Evening‐primrose Flowers at the Border native flowers around your yard to attract pollinators and other beneficial insects. By Heidi Kratsch, Horculture Specialist Special Publicaon‐14‐07

Supported by a grant from the USDA Forest Service, Great Basin Nave Plant Selecon and Increase Project. Pollinators, including bees, moths, beetles and beneficial insects. buerflies, are crical to the producon of nearly Why nave ? Nave plants aract nave one‐third of the world’s food supply. Our pollinators. Most people are not aware of the pollinator populaons are decreasing due to a complex relaonships among plants, insects and combinaon of factors, including habitat loss and other beneficial organisms that have evolved over fragmentaon, overuse of pescides, millions of years. Insects pollinate flowers while malnutrion, disease and parasites. It is they feed on nectar and pollen. Sure, you can imperave that we, as responsible gardeners, aract honeybees by planng almost any nectar‐ provide food and habitat for pollinators by producing flower. But honeybees are not our only creang patches of sanctuary habitats to support pollinators, and they are not our best pollinators. and preserve these valuable creatures. Honeybees are not even nave to North Other beneficial insects that deserve a place in America, so they have not developed the the garden include those that protect our crops specialized plant‐pollinator relaonships typical of and ornamental landscape plants from herbivory many of our nave pollinators. Boom line, nave by pest insects. Somemes these insects are pollinators, such as solitary bees and wasps, called natural predators or natural enemies. They bumblebees, buerflies and moths do a beer help protect our plants by feeding on or pollinang job, and are aracted and supported parasizing pest insects. Examples include by the nave plants with which they evolved. ladybeetles, lacewings, parasic wasps, ground beetles, minute pirate bugs, praying mans and This publicaon provides a list of 50 of the arachnids, such as spiders and predatory mites. most aracve flowering species nave to the intermountain western region of the U.S. Included You can protect these valuable garden allies by is informaon on each species’ lifecycle, size plan ng flowers that not only aract them but potenal, flower color and bloom period, cultural also provide valuable nectar and shelter for requirements, and benefit to pollinators and breeding and overwintering. If you want other beneficial insects. beneficial insects to sck around and do their job, you must provide their basic living needs. Provide But this is only the beginning. If you are serious nectar by planng nave flowers that bloom at about providing a pollinator‐friendly habitat, different mes of the year; and don’t forget to put there are other steps you should take. Limit your out a container of water, such as a birdbath, or use of inseccides, parcularly systemic even small dishes of water around your yard. inseccides, which are absorbed through the Leave garden cleanup unl late spring. Perennials leaves and stems and transported throughout the and ornamental grasses le standing give shelter plant. Purchase untreated seeds and organic and provide winter interest. Homemade bee vegetable and bedding plant starts. Purchase houses, small piles of stones and areas of bare nave plants and seeds from local vendors when ground also provide overwintering sites for possible.

2 ANNUAL FLOWERS sulfur‐flower buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum)

Rocky Mountain beeplant (Cleome serrulata) blankelower (Gaillardia aristata) Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) scky purple geranium (Geranium viscosissimum) common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) old man’s whiskers (Geum triflorum) baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii) sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale) hoary verbena (Verbena stricta) showy goldeneye (Heliomeris mulflora) Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis)

Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) PERENNIAL FLOWERS silvery lupine (Lupinus argenteus) common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) smoothstem blazingstar (Mentzelia laevicaulis) neleleaf giant hyssop (Agastache urcifolia) oblongleaf bluebells (Mertensia oblongifolia) taperp onion (Allium acuminatum) four o’clock (Mirabilis mulflora) western pearly everlasng (Anaphalis wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) margaritacea) mountain monardella (Monardella odorassima) rosy pussytoes (Antennaria rosea) tued evening‐primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) Mohave sandwort (Arenaria macradenia) penstemon (Penstemon spp.) flatbud pricklypoppy (Argemone munita) silky (Phacelia sericea) heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia) longleaf phlox (Phlox longifolia) columbine (Aquilegia spp.) slender cinquefoil (Potenlla gracilis) buerfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) western coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis) milkvetch (Astragalus spp.) purple sage (Salvia dorrii) arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagiata) spearleaf stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum) purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) checkerbloom (Sidalcea oregana) lavenderleaf sundrops (Calylophus lavandulifolius) Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) western white clemas (Clemas liguscifolia) scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) Blue Mountain prairie clover (Dalea ornata) desert princesplume (Stanleya pinnata) hummingbird trumpet (Epilobium canum) hookedspur violet (Viola adunca) aspen fleabane (Erigeron speciosus)

