Pollinator-friendly gardens don’t have to sacrifice style

by Amanda Morris, Northwestern University
April 1, 2026

For gardeners who love colorful, tidy flower beds, helping pollinators doesn’t have to mean going fully wild.

A new study from plant biologists at Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden found that some cultivated plants — bred for their vibrant blooms, compact forms and visually appealing uniformity — can still provide meaningful support for bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

Among the tested plants, cultivated black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’) and foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’) attracted pollinators at similar rates to their wild counterparts, while others, such as R. fulgida ‘American Gold Rush’ and P. digitalis ‘Blackbeard,’ performed less well. 

While conventional knowledge often suggests that native wildtype plants are best for pollinators, the open-access study, published in Ecosphere, reveals a reassuring middle ground. Gardeners don’t have to choose between beauty and ecological value. Instead, a thoughtfully planted mix of wild and cultivated flowers may offer a more approachable starting point for people who are new to pollinator gardening.

Keep reading: https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2026/4/pollinator-friendly-gardens-dont-have-to-sacrifice-style

Read the Ecosphere paper: https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecs2.70566