The David Suzuki Foundation presents:

Toronto Plant Guide for attracting

Pollinators $5 .00

A guide to native plants that attract bees and other pollinators to your home garden.

The Plant Guide for Attracting Pollinators is part of an effort by the

David Suzuki Foundation to raise awareness about the value of plant and wildlife diversity in the Greater Toronto Area. Whether it’s in the city or in the country, nature provides invaluable services that humans benefit from, such as storing carbon, purifying water and air, pollinating plants and cycling nutrients. Choosing the right plants for your garden can help support local pollinators and the natural process of pollination. This guidebook will help you choose plants that will make your garden beautiful, easy to maintain and beneficial to local plant and wildlife diversity. If you enjoy this guide, check out A Guide to Your Local Pollinators-a guidebook to the many bees and bee impersonators that visit your home garden. To learn more about the role bees play in the pollination of plants (including the fruits and vegetables that we eat), visit:

Why use Native Plants?

Pollinators are more attracted to native plants than to other horticultural varieties or cultivars. One study showed that native plants were at least four times more likely to attract native bees. Why? Many ornamental varieties have reduced rewards for flower visitors (pollen and nectar), often as a result of breeding for larger or showier flowers. Another reason to use native plants in your garden is that they are usually well adapted to your local growing conditions and can thrive with minimum attention. Examples of some common pollinator-friendly plants that are native to Ontario are given in this booklet, along with an indication of what pollinators may be attracted to them. For more information, please contact the David Suzuki Foundation or visit pollinator.org or pollinationcanada.ca.

Legend:

www.davidsuzuki.org/Conservation/Endangered_Species/pollinators/

www.davidsuzuki.org

2

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

www.davidsuzuki.org

3

P llinators

...what’s the Buzz?

What is Pollination & What is a Pollinator?

Pollination occurs when pollen grains are moved between two flowers by wind or animals. Successful pollination allows plants to reproduce. Almost 90% of flowering plants rely on animal pollinators for fertilization, and about 200,000 species of animals act as pollinators. In Canada alone, over $1.2 billion worth of horticultural produce depends upon insects for pollination! Without pollinator visits to apples, cherries, almonds, blueberries, melons, pears, pumpkins, raspberries, tomatoes, and other fruiting plants in our gardens, our produce and our economy would be vastly diminished.

Apple flowers need the help of bee pollinators in order to produce fruits. Farmers often put colonies of bees in orchards to ensure that this occurs.

4

POLLINATORS POLLINATORSPLANT PLANTGUIDE GUIDE

Types of Pollinators

There are five major families of bees that carry out pollination in Ontario: the Apidae (honeybees, bumble bees, carpenter bees, some other solitary bees), Andrenidae (andrenid bees), Halictidae (sweat bees), Megachilidae (leafcutter and mason bees) and Colletidae (plasterer bees). Flower or hover flies (Syrphidae) resemble bees and wasps, having colour patterns and flight behaviour that closely mimics them. These flies help in pollinating many flowers, and are beneficial to gardens because the larvae of most species prey on aphids and other small unwanted insects. Monarchs and skippers are just two conspicuous examples of the many butterflies (Lepidoptera) that visit flowers for nectar. As well, they use plants as hosts, providing food for their larvae. Hummingbirds are also pollinators, being particularly associated with red, tubular flowers with copious amounts of energy-rich nectar.

Examples of three pollinator groups (L-R): skippers on swamp milkweed, hover fly on daisy fleabane, hummingbird on delphinium.

www.davidsuzuki.org

5

Wild Strawberry

~ Fragaria virginiana (Rosaceae)

Chokecherry, Wild Black Cherry Spring Bloom

Wild strawberries are a tasty treat to have in the garden. Small, white flowers found in clusters during the spring develop into round, red, juicy fruit after pollination occurs. Bees and butterflies visit the flowers to collect pollen and nectar. Spread by runners, which can be separated from the parent plant to form new plants, this plant can be found growing in fields and pastures. A related native species, wood strawberry (F. vesca) has flowers slightly higher than the leaves and cone-shaped fruit.

