pollinator plants - the farm between...2015/02/02 · pollinator plants a short list of perennials...

POLLINATOR PLANTS

A short list of perennials and

grassesfor enhancing the various forms of

pollinator habitat. With a focus on

native bees.

Photo Credit: Jane’s front yard…laying out the plants.

CREDITS

• Information regarding “special value for bees and/or bumblebees” was primarily gathered from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center website who credits the Pollinator Program at The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.

• Verification on Native Status from the USDA Plant Database, website.

• Much of the general notes on plants is from the Missouri Botanical Gardens – Plant Date website.

• Photo Credits: endless blogs andwebsites. Efforts are made to avoid copyrighted materials. Apologies for any errors in this effort.

Photo Credit: California School of Garden Design, article ”Beeing There”.

Building You Plant Palette

• See Handouts for full listing!!• This edited presentation focuses on selectnative

plants for building your pollinator habitat enhancement palette and is divided into:– Trees (covered by Nancy)– Shrubs (covered by Nancy)– Perennials for Pollinator Gardens– Perennials for Pollinator Cottage Gardens or

Meadows– Vines (not covered in this workshop, see handout.)– Grasses– Native Annuals (not covered in this workshop, see

handout.)

PERENNIALSof special value to native bees

GARDEN-WORTHY

FOR POLLINATOR GARDENS

Photo Credit: Hickory Hollow Landscapers web-site

PERENNIALS in Pollinator Habitat Enhancement

• Perennials are the most important plant group for providing pollen and nectar for pollinators.

• Most perennials will start their flowering gradually and peak for about 3 weeks, then taper off, for a total of about 6 weeks of flowering. There are, of course, lots of exceptions.

• Many of the perennials listed, also serve as larval host for butterflies and moths.

• Spacing: Most perennials will be fine at 2’-3’ on center, which is about 4 s.f./plant, some closer and some farther apart.

Perennials - Review• Goal of a Pollinator Habitat is to provide constant

overlapping flowering from early spring to hard frost,

• With at least 3 species flowering at a time,

• Covering the 3 flowering times (early, middle, late), and

• Include at least one native bunch grass or sedge.

• That adds up to at least 10 species.1

– One researcher found increased diversity in pollinators up to 20 flowering plant species, then leveling off above 20, so 10 -20 flowering species is a good target for the plant palette.2

• Offering a variety of flower shapes, colors and odors,

• Planting in large swaths of 6 – 8 or more or in relative close proximity for pollinator efficiency.

1NRCS “Pollinator Biology and Habitat, New England Pollinator Handbook, November 2009 by NRCS, Xerces and U of ME2I am so trying to find this lost reference…. Photo Credit: Alaska State Fair, website.

Agastache foeniculumAnise Hyssop PERENNIAL

May June July Aug. Sept.

Height: 3’-5’Hardy: 3-9Soils: Moist to Dry

Special value to bees. One of the best for supporting pollinators while providing a beautiful late season flower show with anise-scented foliage.

Native to the U.S.

Asclepias tuberosaButterflyweed PERENNIAL


Height: 2.5’-3’Hardy: 3-9Soils: Well-Drained

Notes: Special value to bee. Larval host to Monarch, Grey Hairstreak Queens. Long lasting showy orange flowers. Beware roots are toxic if ingested and sap is a skin-irritant.

Native to Vermont

Baptisia australisBlue Wild Indigo PERENNIAL


Height: 4.5’-5.5’Hardy: 4-9Soils: Moist to Dry

Special value to bees, bumblebees. A garden beauty with long-lasting violet spikes. Cherokee used for blue dye. Some toxicity if ingested but it tastes badly.

Native to Vermont

Echinacea purpureaPurple Coneflower PERENNIAL


Height: 2’-5’Hardy: 3-8Soils: Dry to Medium

Special value to bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and seeds for birds. The well-known and beloved purple coneflower with a tremendously long bloom period. Can be frustratingly short-lived…but why not just replant and it can self-seed some.

Native to New York, not VT.

