Pollinators - David Suzuki Foundation

The David Suzuki Foundation presents:
Toronto Plant Guide
for attracting
Pollinators
$5 .00
A guide to native plants that attract bees
and other pollinators to your home garden.
The Plant Guide for
Attracting Pollinators is part of an effort by the
David Suzuki Foundation to raise awareness about the value of plant
and wildlife diversity in the Greater Toronto Area.
Whether it’s in the city or in the country, nature provides invaluable
services that humans benefit from, such as storing carbon, purifying
water and air, pollinating plants and cycling nutrients. Choosing the
right plants for your garden can help support local pollinators and the
natural process of pollination.
This guidebook will help you choose plants that will make your garden
beautiful, easy to maintain and beneficial to local plant and wildlife
diversity.
If you enjoy this guide, check out A Guide to Your Local Pollinators-a guidebook to the many bees and bee impersonators that visit your
home garden. To learn more about the role bees play in the pollination
of plants (including the fruits and vegetables that we eat), visit:
Why use Native Plants?
Pollinators are more attracted to native plants than to other horticultural
varieties or cultivars. One study showed that native plants were at least
four times more likely to attract native bees. Why? Many ornamental
varieties have reduced rewards for flower visitors (pollen and nectar),
often as a result of breeding for larger or showier flowers.
Another reason to use native plants in your garden is that they are
usually well adapted to your local growing conditions and can thrive
with minimum attention. Examples of some common pollinator-friendly
plants that are native to Ontario are given in this booklet, along with an
indication of what pollinators may be attracted to them.
For more information, please contact the David Suzuki Foundation or
visit pollinator.org or pollinationcanada.ca.
Legend:
www.davidsuzuki.org/Conservation/Endangered_Species/pollinators/
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
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P llinators
...what’s the Buzz?
What is Pollination
& What is a Pollinator?
Pollination occurs when pollen grains are moved between two flowers
by wind or animals. Successful pollination allows plants to reproduce.
Almost 90% of flowering plants rely on animal pollinators for
fertilization, and about 200,000 species of animals act as pollinators. In
Canada alone, over $1.2 billion worth of horticultural produce depends
upon insects for pollination! Without pollinator visits to apples, cherries,
almonds, blueberries, melons, pears, pumpkins, raspberries, tomatoes,
and other fruiting plants in our gardens, our produce and our economy
would be vastly diminished.
Apple flowers need the help of bee pollinators in order to produce fruits.
Farmers often put colonies of bees in orchards to ensure that this occurs.
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POLLINATORS
POLLINATORSPLANT
PLANTGUIDE
GUIDE
Types of Pollinators
There are five major families of bees that carry out pollination in
Ontario: the Apidae (honeybees, bumble bees, carpenter bees, some
other solitary bees), Andrenidae (andrenid bees), Halictidae (sweat bees),
Megachilidae (leafcutter and mason bees) and Colletidae (plasterer bees).
Flower or hover flies (Syrphidae) resemble bees and wasps, having colour
patterns and flight behaviour that closely mimics them. These flies help
in pollinating many flowers, and are beneficial to gardens because the
larvae of most species prey on aphids and other small unwanted insects.
Monarchs and skippers are just two conspicuous examples of the many
butterflies (Lepidoptera) that visit flowers for nectar. As well, they use
plants as hosts, providing food for their larvae. Hummingbirds are also
pollinators, being particularly associated with red, tubular flowers with
copious amounts of energy-rich nectar.
Examples of three pollinator groups (L-R): skippers on swamp milkweed,
hover fly on daisy fleabane, hummingbird on delphinium.
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Wild Strawberry
~ Fragaria virginiana (Rosaceae)
Chokecherry, Wild Black Cherry
Spring Bloom
Wild strawberries are a tasty treat to have in the garden. Small, white
flowers found in clusters during the spring develop into round, red,
juicy fruit after pollination occurs. Bees and butterflies visit the
flowers to collect pollen and nectar. Spread by runners, which can be
separated from the parent plant to form new plants, this plant can be
found growing in fields and pastures. A related native species, wood
strawberry (F. vesca) has flowers slightly higher than the leaves and
cone-shaped fruit.
