Create a Pollinator Garden

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Native bees and migrating species like the monarch butterfly are declining due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and diseases. You can help support pollinators by joining the Butterfly Highway, a statewide initiative in North Carolina focused on restoring native habitats impacted by urbanization and agriculture.

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Here’s how you can create a Pollinator Pitstop in your yard or garden:

• Plant seasonally and choose native plants that bloom at different times.

• Research local nurseries for native plant options, or check our recommended list.

• Provide diverse nectar and food sources by planting a variety of species in different heights and colors.

• Follow sun/shade requirements for each plant.

• Take gradual steps: Replace non-native plants as they die, or start by converting a small area of your lawn into a flower bed.

• Support pollinators with bird and bat houses, bird baths, and butterfly puddles.

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Celebrate your efforts by putting up a Butterfly Highway sign and registering your garden as a Pollinator Pitstop. For more resources, check the Butterfly Highway Garden Toolkit, NCWF Pollinator Guide, NCSU Bee Guide, and NC Parks Butterfly Guide. Use the NCWF Bloom Calendar to plan plantings that support pollinators year-round.

Join the movement and help protect North Carolina’s pollinators!