Plant Science & Conservation
Garden Stories
Take 5 steps to bring back pollinator populations
In recent years, the plight of pollinators has gotten a lot of press, and rightly so.
I spoke with the editorial board of the when they were investigating the well-intentioned distribution by General Mills of 鈥渙ne size fits all鈥 wildflower seed packets to combat the declining populations of bees and other pollinators.
The decline of pollinator populations is well documented around the globe. Much attention has focused on honeybees, which are extremely important agricultural pollinators, but many of our native bees are vastly more imperiled. For example, the , native to the Upper Midwest, was just listed this month by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as endangered.
A rusty-patched bumblebee working on Culver鈥檚 root in the University of Wisconsin鈥揗adison arboretum. Photo by Susan Day, UW-Madison Arboretum.
Many people are concerned about these losses and asking what they can do to help support bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. For a start, it鈥檚 more beneficial to pollinators to plant species that are native to your region, and perennial. Here are five more pollinator-friendly actions that everyone can take.
Provide resources:
For pollinators, this means flowering plants with pollen and/or nectar. Diversity is key, as flowers of different colors and shapes will attract different pollinators. Be sure to provide resources across the entire growing season, so include species that bloom in spring, summer, and fall. Regional native plants are the species our local pollinators evolved with, so they recognize and use them鈥nd you don鈥檛 have to worry that they will become invasive!
Provide host plants:
The larvae of many butterflies and moths have particular species that they need to eat to develop, as monarchs need milkweed. Providing host plants will ensure that the next generation of butterflies can mature. Just be willing to accept hungry caterpillars eating those plants.
Provide nesting sites:
Many insects like to nest in bare ground, hollow stems, or leaf litter. Allowing your yard to be a little less tidy can benefit insects. Many attractive bee houses are available for sale, and do-it-yourself instructions can be found on the web, including here on the Garden's own website.
Avoid pesticides:
Pesticides are designed to kill insects, but sometimes they also kill pollinators unintentionally. Systemic pesticides can persist in plants for long periods of time and are present in all parts of the plant, including nectar and pollen. So if you choose plants for a pollinator garden, make sure they haven鈥檛 been treated with systemic pesticides. If possible, make your entire yard pesticide-free.
Learn more about pollinators:
There are some great resources on the web鈥攊ncluding those created by the and the 鈥攖hat can help you do even more for pollinators.
Help for pollinators begins in your own backyard.
The native plants below are recommended to bring back pollinator populations. (Don鈥檛 overlook trees鈥攏ative maples and willows can provide critical resources early in the season.)
Beebalm, or bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Stiff goldenrod (Oligoneuron rigidum)
Prairie blazing star (Liatris spicata)
American pussy willow (Salix discolor)
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Read more about the science behind this important topic in the Natural Areas Journal article, "The Importance of Phenological Diversity in Seed Mixes for Pollinator Restoration" by Kayri Havens and Pati Vitt, 91短视频.