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Pollinator gardening isn’t just a hobby—it’s a growing movement rooted in ecological stewardship, community engagement, and love of nature. Across the United States, gardeners are transforming spaces into thriving habitats for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, moths, beetles, and more. But no one gardens alone. Behind every successful pollinator patch is a network of resources: inspiring books, helpful websites, expert societies, grassroots groups, and dedicated retailers.
Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, these organizations, tools, and communities can help you cultivate beauty, biodiversity, and impact.
Societies and Nonprofits Supporting Pollinator Gardening
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
A leading voice in pollinator advocacy, Xerces offers science-based resources, pollinator habitat guides, and educational materials for gardeners and land managers alike.
Key Features
- Regional pollinator plant lists
- Bee-friendly farming and pesticide reduction campaigns
- “Bring Back the Pollinators” pledge
- Citizen science initiatives
https://www.xerces.org
Pollinator Partnership
This nonprofit coordinates National Pollinator Week, offers ecoregional planting guides, and connects gardeners with the science behind pollinator conservation.
Key Features
- Ecoregional planting guides (free downloads)
- Bee ID tools and guides
- Monarch conservation outreach
- School and corporate partnerships
North American Butterfly Association (NABA)
NABA is devoted to butterfly conservation, gardening, and citizen science. Their certified butterfly garden program helps gardeners create habitat for butterflies across the country.
Key Features
- Butterfly gardening certification
- Species-specific habitat tips
- Butterfly counts and surveys
- Pollinator garden signs and maps
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) – Garden for Wildlife
The NWF’s “Garden for Wildlife” program empowers individuals to turn their yards into certified wildlife habitats.
Key Features
- Native plant finder by ZIP code
- Habitat certification process
- Pollinator garden kits
- Educational blog and webinars
https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
This Texas-based center leads the national conversation on native plants. While located in Austin, their resources serve gardeners in every US region.
Key Features
- Native-plant database searchable by region
- Pollinator-friendly planting tips
- Ecological landscaping tools
- Professional training and outreach
Top Websites and Online Tools for Pollinator Gardeners
Native Plant Finder
This ZIP code–based tool helps gardeners identify the most ecologically valuable nativeplants for their region—particularly those that support native caterpillars and bees.
Use It For:
- Choosing keystone plants
- Boosting biodiversity
- Supporting specific butterfly and bee species
https://www.nwf.org/NativePlantFinder
Monarch Watch
Focused on monarch butterfly conservation, this site provides detailed guidance on milkweed planting, pollinator corridors, and tagging programs.
Use It For:
- Finding milkweed species by region
- Becoming a Monarch Waystation
- Participating in monarch tagging and migration tracking
Naturalist and Seek
Run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic, these tools help gardeners ID pollinators and host plants while contributing to citizen science.
Use It For:
- Documenting pollinator activity in your garden
- Identifying bee, butterfly, and bird species
- Engaging kids with interactive nature observation
Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes
A national nonprofit dedicated to native plant education, Wild Ones supports chapters across the country and offers webinars, seed exchanges, and design guidance.
Use It For:
- Joining local native plant communities
- Accessing region-specific planting knowledge
- Advocating for ecologically sound landscaping
Books Every Pollinator Gardener Should Read
Bringing Nature Home by Douglas W. Tallamy
This foundational book explains why native plants are essential to supporting local pollinators and birds. A must-read for understanding the food web in your own backyard. Clear, passionate, science-based writing that shows how home gardeners can reverse biodiversity loss.
The Pollinator Victory Garden by Kim Eierman
A hands-on guide to creating pollinator habitat at any scale—from tiny urban plots to rural acreage. Practical advice, region-agnostic strategies, and plant lists for supporting pollinators throughout their life cycles.
100 Plants to Feed the Bees by the Xerces Society
A beautifully photographed and organized reference for flowers, shrubs, and trees that benefit bees across North America. Easy to browse with plant-by-plant breakdowns of bloom time, benefits, and pollinator types.
Nature’s Best Hope by Douglas W. Tallamy
A compelling follow-up to Bringing Nature Home, this book outlines the Homegrown National Park concept and empowers readers to restore habitat in their own yards. Inspires big-picture thinking with a realistic call to action.
Pollinators of Native Plants by Heather Holm
Focused on the relationships between pollinators and native wildflowers, this richly detailed guide is ideal for advanced gardeners and restoration-minded readers. Combines detailed species descriptions with stunning photography of insect-plant interactions.
Online and Local Communities
Facebook Groups & Forums
Pollinator gardening thrives on shared experience. Search for:
- “Pollinator Gardeners of [Your State]”
- “Native Plant Gardens”
- “Homegrown National Park Members”
These groups are filled with planting ideas, troubleshooting help, and seasonal photo inspiration.
Master Gardeners and Extension Offices
Local Master Gardener programs (through university extension services) often offer free workshops and support for native and pollinator gardening.
Find Yours At: https://www.nifa.usda.gov/extension
Local Botanical Gardens and Arboretums
Many gardens now feature pollinator-focused plots or programming.
Look for:
- Native plant sales
- Bee and butterfly walks
- Volunteer days focused on habitat creation
Examples include:
- Mt. Cuba Center (Delaware)
- Desert Botanical Garden (Arizona)
- Chicago Botanic Garden (Illinois)
- Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (Maine)
Retailers That Support Pollinator Gardening
Prairie Moon Nursery
Specializing in North American native seeds and plugs, Prairie Moon offers eco-friendly packaging, detailed growing instructions, and bulk wildflower mixes.
American Meadows
A trusted source for wildflower seeds and pre-designed pollinator gardens, including certified monarch waystation kits.
https://www.americanmeadows.com
High Country Gardens
This New Mexico-based retailer focuses on drought-tolerant and native plants with strong pollinator value, including salvia, agastache, and milkweed varieties.
https://www.highcountrygardens.com
The Natural Gardener (Texas)
A popular Austin-based nursery known for native plants, organic soil products, and pollinator-friendly selections.
https://www.naturalgardeneraustin.com
Native Plant Retailers by Region
Use the directories at:
https://monarchwatch.org/milkweed/market/
These sites can help you find nearby sources for native and pollinator plants appropriate for your ecoregion.
Pollinator gardening is about connection—between plants and pollinators, people and place, intention and impact. In every corner of the US, resources are available to support your journey—from neighborhood wildflower clubs to national nonprofits, from seed catalogs to deep-dive science books.
By tapping into these resources—joining a society, picking up a book, attending a workshop, or planting that first native flower—you become part of something bigger. You help pollinators survive and thrive. You contribute to ecological renewal. And you build a more beautiful, biodiverse garden space to enjoy for years to come.