6

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

~ Prunus (Rosaceae)

Spring Bloom

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana; pictured above) and wild black cherry (P. serotina) are two trees that are very similar in appearance. Their flowers have roundish, white petals, and occur in dense clusters during the spring. Pollen and nectar are produced, attracting bees, butterflies, flies and beetles. They are also a larval food plant for some butterflies, such as swallowtails, gossamer wings, and hairstreaks. Commonly found growing in thickets, fencerows and along forest edges, chokecherry and wild black cherry are generally intolerant to shade, but grow well in a variety of soils, often from 2-20’ (0.61-6.1m). Seeds can be sown in the fall or greenwood cuttings taken for propagation.

www.davidsuzuki.org

7

Pussy Willow

Columbine

~ Aquilegia canadensis (Ranunculaceae)

Spring Bloom

Our native columbine has large showy red nodding flowers, each with 5 long spurs at the back. Found in open areas, dry woods and rocky places, it blooms in the spring and early summer. It grows to a height of about 1-3’ (0.3-0.91m), produces pollen and nectar, and is attractive to bees, butterflies, and, in particular, hummingbirds. As with many flowers, non-native double varieties are not desirable for pollinators. Seeds can be sown throughout the year, or volunteer seedlings can be transplanted as soon as they come up.

8

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

~ Salix discolor (Salicaceae)

Spring Bloom

Pussy willows are a favorite symbol of spring, as furry flower catkins burst into bloom. Butterflies visit for nectar while bees collect what is often some of the only pollen available at the time. Growing in wet areas, such as meadows, thickets, ditches, and shorelines, these shrubs can be considered trees as they can reach heights of up to 30’ (9.14m). For propagation, greenwood cuttings can be taken in early summer, or hardwood cuttings in the winter.

www.davidsuzuki.org

9

Serviceberry, Shadbush ~ Amelanchier (Rosaceae)

Anemone Spring Bloom

There are several native species of Amelanchier, including common shadbush (A. arborea; pictured above) and smooth shadbush (A. laevis). These shrubs bloom during the spring and early summer in woods and thickets, and can range in height from 1-20’ (0.30-6.1m). White flowers are found in short, loose bunches at the ends of branches, and produce pollen and nectar, attracting bees, butterflies and flower flies. Some species also produce sweet, juicy fruit that entices birds to the garden later in the year. Seeds can be sown outside as soon as they ripen. Branches can be layered in the fall to encourage rooting, and greenwood cuttings can be taken in the spring for reproduction.

10

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

~ Anemone (Ranunculaceae)

Spring Bloom

Canada anemone (Anemone canadensis; pictured above) is one of the more familiar native species of anemone, although others include wood anemone (A. quinquefolia), candle anemone (A. cylindrica), thimble weed (A. riparia) and tall thimble weed (A. virginiana). These wildflowers can grow about 1-2’(0.3-0.61m) high, and have large white or greenish flowers on long stalks, with 4-7 petal-like sepals and numerous stamens. Although commonly found in moist woods and damp areas, they can also grow in rocky or sandy areas, and can be aggressive. Blooming in late spring and early summer, the flowers provide pollen to many types of bees. They can also be grown by planting seeds that ripen in early summer.

www.davidsuzuki.org

11

Dogwood

~ Cornus (Cornaceae)

Honeysuckle Spring Bloom

There are several species of native dogwood in our region, including gray dogwood (C. racemosa), round-leaved dogwood (C. rugosa), redosier dogwood (C. stolonifer; pictured above) and alternate-leaved dogwood (C. alternifolia). During the spring and early summer, these shrubs and trees produce small white flowers in broad, branching clusters, attracting bees and butterflies to their nectar. The plants are also used as a larval food source by some butterflies, such as gossamer wings. Dogwoods may grow up to 10 or even 40’(3.05-12.19m) tall, and can be found along streams and roadsides, in wet areas and woods. Seeds need a cold period before germination can occur; cuttings can also be taken in the fall for reproduction.

12

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

~ Lonicera (Caprifoliaceae)

Spring Bloom

Honeysuckles are another example where many ornamental or introduced varieties are used in gardens instead of native ones. Smoothleaved honeysuckle (L. dioica; pictured above) and trumpet or coral honeysuckle (L. sempervirens) are both native examples. These vines produce tubular flowers of various colours that produce nectar in the springandearlysummer,attractingbees,butterflies,hummingbirds,and moths. They prefer moist or shaded habitats, although they can also be found in dry areas, and grow from 1-6’ (0.30-1.83m), depending on the species. Seeds can be sown in a container when ripe and then placed in a cold frame. Cuttings can be taken in the summer from deciduous types or in the fall from hardwoods.

www.davidsuzuki.org

13

Ninebark

~ Physocarpus opulifolius (Rosaceae)

Hop-tree Spring Bloom

Ninebark is a shrub with long, curving branches on which old bark peels off in layers. It has numerous white flowers in rounded clusters, which bloom in late spring and early summer, attracting bees and flies with pollen and nectar as a reward. It grows in sandy and gravelly soils, particularly along edges of rivers, lakes, and thickets, often to a height of 3-10’(0.91-3.05m). Seeds can be collected in late summer and sown in the fall, although they require a cold period before germination.

