Partridge Pea Goldenrods Beneficial Chamaechrista fasiculata Solidage spp. An excellent soil builder, that MOTH HOST PLANT establishes rapidly and pro- Goldenrods are Native Plants vides erosion control and attractive sources of nitrogen fixation for slower nectar for bees, flies, ...Or is that weed something I should pull out? growing perennial forbs. The wasps, moths and While many gardeners know there are inva- showy flowers are pollinated butterflies. sive, exotic (non-native) weeds they should be primarily by bumble bees Goldenrods have a while short-tongued bees, number of species, diligent about removing from the landscape, predatory wasps, hover flies and tachinid flies suck some of which not all “weeds” are a problem. Here is a list of Happy Wildlife nectar from glands on the leaf petioles. are a reasonable garden size and not aggressive some “good weeds” to leave in the wilder Gardening! Blooms July to September. in their spreading. Goldenrod does NOT have spaces of your gardens – and save time weed- wind- born pollen. Giant ragweed is what triggers ing! Common Black sneezing at the time they bloom. Blooms Snakeroot September to October. …Why? As we have discov- Sanicula odorata Need more information? Asters ered with milkweed, these Attracts small bees. Symphyotricum native plants can be critical Seeds are spread by Here are some places to look: spp. for our wildlife. Native bees mammals. Blooms May http://dda.delaware.gov/plantind/forms/publications BUTTERFLY HOST and butterflies are in decline to July. /Delaware%20Native%20Plants%20for%20Native%2 PLANT as we lose native plants every 0Bees.pdf Many different day to development, mani- Beggar Tick or Devil’s http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/woodland/plants species, that can cured gardens and roadsides, beggar Tick establish rapidly Hairy Heath Aster as well as competition from http://www.wildflower.org/plants Bidens frondosa on disturbed sites Symphyotricum pilosum invasive plants. https://www.ct-botanical-society.org/Plants Yellowish-orange flowers and fallow fields. turn into seeds that Common milkweed Several of the “good weeds” https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/ The numerous “hitch” a ride on your blue, white or pink Asclepias syriaca listed here are host plants – http://www.gardenswithwings.com/plant/Aster/index pets and cloth- BUTTERFLY HOST meaning butterflies or moths .html small flowers, are ing…however it is highly visited by a multi- PLANT lay their eggs on the plants, beneficial to wildlife: tude of bee and eggs hatch into caterpillars food for ducks, musk- hover fly species. which then eat the leaves. rats, honeybees and bumble bees; and shelter for Caterpillars are a tremendous various birds and frogs. Provides nectar for some Blooms August to food source for birds. Plants, Compiled by Elaine Schmerling, Village of insects and several moth caterpillars eat the foli- October. insects and birds are all inter- Ardentown, the Arden Forest Committee and age. Very vigorous, be careful it doesn’t take over. Clymene halpoa caterpillar on dependent; we need keep Elizabeth Varley. Thanks to Alex Zorath and Put it in areas where you are clearing exotic inva- calico aster Symphyotrichum them all healthy and happy. Sue Barton for their help. sives! Blooms July to September. Jewelweed False Nettle Common Blue Violet Daisy Fleabane Impatiens capensis Boehmeria cylindrica Viola sororia Erigeron strigosus A huge magnet for bees BUTTERFLY HOST BUTTERFLY HOST Many bees visit of all kinds and PLANT PLANT for pollen or nec- hummingbirds. Seeds Has no stinging hairs The flowers are occa- tar. Other insects eaten by birds & like stinging nettle, but sionally visited by in- mammals. Some deer feed on the foli- is a host plant for sever- sects and can attract browse will keep it in age. Good for al caterpillars like all in check - spreads all over bees, skippers, Syr- erosion control. the nettle family: Coma, phid flies, and other insects. The caterpillars of sev- in wet years but easy to Deer, rabbits, Question Mark and Red eral Fritillary butterflies feed on the foliage. Various pull out where you don’t groundhogs, Admiral, and one moth. upland gamebirds and small mammals occasionally want it. Allow it in wet sheep, and other Similar to Pilea pumila eat the seeds. Blooms April to June. livestock occa- meadows/wilder areas. Blooms July to September. shown below. Blooms sionally browse on the foliage and flower heads. July to September. Virginia creeper Blooms June to September. Great Yellow Woodsorrel Parthenocissus quinquefolia, Clearweed Pilea pumila Oxalis grandis MOTH HOST PLANT Common three-seed mer- The berries provide an BUTTERFLY HOST PLANT Nectar & pollen attract cury important winter food Translucent foliage. Host bees. Eaten by some Acalypha rhomboidea source for birds. Used plant for several caterpillars birds, deer and mice. Can thrive in disturbed as an ornamental for of butterflies and moths Blooms May to June. areas and tolerates full its fall coloration. At including: Coma, Question sun to light shade. May some stages foliage Mark and Red Admiral. seed in naturally, seeds Beneficial for a few other Virginia Knotweed or Jumpseed may be mistaken for poison ivy. are attractive to birds and insects. Blooms July to Persicaria virginiana Blooms May to July. mammals. Can be a good September. Virginia jumpseed gets Enchanter's Nightshade filler where invasives its name from its Circaea lutetiana have been removed. Pennsylvania Bitter spring-loaded seeds. Feeds small bees and a Blooms July to October. Cress When ripe seeds are moth; birds and mam- Cardamine pensylvanica touched, they spring mals eat seeds. Birds Canada Lettuce – Lactuca BUTTERFLY HOST PLANT off the stem, jumping and mammals help to canadensis Small bees or flower flies up to a few feet away. distribute the seeds, as Butterflies, skippers and visit the flowers. Caterpillars Flowers on long ra- moths feed on this foliage. the small bur-like fruits of a moth are known to feed cemes are attractive to native bees. Blooms July to Akin to garden lettuce, the can cling to feathers and on the foliage and caterpil- October . young leaves are edible ei- fur; these fruits can cling ther in salads or cooked; lars of the butterfly Falcate Orangetip feed on the to the clothing of hu- slightly bitter. Blooms July to flowers, buds, and developing seedpods of these mans as well. September plants. Blooms March to July. Blooms June to August. .