Pollinator-friendly landscapes are no longer a niche request. Increasingly, clients are asking contractors to include plants and design elements that attract bees, butterflies and other beneficial species.
Beyond consumer demand, municipalities and corporate campuses are also prioritizing pollinator health in landscape plans. For contractors, this shift presents a responsibility and an opportunity: to design, install and maintain landscapes that are functional, profitable and ecologically sound.
Ornamental Onion (Allium ‘Lavender Bubbles’) – Ball/Star Photo
Why it Matters to the Industry
Pollinators fertilize nearly three-quarters of flowering plants in the United States. As their populations decline, the landscape industry is in a unique position to respond.
Contractors can meet customer demand while supporting biodiversity by designing plant palettes that feed pollinators, and by adopting maintenance practices that protect them. Incorporating these elements differentiates contractors as forward-thinking professionals who understand both environmental impact and client priorities.
Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata ‘Zagreb’)
Designing Spaces with Pollinators in Mind
Seasonal succession planting is one of the most effective strategies. By installing trees, shrubs and perennials with overlapping bloom times, contractors ensure that nectar and pollen are available throughout the growing season.
Native plant species are especially critical because they are adapted to local pollinator populations and perform reliably in regional conditions. Grouping plants in drifts rather than scattering them adds visual impact while improving efficiency for pollinators.
A mix of perennials like Allium ‘Lavender Bubbles’ and Coreopsis ‘Zagreb’ creates early- to mid-season color and steady food sources for bees. Allium produces globe-shaped blooms in late spring on compact, upright plants that reach about 12 inches tall. Their long-lasting flowers pair well with the fine-textured, golden blooms of coreopsis, which continue into summer. Together, they provide a seamless transition of nectar availability and contrasting color that appeals to both pollinators and clients looking for reliable performance.
Balmy™ Purple Bee Balm (Monarda didyma ‘Balbalmurp’) – Ball/Star Photo
Integrating Ecology Into Maintenance
Managing pollinator-friendly spaces requires a shift in approach. Reducing in-situ pesticide applications, for example, is not just good practice but an expectation in pollinator habitat.
Providing undisturbed soil or brush piles gives native bees places to nest. Providing shallow water sources supports multiple species. Contractors who build these considerations into proposals and educate clients on their importance position themselves as trusted experts.
Blue By You Salvia (Salvia x ‘Blue By You’)
Plant selection also affects maintenance strategies. Balmy™ Purple Bee Balm is a compact monarda that resists powdery mildew and thrives in full sun, making it both pollinator friendly and manageable for contractors. Its vibrant blooms attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds, while its shorter habit—about 10 to 12 inches tall—keeps it adaptable for smaller sites or front-of-border placements. Paired with Salvia ‘Blue By You’ or Salvia ‘Blue Marvel,’ which both deliver upright spikes of nectar-rich flowers, the combination draws diverse pollinators while adding height and structure to planting beds.
Blue Marvel Salvia (Salvia nemorosa ‘Blue Marvel’)
Plants that Extend the Season
In late summer, Blanket Flower ‘Guapa Flamenco’ extends the season with bicolor red-and-yellow blooms. Its mounded growth habit and tolerance for heat and poor soils make it a contractor-friendly choice for tough sites. It pairs well with Lavender ‘SuperBlue,’ a compact variety with fragrant, silver-gray foliage and dense flower spikes.
Guapa Flamenco Bicolor Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata) – Ball Photo
Lavender attracts bees and butterflies while offering clients the added value of aromatic, low-maintenance appeal. When used together, blanket flower and lavender create a vibrant late-summer display that supports pollinators at a critical time of year.
A Competitive Design Advantage
Pollinator friendly spaces enhance biodiversity, strengthen ecosystems and create high-performing, attractive environments for clients. They also demonstrate leadership in sustainable practices, which is increasingly a factor in contract awards and client loyalty.
‘SuperBlue’ English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
By making pollinator health a design and installation priority—and by specifying proven performers like allium, coreopsis, monarda, salvia, blanket flower and lavender—landscape contractors help shape the future of the industry while creating spaces that thrive for years to come.
Learn More About Loma Vista Nursery’s Landscape Plants
Loma Vista Nursery grows a variety of pollinator-friendly plants for Midwest landscapes. Our customers are Midwest independent garden centers, landscape contractors and wholesale distributors. Our team of plant experts helps people learn about plants and the healthy varieties we grow.
Review Loma Vista Nursery’s plant catalog for information and visit our website to learn about our values and best practices as a wholesale Midwest plant grower. For help with orders and plant-related questions, send an email to sales@lomavistanursery.com or call (785) 229-7200.
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