Selecting
Plants
for
Pollinators
A Guide for Gardeners, Farmers, and Land Managers In the
Nova Scotia Highlands
Sydney
Glace Bay
Antigonish Table of CONTENTS
Why Support Pollinators? 4
Getting Started 5
Nova Scotia Highlands 6
Meet the Pollinators 8
Plant Traits 10
Developing Plantings 12
Farms 13
Public Lands 14
Home Landscapes 15
Plants That Attract Pollinators 16
Habitat hints 20
Habitat and Nesting requirements 21
This is one of several guides for S.H.A.R.E. 22 different regions of North America. We welcome your feedback to assist us in making the future guides Checklist 22 useful. Please contact us at
[email protected] Resources and Feedback 23
2 Selecting Plants for Pollinators Selecting Plants for Pollinators
A Guide for
Gardeners, Farmers,
and Land Managers
In the
Nova Scotia Highlands
Sydney
Glace Bay
Antigonish
A NAPPC and Pollinator Partnership Canada™ Publication
Nova Scotia Highlands 3 Why support pollinators?
In their 1996 book, The Forgotten Pollinators, Buchmann and Nabhan estimated that animal pollinators are needed for the reproduction “Flowering plants of 90% of flowering plants and one third of human food crops. Each of us depends on these industrious pollinators in a practical way to provide us across wild, with the wide range of foods we eat. In addition, pollinators are part of the 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 urban landscapes production per hectare. In the wild, biodiversity increases and wildlife food sources increase. Fruits such as blueberries and apples, in addition to vegetables and field crops such as alfalfa, are grown in Nova Scotia and actually feed the rely on honey bees and native bees for pollination. Honey bees pollinate more than $4 billion worth of crops in Canada each year. terrestrial world, Unfortunately, the numbers of many native pollinators are declining. They are threatened by habitat loss, disease, climate change, and the excessive and inappropriate use of pesticides. As a result research and conservation and pollinators actions supporting native pollinators are increasingly active. Honey bee colony losses have significantly impacted beekeepers. Parasites, disease, are the great pesticide use, insufficient nutrition, and transportation practices all impact honey bee health, and this in turn can impact the commercial pollination services honey bees provide. The efforts to understand the threats to connectors who commercial bees should help us understand other pollinators and their roles in the environment as well. enable this giant It is imperative that we take immediate steps to help pollinator populations thrive. The beauty of the situation is that by supporting pollinators’ need for habitat, we support our own needs for food and support diversity in the food system to natural world.
Thank you for taking time to consult this guide. By adding plants to your work for all who landscape that provide food and shelter for pollinators throughout their active seasons and by adopting pollinator friendly landscape practices, you can make a difference to both the pollinators and the people that rely on them. eat... Including us.”
Val Dolcini – Roger Lang, Chairman, President and CEO Pollinator Partnership Pollinator Partnership
4 Selecting Plants for Pollinators Getting Started
This regional guide is just Framework Report. The National Long before there were homes and one in a series of plant selection Ecological Framework for Canada farms in the Nova Scotia Highlands, tools designed to provide you with is a system created as a management natural vegetation provided information on how to plant local tool and is used to predict responses essential opportunities for wildlife, native plants for pollinators. Each to land management practices including pollinators. Farmers, land of us can have a positive impact throughout large areas. This guide managers, and gardeners in this by providing the essential habitat addresses pollinator-friendly land region have a wide palette of plants requirements for pollinators management practices in what to use in the landscape. In choosing including food, water, shelter, and is known as the Nova Scotia plants, aim to create habitat for enough space to raise their young. Highlands. pollinators that allow adequate food, shelter, and water sources. Most Pollinators travel through the The seasonal cycle of sun and shade pollinators have very small home landscape without regard to within the forests has created a ranges. You will make a difference property ownership or provincial changing pattern of bloom time for by understanding the vegetation boundaries. We’ve chosen to use food plants and shelter needs for patterns on the farm, forest, or the ecoregional classification system foraging, nesting, and migrating neighbour’s yard adjacent to your and to underscore the connections pollinators. Farms and residential property. With this information in between climate and vegetation areas provide a diverse range of soil hand, your planting choices will types that affect the diversity of types in both sunny and shady areas. better support the pollinators’ need pollinators in the environment. With this diversity of locations many for food and shelter as they move different species of plants may be through the landscape. The Canadian ecoregions are used to improve pollinator habitats based on the National Ecological where they are lacking.
Nova Scotia Highlands 5 Understanding the Nova Scotia Highlands
n The Nova Scotia Highlands is a part of the larger Atlantic Maritime Ecozone, and covers northern Nova Scotia. This ecoregion has warm rainy summers, and mild to cold winters. Most of the ecoregion is characterized by forestry, and other land uses include farming and localized blueberry and maple syrup production. Agricultural land use makes up 7% of this ecoregion. The main communities in the Nova Scotia Highlands are Sydney, Glace Bay, and Antigonish.
n Not sure about which region you live or work in? Go to www.pollinator.org/guides and click on Ecoregion Locator for help.
n Over 14 811 square kilometres of Nova Scotia.
n Highland plateaus that range in elevation from 300 to 350 metres above sea level.
n Mean annual temperature is approximately 6 °C, with a mean summer temperature of 14.5 °C, and a mean winter temperature of -2.5 °C.
n Mean annual precipitation ranges from 1000-1600mm.
