Native GardensFort Collins, CO

Certified Habitat Design

Pollinator Habitat Certification

Your garden can be more than beautiful — it can be a certified sanctuary for butterflies, hummingbirds, and native bees. We design landscapes that meet national certification standards and create thriving pollinator habitats right in your backyard.

75%

of flowering plants and 35% of food crops depend on animal pollinators

40%

of pollinator species are at risk of extinction in the coming decades

4,000+

species of native bees in North America alone need habitat

1 in 3

bites of food you eat exists because of pollinators

Certification Programs We Support

We handle the design, plant selection, and paperwork. You get a beautiful garden and official certification.

NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat

National Wildlife Federation

The gold standard for backyard habitats. We design gardens that meet all four NWF criteria — food, water, cover, and places to raise young — using native plants that support Colorado wildlife.

Requirements we design for:

  • Food sources: native plants that produce seeds, berries, nectar, and pollen
  • Water: birdbaths, shallow dishes, or rain garden features
  • Cover: dense plantings, evergreen shelter, rock features
  • Places to raise young: host plants for caterpillars, nesting materials, undisturbed areas

Monarch Watch Waystation

Monarch Watch / University of Kansas

Monarch butterflies are in serious decline. A certified Waystation provides the milkweed and nectar plants monarchs need during their incredible migration. Your garden becomes a critical rest stop on their 3,000-mile journey.

Requirements we design for:

  • At least two species of milkweed native to Colorado (Asclepias speciosa, A. tuberosa)
  • Diverse nectar plants blooming throughout the season
  • Minimum 100 sq ft of habitat area
  • No pesticide use in the certified area

Colorado Pollinator Powerhouses

These are some of our favorite native species for pollinator habitat gardens. Every one is proven in Northern Colorado conditions.

Showy Milkweed

Asclepias speciosa

Monarch host plant — essential for caterpillar development

Rocky Mountain Penstemon

Penstemon strictus

Premier hummingbird attractor with vivid blue-purple blooms

Blanket Flower

Gaillardia aristata

Long-blooming native that feeds butterflies from June through frost

Prairie Coneflower

Ratibida columnifera

Native bee magnet with distinctive columnar seedheads

Blue Flax

Linum lewisii

Delicate daily blooms that support a wide range of small pollinators

Maximilian Sunflower

Helianthus maximiliani

Late-season food source when other flowers have faded

How We Help You Get Certified

1

Assessment

We evaluate your property for existing habitat elements and identify opportunities. Many yards already have partial habitat that just needs enhancement.

2

Design for Certification

We create a planting plan that specifically targets all certification criteria. Every plant is chosen for its ecological role — not just aesthetics (though it will be gorgeous too).

3

Install & Establish

Professional installation with the right plants in the right spots. We set your habitat up for long-term success with proper soil prep and establishment care.

4

Apply & Certify

We handle the certification paperwork, photo documentation, and application submission. You receive your official certificate and yard sign to display proudly.

Make Your Garden Official

A certified pollinator habitat is a statement — about your values, your connection to nature, and your commitment to the ecosystem you are part of. Let us design one for you.

Start Your Certification