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
~ Prunus (Rosaceae)
Spring Bloom
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana; pictured above) and wild black cherry
(P. serotina) are two trees that are very similar in appearance. Their
flowers have roundish, white petals, and occur in dense clusters during
the spring. Pollen and nectar are produced, attracting bees, butterflies,
flies and beetles. They are also a larval food plant for some butterflies,
such as swallowtails, gossamer wings, and hairstreaks. Commonly found
growing in thickets, fencerows and along forest edges, chokecherry and
wild black cherry are generally intolerant to shade, but grow well in a
variety of soils, often from 2-20’ (0.61-6.1m). Seeds can be sown in the
fall or greenwood cuttings taken for propagation.
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Pussy Willow
Columbine
~ Aquilegia canadensis (Ranunculaceae)
Spring Bloom
Our native columbine has large showy red nodding flowers, each with
5 long spurs at the back. Found in open areas, dry woods and rocky
places, it blooms in the spring and early summer. It grows to a height
of about 1-3’ (0.3-0.91m), produces pollen and nectar, and is attractive
to bees, butterflies, and, in particular, hummingbirds. As with many
flowers, non-native double varieties are not desirable for pollinators.
Seeds can be sown throughout the year, or volunteer seedlings can be
transplanted as soon as they come up.
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
~ Salix discolor (Salicaceae)
Spring Bloom
Pussy willows are a favorite symbol of spring, as furry flower catkins
burst into bloom. Butterflies visit for nectar while bees collect what
is often some of the only pollen available at the time. Growing in wet
areas, such as meadows, thickets, ditches, and shorelines, these shrubs
can be considered trees as they can reach heights of up to 30’ (9.14m).
For propagation, greenwood cuttings can be taken in early summer, or
hardwood cuttings in the winter.
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Serviceberry, Shadbush
~ Amelanchier (Rosaceae)
Anemone
Spring Bloom
There are several native species of Amelanchier, including common
shadbush (A. arborea; pictured above) and smooth shadbush (A. laevis).
These shrubs bloom during the spring and early summer in woods
and thickets, and can range in height from 1-20’ (0.30-6.1m). White
flowers are found in short, loose bunches at the ends of branches, and
produce pollen and nectar, attracting bees, butterflies and flower flies.
Some species also produce sweet, juicy fruit that entices birds to the
garden later in the year. Seeds can be sown outside as soon as they
ripen. Branches can be layered in the fall to encourage rooting, and
greenwood cuttings can be taken in the spring for reproduction.
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
~ Anemone (Ranunculaceae)
Spring Bloom
Canada anemone (Anemone canadensis; pictured above) is one of the
more familiar native species of anemone, although others include
wood anemone (A. quinquefolia), candle anemone (A. cylindrica),
thimble weed (A. riparia) and tall thimble weed (A. virginiana). These
wildflowers can grow about 1-2’(0.3-0.61m) high, and have large white or
greenish flowers on long stalks, with 4-7 petal-like sepals and numerous
stamens. Although commonly found in moist woods and damp areas,
they can also grow in rocky or sandy areas, and can be aggressive.
Blooming in late spring and early summer, the flowers provide pollen
to many types of bees. They can also be grown by planting seeds that
ripen in early summer.
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Dogwood
~ Cornus (Cornaceae)
Honeysuckle
Spring Bloom
There are several species of native dogwood in our region, including
gray dogwood (C. racemosa), round-leaved dogwood (C. rugosa), redosier dogwood (C. stolonifer; pictured above) and alternate-leaved
dogwood (C. alternifolia). During the spring and early summer, these
shrubs and trees produce small white flowers in broad, branching
clusters, attracting bees and butterflies to their nectar. The plants are
also used as a larval food source by some butterflies, such as gossamer
wings. Dogwoods may grow up to 10 or even 40’(3.05-12.19m) tall, and
can be found along streams and roadsides, in wet areas and woods.
Seeds need a cold period before germination can occur; cuttings can
also be taken in the fall for reproduction.
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
~ Lonicera (Caprifoliaceae)
Spring Bloom
Honeysuckles are another example where many ornamental or
introduced varieties are used in gardens instead of native ones. Smoothleaved honeysuckle (L. dioica; pictured above) and trumpet or coral
honeysuckle (L. sempervirens) are both native examples. These vines
produce tubular flowers of various colours that produce nectar in the
springandearlysummer,attractingbees,butterflies,hummingbirds,and
moths. They prefer moist or shaded habitats, although they can also be
found in dry areas, and grow from 1-6’ (0.30-1.83m), depending on the
species. Seeds can be sown in a container when ripe and then placed
in a cold frame. Cuttings can be taken in the summer from deciduous
types or in the fall from hardwoods.