Characteristics
n Ecoregion dominated by plateaus separated by lower-elevation uplands and lowlands.
n Major land features include the Cobequid Mountains, Antigonish Highlands, and Cape Breton Hills.
n Large mixed-wood forests with an abundance of yellow birch at higher elevations.
n Provides habitat for deer, moose, black bears, snowshoe hares, fishers, coyotes, and porcupines.
6 Selecting Plants for Pollinators The Nova Scotia Highlands includes: Sydney Glace Bay Antigonish
Nova Scotia Highlands 7 Meet the Pollinators Who are the Sweat bees (family Halictidae) are medium to small-sized, slender bees pollinators? that commonly nest underground. Bees Various species are solitary while Bees are the best documented others form loose colonies, nesting pollinators in the natural and side-by-side. Other common solitary agricultural landscapes of the bees include mining bees (Andrena ecoregion. A wide range of wild spp.), which nest underground and and crop plants, including plants in are common in the spring; leaf- the Aster and Rose Families, canola, cutter bees (Megachile spp.), which specialty crops, and some forage prefer dead trees or branches for crops benefit from bee pollinators. their nest sites; and mason bees (Osmia spp.), which utilize cavities Most of us are familiar with the they find in stems and dead wood colonies of honey bees that have that they fill with mud. been the workhorses of agricultural pollination for years in Canada. Butterfl ies They were imported from Europe Butterflies prefer open and sunny almost 400 years ago and continue areas such as meadows and along Ruby-throated Hummingbird, to be managed for honey production woodland edges that provide bright a summer species in the and pollination services. There are flowers, water sources, and specific Nova Scotia Highlands. over 800 species of native ground host plants for their caterpillars. and twig nesting bees in Canada. Gardeners have been attracting Most of these bee species live a butterflies to their gardens for some solitary life; a minority are social and time. To encourage butterflies place form colonies or nest in aggregations. flowering plants where they have Native bees visit and pollinate full sun and are protected from the many crops; in many cases they wind. They usually look for flowers are better at transferring pollen that provide a good landing platform. Viceroy butterfly. than honey bees. Our native bees Butterflies need open areas (e.g., can be encouraged to do more to bare earth, large stones) where support agricultural endeavours if they can bask, and moist soil from their needs for nesting habitat are which they wick needed minerals. met and if suitable sources of nectar, Butterflies eat rotten fruit and even pollen, and water are provided. Bees dung, so don’t clean up all the messes come in a variety of body shapes in your garden! By providing a safe and sizes, and even have tongues place to eat and nest, gardeners can of different lengths. Native bees also support the pollination role that visit the widest range of flowers and butterflies play in the landscape. In crops of any pollinator group. Nova Scotia, approximately seventy- three butterfly species have been Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) form regularly recorded. In the Nova small colonies, usually underground Scotia Highlands, it is common to making use of old rodent burrows or see the Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche dense thatches. They are generalists, lygdamus), Clouded Sulphur (Colias feeding on a wide range of plant philodice), Viceroy (Limenitis archippus), types from May to September Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria and are important pollinators of cybele), and the Cabbage White tomatoes and blueberries. (Pieris rapae).
8 Selecting Plants for Pollinators Moths transport pollen from flower to Species at Risk Moths are most easily distinguished flower. Flies primarily pollinate Species at Risk in Nova Scotia from butterflies by their antennae. small flowers that bloom under include endangered species, such Butterfly antennae are simple with a shade and in seasonally moist as the Gypsy Cuckoo Bumble Bee swelling at the end. Moth antennae habitats, but are also economically (Bombus bohemicus) and the Monarch differ from simple to featherlike, important as pollinators for a range butterfly (Danaus plexippus), as well but never have a swelling at the tip. of annual and bulbous ornamental as threatened and special concern Butterfly bodies are not very hairy, flowers. Plants pollinated by flies species such as the Sable Island while moth bodies are quite hairy include the American pawpaw sweat bee (Lasioglossum sablense). Some pollinator species have already and much more stout. In addition, (Asimina triloba), skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), goldenrod been extirpated from Nova Scotia butterflies typically are active and other regions of Canada, and during the day; moths at night. (Solidago spp.), and members of the carrot family. the Macropis Cuckoo bee (Epeoloides They are attracted to flowers that pilosulus) is endangered and on the are strongly sweet smelling, open Birds verge of being extirpated. Other in late afternoon or night, and are species such as the Yellow-Banded typically white or pale coloured. Hummingbirds are the primary Bumble Bee (Bombus terricola) were birds that play a role in pollination once common across much of Canada, Beetles in North America. Their long beaks but are now rare in the Maritimes There are more than 9000 species and tongues draw nectar from and other eastern parts of its range. of beetles in Canada and many of tubular flowers. Pollen is carried them can be found easily by looking on both their beaks and feathers. Macropis Cuckoo Bee inside flower heads. Gardeners have Regions closer to the tropics, with • The Macropis Cuckoo Bee yet to intentionally draw beetles warmer climates, boast the largest (Epeoloides pilosulus) was known to their gardens, possibly because number of hummingbird species from six sites across five provinces, beetle watching isn’t as inspiring and the greatest number of native including the Annapolis Valley in as butterfly or bird watching. Yet plants to support their need for food. Nova Scotia. beetles do play a role in pollination. The Ruby-throated Hummingbird • The Macropis Cuckoo Bee is a Some have a bad reputation because (Archilochus colubris) is a common cleptoparasite, and female bees they can leave a mess behind, summer species in the Nova Scotia will lay their eggs in Macropis bee damaging plant parts as they eat Highlands. nests which then use up all the pollen. Beetle pollinated plants tend Hummingbirds can see the colour resources and destroy host eggs to be large, strong scented flowers red; bees cannot. Many tropical and larvae. flowers grown as annuals, along and have the anthers and stigma • It is one of the rarest bees in with native woodland edge plants, exposed. Beetles are known to North America and a member of pollinate magnolia, paw paws, and attract hummingbirds. one of the most specialized set of yellow pond lilies. ecological relationships, since it Bats is only a parasite for one genus Flies Though bat species in Canada are of bees that only forages on one It may be hard to imagine why not pollinators, bats in the south genus of plants (the oils of Yellow one would want to attract flies western United States and Mexico Loosestrife). to the garden. However, flies are are important pollinators of agave and cactus. The head shape and • The decline of this bee is not well one of the most diverse group understood, but loss of habitat long tongues of nectar bats allows of pollinators. They include supporting Yellow Loosestrife, as colourful flower flies and hover them to delve into flower blossoms well as pressures from invasive flies (Syrphidae), active bee flies and extract both pollen and nectar; plants and pesticide use are (Bombyliidae), and tiny midges pollen covers their hairy bodies and thought to be contributing factors that visit many plant species. Like is transfer as they move from plant to its decline and disappearance. bees, flies are hairy and can easily to plant.
