Washington Bumble Bee Habitat Kit Program

Habitat Kits are intended to be used to create or enhance pollinator habitat on public lands, tribal lands, community spaces, private lands, and working lands. This includes tribal land, post-wildfire recovery areas, urban farms or gardens, city parks, school gardens or other public areas, residential spaces, as well as farms and ranches. We encourage projects that will benefit historically underserved or underrepresented communities.

We encourage stewards of working lands to partner with organizations or entities that can provide additional technical support for their projects, such as Conservation Districts, The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), or other conservation organizations.

If you have questions about your project’s suitability or requests for technical guidance on your project, please email us at [email protected].

We have kits available for areas within the eastern foothills of the Cascades in Washington. Explore the Washington Habitat Kit Map to see if your project is within one of the habitat kit regions.

In 2025 and beyond, we plan to expand the scope of the Washington Habitat Kits. Check back soon to see if kits will be available in your region in the future. If you DO NOT qualify for the Washington Habitat Kit Program this year and you would like to stay informed about future opportunities, please fill out this Interest Form. If you meet the requirements this year and would like to submit a proposal form, please use the link below.

We have several types of habitat kits available and the contents of each kit type vary by project type. Some kit types are only available for certain projects because we want to work with local plant producers and use local plant ecotypes in our habitat kits as much as possible.

All kits are comprised of native plants that have been identified as having high value to bumble bees and other pollinators and are grown without the use of systemic pesticides that may be harmful to pollinators. You may request multiple kits if needed for your project.

Hedgerow Kits

This kit type contains approximately 80 herbaceous and woody plants including milkweed, flowering forbs, and shrubs/ small trees. Each kit will cover approximately 240 linear ft. / 1440 ft² if planted on 6 ft. spacing. Minimum order of 1 kit / project. Additional kits can be requested for larger projects.

• Washington Hedgerow Habitat Kit Plant List

Garden Kits

This kit type contains approximately 39 herbaceous and woody plants including milkweed, flowering forbs, shrubs, and some grasses. Each kit will cover approximately 630 ft² when planted on 3-6 ft spacing. Container sizes range from plug size to 1 gal. Minimum order of 1 kit/ project. Additional kits can be requested for larger projects. 

• Washington Garden Habitat Kit Plant List

Proposals

We will be accepting proposals for 2025 beginning in February 2025.

The Project Proposal Form collects information about where the kit will be planted, size of the area, and plans for site preparation, management, and maintenance, as well as plans for pesticide risk mitigation and outreach opportunities, if applicable. A limited number of habitat kits are available and we receive more requests than we can fulfill. Participants are selected based on the project information set out in proposals as well as considerations such as location and habitat implementation and management plans.

Distribution

Kits will be available for pick-up in October. You will be provided with habitat kit pick-up days and locations if/when your proposal is awarded a kit(s). There will be a range of dates (usually around 2 days) and times when the kits will be available for pick-up. All kits will be available for pick-up at Derby Canyon Natives.  

Planting, Maintenance, Reporting

You are required to plant the kit within one to two weeks after receiving the kit, and to follow the plan outlined in your proposal. Once the kit is planted, you must contact us to let us know the kit is planted, and share some photos. A brief report (~1–2 pages) is due the following June which should include information such as the amount of area planted and the establishment success of the project. If awarded a kit, you will receive a project partner collaborative agreement that outlines all requirements.

The Xerces Society habitat kit program aims to increase access to high-quality pollinator habitat plants. Xerces acknowledges that historical and institutional barriers are in place and disproportionately affect marginalized individuals and communities based on race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, income class, disability status, age, religion, veteran status, and other identity factors. Many marginalized individuals and communities have been historically and systematically excluded from conservation work and are disproportionately affected by environmental injustice.  Xerces is working to intentionally prioritize and support marginalized individuals and communities through our pollinator conservation work and the habitat kit program.

Habitat kit project proposals that identify with and/or intentionally serve historically marginalized people and communities will be given additional consideration in our project partner evaluation process.

To learn more about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Xerces, click here.

• Washington Habitat Kit Planting Guide
• Persistent Herbicide Restrictions
• Restricciones Persistentes de Herbicidas
• Xerces Pollinator Conservation Resource Center

Who should I contact if I have questions?

You can contact us at [email protected] with any questions about our Washington Habitat Kit Program.

How do I participate in the Habitat Kit Program?

Project proposals for Washington Bumble Bee and Pollinator Habitat Kits will be available each year in early spring. The form asks for information about where the kit will be planted, size of the area, and plans for site preparation, management, and maintenance, as well as plans for pesticide risk mitigation and outreach opportunities, if applicable.

Can I have the kit delivered to me?

Kit delivery is not available. You must pick up your kit from our kit distribution location (Derby Canyon Natives, Peshastin, WA) in October 2024 (date and time TBD).

How did you decide what plants to include in the kits?

The plant species included in the kits have been chosen based on bumble bee visitation observations compiled from the Pacific Northwest Bumble Bee Atlas, as well as butterfly host plant and other native bee plant associations gathered from numerous sources, including published and technical reports, research datasets, and personal communications with bee and butterfly researchers, and other experts. Visitation data provides good general guidance on which plants are preferred by bumble bees. Additional factors, such as availability, climate adaptiveness, regional and site suitability and general pollinator attractiveness, were also taken into consideration. We also include important host and nectar plants for other declining pollinators whenever possible. All plant species in the habitat kits are native to Washington.

I would like to create a pollinator garden at a school (or other public place). Which kit type should I choose?

The Garden Kits are most appropriate for creating a small pollinator garden because they are smaller kits and have a diversity of plants. The Hedgerow Kits are too large for a small pollinator garden.

I am receiving funds for my project through an NRCS Farm Bill Program. Can I still participate in the Habitat Kit program?

Yes, you may be able to leverage other funding sources and participate in the program. However, you must check in with your NRCS contact to make sure you are still fulfilling your contractual obligations.

Are habitat kits organic?

Habitat kits are not certified organic, but are grown without the use of harmful pesticides.

Can I purchase a kit on my own?

The kits are not available for sale.

Can I get technical assistance for creating and maintaining my kit?

Yes! We are happy to help. You may contact us at [email protected] with questions about your project and for advice on how to ensure that your project will be successful. You can also find a variety of information and materials on our website, particularly in the Pollinator Conservation Resource Center.

If you are interested in planting a kit on working lands, you may also want to seek technical assistance from your local Conservation District or the NRCS.

I do not live in Washington. Am I eligible for a kit?

While this particular habitat kit program is only available in Washington, we do have habitat kit programs in other regions.

How can I support the Xerces Habitat Kit program?

Washington habitat kits are supported by the U.S. Forest Service and Xerces Society donors and members.

Support the Xerces Society

Meet our Washington Habitat Kit Team:

If you have questions, please email us at [email protected].