Pollinator Super Plants-Critical Components for Healthy Pollinators
This article is the first in a 3-part newsletter series about pollinator gardening. The series is dedicated to the work of a New Jersey Garden Club member, Jeannie Geremia. For years I have watched her tireless efforts to educate us all about protecting and nourishing pollinators. There are a number of dedicated, inspired pollinator crusaders in this country whose work is deeply appreciated. Jeannie is one of the best.
Whether your garden occupies a fire escape, a backyard or acres on a farm or arboretum, it can be a flourishing, stunning home for the pollinators of this planet – our bees, butterflies and birds. As the creator and sustainer of this garden, though, there are three factors which you should always keep in mind when building a pollinator paradise: timing, consistency and ease of growth. Today’s newsletter is going to address the issue of timing.
Timing is, maybe, the most important factor in pollinator garden management. By timing, we mean timing pollinator plants to bloom as early as possible in the spring, as late as possible in the fall, as early as possible in the morning and as late as possible in the afternoon.
Bees, especially, require nourishment early in the spring when nearly nothing is blooming. Of all the plants that you can introduce into your garden for early spring blooms, by far the best are the Rock Garden Irises, sometimes called miniature irises, iris reticulatas or dwarf irises. These little irises reach a height of 6 inches. Their blossoms range from deepest purple to pale blue, sunshine yellow and white. Though the plants are incredibly short, their blossoms are huge – nearly 2/3 the size of larger irises. They bloom early in the spring, sometimes beating even the snowdrops and the bees simply love them.
For early morning blooms, nothing beats the morning glories. Morning Glory Scarlet O’Hara is an excellent choice for early morning blooms. Hummingbirds, bees and butterflies love this flower with its large, cherry red blossoms. Scarlet O’Hara and her other red blooming morning glory varieties are true heirlooms. They were the very first morning glories brought from the New World and introduced into Europe during the 1500s. Though morning glories easily re-seed each year the blossoms get smaller in diameter so it is best to start each season with new seed.
For most of my gardeners, at this point in this article, you may be experiencing a “Knock Your Socks Off” moment. No article you have ever read mentions dahlias as critical flowers in pollinator garden management but they are some of the most critical flowers when it comes to autumn.
Dahlias, the large voluptuous bloomers, provide warmth and protection for our beloved pollinators. You need to be careful when cutting dahlia blossoms in the fall because often, very, very often, nestled deep within the petals are sluggish, little bees or butterflies with their wings folded. The petals are cuddling these creatures, protecting them from rain, snow flurries, cold and wind.
It is such a sweet sight to find these giant, robust dahlia blossoms gently harboring these precious insects.
Dahlias often get a slow start to blooming during the hot days of summer, but dahlias experience a renaissance of blossoming during the fall. Their abundant blossoms are a bee magnet this time of year. The pollinators do not necessarily seek them out for pollen, but more for protection and comfort.
Often ignored, is the late afternoon pollinator garden and yet it is sometimes the most interesting of all the pollinator habitats. As the sun is drifting lower in the western sky, birds, bees and butterflies are still seeking nourishment and their absolute favorite source is the Four O’ Clock, sometimes called the Marvel of Peru. This flowering plant grows to a small bush and bursts into blossom, each day, around 4 o’clock. The plants produce 20, 30 and sometimes as many as 50 blossoms per plant in nearly all the colors of the rainbow. By the end of the day most of the blossoms in the garden are tired and their pollen is no longer fresh, but the Four O’ Clock blossoms have just emerged with dazzling new blossoms loaded with fresh, enticing pollen. Few plants attract hummingbirds to a garden more than Four O’ Clocks.
The unsung hero award of pollinator gardening belongs to scabiosa. Remember this article is about the timing factor as it applies to pollinator gardening. Scabiosa is the one and only plant that, long after a bitter frost has wiped out everything in the garden, will still be in full bloom. As far north as Zone 4, scabiosa will still be blossoming in November and as long as it is in blossom there will be bees that flock to it.
The undeniable proof that scabiosas are the darling of bees and butterflies comes in mid-summer when your garden is a veritable pollinator feast – when pollinators can have their pick of every pollen that exists. At this time, when they can choose anything, pollinators will choose the scabiosa blossoms. You will often find 2 or 3 bees on a single fragile blossom causing it to droop to the ground.
These five flowers are critical parts of a successful pollinator garden. If your pollinator garden is on a porch or deck, plant these flowers in containers. All will flourish in pots. Remember, pollinator gardening is not just about attracting pollinators. More importantly, it is about nourishing and protecting them.