Nova Scotia Highlands 9 Plant Traits and the Pollinators they Attract Pollinator Pollinator Plant Which Flowers Bees Beetles Birds Butterflies Flies Moths Wind Do the Trait Pollinators Dull green, brown, or prefer? Bright white, Scarlet, Pale and dull to dark Dull white or Bright, including Pale and dull red, colourless; yellow, orange, red brown or purple; flecked Not all pollinators are found Colour green red and purple purple, pink or white petals absent in each province, and some are blue, or UV or white with translucent patches or reduced more important in different parts of Canada. Use this page as a resource to understand the plants and pollinators where you live. Nectar Present Absent Absent Present Absent Absent Absent Guides Plants can be grouped together based on the similar characteristics None to Fresh, mild, Strong sweet; of their flowers. These floral strongly fruity None Faint but fresh Putrid None characteristics can be useful to Odour pleasant emitted at night predict the type of pollination or fetid method or animal that is most effective for that group of plants. Sometimes Ample; deeply This association between floral Usually present present; Ample; deeply hidden Usually absent Ample; deeply hidden None characteristics and pollination Nectar hidden method is called a pollination not hidden syndrome. Limited; often The interactions of animal Abundant; small, sticky Ample Modest Limited Modest in amount Limited pollinators and plants have Pollen smooth, and not sticky influenced the evolution of both and scented groups of organisms. A mutualistic relationship between the pollinator Shallow; Large funnel and the plant species helps the Narrow tube with spur; pollinator find necessary pollen and have landing Large bowl-like, like; cups, Shallow; funnel like or Regular; tubular Regular; small and Flower wide nectar sources and helps the plant platform; Magnolia strong perch complex and trap-like without a lip stigmas exerted reproduce by ensuring that pollen is Shape landing pad carried from one flower to another. tubular support
This chart and more information on pollinator syndromes can be found at: http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/syndromes.shtml
10 Selecting Plants for Pollinators Plant Traits and the Pollinators they Attract Pollinator Pollinator Plant Trait Bees Beetles Birds Butterflies Flies Moths Wind
Dull green, brown, or Bright white, Scarlet, Pale and dull to dark Dull white or Bright, including Pale and dull red, colourless; yellow, orange, red brown or purple; flecked Colour green red and purple purple, pink or white petals absent blue, or UV or white with translucent patches or reduced
Nectar Present Absent Absent Present Absent Absent Absent Guides None to Fresh, mild, Strong sweet; strongly fruity None Faint but fresh Putrid None Odour pleasant emitted at night or fetid
Sometimes Ample; deeply Usually present present; Ample; deeply hidden Usually absent Ample; deeply hidden None Nectar hidden not hidden
Limited; often Abundant; small, sticky Ample Modest Limited Modest in amount Limited Pollen smooth, and not sticky and scented
Shallow; Large funnel Narrow tube with spur; have landing Large bowl-like, like; cups, Shallow; funnel like or Regular; tubular Regular; small and Flower wide platform; Magnolia strong perch complex and trap-like without a lip stigmas exerted Shape landing pad tubular support
This chart and more information on pollinator syndromes can be found at: http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/syndromes.shtml
Nova Scotia Highlands 11 Developing landscape plantings that provide pollinator habitat
Whether you are a farmer of chives, parsley and lavender are can move safely through the many hectares, land manager of a just a few herbs that can be planted. landscape protected from predators. large tract of land, or a gardener Old fashioned zinnias, cosmos, and • Include plants that are needed with a small lot, you can increase the single sunflowers support bees and by butterflies during their larval number of pollinators in your area by butterflies. Non-native crops, herbs, development. making conscious choices to include and ornamental flowers should only plants that provide essential habitat be planted in gardens. Water: for bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, • Recognize weeds that might be a A clean, reliable source of water is hummingbirds, and other pollinators. good source of food. For example, essential to pollinators. dandelions provide nectar in the • Natural and human-made water Food: early spring before other flowers features such as running water, Flowers provide nectar (high in open. Milkweed is a host for the pools, ponds, and small containers sugar and necessary amino acids) Monarch butterfly. of water provide drinking and and pollen (high in protein) to • Learn and utilize Integrated Pest bathing opportunities for pollinators. pollinators. Fermenting fallen fruits Management (IPM) practices to • Ensure the water sources have also provide food for bees, beetles, address pest concerns. Minimize or a shallow or sloping side so the and butterflies. eliminate the use of pesticides. pollinators can easily approach the Specific plants, known as host water without drowning. plants, are eaten by the larvae of Shelter: Your current landscape probably pollinators such as butterflies. Pollinators need protection from includes many of these elements. • Plant in groups to increase severe weather and from predators as Observe wildlife activity in your farm pollination efficiency. If a pollinator well as sites for nesting and roosting. fields, woodlands, and gardens to can visit the same type of flower • Incorporate different canopy determine what actions you can take over and over, it doesn’t have to layers in the landscape by planting to encourage other pollinators to feed relearn how to enter the flower trees, shrubs, and different-sized and nest. Evaluate the placement of and can transfer pollen to the same perennial plants. individual plants and water sources species, instead of squandering the • Leave dead snags for nesting sites and use your knowledge of specific pollen on unreceptive flowers. of bees, and other dead plants and pollinator needs to guide your choice • Plant with bloom season in mind, leaf litter for shelter. and placement of additional plants providing food from early spring to • Avoid applying thick layers of and other habitat elements. Minor late fall. (see Bloom Periods pp.16-19) mulch that are hard to dig through. changes by many individuals can • Plant a diversity of plants to • Build bee boxes to encourage positively impact the pollinator support a variety of pollinators. solitary, non-aggressive bees to nest populations in your area. Watch Flowers of different colour, on your property. for - and enjoy - the changes in your fragrance, and season of bloom • Ground nesting bees are also landscape! on plants of different heights will attracted to lawns and short grass • CAUTION LAND MANAGERS: attract different pollinator species areas, especially if there is a south Remember that many insecticides and provide pollen and nectar facing slope. are toxic to pollinators. Extreme throughout the seasons. • Leave some areas of soil uncovered caution is warranted if you choose • Many herbs and annuals, although to provide ground nesting insects to use any insecticide. Strategically not native, are very good for easy access to underground tunnels. apply insecticides only for pollinators. Mint, oregano, garlic, • Group plantings so that pollinators problematic target species.
12 Selecting Plants for Pollinators Farms
Fruits such as blueberries and • Consider using Integrated Pest • Plant unused areas of the farm apples, as well as various vegetables Management (IPM) strategies to with temporary cover crops that are some of the food crops grown control pests. Use insecticides that can provide food or with a variety in Nova Scotia that will benefit cause the least harm to non-target of trees, shrubs, and flowers that from strong native bee populations organisms and only use when pests provide both food and shelter for that boost pollination efficiency. reach economic thresholds. pollinators. Incorporate different plants • Carefully consider the use of • Check with local not-for-profit throughout the farm that provide herbicides. Some weeds can provide organizations, or government food for native populations when needed food for pollinators. agencies to see what technical targeted crops are not in flower. • Minimize tillage to protect ground support might be available to assist Farmers have many opportunities nesting pollinators. you in your effort to provide nectar, to incorporate pollinator-friendly • Consider creating designated pollen, and larval food sources for land management practices on their permanently untilled areas for pollinators on your farm. land which will benefit the farmer ground nesting bees along internal in achieving his or her production farm laneways. goals: • Ensure water sources are scattered • Minimize the use of insecticides throughout the landscape. to reduce the impact on native • Choose a variety of native plants to pollinators. Spray when bees act as windbreaks, riparian buffers, aren’t active (after dark or just and field borders throughout the before dawn) and choose targeted farm. ingredients. Illustrations by Carolyn Vibbert
Nova Scotia Highlands 13 Public Lands
Public lands are maintained for understand the importance of specific reasons ranging from high pollinators in the environment impact recreation to conservation. through signs, brochures, and public In the Canadian Maritimes, forests programs. and grasslands have been cut and In an effort to increase populations altered to allow for roads, energy of pollinators the land manager can: infrastructure, buildings, open lawn • Inventory and become areas, boat ramps, and vistas. These knowledgeable of local pollinators. other lands can provide benefits to • Provide connectivity between pollinator when managed correctly. vegetation areas by creating Pollinators are encouraged by timed corridors of perennials, shrubs, and mowing, opening tree canopies, and trees that provide pollinators shelter planting of native flowers. Less and food as they move through the disturbed natural areas can be landscape. augmented with plantings of native • Maintain a minimum of lawn areas plant species. Existing plantings that support recreational needs. around buildings and parking areas • Restrict the use of insecticides and should be evaluated to determine herbicides. if pollinator-friendly plants can • Provide water sources in large be substituted or added to attract open areas. and support pollinators. Public • Maintain natural meadows and land managers have a unique openings that provide habitats for opportunity to use their plantings sun-loving wildflowers and grasses. as an education tool to help others • Remove invasive species.
14 Selecting Plants for Pollinators Home Landscapes
Gardeners have a wide array of The scale of your plantings will vary plants to use in their gardens. but it is important to remember Native plants, plants introduced that you are trying to provide from years of plant exploration connectivity to the landscape from around the world, and plants adjacent to your property. Don’t developed by professional and just look within your property amateur breeders can be found in boundaries. If your neighbour’s garden centres, in catalogs, and on property provides an essential web-sites. Use your knowledge of element, such as water, which can pollinator needs and the plant list in be utilized by pollinators visiting this document to guide your choices. your land, you may be able to • Choose a variety of plants that devote more space to habitat will provide nectar and pollen elements that are missing nearby. throughout the growing season. It is best to use native plants which • Resist the urge to have a totally have evolved to support the needs manicured lawn and garden. Leave of specific native pollinators. Some bare ground for ground nesting pollinators, however, are generalists bees. Leave areas of dead wood and and visit many different plants, both leaf litter for other insects. native and non-native. Be sure that • Find local resources to help you any non-native plants you choose in your efforts. Contact your local to use are not invasive. Remember garden club or conservation groups. that specialized cultivars sometimes Visit your regional botanic gardens aren’t used by pollinators. Flowers and arboreta. that have been drastically altered, such as cultivars with double petals or completely different colour than the wild species, often prevent pollinators from finding and feeding on the flowers. In addition, some cultivars don’t contain the same nectar and pollen resources that attract pollinators to the wild types.
