Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Tuesday - July 01, 2014
From: Rockville, MD
Region: Mid-Atlantic
Topic: Butterfly Gardens, Wildlife Gardens
Title: Listing of plants matched to specific pollinators
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
Could you refer me to a listing of plants matched to specific pollinators? I have completed the conversion of a local nature center garden to a pollinator garden with all natives. We hope to place educational signs next to plants telling about their pollinators. I already have pictures of bee pollinators (from US of some of our plants but would like to include other insects. Monarchs and milkweed I know about but how can I get information about other examples of these important links.ANSWER:
On our Recommended Species page we have several lists of plants that are useful to insects as sources of nectar or as a food source for their larvae.
- Butterflies and Moths of North America
- Special Value to Native Bees
- Special Value to Bumble Bees
- Special Value to Honey Bees
Since you have your plants already in place you can search each of these lists to find out if they are included on one of these lists that contain only plants native to North America. On the species page in our Native Plant Database (especially from the list for Butterflies and Moths of North America) you may be able to find the specific pollinator associated with the plant.
The last three lists concerning plants valuable to bees came from the Xerces Society of Invertebrate Conservation. They have a wealth of information about pollinators including several regional lists of plants that are good for pollinators. Their lists include both native and some non-native garden plants.
Congratulations on your project!
More Wildlife Gardens Questions
Native Bird Feeding in Belton, TX
July 04, 2011 - We recently bought a bird feeder and a huge bucket of non-native bird seed (I'm not sure if the whole seed mix is non-native, but I believe most of the mix is). The birds go through the whole bird fe...
view the full question and answer
Want to create a native wildlife habitat for our home in Wasau, WI.
August 18, 2010 - I am trying to create a native wildlife habitat for our home. We live in Marathon County, Wisconsin (north central Wisconsin). We live near woods, meadow, wetlands. Could you send me a list of nativ...
view the full question and answer
Backyard habitat
March 20, 2004 - I’d like to start a backyard habitat. How do I begin?
view the full question and answer
Evergreen plant with berries for wildlife
September 16, 2007 - We live in central Texas and I am attempting to plant for wildlife. Could you suggest an evergreen, approximately 3-4 feet tall, that would have berries for the birds in the Fall and winter? The pla...
view the full question and answer
Replacing Nandina with natives for a schoolyard in Washington DC
May 11, 2011 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
Our schoolyard now has some invasive plants in the landscaping that we would like to replace with native plants. We have four clumps of Nandina planted at each pillar along a...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |