How to plant a bee buffet, the nectar necessities, a banquet for bees, if you will.
I’ll share the top 10 things to think about when choosing plants that are beneficial to pollinators. Some pollinators referred to specifically in this article include hummingbirds, butterflies and bees. Many of the plant species I’ll share are not only important to pollinators, but also to YOU. I’m not a doctor by any means, but I do feel there probably is some merit in a quote said by Hippocrates around 400 BC, “Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Medicine Be Thy Food.”
Why should I care about pollinators?
We’ve seen a drastic downward shift in the amount of pollinators in our landscapes in recent years. Pollinators are necessary for 85% of the world’s flowering plants’ reproduction, more than ⅔ of the world’s crop species, according to the Xerces Society. Can you imagine hand pollinating for all of the strawberries, almonds, cucumbers, and more!? Me either. So let’s dive in and think about the small changes we can make to our landscape to benefit pollinators AND you. The Des Moines Blank Park Zoo is wanting YOUR help with the conservation of our native pollinators through the program called Plant.Grow.Fly.
Top 10 Things to think about when Choosing Pollinator Plants:
- 1- Think like the pollinator you’re wanting to attract
- There are thousands of species of invertebrates (animals that do not have a spine) that act as pollinators. You can find more about the five main categories of pollinators the Xerces Foundation determines, and the important work they are doing here. Let’s break this down a bit by hummingbirds, butterflies and bees because these are normally common in Iowa and the Midwest. I say normally because we are seeing drastic downward shifts in pollinators. I’m glad you’re here, because every little bit helps, and YOU can be part of establishing habitat for pollinators.
- What do you know about hummingbirds? They fly fast, are brightly colored, and many hummingbird feeders are red, so that must be the color they prefer (right?!), and they have long slender beaks. Great! So, if I’m thinking like a hummingbird and flowers available, I would be more inclined to choose flowers that my long beak can easily fit into. Think of it like this…I’m given a straw, and I’m to drink either water poured out onto a ten inch dinner plate vs. the same amount of water in a tall, skinny shot glass. Which is going to be easier to slurp up? Answer: the water in the shot glass because it’s all right there and I don’t have to chase it around with my beak (straw). So the same goes for flowers. As a hummingbird, I’m going to be more attracted to flowers with the same shape as my beak-long and tube shaped.
- What do you know about butterflies? They have fragile paper-like wings, they sometimes use specific plants to lay eggs on (host plant) and sometimes they don’t, they are colorful, and they use a proboscis to eat with. Great! So, if I’m thinking like a butterfly and the flowers available on a windy day, I know that I’m going to blow possibly two counties over (20 mph), maybe states away (50+ mph), or I may rest in a tree. All I know is that I’m hungry! So, using my paper, kite-like wings, I’m going to choose to try to land on flowers that have a large “landing pad” or umbel shape (think of this like a large umbrella) for me to hang on too vs. teeny tiny little flowers like I’m likely to miss by a mile.
- What do you know about bees? Let’s keep in mind too that there are many species of bees out there, but as a general rule of thumb…Bees have a head, abdomen and thorax, six legs, four wings, two compound eyes and one proboscis. Great! Bees can also overwinter here in Iowa. Cool, right?! Well that also means that when it starts to get over 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit, bees are out and about pooping and looking for food and water. An important thing to realize with bees is they really benefit from having nectar and pollen sources available to them from April-October. Some of the early ones being dandelions and trees, and some of the later ones being Echinachea (Purple Cone Flowers), Black Eyes Susans, and Goldenrod. Late blooming plants with pollen are especially important to bees as pollen contains the fat and protein they need to make it through the winter, and the carbohydrate (nectar) they need to pack away as honey for quick fuel.
- There are thousands of species of invertebrates (animals that do not have a spine) that act as pollinators. You can find more about the five main categories of pollinators the Xerces Foundation determines, and the important work they are doing here. Let’s break this down a bit by hummingbirds, butterflies and bees because these are normally common in Iowa and the Midwest. I say normally because we are seeing drastic downward shifts in pollinators. I’m glad you’re here, because every little bit helps, and YOU can be part of establishing habitat for pollinators.
- 2- Think about native plants. Think about what zone you’re in and plant perennial, native plants.