14

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

~ Ptelea trifoliata (Rutaceae)

Spring Bloom

Hop-tree is a native tree or shrub that has small, greenish-white flowers in branching clusters during late spring and early summer. The flowers produce nectar, attracting bees, butterflies, flies and other insects. Additionally, some butterflies, like swallowtails, use the hop-tree as a larval food plant. Although the tree is shade-tolerant, it flowers only in full sunlight. It grows along shorelines and in open woods, thickets,and rocky or sandy soils, to a height ranging from 5-15’ (1.52-4.57m). Interestingly, this plant is dioecious, in that there are separate male and female trees. Seeds can be collected and sown in late summer or early fall. Softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings can be taken at the same time for propagation.

www.davidsuzuki.org

15

Sumac

~ Rhus (Anacardiaceae)

Wild Rose Spring Bloom

The sumacs are a group of shrubs and trees that have very small, greenish or yellowish flowers in clusters. Blooming in spring and early summer, they provide a source of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, flies, and wasps. As well, older stems can be used as nesting habitat for bees. Several species are native, such as staghorn sumac (R. typhina; pictured above), dwarf or shining sumac (R. copallina), smooth sumac (R. glabra), and fragrant sumac (R. aromatica). These grow in a variety of habitats, such as along forest edges, beaches and old fields, and range in height from 2-20’ (0.61-6.1m). Note that some species can be very invasive as they can spread clonally. Seeds can be sown in the fall or spring, while semi-ripe cuttings can be taken in the summer or root cuttings in the winter.

16

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

~ Rosa (Rosaceae)

Spring Bloom

Roses are a much beloved addition to the garden, and native species have the added bonus of wonderful scents. Blooming in late spring and early summer, they have showy, open, pink flowers with large amounts of pollen attracting bees, flies, and even beetles. Although many species of rose are introduced, the smooth rose (R. blanda; pictured above), pasture rose (R. carolina), swamp rose (R. palustris), and prairie rose (R. setigera) are all native. Hardwood cuttings can be taken in the fall, or softwood in the spring.

www.davidsuzuki.org

17

Blackberry, Raspberry ~ Rubus (Rosaceae)

Elderberry Spring Bloom

Known by many for their tasty fruits, the purple-flowering raspberry (R. odoratus; pictured above), common blackberry (R. allegheniensis), red raspberry (R. idaeus), and black raspberry (R. occidentalis) are ideal shrubs for the garden. Although their stems are prickly, older ones provide nesting habitat for bees, while their white flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees and butterflies. Blooming in spring and early summer, they can be found growing in dry or rocky soil, in disturbed places, old fields, pastures and along roadsides and borders of woods, often to a height of 2-8’ (0.61-2.44m). Hardwood cuttings can be taken in the winter for propagation.

18

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

~ Sambucus (Caprifoliaceae)

Spring Bloom

Two native elderberries are common in this area: red elderberry (S. pubens;picturedabove)andcommonelderberry(S.canadensis).During the spring and early summer, both shrubs produce white or yellowish flowers in large terminal clusters that reward bee and fly visitors with a source of pollen. Additionally, bees can use cut stems and old branches as nesting habitat. The common elderberry’s purplish-black fruits are commonly used in jelly and wine, but the red elderberry’s fruits are red and acid-tasting. Softwood cuttings can be taken in early summer, or hardwood cuttings in the winter. Seeds can be sown in a cold frame in the fall.

www.davidsuzuki.org

19

Arrowwood, Viburnums ~ Viburnum (Caprifoliaceae)

The Viburnum genus contains many native plants, of which whiterod or wildraisin(V.nudum;picturedabove),arrowwood(V.recognitum),sweet viburnum (V. lentago), and highbush cranberry (V. opulus) are just a few examples. These shrubs act as larval food plants for some butterflies, including gossamer wings, and produce pollen that attracts bees.White flowers bloom during the spring and early summer in broad, branching clusters. The plants can be found in a diversity of habitats and heights, growing 3-20’(0.91-6.1m) high along shorelines, forest edges, hillsides and roadsides, in dry or moist, sandy, rocky, or clayey soils. Seeds can be sown in a cold frame in the fall; greenwood cuttings can also be used in propagation.

