Year‐round pollinator visitation of ornamental plants in Mediterranean urban parks

Abstract Many pollinators persist in urban green spaces though these are typically designed to support human recreation rather than for biodiversity conservation. Investigating the role of ornamental plants in supporting pollinators is key to reconciling urban planning and nature conservation. We explored pollinator dynamics and their floral visits to ornamental plants over 12 consecutive months in 15 parks in the Mediterranean city of Seville (Spain). We observed 8422 floral visitors from 155 species in 62 plant taxa (74% non‐native). Pollinators were represented by wild bees (42%), honeybees (37%), flies (18%), butterflies (2%) and beetles (1%). Pollinators were present all year round and showed two peaks: first, between late winter and early spring; and second, in early summer for wild bees or early autumn for flies and butterflies. Honeybee visits, but not wild bee, fly or butterfly visits, increased with floral availability per plant taxon. Both native and non‐native plants attracted pollinators. However, visitation rates and species richness of each pollinator group varied between native and non‐native plants throughout the year. In Mediterranean climates, the combination of native and non‐native ornamental plants in city parks can provide flower resources all year round for pollinators to thrive. Urban planners should balance recreation and conservation goals and prioritise non‐invasive combinations of native and non‐native plants that are valuable to pollinators across all seasons.