Step 1: Provide Food for Pollinators
Planting pollinator friendly plants is an easy way to provide healthy nutrition for pollinators. Provide pollen and nectar sources from early spring to late fall by planting a variety of trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals with a variety of flower shapes and sizes. Flowers with bright colors, especially blue, yellow, red, and violet are attractive to pollinators. Plant in drifts to make them easily visible to pollinators. Avoid modern hybrids, especially those with “double” flowers. Plant breeders may have sacrificed the pollen and nectar to gain a showier bloom.
When choosing plants, consider those native to your region. Research shows that natives are four times more attractive to pollinators than non-natives. Very special relationships have developed over time between plants and their pollinators. Pollinators often rely on a certain type of flower as a source of food, while the flower depends on that pollinator to transport its pollen to other flowers for reproduction. Natives are also well adapted to survive in a particular geographic area according to the climate, soils, rainfall and availability of pollinators and seed dispersers. And because they are indigenous to a specific region, native plants usually require little maintenance and are welcomed by wildlife, serving an important role in the local ecosystem.
To learn more and for lists of plants for pollinators, click on the publications below:
- Pollinator Food (PDF), Penn State University Pennsylvania Pollinator series
- Pollinator Friendly Gardening (PDF), Penn State Extension Brochure
- Ecoregional Guides to Pollinators, Planting guides from the Pollinator Partnership
- Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service guide for the Chesapeake Region
- Plants for Native Bees in NA, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation Fact Sheet
- Bringing Nature Home, List of best plants for moths and butterflies
In order to certify, the following is required of your garden:
- Provide pollen and nectar sources from early spring to late fall
- Provide a variety of flower shapes and sizes
- Incorporate pollinator friendly native plants into your garden
Larval Host Plants for Butterflies and Moths
Don’t forget that butterfly larvae (caterpillars) need food too. Many are dependent on specific host plants, particularly native trees, shrubs and perennials, that are vital to their survival. Larvae will eat the leaves of these plants, so don’t panic when you see some holes.
To learn more, and for a list of larval host plants, click on the publications below:
- Gardening for Butterflies (PDF), Pennsylvania Wildlife Sheet, Penn Sate University College of Agricultural Sciences
- Native Plants to Attract Butterflies and Moths
In order to certify, the following is required of your garden:
- Provide larval host plants to support butterflies and moths
