Evening-primrose Flowers at the Border Plant native flowers around your yard to attract pollinators and other beneficial insects. By Heidi Kratsch, Horticulture Specialist Special Publication-14-07

Supported by a grant from the USDA Forest Service, Great Basin Native Plant Selection and Increase Project. Pollinators, including bees, moths, beetles and beneficial insects. butterflies, are critical to the production of nearly Why native plants? Native plants attract native one-third of the world’s food supply. Our pollinators. Most people are not aware of the pollinator populations are decreasing due to a complex relationships among plants, insects and combination of factors, including habitat loss and other beneficial organisms that have evolved over fragmentation, overuse of pesticides, millions of years. Insects pollinate flowers while malnutrition, disease and parasites. It is they feed on nectar and pollen. Sure, you can imperative that we, as responsible gardeners, attract honeybees by planting almost any nectar- provide food and habitat for pollinators by producing flower. But honeybees are not our only creating patches of sanctuary habitats to support pollinators, and they are not our best pollinators. and preserve these valuable creatures. Honeybees are not even native 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 relationships typical of and ornamental landscape plants from herbivory many of our native pollinators. Bottom line, native by pest insects. Sometimes these insects are pollinators, such as solitary bees and wasps, called natural predators or natural enemies. They bumblebees, butterflies and moths do a better help protect our plants by feeding on or pollinating job, and are attracted and supported parasitizing pest insects. Examples include by the native plants with which they evolved. ladybeetles, lacewings, parasitic wasps, ground beetles, minute pirate bugs, praying mantis and This publication provides a list of 50 of the arachnids, such as spiders and predatory mites. most attractive flowering species native to the intermountain western region of the U.S. Included You can protect these valuable garden allies by is information on each species’ lifecycle, size planting flowers that not only attract them but potential, 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 stick 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 planting native flowers that bloom at about providing a pollinator-friendly habitat, different times 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 insecticides, particularly systemic even small dishes of water around your yard. insecticides, which are absorbed through the Leave garden cleanup until late spring. Perennials leaves and stems and transported throughout the and ornamental grasses left 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 native 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) blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) sticky purple geranium (Geranium viscosissimum) common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) old man’s whiskers (Geum triflorum) baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii) Utah sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale) hoary verbena (Verbena stricta) showy goldeneye (Heliomeris multiflora) Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis)

Lewis flax Linum( lewisii) PERENNIAL FLOWERS silvery lupine (Lupinus argenteus) common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) smoothstem blazingstar (Mentzelia laevicaulis) nettleleaf giant hyssop Agastache( urticifolia) oblongleaf bluebells (Mertensia oblongifolia) tapertip onion (Allium acuminatum) Colorado four o’clock (Mirabilis multiflora) western pearly everlasting (Anaphalis wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) margaritacea) mountain monardella (Monardella odoratissima) rosy pussytoes (Antennaria rosea) tufted evening-primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) Mohave sandwort (Arenaria macradenia) penstemon (Penstemon spp.) flatbud pricklypoppy (Argemone munita) silky phacelia (Phacelia sericea) heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia) longleaf phlox (Phlox longifolia) columbine (Aquilegia spp.) slender cinquefoil (Potentilla gracilis) butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) western coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis) milkvetch (Astragalus spp.) purple sage (Salvia dorrii) arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) spearleaf stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum) purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) Oregon checkerbloom (Sidalcea oregana) lavenderleaf sundrops (Calylophus lavandulifolius) Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) western white clematis Clematis( ligusticifolia) 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 tips: Part shade; moist, organic soil; (Cleome serrulata) nighttime temperatures below 65 F. ANNUAL Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees. Size: 1 to 5 feet

Bloom: White, pink, purple; July—September hoary verbena (Verbena stricta) Growing tips: 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: Attracts native bees and Bloom: Blue-purple; July—September honeybees; larval host for the checkered white Growing tips: Full sun; dry, sandy soil. Seeds butterfly. require two months cold-moist stratification.

Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees and Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) butterflies; larval host for the common buckeye ANNUAL butterfly. Size: 1 to 2 feet

Bloom: Red, yellow; May—August common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Growing tips: 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: Attracts butterflies and native Growing tips: 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: Attracts native bees; supports ANNUAL natural enemies of insect pests. Size: Up to 8 feet

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

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

Growing tips: 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: Attracts butterflies. Size: 6 to 40 inches Bloom: White, yellow, blue, red; spring/summer Mohave sandwort (Arenaria macradenia) Growing tips: Sun to part shade; keep soil moist in PERENNIAL, zone 3-8 spring, dry in summer. Size: 5 to 18 inches Pollinator benefits: Attracts hummingbirds.

5 butterfly milkweedAsclepias ( 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 tips: Full sun to part shade; well-drained Growing tips: Full sun to part shade; well-drained soil; drought-tolerant. rocky or sandy soil. Can be used in hanging Pollinator benefits: Attracts bumblebees, baskets. honeybees and hummingbirds. Larval host for Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees; larval gray hairstreak, monarch and queen butterflies. host for the gray hairstreak butterfly. 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, butterfly-like; spring/ Bloom: Yellow; May—September in flushes every summer four to five weeks Growing tips: Full sun; dry, well-drained, gravelly Growing tips: Full sun; gravelly, well-drained soil. soil. Do not overwater. Drought-tolerant. Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees, Pollinator benefits: Pollinated by moths and bumblebees and butterflies. native bees. arrowleaf balsamroot western white clematis (Balsamorhiza sagittata) (Clematis ligusticifolia) 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 tips: Full sun; deep, sandy or gravelly Growing tips: Full sun to part shade; rich, well- soil. Do not overwater after bloom. Best results drained soil. Provide afternoon shade in hot areas. with direct-seeding. Prune back to 1 foot every three to five years to Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees, rejuvenate. bumblebees and butterflies. Pollinator benefits: Attracts native 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 tips: Full sun; dry, rocky or sandy soil. Do Growing tips: 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-stratification improves germination; may self Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees, -seed in the garden. bumblebees and honeybees. Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees and butterflies. Larval host for the lupine blue hummingbird trumpet (Epilobium canum) butterfly. Supports natural enemies of insect PERENNIAL, zone 5-9 pests. Size: 12 to 18 inches blanketflower Gaillardia( aristata) Bloom: Red, orange-red; September—October PERENNIAL, zone 2-8 Growing tips: 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: Attracts native bees and hummingbirds. Growing tips: Full sun, shade-intolerant; well- drained, infertile soil. Divide clumps every two to

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

7 sticky purple geranium showy goldeneye (Heliomeris multiflora) (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 tips: Full sun; dry, well-drained soil. Will Growing tips: Part shade; loamy soil. Give extra bloom in its first year. Will reseed; attractive in a moisture in spring; cut back in summer. May meadow garden. sprawl in full shade. Leaves turn red in fall. Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees and Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees and butterflies. butterflies. 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 tips: Full sun; needs moisture until erect as flowers give way to plume-like flowering. Plant seeds or rhizomes. Divide every seedheads; June—August three years to prevent spreading. Growing tips: Full sun to part shade; tolerates Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees, loamy, clayey or sandy soil; forms dense mats. bumblebees, butterflies and hummingbirds. May be used as a ground cover. Leaves turn deep red in fall. Lewis flax Linum( lewisii) Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees, PERENNIAL, zone 4-9 bumblebees and butterflies. Size: 6 to 30 inches

Bloom: Blue, purple; May—September Utah sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale) PERENNIAL, zone 3 Growing tips: Full sun; dry, well-drained sandy Size: 8 to 24 inches soil. Will self-seed; may cut back after bloom. Bloom: Magenta pink; April—July Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees, honeybees and butterflies. Growing tips: Full sun; dry, sandy or rocky, infertile soil. Takes three years from seed to bloom. Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees, bumblebees and butterflies.