Eupatoriadelphus (Eupatorium/Eutrochium)

maculatumJoe-Pye Weed PERENNIAL


Height: 3’-6’Hardy: 4-9Soils: Medium to Wet

Special value to bees. Attracts butterflies. Great in the garden, cottage garden and meadow. Can naturalize slowly. Seed heads persist into winter. Many nice cultivars, unknown if as as valuable for pollinators.

Native to Vermont

Eupatorium perfoliatumCommon Boneset PERENNIAL


Height: 4’-6’Hardy: 3-8Soils: Moist to Wet

Special value to bees, attract butterflies. A common roadside plant that could do quite well in any type of pollinator garden setting.

Native to Vermont

Geranium maculatumCranesbill or Wild Geranium PERENNIAL


Height: 1’-1.5’Hardy: 3-9Soils: Moist to Dry

Special value to bees/bumblebees and attracts butterflies. Will naturalize, aggressively self-seeding if happy, even in lawn, so they say, but I have it in gardens…Seems to prefer somewhat shady, open woodland gardens.

Native to Vermont

Helenium autumnaleSneezeweed PERENNIAL



Special value to bees. A clump forming large, statuesque perennial attractive to bees and butterflies. Can be used in gardens, cottage gardens, and meadows. May need staking.

Native to Vermont

Helianthus giganteusGiant Sunflower PERENNIAL



Special value to bees, seeds very attractive to birds. A breezy perennial with abundant late blooms and red stems. Most of plant is toxic to humans and animals. Stems and leaves are skin-irritants. If you have the space….

Native to Vermont

Liatris spicataBlazing Star, Gayfeather PERENNIAL


Height: 2’-4’Hardy: 3-8Soils: Medium

Special value to bee/bumblebees, butterflies, hummingbirds and birds. Blazing star is a popular garden perennial serving much more than beauty, also valued as a cut flower. Great in the garden.


Lobelia siphiliticaGreat Blue Lobelia PERENNIAL



Special value to bees/bumblebees, hummingbirds and seeds for birds. A clump forming perennial that is nice in gardens, woodland edges and naturalized plantings, does tend to reseed some Likes it moist.

Native to Vermont

Monarda didymaScarlet Beebalm PERENNIAL



Special value to bees/bumblebees, hummingbirds and butterflies. Despite the red, bees will find this if planted in mass and it will be as it spread by rhizomes and reseeds. So cautiously…in the garden.

Native to Vermont

Monarda fistulosaWild Bergamot PERENNIAL



Special value to bees/bumblebees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and seeds for birds. Like all monardas, it will self-seed quite freely, so great to have, suggest the weeding-out as necessary but allow it in the garden.

Native to Vermont

Monarda punctataSpotted Beebalm PERENNIAL


Height: 1.5’-2’Hardy: 3-8Soils: Dry to Medium

Special value to bees/bumblebees, and butterflies. Like all monardas, it will self-seed but like Monarda didyma, so great to have, suggest the weeding-out as necessary but allow it in the garden.

Native to Vermont

Penstemon digitalisSmooth White Beardtongue PERENNIAL



Special value to bees/bumblebees, and hummingbirds. This clump-forming penstemon will also attract lots of butterflies. So worth having in the garden.

Native to Vermont

Penstemon hirsutusHairy Beardtongue PERENNIAL


Height: 1.5’-2’Hardy: 3-8Soils: Dry

Special value to bees/bumblebees and hummingbirds and is a larval host to the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly. It will self-seed some but not to the point of invasiveness so go for the garden.

Native to Vermont

Pycnanthemum tenuifoliumSlender Mountain Mint PERENNIAL



Special value to bees/bumblebees and butterflies. This valuable pollinator magnet plant will naturalize but apparently slowly in colder climates, so, cautiously, suggesting garden.

Native to Vermont

Silphium perfoliatumCup Plant PERENNIAL



Special value to bees/bumblebees, butterflies, hummingbirds and provides seeds for birds. This coarse BIG sunflower-like perennial grows wild along streams and pond edges. The leaf cups provide excellent rainwater storage for thirsty wildlife. Spreads by rhizomes but not quickly.