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Ninebark
~ Physocarpus opulifolius (Rosaceae)
Hop-tree
Spring Bloom
Ninebark is a shrub with long, curving branches on which old bark
peels off in layers. It has numerous white flowers in rounded clusters,
which bloom in late spring and early summer, attracting bees and flies
with pollen and nectar as a reward. It grows in sandy and gravelly soils,
particularly along edges of rivers, lakes, and thickets, often to a height
of 3-10’(0.91-3.05m). Seeds can be collected in late summer and sown in
the fall, although they require a cold period before germination.
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
~ Ptelea trifoliata (Rutaceae)
Spring Bloom
Hop-tree is a native tree or shrub that has small, greenish-white flowers
in branching clusters during late spring and early summer. The flowers
produce nectar, attracting bees, butterflies, flies and other insects.
Additionally, some butterflies, like swallowtails, use the hop-tree as a
larval food plant. Although the tree is shade-tolerant, it flowers only in
full sunlight. It grows along shorelines and in open woods, thickets,and
rocky or sandy soils, to a height ranging from 5-15’ (1.52-4.57m).
Interestingly, this plant is dioecious, in that there are separate male and
female trees. Seeds can be collected and sown in late summer or early
fall. Softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings can be taken at the same
time for propagation.
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Sumac
~ Rhus (Anacardiaceae)
Wild Rose
Spring Bloom
The sumacs are a group of shrubs and trees that have very small, greenish
or yellowish flowers in clusters. Blooming in spring and early summer, they
provide a source of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, flies, and wasps.
As well, older stems can be used as nesting habitat for bees. Several species
are native, such as staghorn sumac (R. typhina; pictured above), dwarf or
shining sumac (R. copallina), smooth sumac (R. glabra), and fragrant sumac
(R. aromatica). These grow in a variety of habitats, such as along forest
edges, beaches and old fields, and range in height from 2-20’ (0.61-6.1m).
Note that some species can be very invasive as they can spread clonally.
Seeds can be sown in the fall or spring, while semi-ripe cuttings can be
taken in the summer or root cuttings in the winter.
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
~ Rosa (Rosaceae)
Spring Bloom
Roses are a much beloved addition to the garden, and native species
have the added bonus of wonderful scents. Blooming in late spring and
early summer, they have showy, open, pink flowers with large amounts
of pollen attracting bees, flies, and even beetles. Although many species
of rose are introduced, the smooth rose (R. blanda; pictured above),
pasture rose (R. carolina), swamp rose (R. palustris), and prairie rose (R.
setigera) are all native. Hardwood cuttings can be taken in the fall, or
softwood in the spring.
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Blackberry, Raspberry
~ Rubus (Rosaceae)
Elderberry
Spring Bloom
Known by many for their tasty fruits, the purple-flowering raspberry
(R. odoratus; pictured above), common blackberry (R. allegheniensis),
red raspberry (R. idaeus), and black raspberry (R. occidentalis) are ideal
shrubs for the garden. Although their stems are prickly, older ones
provide nesting habitat for bees, while their white flowers provide
pollen and nectar for bees and butterflies. Blooming in spring and early
summer, they can be found growing in dry or rocky soil, in disturbed
places, old fields, pastures and along roadsides and borders of woods,
often to a height of 2-8’ (0.61-2.44m). Hardwood cuttings can be taken
in the winter for propagation.
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
~ Sambucus (Caprifoliaceae)
Spring Bloom
Two native elderberries are common in this area: red elderberry (S.
pubens;picturedabove)andcommonelderberry(S.canadensis).During
the spring and early summer, both shrubs produce white or yellowish
flowers in large terminal clusters that reward bee and fly visitors with a
source of pollen. Additionally, bees can use cut stems and old branches
as nesting habitat. The common elderberry’s purplish-black fruits are
commonly used in jelly and wine, but the red elderberry’s fruits are red
and acid-tasting. Softwood cuttings can be taken in early summer, or
hardwood cuttings in the winter. Seeds can be sown in a cold frame in
the fall.