- 3- Water. Insects require an incredible amount of water! There are a variety of ways to provide water, but shallow dishes with some sort of rocks are great for insects so they can land, drink and not drown. Also think about situating your plants in an area that will be easy to water for the first year as well. You will need to get their root systems well established to set them up for success for years down the road. Watering pollinator plants on a regular basis ensures success.
- 4- If the blooms look pretty to you throughout the spring, summer and fall, it will benefit a variety of pollinators. Keep those blooms coming throughout the seasons! You don’t just like to eat at Thanksgiving and wait until the next Thanksgiving to eat..pollinators will appreciate it too!
- 5- Planting larger patches of the same type of plant will aid in the ability for pollinators to feast. Think about when you’re at a potluck. Are you more likely to take a meatball if there are ten meatballs left in the dish or two? Maybe the insects won’t care so much about being courteous, but if there isn’t much there, they will be less likely to come back, and tell others (like honeybees do) as the resource is drained.
- 6- Plant trees. Deciduous trees (ones that lose their leaves) provide pivotal habitat for many pollinators. Not only the tree itself, the pollen it produces, but also the piles of fallen sticks and leaves that pollinators can use for habitat.
- 7- Be chemical free. There are so many chemicals that can harm insects in a variety of ways. If you truly want to help pollinators and do things that are better for you and the people, plants and animals around you, work on your ability to be chemical free.
- 8- Be a bit organic. Many bee species nest in the ground, so avoid using landscape fabric or really heavy mulch. Sometimes less is more, and will be better for your wallet too.
- 9- Be patient. It takes time for plants to grow enough to bloom, but once they do, you should be blessed to see a multitude of pollinators in your patch.
- 10- Share and spread joy to others. Tell other people what you have learned, and what plants you especially see pollinators on. Ideally, your plants will become bigger, and spread out. There may come a time you need to thin out your plants for them to stay under control, and for you to be able to manage them. Divide most perennial plants in early spring, and give it to a friend to help them experience the joy that comes with growing plants. *PRO TIP* Give the divisions of your plants to a neighbor close by. The more of the same plants in the same area there are, the more likely pollinators are to come to that area in general. Generally speaking, when transplanting most pollinator plants you follow the same directions in this article called, “How to Transplant Raspberries with Success”
Pollinator Plants for Hummingbirds
Tube-shaped blooming perennials attract hummingbirds. Think about the shape of a hummingbird’s beak. What does it look like? Long, slender. Is it easier for you to hold a straw in your mouth and get it into a tall, narrow vase or a short, fat shot glass? It would seem to be a bit more comfortable to put a straw into a long, narrow vase than to try to find the middle of a short, fat shot glass. Also, think about what color appeals to hummingbirds. What colors do you frequently see when on hummingbird feeders in the store? That’s right, RED. Think about red colors. Country Living put together a great list that I’m sure you’ll find some that will work for you too, and great pictures too!
- Salvia
- Verbena
- Sage
- Columbine
- Honeysuckle
- Fuschia (annual, but great for a hanging basket)
- Bee balm
- Cardinal Flower
- Delphinium
- Trumpet Flower
- Petunias (annual, also great for hanging baskets)
- Foxglove
- Bleeding Heart
- Hollyhocks (biennial)
- Coral Bells
- Impatient (annual)
Pollinator Plants for Butterflies
Brightly colored container plants for butterflies. Butterflies like “landing pads” to sit and eat. Think about the structure of a butterfly…do they have wings that allow them to hover? Not particularly…because of this, if you find flowers that have wide blooms, or an umbrella/umbel looking flower so they can sit and feast. They also are generally attracted to pink, purple, yellow, orange and red flowers. Keep in mind butterflies lay eggs, and host plants are necessary to lay those eggs on, along with providing nectar plants.
- Delphinium
- Coreopsis
- Parsley
- Verbena
- White Coneflower
- Hibiscus
- Sedum
- Curly parsley
- Rudbeckia
- Dill
- Salvia
- Dianthus
- Calibrachoa
- Sunflower
- Penstemon (“beard tongues”)
- Butterfly bush
- Zinnia
- Butterfly weed
- Milkweed
- Mint
- Goldenrod
- Cosmos
- Bee balm (Monarda)
- Aster
- Lupine
- Sedum
- Daucus (carrot family)-dill, parsley, etc.