Native to Vermont

Symphyotrichum novae-angliaeNew England Aster PERENNIAL



Special value to bees. Attracts butterflies and larval host to the Pearl Crescent butterfly. Great in the garden, cottage garden, meadow. A bit larger and earlier than Smooth Blue Aster more red/purple. Will spread some. Great for late season.

Native to Vermont

Symphyotrichum novi-belgiiNew York Aster PERENNIAL


Height: 3’-4’Hardy: 4-8Soils: Medium to Moist

Special value to bees, butterflies and is a larval host to the Pearl Crescent butterfly. Another great late season aster so valued in the garden and for pollinators.

Native to Vermont

Tradescantia virginianaVirginia Spiderwort PERENNIAL


Height: 1.5’-3’Hardy: 4-9Soils: Medium, Moist, Acid

Special value to bees/bumblebees and butterflies. This lovely perennial will spread and self-seed when happy, but can be kept in check. Nice for a moist shady garden spot. The foliage is a bit messy by mid-summer, so plan accordingly, something to flop over it?

Native to Vermont

Vernonia noveborancesisNew York Ironweed PERENNIAL


Height: 4’-6’Hardy: 4(5)-9Soils: Moist

Special value to bees, butterflies and seeds for birds. A statuesque plant with nice deep purple flowers. Maybe borderline hardy here, find a microclimate. Back of the garden, cottage garden or meadow.


Veronicastrum virginicumCulver’s Root PERENNIAL



Special value to bees and butterflies. Just love this statuesque perennial with long lasting flowers, adored by bees, butterflies and beetles. An important pollinator habitat plant that is just great in a garden, cottage garden

Native to Vermont

PERENNIALS

FOR COTTAGE GARDENS

and

POLLINATOR MEADOWS

Photo Credit: House to Home“Take a tour around a cottage garden.”

Asclepias incarnataSwamp Milkweed PERENNIAL



Special value to bees, bumblebees, larval host to Monarch and Queen Butterflies. Forms strong clumps, brightly colored flower heads on tall stems. Nice fall color.

Native to Vermont

Asclepias purpurascensPurple Milkweed PERENNIAL


Height: 2’-3’Hardy: 3-8Soils: Dry

Special value to bees and butterflies. Similar in appearance to common milkweed bit with deep rose flowers, a bit aggressive for the garden, better for cottage garden or meadow.

Native to NY, NH…not VT

Asclepias syriacaCommon Milkweed PERENNIAL


Height: 2’-3’Hardy: 3-9Soils: Dry to MediumSpecial value to bees/bumblebees. Is a larval host to the Monarch butterfly. The milky sap is toxic in large doses to humans. Reseeds and can spread somewhat rapidly by rhizomes, forming extensive colonies.

Native to Vermont

Chamerion angustifoliumFireweed PERENNIAL


Height: 2’-3.5’Hardy: 3-Soils: Dry to Moist

Special value to bees. Fireweed is a common roadside wildflower in cold climate, particularly in northwest US though occurs in VT. Very showy flowers, will reseed prolifically, so off to the cottage garden or meadow.

Native to Vermont

Claytonia virginicaSpringbeauty PERENNIAL


Height: .5’-1’Hardy: 3-8Soils: Medium to Moist

Special value to bees. A white flowering early flowerer, which will naturalize. Nice in cottage garden and can naturalized in lawns like crocus. Produces sweet, edible underground tubers that taste like chestnut and were consumed by early Americans.

Native to Vermont

Erigeron philadelphicusFleabane Daisy PERENNIAL


Height: 2’-2.5’Hardy: 2-7Soils: Dry to Medium

Notes: bees, larval host to Northern Metalmark. A short-lived perennial with showy flowers, will naturalize. Nice in cottage gardens or meadows.

Native to Vermont

Eurybia macrophyllaBig-Leaf Aster, Lumberjack Toilet Paper PERENNIAL



Special value to butterflies and is a larval host to the Pearl Crescent butterfly.. This woodland beauty does spread by rhizomes and self-seeds, so off to the cottage garden or meadow. Handy large leaves when hiking….

