Pollinator Plants at the Urban Farm
What is a pollinator you may ask?
It is any little critter big or small that helps spread the love of pollen and make our gardens so vibrant and our food so rich. Pollination occurs when pollen is moved within flowers or carried from flower to flower by pollinating animals such as birds, bees, bats, butterflies, moths, beetles, or other animals, or by the wind.
Pollination ensures that a plant will produce full-bodied fruit and a full set of viable seeds. Somewhere between 75% and 95% of all flowering plants on the earth need help with pollination – they need pollinators. Pollinators provide pollination services to over 180,000 different plant species and more than 1200 crops.
This significant and often invisible ecosystem service ensures the success of our agricultural economies, food supply, and surrounding landscapes. Without pollinators our world would surely be less diverse and less delicious!
Why Plant for Pollinators?
Around the world, pollinators are declining due to factors that threaten all biodiversity. Loss of habitat is the principal reason, followed by improper use of pesticides, pollution, and invasive species. It is our job as caretakers of the land to ensure that where possible we are providing ample habitat for pollinators to grow and thrive.
source: Nancy Seiler, mgnv.org
What To Plant and Why
Native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions where they naturally occur. A diversity of native flowering plants in your garden will provide a wonderful habitat for a large variety of native pollinators and may even provide you with a tasty treat to eat at the end! Plant any of these following plants in your garden and you are sure have a symphony of pollinators visit come spring.
Thyme Thymus mongolicus Thyme is a perennial herb that does best in average soils
Sun: Partial Shade Size: 1’ tall Species: butterflies Bonus: It’s a tasty kitchen herb local suppliers: source: thespruce.com
Red and Yellow Columbine Aquilegia formosa Red and Yellow Columbine is a perennial forb that prefers average soil moisture to grow in.
Sun: Full or Partial Size: 5’ tall and about 2’ wide. Species: humming birds, butterflies, and native bees local suppliers: Doak Creek Nursery
source: redrockcanyonlv.org
Large Leafed Lupine Lupinus polyphyllus var. polyphyllus Large-leaved Lupine is a perennial forb that prefers damp soil.
Sun: Full Size: 4’ tall and about 4’ wide. Species: humming birds, butterflies, and native bees Bonus: host plant for butterflies! local suppliers: Doak Creek Nursery
source: superiorfootprints.org
Orange Flowered Honeysuckle Lonicera ciliosa Orange-flowered Honeysuckle is a perennial forb that can survive in average soil types. This plant is a climber and will do well on a fence, trellis, archway or tall shrub so it can grow upwards and sideways
Sun: Full or Partial Size: 4’ tall and about 4’ wide. Species: humming birds, butterflies, and native bees local suppliers: source: rhs.org Western Trillium Trillium ovatum ssp. ovatum Western Trillum is a perennial forb that can survive in average soil types.
Sun: Full or Partial Shade Size: 1’ and about 1’ wide Species: native bees local suppliers: Doak Creek Nursery
source: davidmacleodphotography.com
Yarrow Achillea millefolium Yarrow is a perennial forb that can live in average soil types.
Sun: Full Size: 3’ tall Species: butterflies and native bees local suppliers: Doak Creek Nursery source: learningherbs.com
Western Goldenrod Solidago lepida var. salebrosa Western Goldenrod is a perennial plant that is commonly found in meadows and prairies. It grows best in moderate to well- drained soils.
Sun: Full Size: 3-6.5’ tall Species: nectar for butterflies and habitat and foraging grounds for other polliantors Bonus: Drought Tolerant! local suppliers: source: flickriver.com
Oregon Sunshine Eriophyllum lanatum Oregon Sunshine is a perennial forb that prefers dry soil. It is very showy and great for landscape use.
Sun: Full Size: 3’ tall Species: butterflies and native bees Bonus: Drought Tolerant! local suppliers: source: lhseeds.com Pearly Everlasting Anaphalis margaritaea Pearly Everlasting is a perennial forb that prefers dry, sandy or gravelly soil. It has a long bloom time and is easy to care for.