20

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

Hyssops

~ Agastache (Lamiaceae)

Summer Bloom

The genus Agastache is a wildflower usually found growing in woods and thickets.Two native hyssops include yellow giant hyssop (Agastache nepetoides), and purple giant hyssop (A. scrophulariifolia; pictured above). The yellow giant hyssop has long, pale greenish-yellow flowers in dense spikes, but the purple giant hyssop has purplish flowers. Both grow 1-5’(0.3-1.52m) tall, bloom in the summer and produce pollen and nectar that attract bees and butterflies. Seeds need to have a cold moist stratification period and then light before they will germinate; mature plants can also be divided in the spring or fall.

www.davidsuzuki.org

21

Dogbane

~ Apocynum (Apocynaceae)

Swamp Milkweed Summer Bloom

There are two native species of dogbane in our area that are good for pollinators: spreading dogbane (A. androsaemifolium; pictured above), and Indian hemp (A. cannabinum).Their pink or greenish-white flowers are bell-shaped or tubular. Producing nectar, they are attractive to bees and butterflies during their summer bloom period. Flowers are clustered on widely branched plants, which have a milky sap. Preferring dry areas, they can be found growing in fields, thickets, roadsides, and along shores, to a height of 1-4’ (0.3-1.22m). However, they are considered invasive, and can quickly take over a garden. Seeds can be collected in the fall, but require a cold period before germination.

22

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

~ Asclepias incarnata (Asclepiadaceae)

Summer Bloom

Milkweeds are well known for their role in the life cycle of butterflies, particularly monarchs and queens, as they act as larval host plants. The flowers also produce lots of nectar, attracting bees, hummingbirds, flies and moths, in addition to the butterflies. The plants grow 1-3’ (0.3-0.91m) high and can be recognized by their lance shaped leaves with flat clusters of flowers. Swamp milkweed can be found in swamps and along shores and roadsides, and blooms during the summer. Plants can be divided in early spring, or started from seeds that mature in early fall.

www.davidsuzuki.org

23

Trumpet Vine

Butterfly Weed, Orange Milkweed ~ Asclepias tuberosa (Asclepiadaceae)

Summer Bloom

As with swamp milkweed (A. incarnata), butterfly weed acts as larval host plants for butterflies, and attracts bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, flies and moths to nectar rewards found in showy orange clusters. All of the milkweeds have a complex flower with pollinia, or masses of pollen that are tightly bound to each other. Butterfly weed grows in dry fields and banks, is very drought tolerant, and can grow from 1-2’(0.3-0.61m) in height. The plant does not like to be moved as it has a long taproot. However, you can divide the rootstalk in early spring or fall, or start them from seed.

24

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

~ Campsis radicans (Bignoniaceae)

Summer Bloom

With clusters of tubular, trumpet-shaped red or orange flowers, the trumpet vine blooms for much of the growing season. Producing nectar, it attracts hummingbirds. It is a climber, and can be found in moist woods and thickets, and although it prefers full sun, it tolerates partial shade. Trumpet vines are impressive climbing up a wall, fence, or pergola, or through a large tree. Seeds can be sown in the fall, or semiripe cuttings can be taken in the summer for rooting.

www.davidsuzuki.org

25

New England Aster ~ Aster novae-angliae (Asteraceae)

New England Aster is a wildflower found in open dry areas, fields, damp meadows and shores. It has a stout, bristly, hairy stem and lanceshaped leaves with heart-shaped bases. It grows to 2-8’ (0.61-2.44m) high. Numerous violet-purple rays appear on the flower head, which blooms from late summer to fall. The yellow, central disc flowers contain valuable, late-season pollen and nectar rewards for bees and butterflies. It produces volunteer seedlings quickly, although the plant can also be divided in the spring or grown from seeds that mature in late fall.