Native-not clear, is in VT.

Lupinus perennisWild Lupine PERENNIAL


Height: 1’-2’Hardy: 3-9Soils: Dry, Sandy

Special value to bees/bumblebees, is the only host to the Karner Blue Butterfly, attracts hummingbirds and provides seeds for birds. Toxic in large quantities. Reseeds. Crosses easily with non-native lupine.

Native to Vermont

Oligoneuron albumUpland White Aster PERENNIAL


Height: 1’-1.5’Hardy:Soils: Dry, Sandy, Rocky

Special value to bees and butterflies. The Upland White Aster becomes a sea of white blooms in late summer and filled with bees and butterflies. It will self-seed readily so stay with the cottage garden or meadow.

Native to Vermont

Polemonium reptansCreeping Jacob’s Ladder PERENNIAL


Height: 3-8Hardy: 1’-1.5’Soils: Medium

Special value to bees/bumblebees. Despite the name, this Jacob’s Ladder does not creep but freely reseeds. It is nice at the woodland edge, naturalized along a shady drive or in a cottage garden or shady meadow.

Native to Vermont

Rudbeckia laciniataGreen-head Coneflower PERENNIAL


Height: 2’-9’Hardy: 3-9Soils: MediumSpecial value to bees and seeds for birds. Can become quite large In the wild but generally grow to 3’-4’ in cultivation. Showy yellow drooping rays around an anise smelling cone.This be aggressive rhizomatic grower, so to the cottage garden or meadow.

Native to Vermont

Solidago canadensisCanadian Goldenrod PERENNIAL


Height: 3’-6’Hardy: 3-9Soils: Dry to Moist

Special value to bees and butterflies. This common goldenrod is ra-a-ther aggressive, self-seed and through rhizomes, that it is listed an invasive in England where it was introduced in the 1600’s. However a very valuable late bloomer for pollinators in the U.S.

Native to Vermont

Solidago speciosaShowy Goldenrod PERENNIAL



Special value to bees and butterflies. This is the showiest of the goldenrods but still spreads aggressively through rhizomes and self-seeding, so still go for the meadow, probably not even the cottage garden.

Native to Vermont

Here it is growing somewhat contained in the High-Line

Verbena strictaWooly or Hoary Verbena PERENNIAL


Height: 1.5’-4’Hardy: 4-7Soils: Dry to Medium

Special value to bees, butterflies and is a larval host to the Common Buckeye butterfly. This wild verbena will naturalize by self-seeding to form colonies, so best if in a cottage garden or meadow setting.

Native to Vermont

Zizia aureaGolden Zizia or Alexnader PERENNIAL


Height: 1.5’- 3’Hardy: 3-8Soils: Medium

Special value to bees, butterflies and is a larval host to the Black Swallowtail butterfly. Could be good in a garden, but is short-lived, but that is forgiven by it self-seeding. So best in the cottage garden where control of placement is less of a concern.

Native to Vermont

MEADOWSin Pollinator Habitat Enhancement

ERNST MX # XERCES C00103Cost Per Pound $53.63 ERNST MEADOW POLLINATOR MIXSeeding Rate 8 lb per acreMix Type Upland & Meadow Sites

Species List36.95% Sideoats Grama, 'Butte’ Bouteloua curtipendula 'Butte’14.78 Lanceleaf Coreopsis, Coastal Plain Coreopsis lanceolata, NC ecotype11.46 Bigleaf Lupine Lupinus polyphyllus10.05% Patridge Pea, PA Ecotype Chamaecrista fasciculata, PA ecotype9.68% Anise (Lavender) Hyssop Agastache foeniculum5.99% Tall White Beardtongue Penstemon digitalis3.11% Common Milkweed Asclepias syrica, PA ecotype2.18% Maximillian’s Sunflower Helianthus maximillianii2.05% Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa, PA ecotype1.45% Blue False Indigo Baptisia australis, S. WV Ecotype0.62% Slender Mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenufolium0.5% Ohio Spiderwort Tradescantia chiensis, PA ecotype0.39% Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum, PA ecotype0.38% Arrowleaf Aster Symphyotrichm urophyllum, PA ecotype0.22% New England Aster Aster novae-angliae, PA ecotype0.16% Showy Goldenrod Solidago speciosa, S WV Ecotype0.03% New York Ironweed Veronia noveboracensis, PA EcotypeTotal 100%

