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

Saturday - August 30, 2014
From: Aurora, IN
Region: Midwest
Topic: Plant Lists, Wildlife Gardens
Title: Plants beneficial to honey bees in Indiana
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I am searching for a list of shrubs, vines, low growing plants that would benefit, specifically honeybees in southeast Indiana. My Soil & Water Conservation District would like to offer these plants free to honey bee owners.ANSWER:
On our Special Collections page we have a section titled SPECIAL BENEFITS TO INSECTS with a link to Special Value to Honey Bees. There are 238 plants on the list and you can use the NARROW YOUR SEARCH option to choose those native plants that are found in Indiana by selecting that state from the Select State or Province slot. This narrows the list to 109 plants. If you want to narrow it to only non-woody plants, you can then choose "Herb" from General Appearance.
Here are a few herbs from that list that are commercially available:
Asclepias incarnata (Swamp milkweed)
Asclepias tuberosa (Butterflyweed)
Cleome serrulata (Rocky mountain beeplant)
Helianthus maximiliani (Maximilian sunflower)
Monarda punctata (Spotted beebalm)
Oligoneuron rigidum var. rigidum (Stiff goldenrod)
Or, you can narrow the list by choosing "Shrub":
Physocarpus opulifolius (Atlantic ninebark)
Rubus odoratus (Purpleflowering raspberry)
There are also "Trees" with flowers for honey bees:
Malus coronaria (Sweet crabapple)
Prunus americana (American plum)
There are lots more choices on the list.
From the Image Gallery
More Plant Lists Questions
Drought-tolerant plants for deep shade in Florida
June 23, 2012 - I am looking for indigenous, drought tolerant, leafy dense plants (kind of hosta like) that will grow in deep shade (under a tree that gets little sun) in Jacksonville, Florida.
view the full question and answer
Plants for streambank area in Oregon
September 14, 2012 - I am ready to replant a streambank area with native plants..what do you recommend for the Willamette Valley in Oregon? Thanks much!
view the full question and answer
Groundcovers for hillside in Northern California
November 19, 2012 - I have read numerous posts on here, but I have not found my exact situation. I live in Northern California. I am looking for some type of ground cover to grow on a hillside. Directly above the hillsid...
view the full question and answer
Container Plants for Lubbock, Texas
June 22, 2015 - Hello! I am looking for plants suitable for container gardening for a west facing porch in Lubbock. Plants need to be super tough to endure the baking sun, constant wind, dry air, extreme temperatures...
view the full question and answer
Trees for home in Kansas
April 01, 2012 - I am needing help planting trees in my yard. It's a new construction home and I would like a tree that won't get into the septic system easily. Also, I have to plant 3 other trees as well due to the...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |