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Selecting Plants for Pollinators Selecting Plants for Pollinators A Regional Guide for Farmers, Land Managers, and Gardeners In the Lake Erie Lowlands The Greater Toronto Area, the Golden Horseshoe, Sarnia, London, WINDSOR and NIAGARA REGION and NAPPC Table of CONTENTS Selecting Plants for Pollinators Why Support Pollinators? 4 A Regional Guide for Getting Started 5 Farmers, Land Managers, and Gardeners Lake Erie Lowlands 6 In the Meet the Pollinators 8 Lake Erie Lowlands Plant Traits 10 The Greater Toronto Area, Developing Plantings 12 The Golden Horseshoe, Farms 13 Sarnia, London, WINDSOR Public Lands 14 and NIAGARA REGION Home Landscapes 15 Plants That Attract Pollinators 16 Habitat hints 20 Habitat and Nesting requirements 21 A NAPPC AND Pollinator Partnership™ Publication Checklist 22 Resources and Feedback 23 This is one of several guides for different regions of North America. This guide was funded by the Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust with oversight by the Pollinator Partnership - Canada We welcome your feedback to assist (www.pollinator.org), in support of the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC–www.nappc.org). us in making the future guides useful. Please contact us at [email protected] 2 Selecting Plants for Pollinators Lake Erie Lowland 3 Why support pollinators? Getting Started IN THEIR 1996 BOOK, THE FORGOTTEN POLLINATORS, Buchmann and Nabhan estimated that animal pollinators are needed for the reproduction “Flowering plants of 90% of fl owering plants and one third of human food crops. Each of us depends on these industrious pollinators in a practical way to provide us with the wide range of foods we eat. In addition, pollinators are part of the across wild, intricate web that supports the biological diversity in natural ecosystems that helps sustain our quality of life. farmed and even Abundant and healthy populations of pollinators can improve fruit set and quality, and increase fruit size. In farming situations this increases production per hectare. In the wild, biodiversity increases and wildlife urban landscapes food sources increase. Alfalfa, clover, apples, blueberries, cranberries, cherries, cucumbers, pears, actually feed the pumpkins, soybeans, squash, tomatoes, and watermelons are some of the crops raised in the Lake Erie Lowlands that rely on honey bees and native bees for pollination. Domestic honey bees pollinate more than $1 billion terrestrial world, worth of crops in Canada each year. environment. of soil types in both sunny and and pollinators THIS REGIONAL GUIDE IS just one Unfortunately, the numbers of both native pollinators and domesticated in a series of plant selection tools The Canadian ecoregions are shady areas. With this diversity of bee populations are declining. They are threatened by habitat loss, designed to provide information based on the National Ecological locations many different species disease, and the excessive and inappropriate use of pesticides. The loss of Framework Report. The National of plants may be used to improve are the great on how individuals can infl uence commercial bees during the winter has highlighted how severe the issues of pollinator populations through Ecological Framework for Canada pollinator habitats. proper hive management are to reduce stresses caused by disease, pesticide choices they make when they farm is a system created as a management tool and is used to predict responses Long before there were homes use, insuffi cient nutrition, and transportation practices. Currently, the connectors who a plot of ground, manage large pollination services that the commercial beekeeping industry provides are tracts of public land, or plant a to land management practices and farms in this area, natural receiving much needed research and conservation resources. The efforts to garden. Each of us can have a throughout large areas. This guide vegetation provided essential addresses pollinator-friendly land opportunities for wildlife, including understand the threats to commercial bees should help us understand other enable this giant positive impact by providing the pollinators and their roles in the environment as well. essential habitat requirements for management practices in what is pollinators. In choosing plants, aim pollinators including food, water, known as the Lake Erie Lowlands. to create habitat for pollinators that allow adequate food, shelter, and It is imperative that we take immediate steps to help pollinator populations food system to shelter, and enough space to raise thrive. The beauty of the situation is that by supporting pollinators’ need their young. The seasonal cycle of sun and shade water sources. Most pollinators for habitat, we support our own needs for food and support diversity in the within the forests has created a have very small home ranges. natural world. Pollinators travel through the changing pattern of bloom time for You will make a difference by work for all who landscape without regard to food plants and shelter needs for understanding the vegetation Thank you for taking time to consult this guide. By adding plants to your property ownership or provincial foraging, nesting, and migrating patterns on the farm, forest, or landscape that provide food and shelter for pollinators throughout their boundaries. We’ve chosen to use pollinators. neighbour’s yard adjacent to your active seasons and by adopting pollinator friendly landscape practices, you eat... Including us.” the ecoregional classifi cation system property. With this information in can make a difference to both the pollinators and the people that rely on them. to identify the geographic focus Farmers, land managers, and hand, your planting choices will of this guide and to underscore gardeners in this region have a better support the pollinators’ need the connections between climate wide palette of plants to use in the for food and shelter as they move – Roger Lang, Chairman, Laurie Davies Adams and vegetation types that affect landscape. Farms and residential through the landscape. Executive Director Pollinator Partnership the diversity of pollinators in the areas provide a diverse range Pollinator Partnership 4 Selecting Plants for Pollinators Lake Erie Lowland 5 Understanding the Lake Erie Lowlands n The Lake Erie Lowlands ecoregion is part of the larger Mixed Wood Plains ecozone which includes the following ecoregions; St. Lawrence Lowlands, Frontenac Axis, and Manitoulin Lake-Simcoe. n Not sure about which bioregion you live or work in? Go to www.pollinator.org and click on Ecoregion Locator for help. n 24,000 square kilometres with Ontario. n The topography is mostly Niagra Escarpment. n Elevations ranging from sea level to 228 metres. n The mean summer temperature is 18°C and the mean winter temperature is -2.5°C. n Average year round precipitation is between 750-900 mm. n Rich and diverse fertile soils throughout with numerous glacial deposits. Lake Erie Lowlands includes: The Greater Toronto Area The Golden Horseshoe Characteristics Windsor London Sarnia n Part of the most fl oralistically diverse ecozone in Canada with Niagara Region mixed and deciduous forests. n Herbaceous layer of woodland forbs that bloom from spring into fall. n Dissected by population centres, farms, and roads. 6 Selecting Plants for Pollinators Lake Erie Lowland 7 Meet the Pollinators Who are the nests underground. Various species Lepidoptera. Some of the types possibly because beetle watching (Solidago spp.), and members of the are solitary while others form loose in the Lake Erie Lowlands are isn’t as inspiring as butterfl y or bird carrot family like Queen Anne’s pollinators? colonies. Brush-footed, Gossamer-winged, watching. Yet beetles do play a role lace (Daucus carota). Swallowtail, Parnassian, Skipper, in pollination. Some have a bad Solitary bees include carpenter Bees White, Sulphur and Monarch reputation because they can leave a Birds bees (Xylocopa spp.), which nest butterfl ies. They usually look for mess behind, damaging plant parts Bees are the best documented Hummingbirds are the primary in wood; (Andrena spp.), which fl owers that provide a good landing that they eat. Beetles are not as pollinators in the natural and birds which play a role in pollina– nest underground; leafcutting bees platform. effi cient as some pollinators. They agricultural landscapes of the tion in North America. Their long (Megachile spp.), which prefer dead wander between different species, Lake Erie Lowlands. A wide range Wet mud areas provide butterfl ies beaks and tongues draw nectar trees or branches for their nest sites; often dropping pollen as they go. of plants in the Aster and Rose and mason bees (Osmia spp.), which with both the moisture and from tubular fl owers. Pollen is Families, blueberry crops, and utilize cavities that they fi nd in stems minerals they need to stay healthy. Beetle pollinated plants tend to be carried on both the beaks and tomatoes are just a few plants that and dead wood. Butterfl ies eat rotten fruit and even large, strong scented fl owers with feathers of different hummingbirds. benefi t from bee pollinators. dung, so don’t clean up all the their sexual organs exposed. They The regions closer to the tropics, messes in your garden! are known to pollinate magnolia, Most of us are familiar with the with warmer climates, boast the Butterfl ies sweetshrub (Calycanthus spp.), paw colonies of honey bees that have largest number of hummingbird Gardeners have been attracting paws, and yellow pond lilies. been the workhorses of agricultural Moths species and the greatest number of butterfl ies to their gardens for some native plants to support the bird’s pollination for years in Canada. Moths are most easily distinguished time. These insects tend to be eye- need for food. White-winged doves They were imported from Europe from butterfl ies by their antennae. Flies catching, as are the fl owers that (Zenaida asiatica) are also pollinators almost 400 years ago. Butterfl y antennae are simple with a It may be hard to imagine why one attract them. Position fl owering of the saguaro cactus (Carnegeia Photo courtesy of Tim Dunne Photo courtesy of Tim There are over 800 species of native plants where they have full sun and swelling at the end.
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