Sun: Partial Shade Size: 3’ tall Species: butterflies local suppliers: Doak Creek Nursery
source: bentonswcd.org Douglas Aster Symphyotrichum subspicatum Douglas Aster is a perennial forb that requires moist soil. It has a late bloom time with showy violet-colored flowers
Sun: Full Size: 3’ Species: native bees and butterflies Bonus: it is a host plant for certain butterflies local suppliers: Doak Creek Nursery source: gordanahabitat.com
Rosemary Rosamarinus officinalis Rosemary is a perennial forb that grows in a semi-erect shape.
Sun: Full Size: 5’ tall Species: native bees Bonus: Drought Tolerant source: learningherbs.com local suppliers:
English Lavender Lavender angustifolia English Lavender is an annual forb that prefers light soil
Sun: Full Size: 3’ tall Species: native bees Bonus: Very Fragrant! local suppliers:
source: hgtv.com
Blanket Flower Gaillardia grandiflora Blanket Flower is a hybridized perennial that grows in well- drained soils and has a long bloom period.
Sun: Full Size: 3’ tall Species: birds and butterflies Bonus: low maitenance local suppliers: source: gardenia.net
Common Sunflower Helianthus annuus Common Sunflower grows best in soil consisting of dry clay or heavy sand and needs a medium amount of water.
Sun: Full Sun Size: 1.5-8’ tall Species: birds and bees local suppliers: source: uniprot.org California Poppy Eschscholzia californica California Poppy is a perennial that grows best in dry soil.
Sun: Full Sun Size: 1’ tall Species: mainly bumble-bees local suppliers:
source: gardeningknowhow.com
Showy Milkweed Asclepias speciosa Showy Milkweed is a perennial that grows best in moist soil.
Sun: Full Size: 1.5-3’ tall Species: hummingbrids and butterflies Bonus: Monarch Butterfly host plant source: davesgarden.com local suppliers: Doak Creek Nursery
Mad Dog Skull Cap Scutellaria lateriflora Mad Dog Skull Cap is a perennial that grows best in moist conditions
Sun: Full Sun to Light Shade Size: 1-2.5’’ tall Species: native bees local suppliers:
source: pinterest.com
Red Flowering Currant Ribes sanguineum Red-Flowering Currant is a shrub that grows best in moist to drier soil. Sun: Sun or Shade Size: 6-12’ tall Species: hummingbirds, butterflies, bees
local suppliers: Doak Creek Nursery source: hilaryscott.co.uk
Pacific Hound’s tongue Cynoglossum grande Pacific Hound’s tongue is a perennial growing best in moist soil.
Sun: small clearing with some sun but is shade tolerant Size: 1-2.5’ tall Species: early native bees local suppliers: source: nwwildflowers.com Tall Oregon Grape Mahonia (Berberis) aquifolium Tall Oregon Grape typically grows on dry or wet areas and has slightly prickly leaves.
Sun: shade or sun Size: 8’ tall Species: birds, butterflies, bees Bonus: Drought Tolerant local suppliers: Doak Creek Nursery source: portlandnursery.com
Tri-Color Sage Salvia officinalis var. tricolor Tri-color Sage is a perennial evergreen shrub that grows best in well-drained soil.
Sun: Full Size: 3’ tall Species: butterflies Bonus: deer resistant local suppliers: source: yourgardenparty.com
Woods Strawberry Fragaria vesca ssp. bracteata Woods Strawberry is a perennial herb that does best in average soils.
Sun: Partial Sahde Size: 6’’ tall Species: bees and butterflies Bonus: The fruit is edible and it is a host plant for certain butterflies local suppliers: Doak Creek Nursery source: fourthcornernurseries.com
Oregano Origanum vulgare Oregano is a perennial that flourishes in dry to well-drained soil to flourish.
Sun: Full Sun Size: 1-2’ tall Species: host plant for pollinator insects such as lacewings Bonus: It’s a tasty kitchen herb! local suppliers: source: elcorreodelsol.com
Chives Allium schoenoprasum The Chive is a perennial herb that does best in average soils.
Sun: Partial Shade Size: 1-2.’ tall Species: bees and hummingbirds Bonus: It’s a kitchen herb that repels insect pests in the garden. local suppliers: source: nwwildflowers.com