3 Rocky Mountain beeplant Growing ps: Part shade; moist, organic soil; (Cleome serrulata) nighme temperatures below 65 F. ANNUAL Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees. Size: 1 to 5 feet

Bloom: White, pink, purple; July—September hoary verbena (Verbena stricta) Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; sandy, well‐ ANNUAL OR SHORT‐LIVED PERENNIAL drained soil. Start from seed sowed thickly. Size: 1 to 4 feet Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees and Bloom: Blue‐purple; July—September honeybees; larval host for the checkered white Growing ps: Full sun; dry, sandy soil. Seeds buerfly. require two months cold‐moist straficaon.

Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees and Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) buerflies; larval host for the common buckeye ANNUAL buerfly. Size: 1 to 2 feet

Bloom: Red, yellow; May—August common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Growing ps: Full to part sun; well‐drained, sandy PERENNIAL, zone 3‐9 soil. Bloom is prolonged by deadheading and Size: 2 to 3 feet extra summer water. Reseeds readily. Bloom: White, pink; June—September Pollinator benefits: Aracts buerflies and nave Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; sandy soil. bees. May be used as a flowering ground cover and mowed to 3 inches to prevent aggressive spread. common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees; supports ANNUAL natural enemies of insect pests. Size: Up to 8 feet

Bloom: Yellow; July—October neleleaf giant hyssop Growing ps: Full sun; prefers dry, disturbed soil. (Agastache urcifolia) PERENNIAL, zone 5‐10 Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees. Size: 3 to 6 feet baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii) Bloom: Pink, lavender; June—August ANNUAL Growing ps: Part shade; well‐drained soil. Size: 6 inches Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees, Bloom: Blue; May—June bumblebees and honeybees.

4 taperp onion (Allium acuminatum) Bloom: White; April—July PERENNIAL, zone 3‐7 Growing ps: Full to part sun; sandy, well‐drained Size: 6 to 12 inches soil. Do not overwater. Bloom: Pink, white; May—July Pollinator benefits: Aracts buerflies and nave Growing ps: Sun or shade; sandy loam soil. Plant bees. bulbs 3 to 4 inches deep. Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees and flatbud pricklypoppy (Argemone munita) honeybees. PERENNIAL, zone 5‐10 Size: 15 to 40 inches western pearly everlasng Bloom: Large, white, yellow centers; June— (Anaphalis margaritacea) September PERENNIAL, zone 4‐8 Growing ps: Full sun; dry, inferle, well‐drained Size: 1 to 3 feet soil. Deer‐resistant. Bloom: White, yellow centers; July—September Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees, Growing ps: Sun to part shade; sandy, gravelly honeybees, and buerflies. soil. Good for dried flower arrangements. Pollinator benefits: Nectar source for American heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia) lady buerfly; larval host for painted lady PERENNIAL, zone 2 buerfly. Size: 8 to 12 inches Bloom: Yellow; May—August rosy pussytoes (Antennaria rosea) Growing ps: Full to part shade; moist soil. PERENNIAL, zone 2 Size: 8 to 16 inches Pollinator benefits: Aracts buerflies, nave bees and bumblebees. Bloom: Pink; June—August

Growing ps: Full sun; well‐drained soil. Spreads from stolons. May be used as a ground cover; columbine (Aquilegia spp.) tolerates light foot traffic. PERENNIAL, zone 3‐8 Pollinator benefits: Aracts buerflies. Size: 6 to 40 inches Bloom: White, yellow, blue, red; spring/summer Mohave sandwort (Arenaria macradenia) Growing ps: Sun to part shade; keep soil moist in PERENNIAL, zone 3‐8 spring, dry in summer. Size: 5 to 18 inches Pollinator benefits: Aracts hummingbirds.

