Rise | We've Done the Research
Planting for Pollinators
Rachel Carson sounded the alarm in 1962 with the release of her book, Silent Spring. The American marine biologist, author, and conservationist detailed how the pesticide DDT had destroyed or was damaging wildlife, birds and bees, farm animals, domestic pets, and even human health. The book elicited outrage and inspired the modern environmental movement.
In recent years, the decline of the honey bee has made headlines. Colony collapse disorder (CCD) has decimated the honeybee population. Why is that important? Over 75 percent of the world's flowering plants and just over one-third of every type of food crop worldwide depend on pollinators (insects and birds) to reproduce.
Recent statistics show that beekeepers in the United States have seen declines from an estimated six million hives to 2.4 million hives between 1947 and 2008. This 60 percent reduction in beehives is due to several human-caused factors. The reasons include extensive pesticide use, prolonged droughts caused by climate change, loss of bee habitat due to urban sprawl, and air pollution. From a purely statistical analysis, if honeybee populations continue to fall at current rates, managed honeybees will completely disappear by 2035. What would Carson think of the world's rapid decline of pollinators, especially bees?
The loss of managed honey bees is undoubtedly problematic. After all, who doesn't like a bit of fresh honey on their morning pancakes? Here at Rise, we have written about creating a "bee garden" and thus transform our sterile lawns into thriving bee oases. But focusing on the decline of honeybee populations is only one part of the pollinator equation. Homeowners can renovate their backyards to attract and protect bee populations and support all different types of pollinators—not just the honeybee.
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Not Just Honeybees
Bees are indeed the primary pollinators of the majority of our food crops. But what few people realize is that the honeybee is only one of 4,000 types of native bee species in North America. Most people associate bees with giant hives and the fascinating social orders of honeybees. However, many of the thousands of native bee species make their nest in the ground. According to Cornell University, almost three-fourths of the bee species build their nests in burrows underneath the soil.
All bee species are considered to be important pollinators. They spend the majority of their lifetimes collecting pollen. The minuscule hairs that cover bees' bodies act as a magnet to gather pollen, which is then deposited on other plants as the bees go about their day. Pollen is a crucial protein source to feed their larva to ensure future populations continue to thrive.
How Can You Find and Plant Flower Species for Your Region?
Planting flowers is an excellent strategy to attract several types of insects and pollinators. But before heading to your local nursery to purchase your favorite flowers, a little bit of research can help you identify the best pollinator species for your ecosystem.
Native plants are defined as plants indigenous to a given area before European colonization. "Native plants have formed symbiotic relationships with native wildlife over thousands of years, and therefore offer the most sustainable habitat," writes The National Wildlife Federation. "A plant is considered native if it has occurred naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without human introduction." Native plants produce four times more pollen than non-natives. Native bees have been visiting native plants for centuries.
What Are Some Resources for Finding Native Plants?
- Here is a guide to finding native plants in your region.
- Audubon has a handy database for finding native plants suitable to your location.
- Your local botanical garden or conservatory, native plant society, Wild One's chapter, and state Department of Natural Resources can help.
- The Xerces Society offers helpful region-specific guides to find the most important pollinator species for your specific state and bio-region.
- Heather Holm's book and website are useful resources for identifying which native plants work best for different types of soil and varying sunlight.
What Are More Tips for Planting a Pollinator Garden?
- Find and plant vegetation that blooms throughout the growing seasons so that different types of pollinators will be able to thrive from early spring to the final days of autumn.
- Mix up flowers in all shapes, sizes, and colors with some grasses, shrubs, and fruit trees. Bees love blue, purple, violet, white, and yellow.
- Avoid hybrids or cultivators, modern iterations of native plants, especially those with exceptionally large or double flowers, as they may not be beneficial: In order to create bigger flashier plants, breeders often eliminate a plant's nectar, smell, or pollen—aspects of native plants essential for pollinators.
- Plant flowers in color blocks to help pollinators find their food sources. (Hummingbirds love red!)
Attracting Pollinators in Other Ways
Larval Host Plants
Numerous websites on gardening for pollinators, including the USDA Forest Service site, list ways to attract - and provide habitat - for pollinators. "Include larval host plants in your landscape," suggests the website. They say that colorful butterflies will fill your yard if you grow plants for their caterpillars. The caterpillars will eat the plants, so be sure to plant them where unsightly leaf damage won't be obvious.
Camille LeFevre
Camille LeFevre is an architecture and design writer based in the Twin Cities.