http://www.ernstseed.com/seed-mix/species/?category-id=282&catalog-id=1049

http://www.ernstseed.com/seed-mix/species/?category-id=282&catalog-id=1025

RECOMMENDED NORTHEASTERN POLLINATOR CONSERVATION SEED MIX Available from Ernst Conservation Seeds, Meadville, Pennsylvania www.ernstseed.com [email protected] or (800) 873-3321 Ernst Conservation Seeds produces and supplies native plant seed for use in restoration, reclamation, conservation, and wildlife habitat enhancement.

Recommended seeding rate: at least 7.2 bulk pounds per acre. *Exact species composition subject to change, based on availability Common Name Botanical Name Cultivar/Ecotype Percent of Mix* FORBS Anise hyssop Agastache foeniculum Commercial 9.68% Arrow leaf aster Symphyotrichum sagittifolius PA 0.31% Bigleaf lupine Lupinus polyphyllus Commercial 11.46% Blue false indigo Baptisia australis Southern WV 1.45% Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum PA 0.39% Milkweed Asclepias syriaca PA 3.11% Lanceleaf coreopsis Coreopsis lanceolata NC 14.78% Maximilian's sunflower Helianthus maximilianii Commercial 2.18% Meadow bottle gentian Gentiana clausa PA 0.07% New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae PA 0.22% New York ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis PA 0.03% Ohio spiderwort Tradescantia ohiensis PA 0.5% Partridge pea Chamaecrista fasciculata PA 10.05% Showy goldenrod Solidago speciosa Southern WV 0.16% Slender mountainmint Pycnanthemum tenuifolium Com. 0.62% Tall white beardtongue Penstemon digitalis Commercial 5.99% Wild bergamot Monarda fistulosa Commercial 2.05% GRASS Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium 'Camper' 36.95%

GRASSES

For Pollinator Habitat Enhancement

Photo Credit: Growing a Greener World, Episode 119: Waterwise Gardening.

GRASSESin Pollinator Habitat Enhancement

• The role of native grasses is generally to provide nesting for pollinators, especially ground-nesting and cavity-nesting bees.

• Some of the native grasses serve as larval hosts for butterflies and moths.

• Many of the grasses also provide valuable bird seeds.

• Spacing: generally should go for 2’-3’ on-center.

Andropogon gerardiiBig BluestemGRASS



Special value provides nesting for bees.Though slow to establish, Big Bluestem will freely reseed if happy. Easy to maintain, cut to ground in late winter for garden use. Establishes a deep, extensive root system.

Native to Vermont

Bouteloua curtipendulaSideoats Grama GRASS


Height: 1.5’-2.5’Hardy: 4-9Soils: Dry to Medium

Special value provides nesting for bees.Sideoats grama uniquely holds it oak-like seeds hanging to one side of the stem. Mid-summer purplish flowers fade to tan. Green summer foliage develops beautiful fall shades of orange/red.

Native to NY and ME

Deschampsia cespitosaTufted Hair Grass GRASS


Height: 1’-3’Hardy: 4-9Soils: Medium to Wet, Alkaline

Special value provides seeds for birds, nectar for butterflies and moths and larval host for Umber Skipper. A beautiful airy grass with tawny late fall coloring. Waves nicely in wind.