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Arrowwood, Viburnums
~ Viburnum (Caprifoliaceae)
The Viburnum genus contains many native plants, of which whiterod or
wildraisin(V.nudum;picturedabove),arrowwood(V.recognitum),sweet
viburnum (V. lentago), and highbush cranberry (V. opulus) are just a few
examples. These shrubs act as larval food plants for some butterflies,
including gossamer wings, and produce pollen that attracts bees.White
flowers bloom during the spring and early summer in broad, branching
clusters. The plants can be found in a diversity of habitats and heights,
growing 3-20’(0.91-6.1m) high along shorelines, forest edges, hillsides
and roadsides, in dry or moist, sandy, rocky, or clayey soils. Seeds can
be sown in a cold frame in the fall; greenwood cuttings can also be used
in propagation.
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
Hyssops
~ Agastache (Lamiaceae)
Summer Bloom
The genus Agastache is a wildflower usually found growing in woods
and thickets.Two native hyssops include yellow giant hyssop (Agastache
nepetoides), and purple giant hyssop (A. scrophulariifolia; pictured
above). The yellow giant hyssop has long, pale greenish-yellow flowers
in dense spikes, but the purple giant hyssop has purplish flowers. Both
grow 1-5’(0.3-1.52m) tall, bloom in the summer and produce pollen and
nectar that attract bees and butterflies. Seeds need to have a cold
moist stratification period and then light before they will germinate;
mature plants can also be divided in the spring or fall.
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Dogbane
~ Apocynum (Apocynaceae)
Swamp Milkweed
Summer Bloom
There are two native species of dogbane in our area that are good for
pollinators: spreading dogbane (A. androsaemifolium; pictured above),
and Indian hemp (A. cannabinum).Their pink or greenish-white flowers
are bell-shaped or tubular. Producing nectar, they are attractive to bees
and butterflies during their summer bloom period. Flowers are clustered
on widely branched plants, which have a milky sap. Preferring dry areas,
they can be found growing in fields, thickets, roadsides, and along
shores, to a height of 1-4’ (0.3-1.22m). However, they are considered
invasive, and can quickly take over a garden. Seeds can be collected in
the fall, but require a cold period before germination.
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
~ Asclepias incarnata (Asclepiadaceae)
Summer Bloom
Milkweeds are well known for their role in the life cycle of butterflies,
particularly monarchs and queens, as they act as larval host plants. The
flowers also produce lots of nectar, attracting bees, hummingbirds,
flies and moths, in addition to the butterflies. The plants grow 1-3’
(0.3-0.91m) high and can be recognized by their lance shaped leaves
with flat clusters of flowers. Swamp milkweed can be found in swamps
and along shores and roadsides, and blooms during the summer. Plants
can be divided in early spring, or started from seeds that mature in
early fall.
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Trumpet Vine
Butterfly Weed, Orange Milkweed
~ Asclepias tuberosa (Asclepiadaceae)
Summer Bloom
As with swamp milkweed (A. incarnata), butterfly weed acts as larval
host plants for butterflies, and attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds,
flies and moths to nectar rewards found in showy orange clusters. All of
the milkweeds have a complex flower with pollinia, or masses of pollen
that are tightly bound to each other. Butterfly weed grows in dry fields
and banks, is very drought tolerant, and can grow from 1-2’(0.3-0.61m)
in height. The plant does not like to be moved as it has a long taproot.
However, you can divide the rootstalk in early spring or fall, or start
them from seed.
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
~ Campsis radicans (Bignoniaceae)
Summer Bloom
With clusters of tubular, trumpet-shaped red or orange flowers, the
trumpet vine blooms for much of the growing season. Producing
nectar, it attracts hummingbirds. It is a climber, and can be found in
moist woods and thickets, and although it prefers full sun, it tolerates
partial shade. Trumpet vines are impressive climbing up a wall, fence, or
pergola, or through a large tree. Seeds can be sown in the fall, or semiripe cuttings can be taken in the summer for rooting.
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New England Aster
~ Aster novae-angliae (Asteraceae)
New England Aster is a wildflower found in open dry areas, fields,
damp meadows and shores. It has a stout, bristly, hairy stem and lanceshaped leaves with heart-shaped bases. It grows to 2-8’ (0.61-2.44m)
high. Numerous violet-purple rays appear on the flower head, which
blooms from late summer to fall. The yellow, central disc flowers
contain valuable, late-season pollen and nectar rewards for bees and
butterflies. It produces volunteer seedlings quickly, although the plant
can also be divided in the spring or grown from seeds that mature in
late fall.
