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Home , Bombus impatiens, Eastern carpenter bee, Syringa vulgaris

2019 Planting Guide for a Successful 3-Season Pantry Garden Meet the Pollinator Ambassadors Pollinator and hummingbirds play an important role in our gardens and our food chain. There are many different pollinating creatures and all have their own way of carrying and transferring pollen. These primary groups are some of the easiest to attract, easiest to see, most efficient, most common, least aggressive or just fun to find and watch. Representing each group, we’ve nominated a Pollinator Ambassador to help introduce you to other lower profile members of its kind. Some pollinators have been studied and some we are still learning about but all are beneficial in many ways and are needed to pollinate and help create our food! Below are a few of our pollinator friends and some of the plants they love! For more suggestions, see our expanded list at: http://www.gatewaygardener.com/pollinators/2019-pollinator-planting-guide-expanded-plant-list Pollinator 3-Season Successional About These Pollinators Ambassadors Pollinator Plants

SPRING All butterflies and skippers need Old Fashioned Lilac ( vulgaris) certain food host plants while in cat- Lanceleaf (Coreopsis lanceolata) erpillar stage that is particular to its Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) Butterflies . Adult butterflies and skip- and Skippers SUMMER pers have different reach capabili- Swamp milkweed ( incarnata) Blazing star (Liatris spicata) ties to drink nectar so different nectar Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) flowers have naturally customized FALL shapes to “fit” different butterflies and Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) skippers. Smooth (Symphyotrichum laeve) Upright sedum (Hylotelephium spp.) The Ambassador ANNUALS Blood flower (Asclepias curassavica) (Danaus plexippus) Caterpillars Lantana (Lantana camara) only eat milkweed (Asclepias spp.). Zinnia (Zinnia spp.) Nectar feeds many adult pollinators.

SPRING Nectar moths are a group of moths Eastern Bee Balm ( bradburiana) that drink nectar from flowers. Some American linden / Basswood (Tilia americana) visit gardens during the day and Wild petunia (Ruellia humilis) some are more likely to visit at dawn Nectar Moths SUMMER or dusk or even at night! They are of- Swamp Milkweed ( Asclepias incarnata) Blue star (Amsonia spp.) ten mistaken for hummingbirds. Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) The Ambassador FALL Hummingbird Clearwing Moth Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) (Hemaris thysbe) Caterpillar is cam- Smooth aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) Joe pye weed (Eutrochium spp.) ouflaged by its soft green coloring. When grown it drops to the ground ANNUALS Garden verbena (Verbena spp.) and spins its cocoon, blending in with Zinnia (Zinnia spp.) leaf litter till early spring when it be- Lantana (Lantana spp.) comes this charming pollinator! SPRING Hummingbirds are pollinators. They Indian pink (Spigelia marilandica) transport pollen primarily on their Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) Red buckeye (Aesculus pavia) face and head feathers and are able to access the nectar of many deep Hummingbirds SUMMER Beardstongue (Penstemon digitalis) tubular flowers. Sweet pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) The Ambassador Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Ruby-throated Hummingbird FALL (Archilochus colubris) Since Joe pye weed (Eutrochium spp.) Blue sage ( azurea) the Ruby-throated hummingbird Coral honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens) migrates and is the only reliably ANNUALS consistent hummingbird we have in Blood flower (Asclepias curassavica) it is its own ambassador for Hummingbird sage (Salvia coccinea) the Pollinator Pantry program. Bee flower (Cleome serrulata) Pollinator 3-Season Successional About These Pollinators Ambassadors Pollinator Plants SPRING Missouri has at least 6 species of Willow (Salix spp.) bumble bees (Bombus spp.) each Blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) with very subtle and distinct differ- Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) Bumble Bees & ences The Eastern SUMMER Large Carpenter Bees Downy skullcap (Scutellaria incana) (Xylocopa virginica) is often mistak- mallow (Hibiscus spp.) en for a bumble bee. Both are fairly Catmint (Nepeta spp.) docile creatures and in general are FALL too busy to care about people or ac- Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) tivities in the garden. Upright sedum (Hylotelephium spectabilis) Blue sage (Salvia azurea) The Ambassador ANNUALS Eastern Bumble Bee Bee flower (Cleome serrulata) (Bombus ). Frequents Sunflower () flowers for nectar and pollen all sea- Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) son. SPRING Approximately 70% of bees nest in Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) the ground. Heavy mulching in the Flowering dogwood (Cornus ) landscape restricts nest building op- Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) portunities. Their descriptive com- Ground Nesting Bees SUMMER milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) mon names such as digger bees, Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) bunny-hole bees, leafcutter bees, Prairie onion (Allium stellatum) mining and chimney bees used to FALL be part of our vegetable gardening Orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida) vocabulary and need to be again! Willow-leafed Sunflower (Helianthus spp.) Oxeye sunflower (Heliopsis spp.) The Ambassador ANNUALS Digger/Mining Bees Lantana (Lantana spp.) (Andrena carlini) Bees emerge at Basil (Ocimum basilicum) times coinciding with the bloom pe- Verbena (Verbena spp.) riod of their primary food flowers. SPRING About 30% of all bees nest in cavi- Crabapple and Apple ( spp.) ties, usually pre-existing cavities Wild black cherry (Prunus spp.) Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) such as woodpecker or beetle larva holes, dead hollow or pithy plant Cavity Nesting Bees SUMMER Fennel (Foeniculum spp.) stems, and reeds. These bees have Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) a variety of nesting material prefer- Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) ences but many may consider using FALL some homemade bee housing or Smooth aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) some of the premade nest boxes. Orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida) Ironweed (Vernonia spp.) The Ambassador ANNUALS Blue Orchard Bee Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) (Osmia lignaria). Excellent pollina- Partridge pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata) tor of many orchard crops as it is ac- Basil (Ocimum basilicum) tive during cloudy and cool weather.

