Pollinator-friendly Landscaping

No Flower? No problem! Think outside the bud

Staff at the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden hope to educate their community to think outside the bud, set up their landscapes for an incredible, year-round display and, at the same time, prepare their landscapes for our area’s inevitably intense summer heat.

Gardening for Pollinators

Why garden for pollinators? Nearly all ecosystems on earth depend on the pollination of flowering plants for survival. Gain gardening tips and learn more about attracting all types of pollinators to your outdoor spaces.

Sustainable Gardening Toolkit

The UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden is committed to practicing, promoting and teaching about sustainable horticulture. Learn about more environmentally friendly alternatives that reduce the use of water, energy, and chemical inputs and support native pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects.

Support California native bees with these 10 plants

The plants included here were selected based on information available through this work and that of others both in the Bay Area and the Sacramento Valley.  These plants were chosen for spring, summer and fall bloom, low to medium-low watering need, low maintenance requirements and the variety of bee species they attract.

Taking care of our native bees’ needs

California is home to 1600+ native bee species that range in size from less than a quarter inch long to more than an inch and a half. What may come as a surprise to many is that none of them make honey or live in hives like the ubiquitous European honey bee. However, they are all critical to the future of our state’s environmental health, the pollination of our food as well as the reproduction of plants in California’s natural areas. Here's how you can support native bees in your own garden.

Beyond the honey bee: Learn more about California native bees

Why care about bees?

Bees are important as indicators of environmental quality, are key in the continued existence of our wildlands, vital to sustainable pollination of crops, and serve as food that supports a diversity of other species. In addition, bees are critical to the health of natural, ornamental and agricultural landscapes.