring

• Mid–late spring

• Summer

• Late summer–fall (until hard frost)

• 
  

Use this as a simple shopping/planting checklist.

Early season

• willow (space permitting)

• currants/gooseberries (Ribes)

• crocus

• lungwort (Pulmonaria)

• fruit trees: apple, cherry, plum, pear

• saskatoon/serviceberry

• dandelion (leave a small patch)

Mid-season

• borage

• comfrey (give it space)

• catmint (Nepeta)

• clover (white or crimson)

• yarrow

• penstemon

• salvia (hardy types)

• calendula

• thyme + oregano (let bloom)

• dill/fennel/cilantro (let some flower)

Late season

• bee balm (Monarda)

• echinacea (coneflower)

• asters

• goldenrod

• sedum/stonecrop

• sunflowers

• mint flowers (contained)

Pollinator gardening doesn’t have to be complicated. If you focus on continuous bloom, no sprays, safe water, and a little habitat, you’ll be amazed how quickly your yard becomes a pollinator hub—and how much more abundant your garden feels.

Happy Gardening,

The Chronically Tired Gardener