Pollinator Garden Planner
Calculate how many plants you need to attract bees, butterflies, or all pollinators based on your garden area.
Why pollinator gardens matter
Pollinators — bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies, and beetles — are responsible for fertilizing roughly 75% of the world’s flowering plants and about one-third of all food crops. Habitat loss, pesticide use, and monoculture farming have significantly reduced pollinator populations in recent decades. A well-planned garden, even a small one, can provide vital food and shelter.
How this calculator works
The planner estimates the number of plants and distinct species (varieties) needed to create a thriving pollinator habitat based on:
- Garden area — larger areas support more plant diversity and more pollinator species.
- Target pollinator — bees, butterflies, and general pollinators have different plant preferences and spacing requirements.
General planting guidelines
- Aim for at least 3 different flowering species that bloom at different times — early spring, midsummer, and late autumn — to provide a continuous food source.
- Bee gardens benefit most from dense clusters of single-flower varieties: lavender, borage, phacelia, sunflowers, and clover. Bees prefer blue, purple, and yellow flowers.
- Butterfly gardens need both nectar plants (food for adults) and host plants (food for caterpillars). Milkweed for monarchs, dill and fennel for swallowtails.
- Mixed pollinator gardens combine both strategies with native wildflowers, which consistently outperform cultivated varieties for wildlife value.
Spacing rule of thumb
Most pollinator-friendly perennials are planted 30–45 cm (12–18 inches) apart. This calculator uses an average spacing of 35 cm (14 inches) as a baseline, adjusted slightly for each garden type.
Tip: Even a 1 sq m (10 sq ft) container planting can attract pollinators if planted with the right species. A 10 sq m patch can support dozens of species throughout the season.