5 buerfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) purple poppymallow PERENNIAL, zone 3‐9 (Callirhoe involucrata) Size: 18 to 24 inches PERENNIAL, zone 4‐8 Bloom: Flat‐topped, bright orange; May— Size: 8 to 12 inches, sprawling to 3 feet September Bloom: White, pink, purple; March—June Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; well‐drained Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; well‐drained soil; drought‐tolerant. rocky or sandy soil. Can be used in hanging Pollinator benefits: Aracts bumblebees, baskets. honeybees and hummingbirds. Larval host for Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees; larval gray hairstreak, monarch and queen buerflies. host for the gray hairstreak buerfly. Supports natural enemies of insect pests. Lavenderleaf sundrops milkvetch (Astragalus spp.) (Calylophus lavandulifolius) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐7 PERENNIAL, zone 5‐9 Size: Up to 12 inches Size: Up to 8 inches, mounding Bloom: Purple, pink, white, buerfly‐like; spring/ Bloom: Yellow; May—September in flushes every summer four to five weeks Growing ps: Full sun; dry, well‐drained, gravelly Growing ps: Full sun; gravelly, well‐drained soil. soil. Do not overwater. Drought‐tolerant. Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees, Pollinator benefits: Pollinated by moths and bumblebees and buerflies. nave bees. arrowleaf balsamroot western white clemas (Balsamorhiza sagiata) (Clemas liguscifolia) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐7 PERENNIAL VINE, zone 3‐7 Size: 6 to 32 inches Size: 12 to 18 feet Bloom: Yellow, sunflower‐like; May—July Bloom: White, prolific; April—August Growing ps: Full sun; deep, sandy or gravelly Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; rich, well‐ soil. Do not overwater aer bloom. Best results drained soil. Provide aernoon shade in hot areas. with direct‐seeding. Prune back to 1 foot every three to five years to Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees, rejuvenate. bumblebees and buerflies. Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees and hummingbirds.

6 Blue Mountain prairie clover sulfur‐flower buckwheat (Dalea ornata) (Eriogonum umbellatum) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐7 PERENNIAL, zone 4‐8 Size: 12 to 24 inches, upright Size: 1 to 2 feet Bloom: Purple, woolly looking spikes; June— Bloom: Variable, cream, yellow, orange, red; August June—September Growing ps: Full sun; dry, rocky or sandy soil. Do Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; well‐drained not overwater. Cut back in early spring to loamy to gravelly soil. May be grown from seed. encourage new growth. Cold‐straficaon improves germinaon; may self Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees, ‐seed in the garden. bumblebees and honeybees. Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees and buerflies. Larval host for the lupine blue hummingbird trumpet (Epilobium canum) buerfly. Supports natural enemies of insect PERENNIAL, zone 5‐9 pests. Size: 12 to 18 inches blankelower (Gaillardia aristata) Bloom: Red, orange‐red; September—October PERENNIAL, zone 2‐8 Growing ps: Full sun; dry, rocky, well‐drained Size: 1 to 3 feet soil. Divide in spring when plant outgrows its space. Bloom: Red, yellow, brownish centers; June— September Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees and hummingbirds. Growing ps: Full sun, shade‐intolerant; well‐ drained, inferle soil. Divide clumps every two to

three years. Leave flower heads aer bloom for showy fleabane (Erigeron speciosus) winter interest and for the birds. PERENNIAL, zone 2‐8 Size: 6 to 30 inches Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees and buerflies. Bloom: White, pink, blue; June—August Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; amend soil with organic maer. Drought‐tolerant. Forms colonies; divide as needed. Pollinator benefits: Supports natural enemies of insect pests.