Certify Your Pollinator Pantry Habitat Garden he Pollinator Pantry program is an outreach education effort Tof the St. Louis County Parks, which is pleased to be a part of the national movement to protect pollinators and their habitats, promoting an appreciation of all pollinators through education, and the creation of healthy, safe and nurturing pollinator gardens. Now you can certify and register your garden as an official St. Pollinator 3-Season Successional About These Pollinators Ambassadors Pollinator Plants SPRING In all honey bees are Willow (Salix spp.) Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) members of the same species, Apis American linden / Basswood (Tilia americana) mellifera, also known as the Euro- Honey Bees SUMMER pean . They differ from Orange milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) most other bees in that they are Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) highly social with large numbers of Catmint (Nepeta spp.) bees living together and they are FALL true pollinator generalists. Joe pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum) Orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida) The Ambassador Upright sedum (Hylotelephium spectabilis) European Honey Bee ANNUALS (Apis mellifera). The honey bee Basil (Ocimum basilicum) accounts for nearly 80% of all crops Blood flower (Asclepias curassavica) pollinated in the United States. Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia)

SPRING Pollen-eating flower beetles pol- Flowering dogwood () linate in the process of feeding. tea (Ceanothus americanus) Some have hard shells and covered Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) wings and many have a variety of Pollen Powered Flower Beetles SUMMER chemical defenses. The most com- Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) mon beetles are soldier beetles, Orange milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) Sweetbay (Magnolia virginiana) long-horned beetles, leaf beetles and snout beetles. FALL Garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) The Ambassador Garden mum-single flower (Chrysanthemum spp.) Orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida) Pink Ladybird Beetle (Coleomegilla maculata). Diet is ANNUALS Blood flower (Asclepias curassavica) 50% pollen and nectar (pollinating Dill (Anethum graveolens) in the process). A predator of many Basil (Ocimum basilicum) garden pests such as aphids.

SPRING Bee mimics are harmless and valu- Lanceleaf coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) able pollinators. Although they feed American linden / Basswood (Tilia americana) Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) on nectar and pollen like a bee they Flower Flies do not sting or bite. Common bee (Bee Mimics) SUMMER Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) mimics are Syrphid flies, bee flies, Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Tachinid flies and thick-headed flies. Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) The Ambassador FALL Hover Fly (Toxomeris spp.). These Orange coneflower (Rudbeckia fulgida) Upright sedum (Hylotelephium spectabilis) amazing bee mimics can “bee” rec- Smooth aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) ognized as true flies by their single ANNUALS pair of wings, short antennae and Dill (Anethum graveolens) fly-like compound eyes. Blood flower (Asclepias curassavica) Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)

Louis County Pollinator Pantry Habitat! Help “bee” a link that con- nects pollinator pantry gardens together! Whether your garden is a small happy meal habitat for pollinators, a banquet for butterflies or a B&B for bees, let’s connect! Make a difference in our envi- ronment and communities! To find out more and download your Pollinator Pantry Habitat Certification form, go to: http://www.gate- waygardener.com/pollinators/certify-your-garden Pollinators need Observe what pollinators are nectar and pollen. foraging on to decide what you Some plants and should plant more of. don’t provide this needed food but native plants typically do. Place plants where they Pollinators need water. can be successful. Provide shallow water with Check labels for sun and pebbles for drinking. water requirements. Mulch in moderation. Let leaves lie. Uncovered soil provides homes Leaf litter is excellent habitat. for ground nesting bees. Save yard cleanup for May.

Consider planting a bee lawn Mud puddles help by providing that contains bee friendly plants Delay your first spring mow. water and nest building materials for Pick plants with a range of among the grass. Flowering weeds provide important some insects. bloom times so pollinators can spring food for bees. forage the entire season. Illustration by Emily Flanigan, Design courtesy the Dunlap Lab at the Harris World Ecology Center at UMSL Photo credits: Nectar moth by Ken Slade. Hummingbird by Larry Master, www.masterphotos.org. Ground-nesting bee, Cavity-nesting bee and Bumble bee by Ed Spevak. Pink-spotted lady beetle by Monique von Someren. Honeybee, Hover fly and Monarch butterfly by Roberteaver. W This guide was created by the St. Louis County Parks Department, and its printing and distribution are sponsored by the following area independent garden centers and other organizations:

550 Highway F 1605 S. Big Bend Blvd. 2832 Barrett Station Rd. Harris World Ecology Center Defiance, MO 63341 Richmond Heights, MO 63117 St. Louis, MO 63021 at UMSL (636) 798-2555 (314) 645-7333 (314) 821-2440 UMSL.edu/~hwec/ FrisellaNursery.com GardenHeights.com GreenscapeGardens.com

2601 E. 5th St. 60 N. Gore O’Fallon - Oakville - Olivette 2651 Barrett Station Rd. , MO 63090 Webster Groves, MO 63119 PlantHavenFarms.com St. Louis, MO 63021 (636) 239-6729 (314) 962-3311 (314) 846-0078 (314) 966-0028 Hillermann.com RollingRidgeNursery.com Sherwoods-Forest.com

1011 N. Woodlawn Ave. StLCountyParksFoundation.org 245 Terry Rd. Kirkwood, MO 63122 Augusta, MO 63332 (314) 965-3070 (314) 304-6831 SugarCreekGardens.com SunflowerHillFarm.com

For more resources on attracting butterflies and other pollinators to your garden visit: ButterflyHouse.org/ProjectPollinator StLZoo.org/Conservation/DoItYourselfConservation/Pollinators/ Polllinator.org • Xerces.org • MonarchJointVenture.org StLouisCo.com/Parks GatewayGardener.com