26

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

Fireweed

~ Chamerion angustifolium (Onagraceae)

Summer Bloom

Fireweed is easily recognizable by its large magenta flowers in a long, spike-like bunch. Attracting bees, butterflies, flies and hummingbirds, it produces both pollen and nectar as a reward. This wildflower spreads quickly after a fire, invading burned woodlands and fields. It grows about 2-8’ (0.61-2.44m) tall, and can be found blooming in clearings, semi-open areas and along roadsides during the summer and fall. It can be started by seed or by dividing the underground stems in early spring or fall. Epilobium angustifolium is an older, more recognized scientific name for fireweed.

www.davidsuzuki.org

27

Clematis, Virgin’s Bower ~ Clematis (Ranunculaceae)

Fleabanes Summer Bloom

Clematis is a beautiful addition to any garden, but many of these climbing vines are not native. Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana) is a native species that has white flowers in a cluster. Purple virgin’s bower (C. occidentalis) is also native. These plants climb by twisting their leaf stalks around supporting vegetation, often in clearings, thickets or on borders of woods. They bloom in the summer and fall and produce a distinctive fruit, a cluster of feathery hairs called Old Man’s Beard by some. Bees, wasps, and flower flies visit to collect pollen and nectar. Plants can be started by seed, and new plants can be formed by layering or bending the vine onto the surface of the soil and allowing it to root.

28

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

~ Erigeron (Asteraceae)

There are many native species of fleabanes, with white, pink or purple ray flowers surrounding a yellow disk. Examples include daisy fleabane (E. annuus; pictured above), Robin’s plantain (E. pulchellus), Philadelphia fleabane (E. philadelphicus), lesser daisy fleabane (E. strigosus), and horseweed (E. canadensis). Bees and butterflies are attracted to the pollen and nectar the plants produce as they bloom from late spring to fall. Growing from 0.5 to 3’ (0.15-0.91m) tall, they can be found in fields, open woods and areas of poor soil.

www.davidsuzuki.org

29

Joe-Pye Weed, Bonesets ~ Eupatorium (Asteraceae)

Joe-Pye Weeds are 3-10’ (0.91-3.05m) tall robust plants with purple or pink flowers in large branching clusters of small heads. Native species include spotted Joe-Pye weed (E. maculatum; pictured above), Eastern Joe-Pye weed (E. dubium), Trumpetweed (E. fistulosum), and sweet-scented Joe-Pye weed (E. purpureum). Bonesets are similar in appearance, with flat clusters of small white flowers in heads; they can be a bit shorter, at 1-5’(0.30-1.52m) in height. Both attract bees and butterflies with pollen and nectar during their summer and fall bloom period. Some species prefer the open woods and prairies, while others wet or moist places. The plants can be divided in spring or fall or grown from seeds sown on the surface of soil.

30

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

Sunflower

~ Helianthus (Asteraceae)

Summer Bloom

Sunflowers are a bright addition to any garden, with large flowers blooming in the summer and fall. Producing pollen and nectar, they attract all manner of bees and butterflies. Many species can tolerate poor soil and drought, living in dry woods and roadsides, while others prefer swamps and damp areas. Heights vary, often ranging from 2-8’ (0.61-2.44m). Although people may be most familiar with cultivated varieties of sunflowers, there are several native species, including the pale-leaved sunflower (H. strumosus; pictured above), the woodland sunflower (H. divaricatus), and the giant sunflower (H. giganteus). Seeds can be sown in the spring, and perennials can be divided in the spring or fall.

www.davidsuzuki.org

31

Cardinal Flower

Great or Blue Lobelia

Lobelias are a very common garden plant, although not all species are native. Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis; pictured above) is a common native one, with spikes or clusters of showy scarlet flowers. The flowers are two-lipped, the upper lip with two lobes and the lower lip with three lobes. Nectar is produced, which attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds throughout the summer and fall. Cardinal flowers can be found along stream banks and wet meadows, growing from 2-5’ (0.610.52m) tall. Plants can be divided in spring or fall, and can be started by spreading seeds on the soil’s surface after they mature in the fall.

Great or blue lobelia is another native Lobelia (L. siphilitica; pictured above), with blue flowers in clusters. As with the cardinal flower, the flowers are two-lipped, and produce nectar that attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds throughout the summer and fall. It can be found in moist thickets and swamps, growing from 1-3’(0.30-0.91m) tall. Seeds mature in the fall and should be planted on the top of the soil, or divided in the spring.

