Container-Friendly Pollinator Gardens: Top 5 Plant Picks for Small Spaces and Mini Backyards
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A small space doesn't have to limit your ability to create a beautiful and pollinator-friendly garden. By choosing the right plants and containers, you can attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects to your garden.
Milkweed, with its pollinating superpowers, is an ideal plant for a small space pollinator garden. A container with a diameter of ideally 16 inches (40cm) or more and a good drainage hole is recommended for growing milkweed. Position milkweed on the periphery of other plants to attract visiting pollinators.
For containers, compact options with good drainage are ideal. Dwarf varieties of flowers are also suitable for keeping containers from becoming overgrown. Some popular dwarf options include dwarf lavender, dwarf bee balm, and dwarf coneflower.
When it comes to dwarf lavender, several varieties are available, such as 'Dwarf Munstead', 'Compacta', 'Nana Alba', 'Little Lady', 'Wee One', and 'Thumbelina Leigh'. Notable dwarf bee balm examples include 'Petite Delight' and 'Pardon My Purple'. Dwarf coneflower varieties such as 'Lilliput Dwarf', 'Prima Ginger', 'Pixie Meadowbrite' and 'Guatemala Gold' can flourish in compact spots.
Agastache, with varieties like ‘Summerlong Coral’ and ‘Summerlong Lilac’, is another suitable plant for a small space pollinator garden. Its tubular flowers in shades from peach to purple attract many pollinators. Cilantro, an easy-to-grow herb, is also a great addition. Its flowers attract bees and butterflies, and it self-sows, making it a nice filler in bouquets.
Salvia, such as ‘Mystical Blue’, ‘Pink Profusion’, and ‘Blue By You’, is another popular choice. Its tubular flowers with a long bloom time attract diverse pollinators and are resistant to pests. Lamb's Ear, with its soft leaves and tall flower spikes, also attracts hummingbird moths and other pollinators.
Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) and Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) are early-season blooms that are loved by hummingbirds and butterflies. Purple Coneflower, Bee Balm, and New England Aster provide extended-season blooms to support pollinators throughout the growing season.
Native perennial mixes designed for small spaces can include plants like Zig Zag Goldenrod, Great Blue Lobelia, and Bigleaf Aster, which bloom across multiple seasons and support many pollinators.
For a successful small space pollinator garden, plant in clusters of 3 or more of the same species to improve visibility and pollinator access. Aim for bloom succession by selecting a sequence of plants flowering from spring through fall to provide continuous food. Consider easy-care plants that thrive with minimal maintenance and help support local pollinators.
To further support pollinators in small gardens, providing accessible water sources such as shallow dishes with pebbles or miniature birdbaths helps pollinators hydrate, especially during dry periods.
In addition to plants, pollinator-friendly items like bee houses, butterfly feeders, and water features can be added to your small space pollinator garden to provide additional habitats and food sources for pollinators.
Miniature yarrow breeds like 'New Vintage Violet' are only 8-10 inches (20-25cm) tall and are suitable for a potted pollinator garden in full sun or partial shade. Munstead lavender from Park Seed is a robust and low-maintenance option for a potted pollinator garden. Containers for dwarf bee balms should be at least five gallons in size and placed in the sunniest spot.
Creating a potted pollinator garden can add colour and appeal to small spaces, attracting bees and butterflies to your garden. These dwarf coneflower varieties are likely to reach 12-15in (30-40cm) tall. With the right plants and containers, you can create a beautiful and pollinator-friendly garden in even the smallest of spaces.
- By including dwarf coneflower varieties like 'Lilliput Dwarf', 'Prima Ginger', 'Pixie Meadowbrite' and 'Guatemala Gold' in a home-and-garden setup, one can create a small-space pollinator garden that adds color and attraction for bees and butterflies.
- For a potted lifestyle that supports local pollinators, consider miniature yarrow breeds such as 'New Vintage Violet' or Munstead lavender from Park Seed, which thrive in containers and contribute to creating a pollinator-friendly garden in limited spaces.
