April is Native Plant Month: Why Native Plants Matter for Pollinators and Biodiversity 🌱🐝
April is officially Native Plant Month—a time to celebrate the plants that have grown in our region for millennia and support everything from native bees to birds to butterflies. Here at the Vancouver Bee Project, we believe that native plants are not only beautiful but vital to the health of our ecosystems. If you're looking for a simple way to support pollinators and promote biodiversity, planting natives is one of the most impactful things you can do. Learn more about Native Plant Month from the Washington Native Plant Society.
Why Native Plants?
Native plants are the ones that evolved right here in our local ecosystems. Unlike ornamentals or non-native species, they’ve developed deep relationships with the insects, birds, fungi, and soil life that share their habitat. For pollinators, native plants offer food that’s familiar, accessible, and timed perfectly with their life cycles.
Many native bees have co-evolved with specific plants. Some, like Chelostoma bees and Penstemon, are so closely linked that the bees can’t complete their life cycles without their preferred floral hosts. When native plants disappear, these specialist bees often vanish too.
The Biodiversity Bonus
Many native plants are keystone species—they support a high number of other organisms. According to research by entomologist Doug Tallamy, a single oak tree can support over 500 species of caterpillars. That’s food for countless birds, which in turn support other wildlife. In contrast, many popular non-native plants support very few insects and can even become invasive, disrupting ecosystems instead of supporting them.
By planting natives, you're not just creating a pollinator buffet—you're contributing to a resilient, interconnected web of life. It’s a powerful way to restore balance and biodiversity, especially in urban and suburban areas.
What You Can Do
Start a Native Pollinator Garden: Even a small yard or balcony container can become a pollinator haven with a few carefully chosen native plants. Look for species like milkweed, yarrow, goldenrod, lupine, and Oregon sunshine.
Go Pesticide-Free: Native plants thrive without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Keeping your space chemical-free is safer for pollinators and the soil.
Get Involved Locally: Join community efforts to remove invasive plants, restore native habitat, or advocate for green spaces that prioritize native species.
Educate and Inspire: Talk to your neighbors and friends about why native plants matter. The more people who plant them, the more pollinator pathways we create across our city.
April may be Native Plant Month, but the benefits of going native last all year long. Whether you're planting a single flower or restoring an entire yard, you’re making a real difference—for bees, for biodiversity, and for our shared future.