~ Lobelia cardinalis (Campanulaceae)

32

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

~ Lobelia siphilitica (Campanulaceae)

www.davidsuzuki.org

33

Bergamot, Bee Balm ~ Monarda (Lamiaceae)

Common Evening Primrose Summer Bloom

Monarda is a well-known genus for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. It contains such native species as bee balm (M. didyma; pictured above) with red flowers, wild bergamot (M. fistulosa) with pinkish-purple flowers, horsemint (M. punctata) with pale yellow flowers, purple bergamot (M. media), and white bergamot (M. clinopodia). Tubular flowers bloom during the summer and fall, and produce pollen and nectar as rewards. Bee balm is particularly attractive to hummingbirds, while wild bergamot and horsemint are very good for bees. The plants can grow from 1-5’ (0.3-1.52m) tall, and live in moist or dry soils, such as woods, thickets and fields. They can be grown from seed or divided in early spring.

34

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

~ Oenothera biennis (Onagraceae)

Summer Bloom

Common evening primroses have yellow flowers with long, slender calyx tubes below them, occurring in spikes or clusters. They grow in dry fields and meadows, and range in height from 1-6’ (0.3-1.83m). Bees and butterflies are attracted to pollen and nectar in their flowers, which bloom in the summer and fall. Interestingly, the flowers only open at twilight. Plants can be divided in spring or fall, or started by seeds that mature in late summer. A single plant will quickly produce many volunteer seedlings.

www.davidsuzuki.org

35

Obedient Plant, False Dragonhead ~

Physostegia virginiana (Lamiaceae)

The obedient plant has pale-purple or rose flowers that occur in spikes. Bees and butterflies are attracted to the pollen and nectar produced when the plant blooms in the summer and fall. An interesting characteristic of the flowers is that they stay “obediently” for a time in whatever position they are placed.The plants grow from 1-5’(0.3-1.52m) high, in moist thickets and banks. They are easy to grow from seeds that ripen in late fall, or by dividing stolons (below-ground stems) in early spring or late fall.

36

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

Shrubby Cinquefoil ~ Potentilla fruticosa (Rosaceae)

Shrubby cinquefoil is an easy to care for shrub with yellow or white flowers about ¾” (2cm) wide. Blooming in the summer and fall, it produces pollen and nectar, attracting bees and butterflies. It is very tolerant of drought and poor soil conditions, and grows 1-4’(0.3-1.22m) high in bogs, pastures, and rocky places. Care should be taken to plant the native species, as there are numerous ornamental cultivars and varieties. Seeds can be sown in a container in the fall or spring and then placed in a cold frame. Softwood cuttings can be taken in early summer.

www.davidsuzuki.org

37

Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan ~ Rudbeckia (Asteraceae)

Goldenrod Summer Bloom

Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta; pictured above) and coneflowers, such as the showy or orange coneflower (R. fulgida), thin-leaved coneflower (R. triloba), and gray-headed coneflower (R. pinnata), are native wildflowers blooming in the summer and fall. Yellow or orange ray flowers surround a brown disk or purple cone, producing pollen and nectar that attract bees and butterflies. Growing in dry to moist open, often disturbed areas, they can reach heights of 1-5’(0.3-1.52m).They are easy to start from seeds that mature in the fall, or plants can be divided in early spring or in the fall.

38

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

~ Solidago (Asteraceae)

Summer Bloom

Goldenrods have yellow flowers in curved, one-sided clusters, together forming a large, terminal cluster. Flowering in the summer and fall, they are an important source of pollen and nectar for bees, butterflies, flies, and beetles. There are many native species, including early goldenrod (S .juncea), pictured above. Goldenrods are thought by some to cause hayfever, but this is not true; ragweed is the common culprit. However, some may be very aggressive and spread easily. Plants can also be started from seeds after a cold stratification period, or by dividing plants in spring or fall.

www.davidsuzuki.org

39

A Word about Pesticides

Pesticides are chemicals used to manage unwanted organisms. Examples include herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, each of which may be toxic (in varying degrees) to plants, insects, and fungi, respectively. Many of these chemicals are also linked to other health and environmental concerns. The main herbicides used by home and garden owners contain the active ingredients 2-4-D, Dicamba, Gyphosate, or Mecoprop. Although none of these are directly dangerous to pollinators, they all kill plants that feed and support pollinator populations. Their use then limits the diversity and abundance of flowering plants that can be used by pollinators and so adversely affects their food resources, capacity to forage, mate, and reproduce. The main insecticidal chemicals that are available for use by home and gardens owners contain Allethrin, Carbaryl, Malathion, Permethrin, Rotenone, and Tetramethrin. All of those active ingredients are highly toxic to insects, including pollinators. Some products are cocktails of these compounds, but most are not. None should be ever used on flowers or grasses. The brands available for general home and garden use seldom carry precautionary information about pollinators on their labels. If you want to encourage pollinators in your garden, avoid using wide-spectrum insecticides, such as those listed above. Soaps can be applied to leaves

