Planting for Pollinators

What Can You Plant for Pollinators?

Native plants and native pollinators evolved together and rely on each other still today. Planting perennial native plants is one of the best ways to plant for pollinators!

Each pollinator has different flying styles, vision and tongue sizes, so planting a variety of colors, heights and types of blooms will make sure that everybody gets to eat.

Too many nurseries and distributors grow plants using pesticides like neonicotinoids. Check the growing process before you buy. It’s best to avoid big box stores. Though many are phasing neonics out, some still use them.

Don’t have your yard sprayed for mosquitoes. Despite the companies’ claims, the sprays kill indiscriminately. That means that they not only take out mosquitoes, but also bees and butterflies.

See below for our plant recommendations!

Planting for Bees

Bumble bees, leaf cutter bees, carpenter bees, honeybees and more! The Greater Cincinnati area is home to about 500 bee species! And, all of them rely on different types of flowers for nesting material, pollen, nectar and even shelter. Here’s a small sample of flowers you can plant specifically for bees!

  • Aster - New England Aster is great and also Aromatic Aster

  • Larkspur

  • Bee Balm

  • Snapdragon

  • Bee Balm (Monarda)

  • Rosemary

  • Borage

  • Echinacea

  • Milkweed

  • Lambs Ear (wool carder bees scrape the fuzz off and use it in their nests!)

  • Zinnia

Photo by: Carrie Driehaus

Planting for Butterflies

Monarchs, Painted Ladies, Eastern Black Swallowtails, Clouded Sulphers, Red Spotted Purples and more! The Greater Cincinnati area is home to about 130 butterfly species! Butterflies require a host plant and nectar plants to survive. Host plants are flowers or trees or shrubs that have leaves which the caterpillars can eat. The butterfly lays her eggs on the host plant so the caterpillar will have food as soon as it hatches. Additionally, they need nectar flowers to provide them with energy to fly! Here’s a list of some of the host plants!

Monarch- Milkweed

Black Swallowtail- Parsley, dill, fennel, carrot leaves, Golden Alexander

Zebra Swallowtail- Paw Paw Tree

Spicebush Swallowtail- Spicebush and Sassafras

Easter Tiger Swallowtail- Sassafras Tree

Pearl Crescent- Aster

Red Admiral- Stinging Nettle and False Nettle

Question Mark-Hackberry Tree

Great Spangled Fritillary- Violets

Silver Spotted Skipper- Partridge Pea

Spring and Summer Azure- Black Cherry Tree

Common Buckeye- Hoary Vervain

Cloudless Sulfur- Wild Senna

Pipevine Swallowtail- Wooly Dutchman’s Pipevine

Photos by: Carrie Driehaus