Many gardeners ask why they have visitors but no residents after planting a few 'butterfly flowers.' Attracting (and starving) wildlife is a possibility for your garden.
Bring Hummingbirds Right To Your Window!
Check PriceGood pollinator gardens supply far more than just nectar; they offer a whole host of services that create ecosystems that allow butterflies to breed, birds to build nests, and beneficial insects to survive year round. These 7 native plants, in conjunction with other ecosystem engineers, turn your garden into a beautiful wildlife sanctuary.
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Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) – A Magnet for Monarchs
The purple spire doesn’t only draw in monarchs- it *practically* sends out dinner invites across three counties! The blazing star grows from bottom to top over a period of 4-6 weeks, and creates feeding opportunities at the exact time when the monarchs need to fuel up for their epic migration. The narrow, deep nectar tubes are designed for butterfly tongues and the abundant flower spikes allow many insects to feed simultaneously without competition.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – The Multi-Service Station
The Purple Coneflower is a constant-year operation and provides a variety of\nservices for wildlife. In summer, purple coneflowers provide nectar for more than 40\nspecies of butterflies. Fall provides a protein food source for chickadees and\ngoldfinches. In winter, the stems provide a place for insects to overwinter and\nas the flowers die, their heads turn into seeds, providing a food source for\nbirds in winter while their roots help to strengthen the soil.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) – The Hummingbird Highway
This lovely perennial helps with migration hummingbirds while also being very good for pollination. The trumpet-shaped flowers make high-energy nectar accessible, and the butterflies and bees can use the flat landing pads. Wild bergamot also pest proof by using natural things and protecting adjacent
spider
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aphids and mites.
Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) – The Nursery Manager
The lovely bright orange restaurant and nursery for monarchs serves the dual purpose of a restaurant and nursery for the monarchs. Adult monarchs eat the nectar, and females lay their eggs on the leaves of milkweed. Therefore, it is vital to the entire life cycle of a monarch. The leaves are protected by a toxic sap, which gives an advantage to the monarchs as caterpillars and through adulthood because it protects them from predators.
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) – HQ of the Bees
Anise Hyssop attracts over 20 native species of bees while creating a buzz and repelling pests in the garden. The vibrant purple flowers provide nectar for over 12 weeks during the summer when most other flowers are finished. The sturdy stems are used by native bees for nesting and the seeds nourish songbirds. Deer and mosquitoes are deterred from the area by the aromatic leaves.
Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) – A Pollinator Powerhouse
Mountain mint attracts more kinds of pollinators than nearly any other native plant. Over 100 different insects are recorded visiting the plant. Other precious insects associated with the white flower clusters are the diminutive wasps that prey on and control pest insects in gardens. Longer-tongued bees and butterflies able to reach deeper nectar sources are also attracted to the flowers. The ant and pest insect repelling minty scent is an advantage to the plant.
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) – The Lifesaver of Fall
New England aster puts on a show of its many purple flowers at the same time that most other flowers have already stopped blooming. This unique blooming period coincides with migrating monarch butterflies and other pollinators that need fuel for their journeys. The aster provides important nectar sources for these pollinators while also producing seeds to feed winter birds. The strong stems of the aster offer refuge for beneficial insects to shelter during the winter.
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Establishing Your Sanctuary For Pollinators
For maximum effect, plant these natives in clusters of three to five plants. Place taller varieties such as New England aster and blazing star in the rear, medium height plants like wild bergamot and purple coneflower in the center, and shorter plants like mountain mint at the front perimeter.
These plants leaf out in spring and support the first emerging pollinators. As the plants open in winter, they enhance their root systems, and in spring they will be ready to support pollinators. They will be in a cycle of care that strengthens every year.
What does this mean? Your garden will need less of your effort, and will become a habitat for wildlife. These natives are drought tolerant, pest resistant, and are stronger year after year. Your garden will become the envy of the neighborhood and will help wildlife support their habitat.