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
Fireweed
~ Chamerion angustifolium (Onagraceae)
Summer Bloom
Fireweed is easily recognizable by its large magenta flowers in a long,
spike-like bunch. Attracting bees, butterflies, flies and hummingbirds, it
produces both pollen and nectar as a reward. This wildflower spreads
quickly after a fire, invading burned woodlands and fields. It grows
about 2-8’ (0.61-2.44m) tall, and can be found blooming in clearings,
semi-open areas and along roadsides during the summer and fall. It can
be started by seed or by dividing the underground stems in early spring
or fall. Epilobium angustifolium is an older, more recognized scientific
name for fireweed.
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Clematis, Virgin’s Bower
~ Clematis (Ranunculaceae)
Fleabanes
Summer Bloom
Clematis is a beautiful addition to any garden, but many of these
climbing vines are not native. Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana) is a
native species that has white flowers in a cluster. Purple virgin’s bower
(C. occidentalis) is also native. These plants climb by twisting their leaf
stalks around supporting vegetation, often in clearings, thickets or on
borders of woods. They bloom in the summer and fall and produce a
distinctive fruit, a cluster of feathery hairs called Old Man’s Beard by
some. Bees, wasps, and flower flies visit to collect pollen and nectar.
Plants can be started by seed, and new plants can be formed by
layering or bending the vine onto the surface of the soil and allowing
it to root.
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
~ Erigeron (Asteraceae)
There are many native species of fleabanes, with white, pink or purple
ray flowers surrounding a yellow disk. Examples include daisy fleabane
(E. annuus; pictured above), Robin’s plantain (E. pulchellus), Philadelphia
fleabane (E. philadelphicus), lesser daisy fleabane (E. strigosus), and
horseweed (E. canadensis). Bees and butterflies are attracted to the
pollen and nectar the plants produce as they bloom from late spring to
fall. Growing from 0.5 to 3’ (0.15-0.91m) tall, they can be found in fields,
open woods and areas of poor soil.
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Joe-Pye Weed, Bonesets
~ Eupatorium (Asteraceae)
Joe-Pye Weeds are 3-10’ (0.91-3.05m) tall robust plants with purple
or pink flowers in large branching clusters of small heads. Native
species include spotted Joe-Pye weed (E. maculatum; pictured above),
Eastern Joe-Pye weed (E. dubium), Trumpetweed (E. fistulosum), and
sweet-scented Joe-Pye weed (E. purpureum). Bonesets are similar in
appearance, with flat clusters of small white flowers in heads; they
can be a bit shorter, at 1-5’(0.30-1.52m) in height. Both attract bees and
butterflies with pollen and nectar during their summer and fall bloom
period. Some species prefer the open woods and prairies, while others
wet or moist places. The plants can be divided in spring or fall or grown
from seeds sown on the surface of soil.
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
Sunflower
~ Helianthus (Asteraceae)
Summer Bloom
Sunflowers are a bright addition to any garden, with large flowers
blooming in the summer and fall. Producing pollen and nectar, they
attract all manner of bees and butterflies. Many species can tolerate
poor soil and drought, living in dry woods and roadsides, while others
prefer swamps and damp areas. Heights vary, often ranging from 2-8’
(0.61-2.44m). Although people may be most familiar with cultivated
varieties of sunflowers, there are several native species, including the
pale-leaved sunflower (H. strumosus; pictured above), the woodland
sunflower (H. divaricatus), and the giant sunflower (H. giganteus). Seeds
can be sown in the spring, and perennials can be divided in the spring
or fall.
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Cardinal Flower
Great or Blue Lobelia
Lobelias are a very common garden plant, although not all species are
native. Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis; pictured above) is a common
native one, with spikes or clusters of showy scarlet flowers. The flowers
are two-lipped, the upper lip with two lobes and the lower lip with
three lobes. Nectar is produced, which attracts bees, butterflies, and
hummingbirds throughout the summer and fall. Cardinal flowers can be
found along stream banks and wet meadows, growing from 2-5’ (0.610.52m) tall. Plants can be divided in spring or fall, and can be started by
spreading seeds on the soil’s surface after they mature in the fall.
Great or blue lobelia is another native Lobelia (L. siphilitica; pictured
above), with blue flowers in clusters. As with the cardinal flower,
the flowers are two-lipped, and produce nectar that attracts bees,
butterflies, and hummingbirds throughout the summer and fall. It can
be found in moist thickets and swamps, growing from 1-3’(0.30-0.91m)
tall. Seeds mature in the fall and should be planted on the top of the
soil, or divided in the spring.