40

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

to guard against various unwanted insects, but can also kill desirable insects on the same leaves (e.g. predators, parasitoids, and species like butterflycaterpillars).Bt(Bacillusthuringiensisvar.kurstaki)isespecially effective at killing caterpillars while not affecting most other insects, but if it drifts from the plant you are trying to protect, it can have adverse effects elsewhere in your garden by killing other caterpillars of butterflies and moths that you want to nurture. Fungicides for home consumption are generally innocuous to insects and pollinators. Considerthefollowingwhenmanagingunwantedinsectsinyourgarden: • Try removing individual unwanted insects by hand if possible. • Encourage native predators with a diverse garden habitat. • Expect and accept a little bit of unwanted insect activity. Ornamental roses often require large amounts of pesticides to keep them looking“show-worthy”. Consider planting native roses, such as the smooth rose (R. Bland; left), which are not only hardier and more resistant to disease and unwanted insects, but attract many beautiful insects such as bees, flies, and beetles.

www.davidsuzuki.org

41

What You Can Do For Pollinators

• Create a pollinator-friendly garden habitat. • Design your garden so that there is a continuous succession of plants flowering from spring through fall. • Use plants native to your region that provide nectar, pollen, and/or that act as host plants for butterflies. • Provide nesting sites, such as wood blocks drilled with variously sized holes for twig-nesting bees or a small sunny patch of bare ground for ground-nesting bees. • Avoid pesticides. • Supply water for all wildlife, such as a suspended milk carton with a pinhole in the bottom. Avoid standing water as that provides a breeding ground for mosquitoes. • Remember that one out of every three mouthfuls of food we eat is delivered to us by pollinators.

Native bees can nest in many places in your garden, such as in dead twigs (left) or in sandy soil (right).

42

POLLINATORS PLANT GUIDE

Index of Species, by Common Name Anemone..................... 11

Fleabane...................... 29

Sunflower.................... 31

Arrowwood................. 20

Goldenrod................... 39

Trumpet Vine.............. 25

Bee Balm...................... 34

Honeysuckle............... 13

Viburnum.................... 20

Bergamot..................... 34

Hop-tree...................... 15

Virgin’s Bower............. 28

Blackberry................... 18

Hyssops........................ 21

Wild Black Cherry........7

Black-Eyed Susan...... 38

Joe-Pye Weed............ 30

Wild Rose..................... 17

Bonesets...................... 30

Lobelia, Blue............... 33

Wild Strawberry...........6

Butterfly weed........... 24

Lobelia, Great............. 33

Cardinal Flower......... 32

Milkweed, Swamp.... 23

Clematis....................... 28

Milkweed, Orange.... 24

Chokecherry..................7

New England Aster.. 26

Columbine.....................8

Ninebark...................... 14

Coneflower................. 38

Obedient Plant.......... 36

Dogbane...................... 22

Pussy Willow..................9

Dogwood.................... 12

Raspberry.................... 18

Elderberry................... 19

Serviceberry............... 10

Evening Primrose..... 35

Shadbush.................... 10

False Dragonhead.... 36

Shrubby Cinquefoil.. 37

Fireweed...................... 27

Sumac........................... 16

www.davidsuzuki.org

43

P llinators Photo Credits: Pages 7, 11, 12, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24, 33, 32 by Scott Sampson Pages 8, 25, 30, 37 by Peter G. Kevan Pages 34, 38 by Anne-Marie Roussy Page 10 by G.A. Cooper @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database Page 15 by Patrick J. Alexander @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database Page 36 by Jennifer Anderson @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database All others by Victoria MacPhail

Writing Credits: Text written by Victoria MacPhail

www.davidsuzuki.org Produced through a contract with Enviroquest Ltd, Cambridge, ON Printed by onyourmarksprint.com using vegetable-based inks on FSC paper.