Pollinator Gardening
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HOME & GARDEN INFORMATION http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic HGIC 1727 1-888-656-9988 CENTER Pollinator Gardening In 2007, the U.S. Senate designated a week in June as National Pollinator Week to increase the general public’s awareness of the importance of pollinators to food production. What is pollination? Pollination is the movement of pollen from the male flower part (anther) to the female flower part (stigma) on the same plant or between two plants of the same species. Proper pollination is critical for the development of many fruits and crops. These are the parts of a flower. Walker Massey, Clemson University A Monarch butterfly, bumble bee & honey bee on a Sunflower Approximately one third of the food that ends up on (Helianthus annuus). Millie Davenport, ©2015 HGIC, Clemson Extension a plate is there because of pollinators. When pollination is mentioned, most people think of Planting a pollinator garden will encourage the honey bees but there are so many other insects that presence of native pollinators. Like all living things, help get the job done such as native bees, beetles, pollinators need food, shelter, and water. Start by flies, wasps and butterflies. selecting a sunny area in the landscape and evaluating the area for existing nest sites, nectar Of these, bees are a very important group for sources and habitat. Then add plant species to the pollination because they deliberately harvest pollen area that will increase nectar and pollen sources for to feed their offspring; they visit similar flower pollinator insects through the spring, summer and species per foraging trip and accidentally transfer fall months. pollen along the way. Next, create nesting and overwintering sites. This can be accomplished by simply leaving un-mulched areas with well-drained soil and full sun to be used by solitary ground nesting bees. Wood nesting bee species prefer rotting logs, stumps or twigs with pithy centers. A honey bee pollinating a Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). Millie Davenport, ©2015 HGIC, Clemson Extension See the chart below for plant suggestions. Creating a diverse habitat that consists of multiple plant species will attract multiple species of insects. Start with 8 to 10 plant species to attract a greater diversity of pollinators. If possible, group the same plant species in at least 3 feet wide masses for a greater visual impact; this will also make the flowers easier for insects to find and navigate more efficiently as they gather nectar and pollen. If pollination is desired for an edible crop in the landscape, consider planting the pollinator garden nearby. Foraging distance varies among bee species. In general, larger species (i.e. bumble bees) travel This is an example of a mason bee nest box. further distances than smaller bee species (i.e. sweat Barbara H. Smith, ©2015 HGIC, Clemson Extension bees). These areas can be replicated by supplying nest 3 boxes made using untreated lumber. Drill holes ∕32” 3 to ∕8” in diameter on ¾” centers. The holes should be smooth on the inside and closed at one end. Tunnel depth for holes less than ¼” wide should be 3- 4 inches deep and holes greater than ¼” wide should be 5 - 6 inches deep. Place nest boxes three to six feet high in a sheltered area on a building, against a fence or in a tree where it will receive morning sun. Lastly, reduce pesticide use in surrounding area. If A small pollinator garden with Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia any pesticide, organic or synthetic, is deemed triloba) and Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculm). necessary then choose the least toxic option and Millie Davenport, ©2015 HGIC, Clemson Extension apply it in the evening when pollinators are less active. Native Plants for Attracting Pollinators. Common Name Botanical Name Season Flower Color Trees Painted Buckeye Aesculus sylvatica Late Spring Yellow/Green Serviceberry Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance’ Spring White Pawpaw Asimina triloba Late Spring Maroon Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis Spring Pink White Fringtree Chionanthus virginicus Late Spring White Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida Spring White Green Hawthorne Crataegus viridis Spring White Persimmon Diospyros virginiana Early Summer Yellow American Holly Ilex opaca Late Spring White Tulip Tree Liriodendron tulipifera Late Spring Yellow Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora Spring White Umbrella Magnolia Magnolia tripetala Spring Pale Yellow Sourwood Oxydendrum arboreum Summer White Shrubs American Beautyberry Callicarpa americana Late Spring Pink Oakleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia Summer White Virginia Sweetspire Itea virginica Early Summer White Carolina Rose Rosa carolina Early Summer White Rabbiteye Blueberry Vaccinium virgatum Spring White Perennials Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis Spring Red/Yellow Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnate Summer Pink Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca Summer Pink Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Summer Orange/Red Whorled Milkweed Asclepias verticillata Summer White White Wild Indigo Baptisia alba Spring White Wild Indigo Baptisia australis Spring Blue Green and Gold Chrysogonum virginianum Spring Yellow Blue Mistflower Conoclinium coelestinum Summer Purple Threadleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis verticillata Summer Yellow Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea Sum to Fall Purple/White Rattlesnake Master Eryngium yuccifolium Sum to Fall White Joe Pye Weed Eupatorium fistulosum Summer Pink Spotted Geranium Geranium maculatum Spring Pink Sneezeweed Helenium autumnale Summer to Fall Yellow/Orange Swamp Sunflower Helianthus angustifolius Summer to Fall Yellow Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata Summer Blue/White Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis Late Summer Red Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica Late Summer Purple Wild Bergamont Monarda fistulosa Summer Dark Pink Spotted Beebalm Monarda punctata Sum to Fall Yellow Eastern Smooth Penstemon laevigatus Early Summer White Bluetongue Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana Late Pink Summer/Fall Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia fulgida Sum to Fall Yellow Brown-eyed Susan Rudbeckia triloba Late Summer Yellow Rough-leaf goldenrod Solidago rugosa ‘Fireworks’ Late Yellow Summer/Fall Showy goldenrod Solidago speciosa Late Summer Yellow Stokes’ Aster Stokesia laevis Early Summer Lavender Blue Wood Aster Symphyotrichum cordifolium Late Blue Summer/Fall Spiderwort Tradescantia spp. Late Purple Spring/Summer Giant Ironweed Vernonia gigantea Summer Purple Golden alexander Zizia aurea Spring Yellow Vines Carolina Jessamine Gelsemium sempervirens Spring Yellow Coral Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens Spring/Summer Red Purple Passionflower Passiflora incarnata Summer Purple Warm Season Annuals for Attracting Pollinators Spiderflower Cleome spp. Cosmos Cosmos spp. Sunflower Helianthus annuus Basil Ocium spp. Mexican Sunflower Tithonia rotundifolia Zinnia Zinnia spp. Prepared by Millie Davenport, HGIC Horticulture Extension Agent, Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service. 12/15. This information is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement of brand names or registered trademarks by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service is implied, nor is any discrimination intended by the exclusion of products or manufacturers not named. All recommendations are for South Carolina conditions and may not apply to other areas. Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. All recommendations for pesticide use are for South Carolina only and were legal at the time of publication, but the status of registration and use patterns are subject to change by action of state and federal regulatory agencies. Follow all directions, precautions and restrictions that are listed. The Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer. Clemson University Cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture, South Carolina Counties, Extension Service, Clemson, South Carolina. Issued in Furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914 Public Service Activities .