• CAUTION: Take time to evaluate the source of your plant material. You want to ensure you get plants that are healthy and correctly identified. Your local garden club can help you make informed decisions when searching for plants.
Nova Scotia Highlands 15 Plants that attract pollinators in THE Nova Scotia Highlands
The following chart lists plants that attract pollinators. It is not exhaustive, but provides guidance on where to start. Annuals, herbs, weeds, and cover crops provide food and shelter for pollinators, too. Common Bloom Soil Soil Species Height Colour Sun Pollinators Name Period Moisture Texture Shrubs/Trees Acer rubrum red maple 12-25m red, pink April - May sun to shade moist to wet loam bees, butterflies yellow, green/ normal to Acer saccharum sugar maple 20-35m April - May sun to shade sand, loam bees, butterflies brown moist white bees, beetles, Actaea pachypoda 0.5-0.9m white May-June partial sun moist humus baneberry flies partial shade to bees, flies, Actaea rubra red baneberry less than 1m white/cream May - July moist clay shade beetles Alnus incana ssp. purple/brown, sun to partial speckled alder 3-4m April - May moist to wet clay, loam bees Rugosa green shade Arctostaphylos uva- excessively kinnikinnick less than 1m purple-blue May-June sun to partial sun sand bees ursi drained black white/cream, sun to partial normal to clay, sand, Aronia melanocarpa 1-3m May - June bees chokeberry pink shade moist loam Chamaedaphne bees, flies, leatherleaf less than 1m white May-July sun to partial sun wet peat calyculata butterflies white/cream, May - sun to partial normal to clay, sand, Cornus canadensis bunchberry less than 1m bees, flies green/brown September shade moist loam roundleaf May- neutral or bees, beetles, Cornus rugosa up to 3m white sun to shade moist to dry dogwood August alkaline flies, butterflies native clay, sand, Crataeguschrysocarpa 3.5-11m white May - June sun to part shade dry to moist bees, butterflies hawthorns loam Crataegus native clay, sand, 3.5-11m white May - June sun to part shade dry to moist bees, butterflies macrosperma hawthorns loam native clay, sand, Crataegus scabrida 3.5-11m white May - June sun to part shade dry to moist bees, butterflies hawthorns loam calcareous, shrubby savannahs, bees, flies, Dasiphora fruticosa up to 1m Yellow May-July sun to partial sun dry to wet cinquefoil meadows, butterflies bog bush sandy and Diervilla lonicera up to 1m Yellow June-July sun to shade dry to moist bees, moths honeysuckle stony trailing moist, acidic Epigaea repens less than 1m white to pink May-July sun to partial sun N/A bees arbutus well-drained sun to partial clay, sand, Fraxinus americana white Ash less than 1m yellow, purple May dry to moist butterflies shade loam Gaultheria eastern less than 1m Pink May-July sun to partial sun sun to shade N/A bees procumbens teaberry moist to wet, Ilex mucronata catberry 2-3m Inconspicuous June-July sun to shade peat bees, flies acidic common Ilex verticillata 2-3m white June-July sun to shade moist to wet loam bees, flies winterberry Canadian fly sun to partial clay, sand, hummingbirds, Lonicera canadensis up to 1m yellow May - June moist honeysuckle shade loam butterflies dry to moist, Photinia black bees, beetles, up to 2m white May-June sun to partial sun poorly- N/A melanocarpa chokeberry flies drained
16 Selecting Plants for Pollinators Common Bloom Soil Soil Species Height Colour Sun Pollinators Name Period Moisture Texture Prunus March - dry to moist, pin cherry 5-20m+ white sun sand, loam bees pennsylvanica June well drained Prunus virginiana Bitter-berry 6m+ white June sun to partial sun moist loam bees moist to Rhododendron bees, rhodora 1m rose pink June-July sun to partial sun wet, poorly- humus canadense hummingbirds drained smooth yellow, purple, sun to partial clay, sand, Ribes hirtellum up to 1m May - June moist bees gooseberry green/brown shade loam bristly black yellow, green/ clay, sand, Ribes lacustre 1-2m May - June sun to shade normal to wet bees currant brown, pink loam swamp red red, purple, sun to partial normal to clay, sand, Ribes triste up to 1m May - June bees currant green/brown shade moist loam white/cream, sun to partial Rosa carolina Carolina rose up to 2m May - June dry to wet sand, loam bees, butterflies pink shade June - Rosa nitida shining rose less than 1m pink sun moist to wet clay, sand bees September June - partial shade to Rosa virginiana Virginia rose up to 2m yellow, pink moist clay, sand bees August shade Alleghaney sun to partial Rubus allegheniensis 2-3m white/cream June - July moist sand, loam bees, butterflies blackberry shade white/cream, bees, butterflies, Rubus chamaemorus cloudberry less than 1m June - July sun dry to moist loam green/brown beetles wild red sun to partial Rubus idaeus up to 2m white/cream June - July dry to moist sand, loam bees, butterflies raspberry shade dwarf red white/cream, Rubus pubescens less than 1m May - July sun to shade dry to wet sand, loam bees, butterflies raspberry pink white/cream, March - clay, sand, Salix discolor pussy willow 2-8m sun moist to wet bees, butterflies green/brown April loam yellow, green/ sun to partial clay, sand, Salix humilis upland willow 1-3m April - June dry to moist bees, butterflies brown shade loam yellow, green/ sun to partial clay, sand, Salix lucida shining willow up to 10m May - June normal to wet bees, butterflies brown shade loam Salix pyrifolia balsam willow 2-3m green/brown May sun moist to wet sand, loam bees American sun to partial clay, sand, Sorbus americana 4-10m white/cream May - June dry to moist bees mountain ash shade loam Vaccinium lowbush sun to partial normal to 0.2-0.6m white to pink May-June sand bees, butterflies angustifolium blueberry shade moist Vaccinium large sun to partial 0.3-.06m white to pink May-July moist to wet loam bees, butterflies macrocarpon cranberry shade Forbs Achillea millefolium western white, cream, June - dry to well bees, butterflies, 0.3-0.9m sun clay, sand var. occidentalis yarrow pink August drained flies Anaphalis pearly July - 0.3-0.9m white/cream sun dry sand butterflies, moths margaritacea everlasting September swamp June - Asclepias incarnata 0.3-1.5m purple, pink sun moist to wet clay, loam bees, butterflies milkweed August
