TreeOakland Holly
Ilex
- Light
- Full Sun, Part Sun
- Water
- Moderate
- Size
- 15-20 feet × 8-12 feet
Nectar-rich bloomers and host plants that keep butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds coming back through the season.
Nectar-rich. All season.
Read pollinator guideBrowse the collection
TreeIlex
ShrubNerium oleander
HerbAllium cepa
Evergreen TreeCitrus ×sinensis
TreeBauhinia variegata
HerbOriganum
ShrubMahonia aquifolium
ShrubArachnothryx leucophylla
AnnualViola wittrockiana
PerennialNarcissus papyraceus
GrassCyperus papyrus
HerbPetroselinum crispum
A pollinator planting works best when it mixes nectar flowers, host plants, shelter, and staggered bloom times. Start with a few reliable species, then layer in color as the garden matures.
Fruit TreePrunus persica
Fruit TreePyrus communis
TreeCarya illinoinensis
PerennialPentas lanceolata
GroundcoverArachis glabrata
GroundcoverVinca
Fruit TreeDiospyros kaki
CactusCereus repandus
AnnualPetunia hybrida
ShrubBarleria cristata
Shrub
TreeCarya glabra
Pollinator-friendly plants provide nectar, pollen, host foliage, shelter, or seasonal bloom that supports bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and beneficial insects.
Start with three to five reliable species and plant them in visible groups so pollinators can find flowers easily.
Many heavy-blooming pollinator plants prefer full sun, but shade gardens can still support pollinators with the right native and Florida-Friendly selections.
Spring and fall are great windows in Zone 9b, and our mild winters mean something can bloom for pollinators in most months when you mix species.
It can draw bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, though most stay focused on the flowers. You can site the busiest blooms away from doorways and patios.
Hummingbirds favor tubular, nectar-rich blooms. In Zone 9b, firebush, firespike, coral honeysuckle, salvia, and cape honeysuckle are reliable draws. Plant them in groups with a sequence of bloom so nectar is available across the warm months.