Pinellas County Bee City USA
Pinellas County is committed to the conservation of native species of plants and animals, even the smallest and most easily overlooked! We are proud to be a Bee City USA, the first county in Florida to be designated as such. The award was made in March 2023 through Resolution No. 22-101. This effort in Pinellas is managed by the Parks and Conservation Resources Department Pinellas County has agreed to the principles as described by the Bee City USA designation. For more information, visit beecityusa.org or email us at brookercreek@parks.pinellas.gov.
Native Bees in Pinellas County
Have you spotted any of our native bees in your yard or at one of our County Parks? Upload your sightings (no honeybees, please, just natives) to our iNaturalist projects when you are out bee hunting!
Bee Houses and Hotels
Most of our native bees live solitary lives. You can help these by putting a bee house where you have permission to do so.
Pollinator-Friendly Plants
Some flowers are better than others for providing nectar for our native bees. Use this list to choose native plants that support our bees.
Where to Buy Pollinator Plants
Thankfully native plants are becoming more available commercially. These nurseries make promises not to provide invasive plants and don’t use chemicals that can harm pollinators.
Pinellas County’s Bee-Friendly Practices
Pinellas County’s UF/IFAS Extension trains horticulturists and County staff to practice pollinator-safe maintenance on public and private landscapes.
Learn More!
We’ve created a playlist of our recorded webinars that are a perfect way to learn more about our native insects and pollinators, in particular.
Wildflower Test Plots to Support Native Pollinators
We have introduced Wildflower Test Plots in select county parks to encourage the growth of native wildflowers and provide habitat for pollinators. These unmowed areas, each less than an acre, are part of the county’s Bee City USA initiative, which focuses on restoring habitat for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. With support from the Florida Wildflower Foundation, staff will conduct periodic surveys to monitor plant and pollinator diversity over time. Informational signs have been placed near each Wildflower Test Plot to help visitors understand the project’s goals. Visitors are encouraged to explore, take photos, and share their sightings of wildflowers and pollinators. Photos and observations can be sent to parks@pinellas.gov.
Wildflower Test Plot Locations:
- A.L. Anderson Park
- Chester Ochs Park
- Eagle Lake Park
- Live Oak Park
- Ridgecrest Park
- Sand Key Park
- Wall Springs Park
- Walsingham Park
Pollinator Resources
Visit Bee City USA to learn more about pollinators, their habitats and how you can help protect them.