continued on page 18
Nova Scotia Highlands 17 continued from page 17 Plants that attract pollinators in THE Nova Scotia Highlands
Common Bloom Soil Soil Species Height Colour Sun Pollinators Name Period Moisture Texture yellow marsh sun to partial Caltha palustris 0.3-0.6m yellow April - June moist to wet clay butterflies marigold shade Chamerion July - dry to moist, hummingbirds, fireweed 0.6-1.8m purple, pink sun sand, loam angustifolium September well drained butterflies, bees white July- Chelone glabra up to 1m white sun to partial sun wet to moist humus bees turtlehead September Erigeron Philadelphia white/cream, April - dry, well bees, flies, 0.15-0.9m partial sun to sun clay, sand philadelphicus fleabane purple August drained butterflies, moths rough April - dry, well bees, flies, Erigeron strigosus 0.15-0.7m white/cream partial sun to sun clay, sand fleabane August drained butterflies, moths clay, sand, Eupatorium July - sun to partial moist to wet, loam, Joe-pye-weed 0.6-1.8m purple, pink bees, butterflies maculatum September shade well drained humus enriched Eupatorium common July - well drained clay, sand, bees, butterflies, 1-1.5 m white sun perfoliatum boneset September to moist loam flies white to pale August- bees, butterflies, Eurybia macrophylla bigleaf aster up to 1m blue, yellow sun to partial sun moist sandy loam October beetles, wasps centre Euthamia flat-top July - moist to well 0.3-1.2m yellow sun loam bees, butterflies graminifolia goldentop October drained wild sun to partial Fragaria virginiana less than 1m white/cream May - July dry to normal clay, sand bees, butterflies strawberry shade Geum rivale purple avens 0.3-0.8m purple May - July sun moist to wet sand, loam butterflies common yellow, orange, July - partial shade to clay, sand, hummingbirds, Impatiens capensis 0.6-1.5m moist to wet jewelweed green/brown October shade loam butterflies, bees June- Lilium canadense Canada lily 1-1.5m red orange sun to partial sun moist to wet loam hummingbirds August white/cream, sun to partial Linnaea borealis twinflower less than 1m May - July moist to wet sand bees, flies, moths pink shade Maianthemum wild lily-of- partial shade to normal to bees, flies, less than 1m white/cream May - June sand, loam canadense the-valley shade moist beetles large false Maianthemum partial shade to normal to Solomon's 0.3-0.9m white/cream May - July clay bees racemosum shade moist seal purple, white/ July - bees, butterflies, Mentha arvensis wild mint less than 1m partial shade moist to wet clay, sand cream September flies June- Mitchella repens partridgeberry up to 0.5m white partial sun moist N/A bees August golden sand, loam, bees, flies, Packera aurea 3-7m dark yellow May-June sun to shade moist to wet ragwort clay butterflies, moths yellow with black-eyed June- bees, butterflies, Rudbeckia hirta up to 1m dark brown sun to partial sun moist to dry clay, loam susan September beetles, wasps centre green-headed July - sun to partial normal to Rudbeckia laciniata 0.5-3m yellow sand, loam bees, butterflies coneflower September shade moist mountain Sisyrinchium blue-eyed- 0.1-0.5m blue, purple May - July sun to shade dry to wet sand, loam bees, flies montanum grass
18 Selecting Plants for Pollinators Common Bloom Soil Soil Species Height Colour Sun Pollinators Name Period Moisture Texture Canada August - clay, sand, Solidago canadensis 0.6-2.1m yellow partial shade moist bees, butterflies goldenrod November loam giant clay, sand, Solidago gigantea 1.2m yellow September partial shade moist bees goldenrod loam downy August - Solidago puberula 0.3-0.9m yellow sun dry to normal sand bees goldenrod October rough- July - sun to partial Solidago rugosa stemmed 0.3-1.8m yellow moist to wet sand bees, butterflies October shade goldenrod Symphyotrichum heart-leaved August - sun to partial clay, sand, 0.2-1.2m blue, purple dry to normal butterflies cordifolium aster October shade loam Symphyotrichum lance-leaved September - clay, sand, up to 1m white/cream sun moist to wet butterflies lanceolatum aster October loam Symphyotrichum August - sun to partial calico as er 0.3-1.2m white/cream dry to moist clay, sand butterflies lateriflorum October shade Symphyotrichum New York June - normal to bees, butterflies, less than 1m blue, purple sun clay, sand novi-belgii aster September moist flies Symphyotrichum purple- white, pink, July - bees, butterflies, up to 2m sun moist sand, loam puniceum stemmed aster purple August flies Tiarella cordifolia foamflower less than 1m white May-June sun to shade moist humus bees, bee flies partial sun to bees, beetles, Trientalis borealis starflower less than 1m white May-June moist to wet wide range shade butterflies nodding white/cream, Trillium cernuum 0.15-0.6m April - July shade moist sand bees, butterflies trillium pink painted purple, white/ partial shade to Trillium undulatum 0.2-0.4m April - June moist sand bees, butterflies trillium cream, pink shade Zizia aurea golden zizia up to 1m yellow May-July sun to partial sun moist to wet N/A bees, flies Vines Virginia July - sun to partial hummingbirds, Clematis viginiana 1.8-3m white/cream dry to moist loam clematis October shade butterflies, bees Shelter plants rough Agrostis scabra 0.15-0.8m bentgrass creeping bent Agrostis stolonifera 0.15-0.6m grass Ammophila American less than 1m breviligulata beachgrass Athyrium filix- common lady up to 2m femina fern poverty Danthonia spicata less than 1m oakgrass Eriophorum common less than 1m angustifolium cotton-grass Eriophorum common 0.45-1.2m virginicum cotton-grass Festuca rubra red fescue 0.1-0.8m
