It's no secret that our planet faces numerous environmental challenges, but here's a ray of hope: by promoting pollinator-friendly plants, we're not just selling beauty; we're fostering biodiversity and supporting local ecosystems. Embracing this green initiative is not just good for the environment but also beneficial for our sector.

Looking at Symphoricarpus for example. Snowberries are known as one of the more wildlife-friendly plants. Useful to pollinators as both a host and a food plant, but also well-known as a plant for bank stabilisation, rehabilitation of disturbed landscape sites and a wonderful plant to include shelter and nesting cover for small animals. The Symphoricarpus Symphony series is a prime example. The series consists of strong, beautiful and easy-going shrubs that can produce an overwhelming amount of flowers with extra-long flowering time. Making them not only beautiful, but a natural magnet for bees and butterflies. Varieties like these are tolerant to most environments, attractive and robust. Adding benefits for both landscapes and wildlife. 

Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, birds, and even bats, play a crucial role in our ecosystem. They are responsible for assisting over 80% of the world's flowering plants to reproduce. This includes many of the fruits and vegetables we eat daily. Without them, our food supply would be under significant threat.

And we can do our share. Take Asters for example: Asters are a favourite when adding late summer and autumn colours to the landscape. Undemanding and thriving in any type of soil, Aster Starshine is one of the most popular asters worldwide. This unique selection is highly mildew resistant and produces masses of white daisy-like flowers from summer until the first frost. Same goes for Caryopteris Blue Empire, which proudly shows off blue flowers that are strikingly bigger than the flowers other Caryopteris varieties or Agastache Beelicious Pink, with large pink flowers, that are not only a delight to the eye but also attract many butterflies and bees.  These are just three examples of extremely beneficial pollinator-friendly varieties with incredible garden performance. Yet, consumers often need guidance in the wideness of the offer and choose simply by price or colour - often ending up disappointed with the performance of their choice. 

We have a unique position to educate and encourage the community to support these essential creatures by cultivating gardens and landscapes that attract them. 

Incorporating a range of pollinator-friendly plants into the assortment is an investment in the environment but just as much an investment in our sector’s future. Customers are looking for eco-conscious gardening solutions as awareness grows about the importance of supporting pollinators. Offering a variety of these plants can draw in an environmentally aware clientele. This goes for both the well-known cultivars, such as naturally compact pollinator-friendly varieties such as the Buddleja Butterfly Candy® series, Syringa Little Rosie and Diervilla Honeybee, but also for the possibly less-known ecosystem supporters such as easy-going and early-flowering Lagerstroemia Eveline, or extremely exuberantly flowering Geranium Dreamland.

Taking it a step further, creating informative displays about pollinators and their preferred plants, does not only promote the varieties within your assortment but also positions your business as a knowledgeable leader in sustainable gardening practices. And there are benefits customers aren’t always aware of. Take the new Symphoricarpos Symphony Rock, Rave and Rumble for example. These superstars might be the strongest and most easy-going shrubs ever. They are robust, easy to maintain, and can produce an overwhelming amount of flowers with extra-long flowering time, making them a natural magnet for butterflies and bees. Better performance equals happier gardeners who will return season after season. 

So let’s make a positive impact on our local ecosystem while also attracting eco-conscious customers and incorporating some top-performing, pollinator-friendly plants into the assortment. Not only does it contribute to biodiversity and support critical wildlife populations, but it can also set your business apart as an environmental leader within the community.