Pollinators are one of our planet’s most ecologically and economically important group of animals. They are a crucial link to every terrestrial ecosystem in the world. One of the biggest differences you can make in protecting pollinators is what you do in your own landscape.
Here's what you can do:
- Plant native plants. Many native plants have evolved specifically to be pollinated by only specific species of pollinators like beetles or hummingbirds. Many pollinators, such as the Monarch butterfly, rely solely on native plants such as milkweed species.
- Plant native species that offer the most benefit for numerous species of pollinators. These include native oak species, native fruit trees, native aster species, and native milkweeds.
- Incorporate plants, trees, and shrubs into your landscape with different bloom times, so that there is something blooming early spring through late fall. Focus on incorporating early and late bloomers as often these are under-planted.
EARLY BLOOMERS-Flowers
- Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
- Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
- Golden Alexanders (Zizia aptera or aurea)
- Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium reptans)
- Pasque flower (Anemone patens)
- Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides)
- Shooting Star (Dodecatheon amethystinum or meadia)
- Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
- Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense)
EARLY BLOOMERS-Shrubs and Trees
- Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
- Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
- Northern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
- Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
- Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier genus)
- Willow-several native species (Salix genus)
LATE BLOOMERS
- Asters-several native species
- Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
- Bottle Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii)
- Maximillian’s Sunflower (Helianthus maximiliani)
- Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago rigida)
- Turlehead (Chelone glabra)
- Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillate)
- Virginia Mountain Mint (Pycnanathemum virginianum)
- Zig Zag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)