Kevin O’Connor and Jenn Nawada take a road trip to a local nursery to discuss pollinator plants. After explaining that every plant that flowers is technically a pollinator plant, Jenn shows Kevin some of her favorite varieties. The two discuss some early season, mid season, and late season pollinator plants, as well as the importance of these plants as a source of food for critical pollinators.
CORRECTION: In the video above, one plant is classified as asclepias tuberosa, but it should be classified as asclepias incarnata.
What Are Pollinator Plants?
At a very basic level, any plant that flowers can be considered a pollinator plant. This could be a plant that flowers and then produces fruit, or simply ornamental plants that flower just to feed pollinators and birds once they seed (and look great in a garden bed).
These plants are important because they attract birds, butterflies, and bees, allowing them to feed on the nectar or pollen in the plant. They pick up pollen while feeding and once they move to the next flower, some of the pollen falls off and pollinates that flower. For ornamental plants, not much happens, but for fruit-bearing plants, this is how the plant produces fruit.
Also, many plants will shed their leaves after pollination. At that point, the plant produces seeds that birds can eat.
Spreading Out Seasonal Pollinator Plants
Different times of the year are ideal for certain flowering plants. F gardeners time their garden design correctly, they can add plants that flower in each season, ensuring they always have a pollinator plant or two to offer birds, bees, and butterflies.
Springtime Pollinator Plants
Springtime pollinator plants can help emerging bees and butterflies by giving them an early dose of high-energy pollen and nectar. Some common springtime pollinator plants include:
- Winterberry: A shrub that produces bright red berries in fall but has bright white flowers in the spring
- Bleeding heart: A perennial shade-space pollinator that produces clusters of drooping flowers
- Dwarf witchalder: A shrub that produces flowers on the wood before leaves emerge
Summer Bloomers
Summer bloomers give the pollinators food and a space to take breaks while migrating during the very hot winter months.
- Butterfly weed: A perennial that produces a purple or whitish-flowering plant that is critical to the monarch butterfly
- Pinky pollen ring hydrangea: A shrub that produces clusters of flowers that act as wide landing pads full of nectar
- Coneflower (echinacea): A perennial that forms large, purple blossoms and is a favorite of bees and butterflies
Late Summer and Fall Pollinator Plants
As the season winds down, pollinators are often gathering nectar and pollen to make it through the winter. These plants will help:
- Oakleaf hydrangea: A shrub that produces large cone-shaped panicles of flowers, allowing pollinators to feed from all angles
- Highbush blueberry: A shrub that pollinators can feed on while also triggering the plant to produce blueberries
- Low bush honeysuckle: A tuberous perennial with bright yellow flowers that bees and butterflies love to dive into
Native Plants
All of the above-mentioned plants are native to the Northeast. Folks in other regions should consider researching pollinator plants native to their areas. Using native plants means less water, less chemical correction, and less maintenance for a beautiful pollinator garden.
Other Tips
Pollinator gardens near ponds or streams are helpful for pollinators looking for a drink. However, it’s possible to supplement those water sources with a small water container.
Also, choose plants with a variety of colors when planning a garden. Different colors attract multiple pollinators, so it’s a good idea to mix them up and create some visual interest.
Resources
Jenn and Kevin head to the garden center to discuss pollinator plants and how to create
a pollinator garden at home.
Pollinator Plants are flowering perennials, annuals, or shrubs that provide nectar and pollen
essential for a flourishing pollinator population, which allows for crops and flowers to continue
producing seeds and fruits via insect pollination.
Pollinators include bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other insects beneficial to gardens.
Choose plants with a variety of colors, and create a visual buffet for bees to choose from. Also, be
sure to choose plants with a variety of bloom times, allowing plants to bloom in succession
throughout each season instead of all at once. This provides consistent food for pollinators and
encourages them to return to your garden all season long.
Jenn Nawada and Kevin O’Connor visited Mahoney’s Garden Center.