Drought-Tolerant Pollinator Plants: How to Keep Your Garden Thriving and the Bees Happy!

This summer, we have experienced another record-low rainfall. Like many others, it's time to make some changes to my landscape by adding drought-tolerant pollinator plants to my garden.

Living in Western Washington can be tricky when selecting the right plant combinations for your garden beds. In recent years, our weather has been anything but typical. Adapting your garden plants to address climate change is becoming increasingly necessary to refresh your garden beds with plants that thrive in drier conditions. October is an ideal time to plant perennials, allowing them to establish themselves before the winter season arrives.

The Benefits of Drought-Tolerant Pollinator Plants

As our summers become hotter and the cost of water increases, people are replacing lawns and plants with higher watering needs with borders filled with colorful flowers that attract hummingbirds, bees, and songbirds. Even our beloved favorites, hydrangeas, are struggling in areas where temperatures remain hot and dry for extended periods. Here are a few reasons to consider planting a pollinator garden.

Water conservation: During the summer heat, salvias, lavenders, sage, and rosemary, to name a few, once established, don't require frequent watering; they thrive in dry, hot weather. By removing heavy drinkers, like the amount of grass in your yard, you will conserve much more water. But just because they are drought-tolerant does not mean they can't handle the wet winter weather typical of the Pacific Northwest. Pollinator and native plants adjust to our wet winters, just as long as they are planted in well-draining soil.

Low Maintenance: These plants are typically low maintenance due to their hardiness. When first planted, they need water every 2-3 days. Once established, they only need to be watered every one to two weeks, depending on your soil moisture. Most drought-tolerant plants have roots that extend deep into the ground, so the top layer of soil should remain dry. During the winter months, these plants die back and can benefit from a fresh layer of compost. About once a year, they require a good trim to keep the plants healthy and rejuvenated.

Resilient: One significant element about these plants is that they can thrive in poor soil conditions, as long as they are not submerged in standing water for extended periods. Most drought-tolerant plants can thrive in clay and rocky soils, surviving long periods without water and thus making them very resilient.

Ecosystem: My personal favorite reasons for planting native and pollinator gardens are all the benefits that come from incorporating these plants into your garden. Some plants will attract local pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and my personal favorite, the hummingbirds. Other plants will produce seeds and berries for the birds to eat, providing much-needed ground cover that allows them to feel safe from predators and offers nesting opportunities. While some plant varieties will help filter stormwater for our streams, prevent soil erosion, and add much-needed aeration to the soil. Most drought-tolerant plants do not require additional fertilization, which in turn helps protect our Northwest salmon, as we reduce the amount of chemical runoff entering our streams.

Top Drought-Tolerant Pollinator Plants

Sometimes, there really is too much of a good thing, and that is especially true of plants. Becoming overwhelmed at a nursery can easily be done with so many fantastic choices. Here are a few plant options that thrive in the Pacific Northwest.

Lavender, catmint (nepeta), and russian sage: I grouped these varieties because you can use them interchangeably within a garden landscape. All three are very drought-tolerant, and each of them produces lovely lavender flowers, giving you a very similar feel. Nothing smells better than lavender in a garden, but if lavender is not your favorite, try catmint; it puts off a lovely minty-lemon scent when the leaves are crushed. All three of these plants are beloved by bees, and both lavender and catmint can help repel specific garden pests, such as fleas, mosquitoes, and aphids.

Salvia (sage): Part of the mint family, there are hundreds of varieties to choose from. If one of your goals is to attract more hummingbirds to your home, then it is a must-have for your garden. Salvias are extensive bloomers and bloom from spring to fall, and come in a variety of colors. When planted next to roses, saliva has properties that can help prevent black spots on roses. It also makes for a great companion plant near cabbage, as it helps repel cabbage pests and carrot rust flies.

Coneflower (echinacea): Offers late summer interest to your garden and comes in a variety of colors. If you are looking to add pops of color to your garden, give this a try. As summer winds down and fall comes, stop deadheading the flowers and allow them to go to seed. Songbirds love to feed on the seed heads. This year, I picked up Sunny Days Ruby and Big Kahuna for my garden. They also make great cut flowers.

Yarrow (echillea): An eco superhero of sorts in the plant world. Not only is it drought-resistant, but it also attracts beneficial garden pests, including both native and honeybees; it is a magnet for butterflies and hoverflies, and it also has mosquito-repelling properties. The root systems of these plants extract minerals from deep within the soil and can provide essential nutrients to the surrounding plants. Yarrow is a compact plant, making it an excellent choice for the front of a border, as it comes in a variety of colors, including purple, red, and yellow, with some varieties exhibiting multiple colors on a single plant.

Stone Crop (Sedum): A perfect perennial to end the summer flowering season and brighten up a fall garden. These low-maintenance plants are not only drought-tolerant but also thrive in poor soil conditions, making them ideal for rock gardens and other challenging environments. Stone crops, such as the autumn joy variety, offer extended blooming periods. Flowers start green, then turn to a light pink. As summer transitions into fall, so do the blooms, changing to a rich burgundy color, providing excellent fall color.

These are just a few of my favorites, but other varieties equally deserve a spot in a water-wise garden.

Tips for a Thriving Drought-Tolerant Garden

When selecting plants for your space, consider the following tips to help your garden thrive.

Add Some Native Plants

• Plants native to Washington adapt best to both wet winter conditions and dry summer conditions. A few of my favorites include the western redbud, Oregon grape, goldenrod, yarrow, and western mock orange.

Site Selection and Soil Preparation

• Location: Most drought-tolerant varieties prefer full sun, requiring between 6 and 8 hours of direct sunlight.

• Soil: Most drought-tolerant plants can adapt to different soil makeups; however, I prefer to amend my existing soil with a good loam mixed with compost.

Watering Techniques

• Deep, Infrequent Watering: Established drought-tolerant plants do best with less frequent watering. Water them every five days, ensuring each watering lasts for several minutes to reach deep into the soil.

• Watering new plants: Newly planted pollinator plants require more frequent watering for the first three months while their roots establish. I recommend watering these plants every three days.

• Timing: Early morning watering is recommended when dew naturally occurs, as it reduces evaporation. This allows the plant's leaves to dry before the heat of the day, reducing fungal growth. The other optimal time to water your plants is late evening, avoiding disruption to bees that are actively foraging.

Mulch

• Adding light mulch to your garden each year helps retain moisture for your plants, keeping them cool and reducing the growth of weeds.

• Leaving some bare patches in your garden is recommended, as a large percentage of native bees nest in the ground.

Watering hole

• Attracting and feeding the bees is just one part of the equation; they also need a dedicated space to land and drink some water. Creating a shallow water source with landing pads is just as important as your plants. Landing pads can consist of pebbles, rocks, or decorative glass stones, allowing bees to land and take a drink safely.

Incorporating drought-tolerant pollinator plants into your garden is a rewarding way to adapt to changing climates, conserve water, and create a vibrant ecosystem that supports local wildlife. By making thoughtful plant choices and implementing mindful gardening practices, you can enjoy a beautiful, thriving garden that benefits both your home and the environment.

If you need help designing and incorporating a pollinator garden, I offer local native garden design services.