Dear Gardener,
Pollinators and plants go hand in hand. When we moved to the farm nearly eight years ago, I began to develop an interest in plants. At the same time, I couldn’t help also developing an interest in the invertebrates that accompanied them: from the tiniest hoverfly to the largest moth. This week is National Pollinator Week, so I wanted to take a moment to brush up on the importance of pollinators and to focus on ways we can help them.
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit organization that is near and dear to my heart. They protect the natural world through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitats. This science-based organization conducts research and utilizes the most up-to-date information to guide their work, which focuses on: pollinator conservation, endangered species conservation, and reducing pesticide use and impacts. Xerces Society was kind enough to provide the below helpful text for National Pollinator Week:
Pollinators—the small bees, flies, butterflies and other creatures essential for the reproduction of over 85% of the world’s flowering plants and two-thirds of the world’s crop species—aren’t doing so well. Nearly a third of North American bumble bee species are at risk of extinction, and we lost an astonishing 22% of U.S. butterflies between 2000 and 2020.
The good news is that there are straightforward solutions that we can all contribute to in our own backyards. You can create conditions to support the entire life cycle of pollinators in any location, whether you tend an urban patio or a suburban yard, work in a city park or on a farm. It takes just four simple steps:
1 - Grow Pollinator-Friendly Flowers
2 - Provide Nest Sites
3 - Avoid Pesticides
4 - Spread the Word
On Growing Pollinator-Friendly Flowers
Flowering plants provide the nectar and pollen that pollinators feed on. Growing flowering perennials, shrubs, and trees with overlapping bloom times supports pollinators from spring through fall. Here are a few pollinator favorite native plants by bloom time:
Spring bloomers:
Image courtesy of
C T Johansson, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tall thimbleweed (Anemone virginiana) is a sweet, spring-blooming anemone that exhibits none of the aggressive tendencies of some of its cousins. White flowers are held on tall stems from April to May. Flowers turn into adorable green seedpods that resemble thimbles, giving the plant its common name. 'Thimbles' remain on the plant well into winter. Deep green foliage takes on nice plum tones as temperature drops.
Anemone virginiana is native to woodlands and rocky slopes throughout the eastern and central United States. It is very easy to grow in most garden soils in part shade.
Image courtesy of
Ragesoss, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Eastern red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) is our native columbine that can be found growing in woods, rocky slopes, and open areas throughout eastern North America. The delicate red and yellow blooms light up the spring. Early hummingbirds adore the bright blooms. Deer and rabbits do not.
Narrowleaf blue eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium) can be found growing naturally in meadows, damp fields, and open woods across the US. It is a short-lived perennial with semi-evergreen grass-like foliage and masses of violet-blue flowers. This is a versatile, easy to grow plant that looks great in cottage gardens, woodland gardens, rock gardens, or native gardens.
Summer bloomers:
Image courtesy of
Nemracc, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilatica) is a stunning native perennial that can be found growing in moist areas across much of eastern North America. It brings incredible color to the late summer garden with a profusion of blue flower spikes.
Blue cardinal flower is happiest in part shade in moist soil that never dries out. It will tolerate full sun in cool, northern locations. It will also tolerate heavy shade. This easy plant can form vast colonies when well sited. Self-seeds reliably.
Image courtesy of
Photo by David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pink coreopsis (Coreopsis rosea) is a relatively rare perennial that can be found growing along damp, sandy, or peaty shores from Nova Scotia to South Carolina. We love it for its fine, thread-like, green foliage and cheery pink blooms. Notably, it is the only coreopsis with pink flowers. This rhizomatous perennial may spread aggressively in optimal conditions. Unlike other members of the genus, pink coreopsis is intolerant of drought and extreme heat.
A North American native, common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a must in any natural landscape. ‘Cerise Queen’ is a cheery cultivar that provides weeks of summer color. Pink flowers top beautiful feathery foliage that is both aromatic and semi-evergreen. Yarrow is deer resistant, drought tolerant, and attractive to butterflies and other pollinators.
Fall bloomers:
Image courtesy of I, SB Johnny,CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Clustered mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) is a native plant that can be found growing in meadows, fields, low woodland areas and occasionally in dry upland woodlands throughout much of the eastern United States. Don't let the common name fool you, this is not an alpine plant.
This less-thuggish member of the mint family can be planted directly in the garden, though it should be paired with plants that can hold their own. Plant in part-shade to discourage rampant spread. That said, this is a beautiful plant that we are happy to include in our gardens. Velvety-silver bracts are especially decorative and are favored by pollinators.
