How to attract pollinators – without a yard

Pollinator gardens aren’t about size, they’re about impact. And many native plants punch above their weight. Even balcony gardeners – with just a few pots – can contribute to the connectivity needed to support pollinators of all types.

Choosing the right plants

It all starts here: selecting native plants that will thrive in containers and your specific site conditions. Not sure what your site conditions are? Click here to use the MikeLikesPlants.com Site Analysis Tool (in a new window). I recommend talking to your local native plant nursery or plant nerd friend to find the best regionally-specific plants, but here are some general winners to consider:

Choose Your Region:

Region	Common Name	Scientific Name	Pollinators	Why It Works in Containers	Plant Profile
Eastern Canada	Wild Bergamot	Monarda fistulosa	Bees, hummingbirds, butterflies	Shallow roots, drought-tolerant once established	View
Eastern Canada	Harebell	Campanula rotundifolia	Bees	Delicate, shallow roots, thrives in pots	View
Eastern Canada	Black-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia hirta	Bees, butterflies	Very adaptable and shallow-rooted	View
Eastern Canada	Yarrow	Achillea millefolium	Bees, beetles, butterflies	Tough, drought-tolerant, compact in containers	View

Region	Common Name	Scientific Name	Pollinators	Why It Works in Containers	Plant Profile
Western Canada	Prairie Smoke	Geum triflorum	Bees	Compact and shallow-rooted, good for dry containers	View
Western Canada	Nodding Onion	Allium cernuum	Bees, butterflies	Very adaptable to small pots	View
Western Canada	Yarrow	Achillea millefolium	Bees, beetles, butterflies	Very drought-tolerant and container-hardy	View
Western Canada	Silky Lupine	Lupinus sericeus	Bees	Smaller native lupine, tolerates container life	View

Region	Common Name	Scientific Name	Pollinators	Why It Works in Containers	Plant Profile
Eastern U.S.	Butterfly Milkweed	Asclepias tuberosa	Monarchs, bees	Compact root system, drought-tolerant	View
Eastern U.S.	Purple Poppy Mallow	Callirhoe involucrata	Bees	Trailing habit, drought-hardy, great for hanging containers	View
Eastern U.S.	Wild Petunia	Ruellia humilis	Bees	Low-growing, drought-tolerant, soft lavender flowers	View
Eastern U.S.	Lanceleaf Coreopsis	Coreopsis lanceolata	Bees, butterflies	Compact, thrives in pots, blooms profusely	View

Region	Common Name	Scientific Name	Pollinators	Why It Works in Containers	Plant Profile
Southern U.S.	Spotted Beebalm	Monarda punctata	Bees, butterflies	Shallow roots, drought-resistant	View
Southern U.S.	Purple Coneflower	Echinacea purpurea	Bees, butterflies	Performs well in containers, low water once established	View
Southern U.S.	Blackfoot Daisy	Melampodium leucanthum	Bees, butterflies	Small, shrubby, loves heat and dry pots	View
Southern U.S.	Winecup	Callirhoe involucrata	Bees	Trailing, drought-tolerant, full sun	View
Southern U.S.	Texas Lantana	Lantana urticoides	Butterflies	Heat-loving, woody perennial, thrives in containers	View

Region	Common Name	Scientific Name	Pollinators	Why It Works in Containers	Plant Profile
Western U.S.	California Poppy	Eschscholzia californica	Bees	Thrives in dry pots, shallow roots	View
Western U.S.	Tidy Tips	Layia platyglossa	Native bees	Compact, easy from seed	View
Western U.S.	Desert Marigold	Baileya multiradiata	Bees, beetles	Low-growing, drought-tolerant	View
Western U.S.	Penstemon (Dwarf spp.)	Penstemon heterophyllus (etc)	Hummingbirds, bees	Choose smaller species, sun-loving, great in pots	View
Western U.S.	Sundrops	Oenothera fremontii	Moths, bees	Spreads in wide pots, drought-tolerant	View

Caring for plants in containers

Even plants that love containers need a bit of extra care or planning, due to the specific conditions created by containers. If you want a more in-depth review, visit the Container Garden section of the Garden Planner (click here). But the basics of container gardening for native plants include:

Excellent drainage. Containers require a drainage hole to ensure excess water doesn’t sit in the bottom. This can lead to root rot and various other issues.
More frequent watering. Because containers have drainage holes, they end up requiring water more frequently than in-ground plants. Mulching can help with this, as well as slowing evapotranspiration.
Use a potting mix, not just soil. A potting mix will help container plants thrive by ensuring space for oxygen, water, and nutrients in the limited space.
Materials matter. A polyethylene (plastic) based container can heat up soil far more than terra cotta or other materials. If your plant will be in direct sunlight, consider using organic-based containers.

Create habitat, not just flowers

Adding a small dish of water (cleaned regularly and monitored), a bit of leaf litter, or even a pre-made pollinator habitat element to your containers to help provide safety and a place to rest or live for insects. If your containers are anywhere near windows, consider adding birdsafe stickers to your windows to prevent bird strikes and protect the ecosystem.

Beyond the balcony

Showing off your amazing container pollinator garden and how it’s thriving is a great way to help get a condo board, community park, or neighbours involved in growing connectivity. Consider advocating for pollinator gardens, blooming boulevards, or other projects.

Have you had any success with a balcony or small space pollinator garden? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks, and keep growing.