Support wildlife

Because you care about the life around you

California is a biodiversity hotspot, home to 1,600 native bees, the imperiled monarch butterfly, and other pollinators only found in our state. The best way to attract and support these special creatures is to grow the native plants they’ve relied on for hundreds of millions of years.

Find pollinator-friendly plants

Feed hungry butterflies

Be part of the butterfly metamorphosis by planting the right plants for your local Lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) babies. The birds will thank you, too!

Discover plants for butterflies & caterpillars

Tips for a thriving wildlife garden

Choose plants with different bloom times

Diverse flowering times provide nectar, pollen, and habitat resources for pollinators across multiple seasons. Aim for three or more plant species that bloom in each blooming period—early spring, mid-to-late spring, summer, and early fall. As a bonus, staggered bloom times transform your garden into a dynamic space that changes and evolves with the seasons.

Explore plants blooming in summer

Plant in sheltered, sunny spots

Butterflies and other pollinators seek sunny, wind-free areas. Being cold-blooded, they rely on the sun’s warmth so they can fly. Plants in full sun produce more nectar, too, increasing food supply.

Search plants for sun

Vary your flower colors

Different colors of flowers attract different types of pollinators. Bees favor flowers in blue colors. Butterflies and moths look for bright colors to locate nectar, such as red, yellow, orange, pink, and purple.

Find blue flowering bee favorites!

Don't be too tidy

Allowing your garden to be a bit untidy can actually benefit wildlife. Start with a small area or in the backyard, and leave seed heads for birds, a layer of leaves for critters to enrich the soil, and some bare soil patches for ground-nesting native bees. Pruning in spring rather than fall provides overwintering shelter for birds and insects.

Learn about seasonal maintenance

Choose locally native plants

Many native insects have specialized relationships with local native plants, meaning they rely on those specific plants for survival. These insects are then the food source for birds and other wildlife that make up our local ecosystem and web of life. By planting native plants, you are providing food and habitat for insects, pollinators, birds, and wildlife.

Learn about the habitat value of gardens

Start a habitat revolution!

Ready to begin? See the California Native Plant Society’s helpful collection of habitat gardening resources.

Habitat revolution

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