Pollinator Week is coming up June 17 to 23, so I thought it would be appropriate to write native pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds and others.

You may have read about the declining populations. While multiple factors are to blame for this problem, much of the decline can be attributed to habitat loss. (Other factors include diseases and parasites, pollution and pesticide use.) We can support native pollinators by creating pollinator-friendly landscapes and pollinator gardens, as well as protecting wildlife habitat.

The flowers of plants that utilize pollinators have evolved to attract particular pollinators and may exclude others. For example, plants that produce long, tubular flowers are generally pollinated by hummingbirds, butterflies and moths that access nectar with their long tongues. Open-faced flowers and those with short flower tubes make nectar available to short-tongued bees and bumble bees.

If the flowers are not pollinated, they will not produce fruit and seeds. In nature, this may prevent a plant species from properly reproducing and maintaining its population. Then, the populations of many native birds and mammals that feed on the plants may be affected as well. Many agricultural crops we eat also rely on pollinators to produce crops.

Choosing plants

We can use our landscapes to provide food and shelter for pollinators and help increase their populations . When choosing plants such as trees, shrubs, ground covers, vines, perennials and bedding plants, keep pollinators in mind.

Choose native species when you can, but do not overlook nonnative species that produce abundant flowers rich in nectar. Look at the time of blooming and choose plants that bloom at various times throughout the year.

When it comes to selecting trees, be sure to include flowering trees in your landscape, such as native magnolias, hollies, American fringe tree, redbud, black cherry and American persimmon. Non-natives like crape myrtles, Japanese magnolia and vitex are also excellent for pollinators.

Many flowering shrubs are available, both native and nonnative. Choose a variety of shrubs that bloom at different times of the year. Avoid cultivars that have double flowers with many petals. Instead, choose those with single or semi-double flowers because they provide more nectar and pollen.

Flowering vines also may be planted for pollinators. Vines like coral honeysuckle, cross vine, yellow jessamine, American wisteria and coral vine bloom at various times and are attractive to a variety of pollinators.

Planting a pollinator garden

Beds in your landscape may be dedicated to planting perennials and bedding plants that provide food to pollinators. Pollinator gardens are generally attractive and colorful due to the use of plants with showy flowers.

Diversity is key when planting pollinator gardens. Choose a wide variety of plants that produce flowers of many different shapes, colors and sizes to attract the greatest diversity of pollinators.

Also, choose perennials and bedding plants that bloom at different times of the years. Cool season bedding plants, grown from October to May, will even provide flowers during winter. Bees and other pollinators may forage alyssum and dianthus on mild days even during winter.

Gardeners have long created gardens for butterflies and hummingbirds. Many of the flowers fed on by butterflies and hummingbirds will attract bees and other insects as well.

The many kinds of salvias so commonly used in butterfly and hummingbird gardens will also attract bees. When planting to attract more types of pollinators, also choose flowers that are easy for bees to feed on, such as the clovers (white and crimson) and members of the Aster family, (daisies, sunflowers and zinnias).

You should also provide larval food plants for butterflies. Butterflies lay eggs only on certain plants, and they vary depending on the species of butterfly. Monarch caterpillars will only feed on milkweed plants, and Gulf fritillary caterpillars prefer species of passion vines. The parsley worm, which grows up to be the Eastern black swallowtail, feeds on parsley, dill and fennel. Sulfur butterflies lay their eggs on cassias while bean leaves are the preferred food of long-tailed skipper caterpillars.

If your property is large enough, you may dedicate an area to planting a wildflower meadow. A blend of native wildflower seeds, both annual and perennial types, may be planted in that area and allowed to grow to create a more natural habitat for pollinators. The use of pesticides is detrimental to pollinators and should generally not be used in pollinator friendly landscapes.

To find out more

A list of native plants attractive to pollinators is helpful when considering what to plant. The Pollinator Partnership offers planting guides tailored to specific eco regions. To get the guide specific to where you garden, visit the Pollinator Partnership website at www.pollinator.org.