7 scky purple geranium showy goldeneye (Heliomeris mulflora) (Geranium viscosissimum) PERENNIAL, zone 4‐10 PERENNIAL, zone 4‐10 Size: 5 to 20 inches Size: 1 to 2 feet Bloom: Yellow, daisy‐like; July—September Bloom: Pink, purple; May—August Growing ps: Full sun; dry, well‐drained soil. Will Growing ps: Part shade; loamy soil. Give extra bloom in its first year. Will reseed; aracve in a moisture in spring; cut back in summer. May meadow garden. sprawl in full shade. Leaves turn red in fall. Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees and Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees and buerflies. buerflies. Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) old man’s whiskers (Geum triflorum) PERENNIAL, zone 4‐8 PERENNIAL, zone 2‐5 Size: 1 to 2 feet Size: 6 to 18 inches Bloom: Purple, lavender; May—July Bloom: Pink, red, nodding, bell‐shaped; become Growing ps: Full sun; needs moisture unl erect as flowers give way to plume‐like flowering. Plant seeds or rhizomes. Divide every seedheads; June—August three years to prevent spreading. Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; tolerates Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees, loamy, clayey or sandy soil; forms dense mats. bumblebees, buerflies and hummingbirds. May be used as a ground cover. Leaves turn deep red in fall. Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees, PERENNIAL, zone 4‐9 bumblebees and buerflies. Size: 6 to 30 inches

Bloom: Blue, purple; May—September Utah sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale) PERENNIAL, zone 3 Growing ps: Full sun; dry, well‐drained sandy Size: 8 to 24 inches soil. Will self‐seed; may cut back aer bloom. Bloom: Magenta pink; April—July Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees, honeybees and buerflies. Growing ps: Full sun; dry, sandy or rocky, inferle soil. Takes three years from seed to bloom. Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees, bumblebees and buerflies.

8 silvery lupine (Lupinus argenteus) Colorado four o’clock PERENNIAL, zone 2 (Mirabilis mulflora) Size: 1 to 2 feet PERENNIAL, zone 4‐8 Bloom: Purple, lavender; June—August Size: 12 to 30 inches Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; dry, rocky Bloom: Pink, purple; June—October soil. Growing ps: Full sun; blooms its first year; re‐ Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees and seeds. Useful as a ground cover and for erosion bumblebees; important nectar source for control. Can be mowed to the ground in October. buerflies. Pollinator benefits: Aracts buerflies and hummingbirds. smoothstem blazingstar (Mentzelia laevicaulis) wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) BIENNIAL, 3‐7 PERENNIAL, zone 3‐9 Size: 1 to 3 feet Size: 1 to 3 feet Bloom: Yellow; June—September Bloom: Lavender, pink, white; June—September Growing ps: Full sun; sandy or gravelly soil. Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; adaptable to Grow from seed. soil type; easy to grow from seed. Deadhead Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees, flowers to prolong bloom. bumblebees and buerflies. Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees, bumblebees, buerflies and hummingbirds. oblongleaf bluebells (Mertensia oblongifolia) mountain monardella PERENNIAL, zone 4 (Monardella odorassima) Size: 4 to 16 inches PERENNIAL, zone 4‐10 Size: 3 to 18 inches Bloom: Blue, bell‐shaped; May—July Bloom: Purple, light pink; June—September Growing ps: Full sun to shade; coarse, well‐ drained soil; slow to establish but moderate Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; sandy to lifespan. rocky, well‐drained soil; blooms its first year. Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees, Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees, bumblebees and buerflies. bumblebees and buerflies.

9 tued evening‐primrose longleaf phlox (Phlox longifolia) (Oenothera caespitosa) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐8 PERENNIAL, zone 4‐9 Size: 2 to 6 inches Size: 8 to 16 inches Bloom: Pink, white; April—July Bloom: White; April—August Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; coarse, well‐ Growing ps: Full sun; dry clayey or sandy soils. drained, inferle soil. Blooms its second year from Do not overwater in summer. seed; long‐lived. Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees. Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees, bumblebees and buerflies. penstemon (Penstemon spp.) PERENNIAL, zone 4 slender cinquefoil (Potenlla gracilis) Size: 1 to 5 feet PERENNIAL, zone 2 Size: 1 to 2 feet Bloom: Blue, purple, red, pink, white; spring/ summer Bloom: Yellow; June—August Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; excellent Growing ps: Full sun; adaptable to soil type; drainage required. Do not overwater. Will bloom difficult to transplant; extremely cold‐hardy. in its second year. May be short‐lived. Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees and Pollinator benefit: Aracts nave bees, buerflies. bumblebees and hummingbirds. western coneflower silky phacelia (Phacelia sericea) (Rudbeckia occidentalis) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐7 PERENNIAL, zone 3‐9 Size: 4 to 20 inches Size: 3 to 6 feet Bloom: Purple, blue; June—August Bloom: Purple‐brown, showy, disncve; July— Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; gravelly, well August ‐drained soil; minimal care, but does not Growing ps: Full sun; prefers loamy soil with transplant easily. consistent moisture. Will bloom its first year from Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees, seed. Deadhead flowers to prolong bloom. honeybees and buerflies. Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees.

