Pollinator Friendly Plants

What is pollinator friendly? Plants that provide shelter, nectar, and food for pollinators can be viewed as such. Any plant can be a friend to a pollinator, but some are just better than others. Pollinator friendly plants provide the best sources for nectar, pollen and larva food possible among different plants available in the United States. These plants are often the longest bloomers, have the showiest flowers, and provide habitat for more than one pollinator.

What is a pollinator then? A pollinator is defined as any animal that can move pollen from flower to flower whether it is feeding, collecting pollen, or mating. The most commonly recognized pollinators are bees, butterflies, and moths. Butterflies are easily the most appreciated pollinators, known for their bright colors and the way they dance in the light. There are many species of butterflies and many pollinator friendly plants are hosts for the butterfly larvae (milkweeds for Monarchs as an example). Moths are not as appreciated, but they too provide pollination services for many plants. Among the bees commonly found in North America, honeybees are the ones most well-known. However, there are some 4,000 species of native bees that pollinate plants.

There are also a plethora of other pollinators that can be found in North America. Wasps, beetles, bugs, flies, and hummingbirds are listed as pollinators for many species of plants. Finding plants that provide nectar and pollen for these diverse populations is easy enough, just look for the Pollinator Friendly Plant near the description of the plant.