Fanimal’s Favorite Pollinator Plants

If you or someone you know has recently noticed that your garden is not as lively or populated with pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds and bats, you are not alone! In recent years due to habitat loss from pesticides, unhealthy soil, and animals, pollinators have been unfortunately dwindling in population. Pollination and pollinators are a critical part in maintaining a healthy garden and promoting the spread of flower seeds. Pollinator plants can be added to your garden to attract them once again and keep the pollinators around your garden to pollinate other plants and ultimately preserve your garden for months to come.

Pollination occurs when pollinators such as bees, butterflies, moths, bats, hummingbirds, or caterpillars gathers the pollen from one plant and transfer it to another plant as they move around in their habitat. This process not only benefits the plants but the pollinators as well. The pollinators use the plants for warmth, food, and pollen collection. Pollinators also can use pollen and nectar they collect. For example, bees store nectar for food during the winter.  They also use pollen to feed baby bees. In general, the sweetness of nectar provides all pollinators with carbohydrates while pollen gives proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals.

While these pollinators are moving from one plant to the next, they are spreading pollen throughout the area. The main role pollinators play is to move pollen from male structures known as anthers to the flowers of the female structure called stigma. Movement of pollen to a flower’s stigma fertilizes the flower’s eggs.  These are essential parts in the life cycle of all flowering plants in order to start seed production and are vital in the overall health of plants.

However, the decline of pollinators in our gardens has become more rampant. This is due to the overuse of pesticides and unhealthy soil gardeners are using. These harmful practices not only kill the bugs that are harming your plants but they kill the insects that are helpful in the pollination process and repel them from your garden. Pollinators are a critical part in maintaining a healthy garden. Some ways you can combat this problem is by ceasing pesticide use, using healthy, organic soil, providing a source of water and by planting a pollinator patch. Pollinator patches are a specific area in your garden that include only pollinator plants. There are many pollinator plants you can choose that will help revamp your garden. However,  make sure to select ones that are native to your area. Below are some of Fanimal’s favorite pollinator plants native to the United States that are sure to bring your garden to life.

 

Foothill Penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus)

Zones: 5-9
Light Requirements: Full sun
Flour Color: Blue, Purple
Mature Height: 15”-18”
Mature Spread: 10”-12”
Bloom time: Early – Mid Summer
Region: Western United States
Rain Requirement: 10”-20”

This plant attracts all different types of pollinators, is very hardy, low-maintenance and grows best in fast draining soil.

 

Moonshine Yellow Plant *

Zones: 3-9
Light Requirements: Full sun
Flour Color: Yellow
Mature Height: 18”
Mature Spread: 24”
Bloom time: Early Summer – Late Summer
Region: Anywhere in United States
Rain Requirement: 30”-40”

This plant is very easy to grow, is low maintenance, attracts most pollinators and can be grown above 3000’

Joe Pye Weed (Eutrocchium maculatum)

Zones: 3-8
Light Requirements: Full sun/Partial Shade
Flour Color: Pink, Purple
Mature Height: 36”-96”
Mature Spread: 18”
Bloom time: Late Summer – Fall
Region: Anywhere in United States
Rain Requirement: 30”-50”

This perennial plant attracts butterflies, bees and other pollinators with its vibrant colors and is great for small gardens.

Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)*

Zones: 3-8
Light Requirements: Full sun
Flour Color: Yellow
Mature Height: 16”
Mature Spread: 15”
Bloom time: Late Spring – Summer
Region: Anywhere in United States
Rain Requirement: 30”-40”
This plant attracts many pollinators especially bees and butterflies. It can grow above 7000’ and quickly spreads.

 

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea ‘Pica bella’)*

Zones: 4-8
Light Requirements: Full sun
Flour Color: Dark Pink with Orange
Mature Height: 36”
Mature Spread: 24”
Bloom time: Summer
Region: Anywhere in United States
Rain Requirement: 30”-50”

This plant can grow in many different types of soil; it even grows well in clay. It is very attractive to butterflies and its petals allow for a large landing platform for pollinators.

 

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)*

Zones: 4-9
Light Requirements: Full sun
Flour Color: Orange
Mature Height: 15-18”
Mature Spread: 15-18”
Bloom time: Summer
Region: Anywhere in United States
Rain Requirement: 30”-40”
This plant is popular in attracting butterflies, bees and hummingbirds and is very hardy.

 

Aster (Symphyotrichum spp.) *

Zones: 3-10
Light Requirements: Full sun
Flour Color: Purple, Blue-violet, White
Mature Height: 24”-36”
Mature Spread: 24”-36”
Bloom time: Early Summer – Mid Fall
Region: Anywhere in United States
Rain Requirement: 30”-50”

As many pollinator plants start to die off, Asters stay hardy even in the fall months. In some regions this plant helps to sustain Monarch Butterflies.

 

Blue Fortune Hummingbird Mint (Hyssop)*

Zones: 4-10
Light Requirements: Full sun
Flour Color: Blue
Mature Height: 36”
Mature Spread: 18”
Bloom time: Summer
Region: Anywhere in United States
Rain Requirement: 30”-50”

This plant attracts many different pollinators but is most popular with bee keepers. The leaves can also be used to make herbal tea.

 

Sources: Garden Design Magazine, High Country Gardens, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Habitat Council