These Pollinator Cups Double as Gorgeous Garden Decor

On the hottest summer days, when bees are busily foraging, staying hydrated is important but can prove challenging, especially in drier regions. Placing pollinator cups throughout your garden helps keep pollinators—including bees and butterflies—hydrated and energized. Also called bee cups, these small, shallow vessels provide a safe, easy-to-access water source for foraging insects. Now, more than ever, pollinators are experiencing declines due to climate change, habitat loss, pollution, and pesticides. According to Aesop, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted,” and though they are small, adding a few pollinator cups to your garden can make a big difference. From elegant to whimsical, our list of pollinator cups features a variety of styles. Keep reading to discover the perfect pollinator cups for your garden.

Metal Teacup Flower

Made by 608 The Factory in Brodhead, Wisconsin, these stately stems will add a touch of elegance to your garden as they keep your pollinators hydrated. Available with 18 or 24-inch stems (stakes), the three-inch flowers are sold in sets of three. Five-star customer reviews speak to the beauty and quality of the cups. These classic pollinator cups, $40.95, are available at 608 The Factory

Bee Bath for Garden Pollinators

These brightly colored resin cups, made in Charlotte, North Carolina, by Jacqueline Dunford, can be used as bird feeders or bee baths with the addition of the clear plastic bowl (included). The six to seven-inch flowers perch on 32-inch green stems. Dunford suggests adding some pebbles or stones to the bee bath and thoughtfully includes a bag of sand/salt mix for those who wish to create a butterfly puddler. Five-star reviews use words like “absolutely beautiful” and “stunning” to describe these brilliantly colored flowers ($45) and J. Dunford Arts’ other garden accessories.

Glass Bee or Butterfly Cup

These pollinator cups, reminiscent of poppies, add an artistic touch as they hydrate tiny garden visitors. Exquisite three-inch glass flowers, with a depth of one inch, are mounted atop 16-inch brass or copper stems. Handcrafted in any color by Sue in her studio in Chiltern Hills, Buckinghamshire, U.K., the flowers are made of glass. Sue suggests adding pebbles to the bowl to give the bees something to stand on while they drink. Satisfied customers fill the five-star reviews with superlatives. See what everyone is buzzing about at The Floral Fuse, where you’ll find these spectacular pollinator cups for $25.

Insect Drinking Cups

These colorful little ceramic cups, made in Fishers, Indiana, are two inches wide and one inch deep. Each cup attaches to a 16-inch metal rod. These adorable little flowers are available in six colors: blue, green, orange, pink, red, and yellow. Fashioned from durable white stoneware clay and finished with a weatherproof gloss, these cups are sturdy. Even so, Stephanie, the proprietress of Pond Scum Ceramics, recommends protecting the cups by bringing them indoors when the temperature dips below freezing. To give bees and butterflies a place to land, clear glass beads are provided with your $13.95 purchase.

Wildlife Water Bowls

If you’re looking to add a pop of color to your garden, these primary-colored pollinator cups made by Timeless Terns in Germany are just the ticket. Fashioned of recycled metal, these pollinator cups are available individually or as a set of four in blue, green, red, and yellow. Seated on a 27.5-inch stem, the cups have a two-inch diameter. Individual stems are $34, but you can save by ordering the set of four for just $99, and Timeless Terns offers free shipping worldwide

Ceramic Bee Bath and Butterfly Watering Station

These fashionable and functional works of art are crafted in Chiasso, Switzerland, from reclaimed clay and single-fired to conserve energy. The pieces vary in shape and size as they are individually handcrafted. Available in a rainbow of colors—from “sunny yellows to calming blues and passionate reds”—the charming cups measure 3.5 inches and do not require stakes. Customers consistently give Bee Address five-star reviews, citing the beauty and craftsmanship of the product. Most colors are $23.78, though rainbow and rainbow with pink are slightly more at $31.29.

Bee Waterer

Philipp Wolf crafts these rustic metal bee cups in his studio in Aachen, Germany. One-inch cups made from recycled metal are fused onto metal stakes in your choice of heights: 4.7, 8.6, or 12.5 inches. All five-star customer reviews praise the beauty and quality of the product, as well as express surprise at the quick delivery. Available individually for $22.21 or sets of three for $49.09, at SchmiedeWolf.