8 silvery lupine (Lupinus argenteus) Colorado four o’clock PERENNIAL, zone 2 (Mirabilis multiflora) Size: 1 to 2 feet PERENNIAL, zone 4-8 Bloom: Purple, lavender; June—August Size: 12 to 30 inches Growing tips: Full sun to part shade; dry, rocky Bloom: Pink, purple; June—October soil. Growing tips: Full sun; blooms its first year; re- Pollinator benefits: Attracts native 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. butterflies. Pollinator benefits: Attracts butterflies 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 tips: Full sun; sandy or gravelly soil. Growing tips: Full sun to part shade; adaptable to Grow from seed. soil type; easy to grow from seed. Deadhead Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees, flowers to prolong bloom. bumblebees and butterflies. Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees, bumblebees, butterflies and hummingbirds. oblongleaf bluebells (Mertensia oblongifolia) mountain monardella PERENNIAL, zone 4 (Monardella odoratissima) Size: 4 to 16 inches PERENNIAL, zone 4-10 Bloom: Blue, bell-shaped; May—July Size: 3 to 18 inches Growing tips: Full sun to shade; coarse, well- Bloom: Purple, light pink; June—September drained soil; slow to establish but moderate Growing tips: Full sun to part shade; sandy to lifespan. rocky, well-drained soil; blooms its first year. Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees, Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees, bumblebees and butterflies. bumblebees and butterflies.

9 tufted 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 tips: Full sun to part shade; coarse, well- Growing tips: Full sun; dry clayey or sandy soils. drained, infertile soil. Blooms its second year from Do not overwater in summer. seed; long-lived. Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees. Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees, bumblebees and butterflies. penstemon (Penstemon spp.) PERENNIAL, zone 4 slender cinquefoil (Potentilla 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 tips: Full sun to part shade; excellent Growing tips: 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: Attracts native bees and Pollinator benefit: Attracts native bees, butterflies. 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, distinctive; July— Growing tips: Full sun to part shade; gravelly, well August -drained soil; minimal care, but does not Growing tips: Full sun; prefers loamy soil with transplant easily. consistent moisture. Will bloom its first year from Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees, seed. Deadhead flowers to prolong bloom. honeybees and butterflies. Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees.

10 purple sage (Salvia dorrii) Growing tips: 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: Attracts native bees and Growing tips: Full sun; well-drained, infertile soil. butterflies; supports natural enemies of insect Lightly prune after flowering. pests.

Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees and scarlet globemallow butterflies. (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 tips: Full sun; coarse, well-drained soil; extremely drought-tolerant. Do not overwater. Growing tips: Full sun to part shade; dry, gravelly, Spreads by rhizomes but is not aggressive. well-drained soil. Useful as a ground cover. Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees. Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees, butterflies 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 tips: Full sun; sandy or rocky, well- drained, infertile soil. Grow from seeds or Growing tips: Full sun; prefers moist, well-drained transplants. soil. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom. Prune back to the basal rosette of leaves in fall. Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees and butterflies. Pollinator benefits: Attracts native bees and butterflies.

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 tips: Shade; sandy, well-drained soil; easy to establish. Pollinator benefits: Attracts bumblebees and butterflies; larval host for a variety of fritillary butterflies.

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 Pesticides Found in “Bee- Friendly” Plants Sold at Garden Centers Nationwide. http://www.foe.org/beeaction. Accessed 30 Aug. 2013. Grissell, E. 2006. Insects and Gardens: In Pursuit of a Garden Ecology. Timber Press, Portland, OR. Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, Native Plants Database. http://www.wildflower.org/ plants. Accessed 28 Aug. 2013. Mee, W., J. Barnes, R. Kjelgren, R. Sutton, T. Cerny, C. Johnson. 2003. Water Wise: Native Plants for Intermountain Landscapes. Utah State University Press, Logan, UT. Missouri Botanical Garden, Plant Finder. http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/ plantfinder/plantfindersearch.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 Conservation. http://www.xerces.org/pollinator- conservation. Accessed 28 Aug. 2013. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Plants Database. http://www.plants.usda.gov. Accessed 9 April 2014.

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