A good pollinator garden should have several key features, including a water source and shelter for pollinators. But the number one thing all pollinator habitats should have are pollinator plants.

Marigolds are often planted in vegetable gardens to attract pollinators, but their orange to yellow flowers can also hold their own in ornamental beds. 

Showy bee balm has spiky flower heads in pinks, reds, and purples and it’s often coated with bees in summer. This plant can bloom throughout summer, especially when regularly deadheaded, but it will spread vigorously.

Another good option for pollinator gardens, Black-Eyed Susans have warm, golden-orange petals and deep dark flower centers. These plants are spread readily by seeds unless birds get to those seeds first.