The Best Plants to Attract Pollinators, by Region - Modern Farmer

https://modernfarmer.com/2018/05/the-best-plants-to-attract-pollinators-by-region/[5/29/2018 10:32:41 AM]

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The Bes Plants to AttractPollinators, by RegionBy Brian Barth on May 11, 2018

The Best Plants to Attract Pollinators, by Region - Modern Farmer

https://modernfarmer.com/2018/05/the-best-plants-to-attract-pollinators-by-region/[5/29/2018 10:32:41 AM]

A bumblebee on a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea).

rmbrooks on Shutterstock.

Pollinators are easy to attract to your farm orgarden. There are four keys to success: don’t sprayherbicides or insecticides; do provide habitat; doprovide a food source; and focus on native species.

The first of those is straightforward enough, and the second two are takencare of by planting nectar-rich flowers that bloom over a long period of theyear. The foliage itself provides habitat—most insect pollinators like densevegetation in which they can hide from predators and lay eggs—and theflowers provide the fuel. Plants native to your area are the best bet becausethey have co-evolved with the native pollinators.

The more diverse your plantings, the better, as some species are very picky.To get you started, here are a few ideas for pollinator plants native to eacharea of the country. Peruse the list below, and add your favorites to your

The Best Plants to Attract Pollinators, by Region - Modern Farmer

https://modernfarmer.com/2018/05/the-best-plants-to-attract-pollinators-by-region/[5/29/2018 10:32:41 AM]

Northwes

garden planning list. Want more information? Extensive regional guidescan be found at pollinator.org, a project of the North American PollinatorProtection Campaign. They even have a handy app.

Silver Lupine (Lupinus albifrons)Flowers: blue/purple, April-MaySize/Type: 3’ tall x 3’ wide shrubSun/Water: full sun, low waterAttracts: bees

Hairy Honeysuckle (Lonicera hispidula)Flowers: pink, June-AugustSize/Type: 10’ tall vineSun/Water: part shade, medium waterAttracts: hummingbirds

Western Buttercup (Ranunculus occidentalis)Flowers: yellow, April-JuneSize/Type: 2’ tall x 2’ wide perennialSun/Water: part shade, medium-high waterAttracts: bees

The Best Plants to Attract Pollinators, by Region - Modern Farmer

https://modernfarmer.com/2018/05/the-best-plants-to-attract-pollinators-by-region/[5/29/2018 10:32:41 AM]

Southwes

Pacific Dogwood (Cornus nuttallii)Flowers: white, April-JuneSize/Type: 20’ feet tall x 15’ wide treeSun/Water: part shade, medium-high waterAttracts: bees, butterflies

Flea Bane (Erigeron spp.)Flowers: various colors, June-AugustSize/Type: 2’ tall x 2’ wide perennialSun/Water: full sun, low waterAttracts: bees, butterflies

Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia spp.) by Rosa Frei on Shutterstock.

Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens)Flowers: red-orange, February-MaySize/Type: 10’ tall x 10’ wide shrubSun/Water: full sun, low waterAttracts: hummingbirds

The Best Plants to Attract Pollinators, by Region - Modern Farmer

https://modernfarmer.com/2018/05/the-best-plants-to-attract-pollinators-by-region/[5/29/2018 10:32:41 AM]

Parry’s Agave (Agave parryi)Flowers: yellow, June-AugustSize/Type: 2’ x 2’ perennialSun/Water: full sun, low waterAttracts: bees, hummingbirds, moths, bats

Jimson Weed (Datura wrightii)Flowers: white, May-OctoberSize/Type: 2’ tall x 2’ wide perennialSun/Water: full sun, low waterAttracts: moths

Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia spp.)Flowers: yellow, April-JuneSize/Type: 6’ tall x 6’ wide succulentSun/Water: full sun, low waterAttracts: bees

Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis velutina)Flowers: green/yellow, March-AugustSize/Type: 30’ tall x 20’ wide treeSun/Water: full sun, low waterAttracts: bees, butterflies

The Best Plants to Attract Pollinators, by Region - Modern Farmer

https://modernfarmer.com/2018/05/the-best-plants-to-attract-pollinators-by-region/[5/29/2018 10:32:41 AM]

Midwes

Tiny Coral Hairstreak Butterfly feeding on Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) by Sari ONeal onShutterstock.

Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)Flowers: yellow/orange, May-JulySize/Type: 2’ tall x 2’ wide perennialSun/Water: full sun, medium waterAttracts: butterflies, hummingbirds

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)Flowers: purple, June-AugustSize/Type: 2’ tall x 2’ wide perennialSun/Water: full sun, medium waterAttracts: bees, butterflies

Sumac (Rhus spp.)Flowers: white, April-AugustSize/Type: 8’ tall x 8’ wide shrubSun/Water: full sun, low waterAttracts: butterflies, bees

The Best Plants to Attract Pollinators, by Region - Modern Farmer

https://modernfarmer.com/2018/05/the-best-plants-to-attract-pollinators-by-region/[5/29/2018 10:32:41 AM]

Southeas

Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba)Flowers: white, June-SeptemberSize/Type: 6’ tall x 6’ wideSun/Water: full sun, medium-high waterAttracts: bees

Wild Indigo (Baptisia spp.)Flowers: blue/purple, March-JuneSize/Type: 4’ tall x 4’ wideSun/Water: part sun, medium-low waterAttracts: bees

Threadleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis verticillata)Flowers: yellow, May-JulySize/Type: 2’ tall x 2’ wide perennialSun/Water: full sun, low waterAttracts: bees, butterflies

Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis)Flowers: purple/blue, May-JuneSize/Type: 3’ tall x 3’ wide perennialSun/Water: part sun, low waterAttracts: butterflies, hummingbirds

Passion Flower Vine (Passiflora incarnata)Flowers: multi-colored, May-JulySize/Type: 10’ tall vineSun/Water: full sun, medium waterAttracts: hummingbirds, butterflies

Painted Buckeye (Aesculus sylvatica)Flowers: white, April-MaySize/Type: 12’ tall x 12’ wide shrubSun/Water: shade, medium-high waterAttracts: bees, hummingbirds

The Best Plants to Attract Pollinators, by Region - Modern Farmer

https://modernfarmer.com/2018/05/the-best-plants-to-attract-pollinators-by-region/[5/29/2018 10:32:41 AM]

Northeas

Sweet Goldenrod (Solidago odora)Flowers: yellow, July-OctoberSize/Type: 3’ tall x 3’ wide perennialSun/Water: full sun, low waterAttracts: bees, butterflies

Honeybee on a Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) by Marek Walica on Shutterstock.

Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)Flowers: white, May-JuneSize/Type: 6” tall x 6’ wide groundcoverSun/Water: part sun, low waterAttracts: bees

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)Flowers: red, August-OctoberSize/Type: 3’ tall x 3’ wide perennialSun/Water: part sun, high waterAttracts: bees, hummingbirds

The Best Plants to Attract Pollinators, by Region - Modern Farmer

https://modernfarmer.com/2018/05/the-best-plants-to-attract-pollinators-by-region/[5/29/2018 10:32:41 AM]

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)Flowers: yellow, June-SeptemberSize/Type: 2’ tall x 1’ wide perennialSun/Water: full sun, medium waterAttracts: bees, butterflies

Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana)Flowers: white, July-AugustSize/Type: 10’ tall vineSun/Water: part sun, medium-high waterAttracts: bees

Mapleleaf Viburnum (Vibrunum acerifolium)Flowers: white, May-JuneSize/Type: 5’ tall x 5’ wide shrubSun/Water: part sun, medium waterAttracts: bees

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