Nova Scotia Highlands 19 Habitat Hints FOR THE Nova Scotia Highlands
BEE-POLLINATED GARDEN FLOWERS AND CROPS Lg Sm Squash/ Yellow- Bumble Digger Leafcutter Mason Sweat Plasterer Andrenid Carpenter Carpenter Gourd faced FLOWERS Catalpa x Catnip x x x Clover x x Columbine x Cow parsley x Goldenrod x x x x Impatiens x Irises x x Lavender x x x x Milkwort x Morning glory x Penstemon x x x Phacelia x x x x x x x x Potentilla x Rose x x x x x Salvia x x x x x Saxifrages x x Sorrel x Sunflowers x x x x x x x x Violet x x Wild Mustard x x Willow catkins x x CROPS Apple x Blueberry x x x Cherry x x Eggplant x x x Gooseberry x x Legumes x x x x Water melon x x Squash/ Pumpkins/ x x Gourds Tomatoes x x x x Thyme x x x x x
20 Selecting Plants for Pollinators Habitat and Nesting requirements:
Honey Bees: Honey bees are colonial cavity nesters. Occasionally in the spring and summer you might encounter a swarm of honey bees on the move to a new home. In Canada, the majority of honey bees are managed by beekeepers in hives. Beekeepers with commercial operations can have bee yards with tens to hundreds of hives commonly in agricultural, rural and some natural habitats. In urban and garden settings, it is common to see a single or a handful of honey bee hives – usually wooden boxes painted white or other light colours. Give honey bees space and don’t approach their hive. Even beekeepers minimize the amount of time they spend working bees. Honey bees have different feeding needs than native bees. Their colony can last multiple years and they feed on flowers from the beginning of spring bloom to the fall. Honey bees visit crops when they are in bloom and forage on a diversity of wildflowers as well. Honey bees also need plants that produce a large amount of nectar to make honey. Clovers, lavenders, mints, and sages are great nectar sources. Honey bees also like to feed off of the pollen of trees and shrubs such as maples, willows, and roses. Fields of goldenrod are an excellent pollen source. Bumble Bees: Bumble bees nest in cavities such as abandoned mouse nests, other rodent burrows, upside down flower pots, under boards, and other human-made cavities. Colonies are founded by a queen in the spring. The number of workers in a colony can grow to upward of 400 at the peak of summer bloom. Bumble bee colonies die out in the fall after producing new queens. New queens mate and then overwinter, hiding underground in cracks, or small crevices. Bumble bees are usually active during the morning hours and forage at colder temperatures than honey bees, even flying in light rain. Large carpenter bees: Large carpenter bees chew nests into dead wood, poplar, cottonwood or willow trunks and limbs. The also make nests in structural timbers including redwood and cedar. Depending on the species, there may be one or two brood cycles per year. These bees can be active all day even in the hottest and coolest weather. Digger bees: Digger bees can be found nesting in sandy, compacted soils, and along stream banksides. These bees are usually active in the morning hours, but can be seen at other times of the day as well. To attract these bees have some areas of exposed soil in your garden and avoid applying thick layers of mulch that are hard to dig through. Small carpenter bees: Small carpenter bees chew into pithy stems, including roses and blackberry canes, where they make their nests. These bees are more active in the morning but can be found at other times. Squash and Gourd bees: Squash and gourd bees prefer to nest in sandy soil but also may nest in gardens (where pumpkins, squash and gourds are grown). These bees are early risers and can be found in pumpkin patches before dawn. Males often sleep in wilted squash flowers. Leaf-cutting bees: Leaf-cutting bees nest in pre-existing circular tunnels of various diameters in dead wood created by emerging beetles. Some also nest in the ground. Leafcutter bees line and cap their nests with leaves or flower petals. These bees can be seen foraging throughout the day even in very hot weather. Mason bees: Mason bees use pre-existing tunnels of various diameters in dead wood made by emerging beetles, or human-made nesting substrates such as drilled wood blocks or cardboard tubes. These bees get their name from the fact that they cap their nests with mud. Mason bees are generally more active in the morning hours. Sweat bees: Sweat bees need bare ground in sunny areas not covered by vegetation for nesting. Some will nest in small pre-existing holes, much like leaf-cutting or mason bees. Like most bees, sweat bees forage for pollen earlier in the morning and then for nectar later in the day. To help these bees nest, keep some parts of your garden exposed and avoid applying thick layers of mulch that are hard to dig through. Plasterer or cellophane bees: Plasterer or cellophane bees get their name from the unique, clear waterproof lining they make around their nest. Similar to sweat bees they prefer bare ground, stream banks or slopes. These bees can be active in the morning or later in the day. Yellow-faced bees: Yellow-faced bees are tiny, hairless bees that make their nesting by chewing into small dead stems. These bees are more active during morning hours. Mining bees: Mining bees prefer sunny, bare ground, and sand soil. They are also known to nest under leaf litter or in the soil along banksides and cliffs. Mining bees are active in the spring and most commonly seen on flowers during the morning when pollen and nectar resources are abundant.
