As much as we love to admire and sniff them, flowers aren’t just for our enjoyment. They are essential elements of the ecosystem. Winged bugs of all stripes love and depend on flowers for nutrition and survival. Let’s do our part to nurture a robust pollinator population by planting the right varieties that benefit them most.
What attracts pollinators to flowers?
Scent – bees and butterflies can’t resist fragrant flowers (neither can we!)
Color – *see below for favorites
Flower shape – hummers prefer tubular shaped blooms, while bees prefer flat open flowers
High pollen/nectar – some plants are pollen-less while others have a type of pollen that isn’t spread by pollinators, but by the wind. Keep these things in mind when choosing flowers for your garden.
Tips for attractive pollinators:
Choose native species and wildflowers – wildflowers get bad press for seeming ‘weedy’ but these kinds of plants are what your local pollinators are used to and are the most beneficial to those populations.
Plant flowers away from high traffic areas – the less disruption from humans, animals and machines the better. You don’t like being pestered while you’re trying to eat do you?
Provide water and “puddling” stations – pollinating is thirsty work! Bees often get dehydrated during the day, so leaving them some shallow pools of clean water helps them tremendously. Add small stones to the pool so that they have something to stand on while they drink.
Avoid using pesticides – try natural remedies to deter the “bad” bugs and invite “good” bugs to even the score (ie: don’t kill spiders and other pest predators if you can manage it.)
Plant *colorful and fragrant flowers for best results
Bees’ favorite colors are violet and blue
Hummingbirds’ favorite color is red followed by purple and orange
Common plants pollinators love:
Monarda (Bee balm)
Buddleia (Butterfly bush)
Echinacea (Coneflowers)
Butterfly Weed
Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker)
Lonicera (Honeysuckle)
Don’t forget about the other guys!
Although bees, butterflies and hummingbirds are the most favored pollinators in the garden, they certainly aren’t the only ones benefiting your garden.
Other pollinators include:
Bats
Moths
Flower flies
Beetles
Dragonflies
These other bugs may not by as widely appealing, but they all play an important role in your garden despite their lack of popularity. Most of the insects on the list above suffer from misinformation and a general distaste due to their looks. Don’t judge a bug by its cover! Instead, plant night blooming plants like moonflowers which attract moths and night time bugs. Don’t limit yourself to the daytime – let your landscape shine even at night!
***Following these simple guidelines serves to create a more balanced and healthy environment for all to enjoy. Get out there and do it for the bees!