10 purple sage (Salvia dorrii) Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; adaptable to PERENNIAL, zone 3‐6 soil type. Forms colonies. May divide to check Size: 1 to 2 feet growth. Bloom: Blue and purple, two‐toned; May—June Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees and Growing ps: Full sun; well‐drained, inferle soil. buerflies; supports natural enemies of insect Lightly prune aer flowering. pests.

Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees and scarlet globemallow buerflies. (Sphaeralcea coccinea) PERENNIAL, zone 4‐9 spearleaf stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum) Size: 2 to 16 inches PERENNIAL, zone 4‐9 Size: 2 to 10 inches Bloom: Scarlet orange; May—July Bloom: Yellow; June—August Growing ps: Full sun; coarse, well‐drained soil; extremely drought‐tolerant. Do not overwater. Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; dry, gravelly, Spreads by rhizomes but is not aggressive. well‐drained soil. Useful as a ground cover. Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees. Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees, buerflies and syrphid flies (aphid predators). desert princesplume (Stanleya pinnata) PERENNIAL, zone 4‐9 Oregon checkerbloom (Sidalcea oregana) Size: 1 to 4 feet PERENNIAL, zone 2 Size: 16 to 50 inches Bloom: Yellow; June—September Bloom: Pink, purple; May—August Growing ps: Full sun; sandy or rocky, well‐ drained, inferle soil. Grow from seeds or Growing ps: Full sun; prefers moist, well‐drained transplants. soil. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom. Prune back to the basal rosee of leaves in fall. Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees and buerflies. Pollinator benefits: Aracts nave bees and buerflies.

Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐9 Size: 2 to 4 feet Bloom: Yellow; July—October

11 hookedspur violet (Viola adunca) PERENNIAL, zone 4 Size: 6 to 10 inches Bloom: Purple, lavender; March—August Growing ps: Shade; sandy, well‐drained soil; easy to establish. Pollinator benefits: Aracts bumblebees and buerflies; larval host for a variety of frillary buerflies.

References: Anderson R.M., J.D. Gunnell and J.L. Goodspeed. 2012. Wildflowers of the Mountain West. Utah State University Press, Logan, UT. Brown T., S. Kegley, L. Archer. 2013. Gardeners Beware: Bee‐Toxic Pescides Found in “Bee‐ Friendly” Plants Sold at Garden Centers Naonwide. hp://www.foe.org/beeacon. Accessed 30 Aug. 2013. Grissell, E. 2006. Insects and Gardens: In Pursuit of a Garden Ecology. Timber Press, Portland, OR. Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, Nave Plants Database. hp://www.wildflower.org/ plants. Accessed 28 Aug. 2013. Mee, W., J. Barnes, R. Kjelgren, R. Suon, T. Cerny, C. Johnson. 2003. Water Wise: Nave Plants for Intermountain Landscapes. Utah State University Press, Logan, UT. Missouri Botanical Garden, Plant Finder. hp://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/ planinder/planindersearch.aspx. Accessed 28 Aug. 2013. Ogle, D., D. Tilley, J. Cane, L. St. John, K. Fullen, M. Stannard, P. Pavek. 2011. Plants for Pollinators in the Intermountain West. USDA NRCS Technical Note No. 2A. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservaon. hp://www.xerces.org/pollinator‐ conservaon. Accessed 28 Aug. 2013. USDA Natural Resources Conservaon Service Plants Database. hp://www.plants.usda.gov. Accessed 9 April 2014.

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