When you think of gardening, you might envision your lush garden beds and pot plants, vibrant with colour and brimming with life. But have you ever stopped to wonder how these beautiful blooms come to be? The answer lies in the world of pollinators, the unsung heroes of your garden.

What is pollination?

Pollination is the vital natural process in which pollen, containing male reproductive cells, is transferred from the stamen (male part) of a flower to the stigma (female part) of the same or another flower, facilitating fertilisation and the production of seeds, ensuring the reproduction of flowering plants.

This specialised relationship between plants and pollinators not only ensures the survival of plant species but also plays a crucial role in biodiversity, ecosystems and our food chain. Without pollinators, many of the foods we rely on, like fruits, vegetables, and nuts, would become scarce.

Why Pollinators are Needed

• Co-evolved pollination: Many plant species have co-evolved with specific pollinators, relying on their unique traits. For instance, certain orchids depend on male bees for pollination, as they mimic the appearance and scent of female bees. Some yuccas are solely pollinated by yucca moths, which lay eggs inside the plant's flowers.

• Biodiversity: Pollinators contribute to the biodiversity of your garden by facilitating cross-pollination, which leads to the development of genetically diverse plants, fostering habitat creation and a sustainable ecosystem.

• Crop Production: For farmers and gardeners alike, pollinators are essential for crop production by transferring pollen between flowers. This increases fruit and seed formation in many crops, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts. As a result, it boosts crop yields, improves fruit quality, and ensures the availability of essential foods in agriculture, contributing to food security and economic value.

• Food Security: Pollinators play a key role in food security by reducing food shortages and helping meet global food demands. Without them, the availability of many nutritious foods would diminish, impacting human diets and health.

• Ecosystem Services: Beyond the garden, pollinators provide crucial ecosystem services, such as pollinating wildflowers, which support diverse insect populations and provide a healthy habitat for other wildlife.

• Endangered plant species: Pollination also ensures the survival of endangered plant species. Without successful pollination, these plants would be unable to generate new generations, leading to a decline in their population and eventual extinction. Pollination also ensures the genetic diversity necessary for adaptation and survival in changing environmental conditions.

• Economic Value: The economic value of pollinators is immense, with billions of dollars attributed to their role in agriculture.

• Impact of declining pollinators: Pollinators such as bees are declining due to factors like disease and parasites, habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change. This decline threatens food production, biodiversity, and ecosystem stability. Reduced pollination can lead to lower crop yields, limited food variety, and increased prices, impacting both agriculture and global food security.

Types of Plant Pollinators

• Example: Honeybees and bumblebees.
• Bees are generalist pollinators, visiting a wide range of flowering plants. They're particularly attracted to lavender, rosemary, sunflowers and many flowering Australian Natives.
• Bees collect nectar and pollen as food sources. As they forage, they brush against flowers, transferring pollen from one bloom to another.

• Example: Monarch butterflies and Sphinx moth.
• Butterflies are often seen fluttering around butterfly bushes, milkweed, and lantana.
• Moths are typically nocturnal pollinators, attracted to white or pale-coloured, night-blooming flowers like moonflowers and nicotiana.
• Butterflies and Moths use their long proboscis to sip nectar from flowers. While doing so, they inadvertently pick up and deposit pollen as they move from flower to flower.

• Example: Hummingbirds.
• Hummingbirds are attracted to brightly coloured, tubular flowers like salvia, fuchsia, and trumpet vine.
• Their long, slender beaks allow them to reach deep into flowers for nectar. As they feed, their heads come into contact with pollen.
• Other species of birds feed on resident insects and bugs that are attracted to the plant's sap and spread pollen as they brush up against the plant’s flowers.
• Parrots and Silveryes are particularly attracted to Australian Eucalyptus and Banksia.

• Example: Hoverflies.
• Flies are often found on plants like parsley, dill, and marigolds.
• Flies are not picky about where they land, and while feeding on nectar, they can transfer pollen between flowers.

• Example: Ladybugs, Yellow Jacket Wasps and various species of Ants.
• Beetles like Ladybugs often visit plants with large, bowl-shaped flowers, such as daisies, sunflowers, and water lilies.
• They are attracted to the scent and colour of flowers. They crawl around inside the flower, transferring pollen as they move.
• Some beetles and insects can even prey on troublesome pests such as aphids that may be harming the plant.
• Ants are often found on plants with extrafloral nectaries, which are nectar-producing structures found on leaves or stems like peonies and passionflowers.
• Wasps are attracted to plants with small, inconspicuous flowers, like Goldenrod and Queen Anne's lace.
• While searching for nectar, wasps may come into contact with pollen, helping with pollination.

Small Mammals:

• Example: Bats, rodents and marsupials,
• These mammals feed on nectar or fruits and brush against flowers, transferring pollen as they forage. 
• Some plants have co-evolved with bats, developing specialised adaptations to attract these nocturnal pollinators.

How can you help pollinators survive and thrive?

• You can support plant pollinators by creating pollinator-friendly habitats and reducing the use of pesticides.
• Planting native flowers and shrubs in gardens and public spaces provides essential nectar and pollen sources.
• Avoiding the use of chemical pesticides and opting for natural alternatives helps protect pollinators from harm.
• Conservation efforts should also focus on preserving diverse ecosystems and reducing habitat destruction.
• Educating the public about the importance of pollinators and their role in food production can further promote their well-being.
• Collaborative efforts between communities, governments, and organisations are crucial in ensuring the survival and thriving of these vital species.

The beauty of your flowering plants and harvest from your veggie garden owes much to the pollinators who tirelessly work behind the scenes. Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, flies, and moths are essential partners in the creation of life and agricultural sustainability. As we continue to witness declines in pollinator populations, it's crucial to protect and support these incredible creatures. By doing so, we can not only ensure the future abundance of our gardens but also the overall well-being of our planet.

Click here if you'd like to learn about floriography.