This black-eyed susan has won so many awards - and it's no wonder! It is a robust, low maintenance, highly disease resistant, drought tolerant pollinator favorite. This North American native is a long-lived garden workhorse that produces masses of traditional golden flowers with dark brown cones from midsummer through fall. It thrives in almost all conditions and in all weather. To top it off, it is deer and rabbit resistant.
To find more plants, you can use the filter features on our website to select plants based on growing condition (both exposure and soil), bloom time, and native range.
On Providing Nesting Sites
Supporting pollinators in all life stages is crucial. This means we should provide flowering plants AND provide habitat to allow eggs and larvae to mature into the pollinators we love.
To help the bees:
Bees nest in patches of bare ground, brush piles, or plants with hollow or pithy stems. To help them, leave patches of soil uncovered (no grass, no mulch); pile up brush in an unused corner of the yard; and don’t over tidy in fall: leave the leaves and allow perennials to stand over winter. Here are a few plants with beautiful winter silhouettes that the pollinators will thank you for.
Ironweed are tall US natives that look quite similar to each other. All bloom late in the season; purple flowers are much loved by pollinators, especially butterflies.
Giant ironweed or tall ironweed (Vernonia gigantea) is one of the tallest ironweeds, growing up to 10' high! It is exceptionally tough, succeeding on dry, average, moist, or wet soil in full sun or part shade. However, it is happiest and grows tallest on medium soil.
Culver's Root (Veronicastrum virginicum) is an extremely showy US Native that is perfect for adding vertical lines, texture, and color to the late summer border. These disease-resistant perennials are tough long-lasting, and easy to grow. Think of this plant as a very tall version of the more commonly known Veronica.
V. virginicum f. albiflorum features densely-packed white flowers that are arranged on spikes held above lanceolate foliage.
Big-leaf Aster (Aster macrophyllus) is a coarse US Native with large leaves and small lilac flowers. It blooms late in the year and will tolerate dry shade. Spreads readily by relatively invasive roots.
To help butterflies and moths:
To help butterflies and moths: Plant host plants! Butterflies and moths lay their eggs on specific host plants. Caterpillars emerge in spring and feast on the plant.
For Monarchs: Asclepias, ascplepias, asclepias!
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is my favorite of all the beautiful Asclepias. It is a must in the pollinator garden. It is treasured for its long-lasting clusters of bright orange flowers. The leaves are an essential food source for the caterpillars of Monarch butterflies. We delight in watching the caterpillars munch the foliage nearly to the ground each season. Somehow the plants continue to flower anyway. Deer and rabbit resistant.
For Swallowtails: plant fennel and dill.
Common fennel (Foeniculum purpureum) makes a beautifully fragrant garden plant. The fine and frothy leaves are topped by umbels of yellow cow-parsley-like flowers all summer long. The flowers are followed by delicious seeds. Fennel will self-seed profusely if the seeds are not removed. The fragrant foliage persists well after frost and is one of the great treats of the winter garden.
'Purpureum' has smoky, bronze foliage.
On Avoiding Pesticides
Pesticides, especially insecticides, are harmful to pollinators. Herbicides reduce food sources by removing flowers from the landscape. Fungicides can also have negative effects on bees.
An additional PSA on the harmful effects of so-called ‘safe’, ‘organic’ products such as Neem Oil. Neem oil is a vegetable oil pressed from the fruits and seeds of neem (Azadirachta indica), a tree which is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. It is a potent pesticide that systemically interrupts the lifecycle of all creatures that encounter it. It is not a safe choice for pollinators.
There are safer ways to manage issues.
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Focus on improving your soil conditions. Healthy soil = healthy, hardy plants that are better able to resist pests.
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Plant a wide variety of plants. Problems can spread quickly in a monoculture.
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Most importantly, plant plants where they want to grow! Plants will grow best in the conditions for which they are adapted. I’ll say it again: healthy, hardy plants are better able to resist pests.
On Spreading the Word
Xerces Society (and pollinators!) need you to spread the word! From Xerces Society:
You can share information about pollinators on social media, talk with your neighbors, or spread the word with a pollinator habitat sign or pesticide-free sign. Together, we can transform our neighborhoods and create healthier landscapes that will benefit us as well as pollinators. Find everything you need to get started at BringBackThePollinators.org.