~ Lobelia cardinalis (Campanulaceae)
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
~ Lobelia siphilitica (Campanulaceae)
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Bergamot, Bee Balm
~ Monarda (Lamiaceae)
Common Evening Primrose
Summer Bloom
Monarda is a well-known genus for attracting bees, butterflies and
hummingbirds. It contains such native species as bee balm (M. didyma;
pictured above) with red flowers, wild bergamot (M. fistulosa) with
pinkish-purple flowers, horsemint (M. punctata) with pale yellow
flowers, purple bergamot (M. media), and white bergamot (M.
clinopodia). Tubular flowers bloom during the summer and fall, and
produce pollen and nectar as rewards. Bee balm is particularly attractive
to hummingbirds, while wild bergamot and horsemint are very good for
bees. The plants can grow from 1-5’ (0.3-1.52m) tall, and live in moist or
dry soils, such as woods, thickets and fields. They can be grown from
seed or divided in early spring.
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
~ Oenothera biennis (Onagraceae)
Summer Bloom
Common evening primroses have yellow flowers with long, slender
calyx tubes below them, occurring in spikes or clusters. They grow
in dry fields and meadows, and range in height from 1-6’ (0.3-1.83m).
Bees and butterflies are attracted to pollen and nectar in their flowers,
which bloom in the summer and fall. Interestingly, the flowers only
open at twilight. Plants can be divided in spring or fall, or started by
seeds that mature in late summer. A single plant will quickly produce
many volunteer seedlings.
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Obedient Plant, False Dragonhead
~
Physostegia virginiana (Lamiaceae)
The obedient plant has pale-purple or rose flowers that occur in
spikes. Bees and butterflies are attracted to the pollen and nectar
produced when the plant blooms in the summer and fall. An interesting
characteristic of the flowers is that they stay “obediently” for a time in
whatever position they are placed.The plants grow from 1-5’(0.3-1.52m)
high, in moist thickets and banks. They are easy to grow from seeds that
ripen in late fall, or by dividing stolons (below-ground stems) in early
spring or late fall.
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
Shrubby Cinquefoil
~ Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae)
Shrubby cinquefoil is an easy to care for shrub with yellow or white
flowers about ¾” (2cm) wide. Blooming in the summer and fall, it
produces pollen and nectar, attracting bees and butterflies. It is very
tolerant of drought and poor soil conditions, and grows 1-4’(0.3-1.22m)
high in bogs, pastures, and rocky places. Care should be taken to plant
the native species, as there are numerous ornamental cultivars and
varieties. Seeds can be sown in a container in the fall or spring and
then placed in a cold frame. Softwood cuttings can be taken in early
summer.
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Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan
~ Rudbeckia (Asteraceae)
Goldenrod
Summer Bloom
Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta; pictured above) and coneflowers,
such as the showy or orange coneflower (R. fulgida), thin-leaved
coneflower (R. triloba), and gray-headed coneflower (R. pinnata), are
native wildflowers blooming in the summer and fall. Yellow or orange
ray flowers surround a brown disk or purple cone, producing pollen and
nectar that attract bees and butterflies. Growing in dry to moist open,
often disturbed areas, they can reach heights of 1-5’(0.3-1.52m).They are
easy to start from seeds that mature in the fall, or plants can be divided
in early spring or in the fall.
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
~ Solidago (Asteraceae)
Summer Bloom
Goldenrods have yellow flowers in curved, one-sided clusters, together
forming a large, terminal cluster. Flowering in the summer and fall, they
are an important source of pollen and nectar for bees, butterflies, flies,
and beetles. There are many native species, including early goldenrod
(S .juncea), pictured above. Goldenrods are thought by some to cause
hayfever, but this is not true; ragweed is the common culprit. However,
some may be very aggressive and spread easily. Plants can also be
started from seeds after a cold stratification period, or by dividing
plants in spring or fall.
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39
A Word about Pesticides
Pesticides are chemicals used to manage unwanted organisms. Examples
include herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, each of which may be
toxic (in varying degrees) to plants, insects, and fungi, respectively. Many
of these chemicals are also linked to other health and environmental
concerns.
The main herbicides used by home and garden owners contain the active
ingredients 2-4-D, Dicamba, Gyphosate, or Mecoprop. Although none of
these are directly dangerous to pollinators, they all kill plants that feed
and support pollinator populations. Their use then limits the diversity
and abundance of flowering plants that can be used by pollinators and
so adversely affects their food resources, capacity to forage, mate, and
reproduce.
