Part 3: PLANT FLOWERS Food Host Plants
Disclaimer! Not all flowers are created equal!
Beardtongue Penstemon sp. Perennial (8 species) Bloom period: late spring Pollinators: bumblebees, sweat bees, digger bees, mason bees leafcutter bees Host for: Baltimore Checkerspot Perks: many showy species, excellent early nectar for bumblebees Availability: common at nurseries
Sunflowers Helianthus sp. Annuals or Perennial (10 species) Bloom period: spring - fall Pollinators: bees, wasps, butterflies, skippers, beetles, moths Host for: Bordered Patch Perks: grows and blooms quickly, tolerates poor soils Availability: seed usually sold, easy to start; some species at nurseries
Rocky Mountain Beeplant Cleome serrulata Annual Bloom period: spring - summer Pollinators: bumblebees, digger bees, long-horn bees, honey bees, various wasps Host for: Checkered White butterfly Perks: grows quickly, tolerates poor soils, very showy Availability: seed usually sold, easy to start
Upright Prairie Coneflower Ratibida columnifera Perennial Bloom period: spring - summer Pollinators: short-tongued bees, wasps, flies, beetles, a few butterflies. Host for: various nocturnal moths Perks: drought tolerant, long flowering period, profuse blooms Availability: seed usually sold, easy to start
Prairie Verbena Glandularia sp. Perennial (2 species) Bloom period: spring - summer Pollinators: long-tongue bees, butterflies, skippers Host for: various herbivore insects Perks: great, spreading ground cover, very tough Availability: usually found in nurseries
Beebalm Monarda sp. Annual or Perennial (6 species) Bloom period: spring early fall Pollinators: honeybees, bumblebees, miner bees, plasterer bees, butterflies Host for: various moths and true bugs Perks: oregano-esque scent to all parts of plant, deters mammals Availability: common at nurseries, easily started from seed
Coneflower Echinacea sp. Perennial (4 species) Bloom period: summer Pollinators: bumblebees, honey bees, digger bees, leafcutter bees, many butterflies Host for: Checkerspot butterfly Perks: seeds enjoyed by Goldfinches Availability: common at nurseries
Blazing Star Liatris sp. Perennial (6 species) Bloom period: summer - fall Pollinators: bumblebees, longhorned bees, leafcutter bees, many butterflies, skippers and moths Host for: various moths Perks: extremely showy, long-lived plants Availability: common at nurseries, easily started from seed
Goldenrod Solidago sp. Perennial (11 species) Bloom period: summer - fall Pollinators: bumblebees, honey bees, digger bees, leafcutter bees, long-horned bees, wasps, syrphid flies, butterflies Host for: many beetles and true bugs Perks: great end of year blooms, pollen does not cause hay fever Availability: common at nurseries
Milkweed Asclepias sp. Perennial (22 species) Bloom period: summer - fall Pollinators: wasps, syrphid flies, bumblebees, many short and longtongued bees, butterflies, beetles Host for: Monarch, Queen Perks: many showy species, major pollinator magnet Availability: butterfly milkweed and swamp milkweed common at nurseries
Asters Symphyotrichum sp. Perennial (19 species) Bloom period: summer - fall Pollinators: vast array of bees, wasps, flies, skippers, butterflies, and beetles Host for: many herbivorous insects Perks: blooms profusely, great end of year color Availability: common in nurseries, New England Aster popular.
Prairie Clover Dalea sp. Perennial (12 species) Bloom period: summer - fall Pollinators: large variety of bees, wasps, flies, skippers, butterflies, and beetles Host for: Reakirt s Blue Perks: blooms long and profusely Availability: Purple Prairie Clover most commonly available
Sandhill Plum Prunus angustifolia Perennial Shrub Bloom period: spring Pollinators: bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, beetles, moths Host for: several sphinx moths Perks: highly fragrant flowers, edible fruit, wind break Availability: similar species usually found at nurseries
Buffalo Currant Ribes odoratum Perennial Shrub Bloom period: spring Pollinators: bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, beetles, moths Host for: various moths Perks: highly fragrant flowers, edible fruit, very tough Availability: have seen at nurseries
Aromatic Sumac Rhus aromatica Perennial Shrub Bloom period: spring Pollinators: bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, skippers, beetles, moths Host for: Sumac Flea Beetle Perks: highly fragrant flowers, showy fall color, very tough Availability: have seen at nurseries
Marigolds Some not so natives
Some not so natives Mexican Sunflowers (Tithonia)
Russian Sage Some not so natives
Some not so natives Sedum/stonecrop
Dill/Fennel Don t forget the veg garden!
Don t forget the veg garden! Many flowering herbs! Mint Chives Basil