Native to Vermont

Panicum virgatumSwitch Grass, Panic Grass GRASS



Special value to birds and larval host for the Delaware and Dotted Skipper moths. Switchgras is a loose, clump-forming, warm season grass with fine texture and reddish-purple seedheads. Bright green leaves turn bright red/yellow in the fall

Native to Vermont

Schizachyrium (Andropogon) scopariumLittle Bluestem GRASS



Special value provides nesting for bees, seeds for birds, larval host for butterflies/moths. Excellent upright clumps of narrow green leaves, bluish near base. Purple/bronze flowers late summer. Great fall bronze/orange.

Native to Vermont

Sorghastrum nutansIndiangrass GRASS



Special value provides nesting for bees and larval host to moths. A dominant grass of the prairie, also appearing in the East. Upright, blue/green foliage turns orange/yellow in the fall. Light brown fade to gray and winter persist.

Native to Vermont

• The next slide shows a list of plants suggested by Beatriz Moisset for creating a bee lawn.

• Some of these are discussed earlier in the Perennials for Cottage Gardens/Meadows. If interested in exploring this more, visit this link:

• http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/pollinator-friendly-lawns:

Photo Credit: Bluets in lawn at Mt. Cuba Center.

• Native species of grass companions:• Blue eyed grasses (Sisyrinchium, several species) not a true grass but a

member of the iris family, with pretty blue flowers• Cinquefoils, (Potentilla). Similar to wild strawberries• Wild strawberries (Fragaria, several species). The five lobed leaves of this

and those of cinquefoils are very similar in appearance• Yellow violets (Viola pennsylvanica). A few other species of violets are

also native• Spring beauties (Claytonia spp.)• Wild geraniums, crane’s-bills (Geranium spp.)• Azure bluets (Houstonia caerulea)• Speedwells (Veronica), with several species, some native others

introduced• Wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella), used as ground cover by some gardeners• Smartweeds, knotweeds, many species in the genus Polygonum; some

are small enough to do well in lawns. Some species are native and others introduced

• Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.) are great in the fall. Some grow rather tall, better for a meadow than a lawn; but if mowed not too frequently, they can do well and bloom heavily inviting many species of pollinators

• Chickweeds include two genera: Cerastium and Stellaria. They are also known by several other common names; some species, such as field chickweed, (Cerastium arvense) and star chickweed (Stellaria pubera), are native. They are small enough to do well in lawns Photo Credit: Claytonia virginica,

Arkansas Native Plant Society

Web-Sites for Bee Lawns

• Eco-Lawn: fine fescue mix. www.wildflowerfarm.com

• Prairie Nursery No-mow Mix, fine fescue mix. www.prairienursery.com

• Outside Pride, Legacy Fine Fescue mix. www.outsideprice.com

• Nichols Garden Nursery, Ecology Lawn Mix includes ryegrass, fescue with perennials white clover, English daisies, chamomile, yarrow and baby blue eyes. www.nicholsgardennursery.com

http://www.wildflowerfarm.com

http://www.prairienursery.com

http://www.outsideprice.com

http://www.nicholsgardennursery.com

Web-Sites for Pollinator Plants• River Berry Farm website page, Pollinator Plants

http://www.riverberryfarm.com/pollinator-plants-at-river-berry-farm/• The Farm Between, website page, Trees and Shrubs for Pollinators

http://www.thefarmbetween.com/nursery/pollinator-friendly-trees/• Pollinator Partnership, Planting Guides by Ecoregions.

http://www.pollinator.org/guides.htm.• Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, go to tab “Explore Plants”, scroll to

“Recommended Species”, scroll down page to “Value to Beneficial Insects”, bees and bumblebee filters created by Xerces, and can filter for native plants by State and site conditions. AMAZING! http://www.pollinator.org/guides.htm.

• USDA Plants Database, great place to determine native status and distribution along with much more. http://plants.usda.gov.

• NRCS Plant Materials, publication available to download, Pollinator-Friendly Plants for the Northeast, pictures. http://www.plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/nypmctn11164.pdf. Has a great list of resources at end.

http://www.riverberryfarm.com/pollinator-plants-at-river-berry-farm/











http://www.pollinator.org/guides.htm

http://www.pollinator.org/guides.htm

http://plants.usda.gov

http://www.plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/nypmctn11164.pdf



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