The main insecticidal chemicals that are available for use by home and
gardens owners contain Allethrin, Carbaryl, Malathion, Permethrin,
Rotenone, and Tetramethrin. All of those active ingredients are highly
toxic to insects, including pollinators. Some products are cocktails of
these compounds, but most are not. None should be ever used on
flowers or grasses.
The brands available for general home and garden use seldom carry
precautionary information about pollinators on their labels. If you want
to encourage pollinators in your garden, avoid using wide-spectrum
insecticides, such as those listed above. Soaps can be applied to leaves
40
POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
to guard against various unwanted insects, but can also kill desirable
insects on the same leaves (e.g. predators, parasitoids, and species like
butterflycaterpillars).Bt(Bacillusthuringiensisvar.kurstaki)isespecially
effective at killing caterpillars while not affecting most other insects,
but if it drifts from the plant you are trying to protect, it can have
adverse effects elsewhere in your garden by killing other caterpillars of
butterflies and moths that you want to nurture. Fungicides for home
consumption are generally innocuous to insects and pollinators.
Considerthefollowingwhenmanagingunwantedinsectsinyourgarden:
• Try removing individual unwanted insects by hand if possible.
• Encourage native predators with a diverse garden habitat.
• Expect and accept a little bit of unwanted insect activity.
Ornamental roses often require
large amounts of pesticides to
keep them looking“show-worthy”.
Consider planting native roses,
such as the smooth rose (R. Bland;
left), which are not only hardier
and more resistant to disease
and unwanted insects, but attract
many beautiful insects such as
bees, flies, and beetles.
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41
What You Can Do For Pollinators
• Create a pollinator-friendly garden habitat.
• Design your garden so that there is a continuous succession of plants
flowering from spring through fall.
• Use plants native to your region that provide nectar, pollen, and/or
that act as host plants for butterflies.
• Provide nesting sites, such as wood blocks drilled with variously sized
holes for twig-nesting bees or a small sunny patch of bare ground for
ground-nesting bees.
• Avoid pesticides.
• Supply water for all wildlife, such as a suspended milk carton with
a pinhole in the bottom. Avoid standing water as that provides a
breeding ground for mosquitoes.
• Remember that one out of every three mouthfuls of food we eat is
delivered to us by pollinators.
Native bees can nest in many places in your garden,
such as in dead twigs (left) or in sandy soil (right).
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POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE
Index of Species, by Common Name
Anemone..................... 11
Fleabane...................... 29
Sunflower.................... 31
Arrowwood................. 20
Goldenrod................... 39
Trumpet Vine.............. 25
Bee Balm...................... 34
Honeysuckle............... 13
Viburnum.................... 20
Bergamot..................... 34
Hop-tree...................... 15
Virgin’s Bower............. 28
Blackberry................... 18
Hyssops........................ 21
Wild Black Cherry........7
Black-Eyed Susan...... 38
Joe-Pye Weed............ 30
Wild Rose..................... 17
Bonesets...................... 30
Lobelia, Blue............... 33
Wild Strawberry...........6
Butterfly weed........... 24
Lobelia, Great............. 33
Cardinal Flower......... 32
Milkweed, Swamp.... 23
Clematis....................... 28
Milkweed, Orange.... 24
Chokecherry..................7
New England Aster.. 26
Columbine.....................8
Ninebark...................... 14
Coneflower................. 38
Obedient Plant.......... 36
Dogbane...................... 22
Pussy Willow..................9
Dogwood.................... 12
Raspberry.................... 18
Elderberry................... 19
Serviceberry............... 10
Evening Primrose..... 35
Shadbush.................... 10
False Dragonhead.... 36
Shrubby Cinquefoil.. 37
Fireweed...................... 27
Sumac........................... 16
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43
P llinators
Photo Credits:
Pages 7, 11, 12, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24, 33, 32 by Scott Sampson
Pages 8, 25, 30, 37 by Peter G. Kevan
Pages 34, 38 by Anne-Marie Roussy
Page 10 by G.A. Cooper @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Page 15 by Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Page 36 by Jennifer Anderson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
All others by Victoria MacPhail
Writing Credits:
Text written by Victoria MacPhail
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Produced through a contract with Enviroquest Ltd, Cambridge, ON
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