Nova Scotia Highlands 21 A Basic Checklist
S.H.A.R.E. - simply Have areas reserved for the environment. n Planting for pollinators is the first step. Put your pollinator habitat on the S.H.A.R.E. map and connect to pollinator conservation efforts across North America. Visit pollinator.org/SHARE n Farmers can also certify their habitat with Bee-Friendly Farming. Visit pollinator.org/bff
Become familiar with pollinators in your landscape. n Watch for activity throughout the day and the seasons. n Keep a simple notebook of when and what comes to your garden. n Take part in citizen science monitoring and get involved in local programs. n Consult a local field guide or web site when you are ready to learn more details.
Add native plants to attract more native pollinators. n List the plants you currently have in your landscape. n Determine when you need additional flowers to provide nectar and pollen throughout the growing season. n Add plants that provide additional seasons of bloom, create variable heights for shelter, and attract the types of pollinators you want. n Don’t forget to include host plants that provide food and shelter for larval development. n Contact your local native plant society or extension agent for more help.
Use pollinator friendly landscape practices to support the pollinators you attract. n Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to address pest concerns. n Tolerate a little mess – leave dead snags and leaf litter, keep areas bare for ground nesting insects, and leave some weeds that provide food for pollinators. n Provide safe access to clean water.
Notice the changes that you have helped to create!
22 Selecting Plants for Pollinators Resources
Many books, websites, and people were consulted to gather information for this guide. Use this list as a starting point to learn more about pollinators and plants in your area.
Ecoregion profi le Native Plants The Ecological Framework of Canada Ecological Framework of Canada http://ecozones.ca/english/zone/AtlanticMaritime/ecoregions.html http://ecozones.ca/english/zone/ http://ecozones.ca/english/region/128.html AtlanticMaritime/index.html Webb, K. T., and I. B. Marshall. 1999. Ecoregions and ecodistricts of Nova Scotia. Crops and Livestock Research Centre, Research Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Truro, Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Museum Publications - Pollination/Pollinators Nova Scotia Plants Pollinator Partnership www.pollinator.org Munro, M. C., R. E. Newell, and N. M. Hill. 2014. Nova Scotia North American Pollinator Protection Campaign www.nappc.org Plants. Nova Scotia Museum. Pollination Canada www.pollinationcanada.ca https://ojs.library.dal.ca/NSM/issue/ view/508 Seeds of Diversity www.seeds.ca Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility: Butterflies of Canada www.cbif.gc.ca/eng/species-bank/butterflies-of-canada/?id=1370403265518 Feedback
North American Butterfly Association www.naba.org We need your help to create better Canadian Honey Council www.honeycouncil.ca guides for other parts of North America. Please e-mail your input Buchmann, S.L. and G.P. Nabhan. 1997. The Forgotten Pollinators to [email protected]. Island Press: Washington, DC. Committee on the Status of Pollinators in North America. 2007. Status of n How will you use this guide? Pollinators in North America The National Academies Press: Washington, DC. https://novascotiabutterflies.ca/ n Do you find the directions https://novascotia.ca/natr/wildlife/biodiversity/species-list.asp clear? If not, please tell us The Butterflies of Nova Scotia https://novascotiabutterflies.ca/ what is unclear. Maritimes Butterfly Atlas http://accdc.com/mba/en/checklists.html n Is there any information you Nova Scotia Canada Species at Risk Overview feel is missing from the guide? https://novascotia.ca/natr/wildlife/biodiversity/species-list.asp n Packer, L., J.A. Genaro, and C.S. Sheffield 2007. The Bee Genera of Any other comments? Eastern Canada. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification available online at doi: 10.3752/cjai.2007.03. Thank you Sheffield, C. S., P. G. Kevan, and R. F. Smith. 2003. Bee species of Nova for taking Scotia, Canada, with new records and notes on bionomics and floral relations the time to help! (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society
Nova Scotia Highlands 23 Research and Writing: Anthony Colangelo
Editorial: Victoria Wojcik, Lora Morandin
Design: Marguerite Meyer
Contributors: Marian Munro, Sean Blaney, Alain Belliveau
Photo Contributors: Anthony Colangelo
Illustrations: Carolyn Vibbert
For a copy of this brochure, or for another region, visit www.pollinatorpartnership.ca The Pollinator Partnership™/North American Pollinator Protection Campaign www.pollinatorpartnership.ca d www.nappc.org 24 Selecting Plants for Pollinators