- Hollyhock
Host Plants for different butterflies
- Black swallowtail
- Carrot family-parsley, dill
- Sulfur butterflies
- Legume
- Skippers
- Grasses
- Admirals
- Tree species
- Monarch
- Milkweed
Herbs for Larval Host Plants
- Anise
- Dill
- Fennel
- Mint
- Parsley
Pollinator Plants for Bees
Bees, at least honey bees, don’t really, in my opinion, discriminate based on the flower. They go to many flowers, to collect pollen and nectar. There are so many of them in a hive (tens of thousands of worker bees for each hive) that forage for nectar and pollen that they visit many flowers a day, and are quick about it. If it’s blooming, they will probably be on it to check it out! I have had people and different resources tell me that flowers that are round, with a large round, distinct center, like daisies and sunflowers are good for bees. Like I said, I truly don’t think it matters so much. However, you do need to keep in mind that bee tongues (the proboscis) is only so long, so long, tubular flowers are better to leave for the hummingbirds, and shorter flowers, like daisies, asters, sunflowers, and other floret/umbel-type flowers are better for the bees. Bees cannot see red. They can visualize blue, green, and apparently can see purple, yellow, blue, and white a little more easily.
I really think you get the most bang for your buck for perennial flowers, flowering shrubs and plants with medicinal and herbal properties. There’s something to having a reliable food source for pollinators in the same place every year. Kind of like how you should always put out your hummingbird feeder around the same area as previous years. The same birds, or relatives of those birds, will stop to look for your feeder. Also, similarly, monarchs will instinctually go to the same locations on their migration trips. Bananas, right!? They’re insects!!
Perennial Pollinator Plants
- Calendula
- Marigold
- Salvia
- Nasturtium
- Lavender
- Cosmos
- Verbena
- Milkweed
- Borage
- Agastache (anise hyssop)
- Heliotrope
- Yarrow
- Oregano
- Sunflowers
- Coneflower
- Zinnia
- Blazing Meadow Star – Liatris
- Penstemon
- Aster
- Goldenrod
- Bee Balm
- Pincushion
- Bachelor’s Buttons
- Hollyhock (biennial)
- Aster
- Hibiscus
- Pearly Everlasting
- Turtlehead
- Wild Indigo
- Wild Senna
- Golden Alexander
- Wild Bergamot
Pollinator Plants – Cover Crops
- Alfalfa
- Clover
- Mustard
- Sweet clover
- Vetch
Pollinator Plants – Grasses
- Big Bluestem
- Blue Grama Grass
- Little Bluestem
- Pennsylvania Sedge
- Prairie Dropseed
- Switchgrass
Pollinator Plants – Trees
- Aspen
- Black Cherry
- Cottonwood
- Elm
- Hackberry
- Hawthorn
- Oak
- Poplar
- Tulip Tree
- Willow
Pollinator Plants – Vines
- Native Honeysuckle
- Hops
- Moonflower
- Passionflower
- Pipevine
Pollinator Plants – Shrubs
- False Indigo
- Pawpaw
- Spicebush
- Viburnum
- Wild Lilac
Pollinator Plants – Mosquito repellant
- Basil-Lemon, Genovese, Italian, Greek
- Catnip
- Lavender
- Lemon Balm
- Lemon Grass
- Marigold
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Tansy
- Wormwood
- Herbs:
- Lemongrass
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Rue
- Chives
- Lavender
You can be part of the efforts to help pollinators at your work, home, school, church and community areas. The amount of state standards that can be applied to helping with pollinators is endless. The Plant.Grow.Fly program sponsored through the Des Moines Blank Park Zoo offers assistance on creating a garden, using roadsides as habitats, and even provides funding resources for you. They also would like your help registering your gardens, no matter how small. This really is a great program, and a lot of information there!
YOU can do this. YOU can be part of changing the culture of nicely manicured grass lawns, to lush landscapes full of resources for the pollinators that provide so much of the food and resources available to us as humans. Take one step. Plant one plant to start. You’ve got this! I’m cheering you on.
This is the start of something GOOD!
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It’s FoodiePro!
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