1. Creating A Pollinator Garden
Durham Master Gardeners

2. Why Grow Natives? Planting for nectar/pollen as well as the larvae.
Insects as ‘specialists’.
Bees prefer native plants.
Birds require insects to feed their young.
Well adapted to your conditions
Pollinator gardens require plants for nectar as an energy source for pollinators and pollen for protein, often to feed larva. Pollinators will use nectar and pollen from alien ornamentals (butterfly bush) as well as, natives; however, if you want many pollinators to begin with (to reproduce), a garden must provide the native host plants for the larvae.
Most insects are specialists in that they eat only vegetation from plants they have evolved with. A well known example is the Monarch butterfly. It will only lay its eggs on the milkweed plant, as the larva can only survive on milkweed vegetation. Only 10 percent of insects are ‘generalists’ ie. Have enzymes to digest many plants.
Pollinators are more attracted to native plants than to other horticultural varieties or cultivars. One study showed that natives plants were 4 times more likely to attract native bees.
While adult birds will eat berries or seeds from many plants, they must have insects to feed their young that are found near the host native plants.
Well adapted to our conditons and will need minimal attention.
You can start to see there is a close relationship between our pollinators and native vegetation. By creating a pollinator garden, you are helping to promote biodiversity by providing habitat for pollinators in your own yards.

3. What is a Native Plant?
Native plants were growing in the region before European settlement.
Indigenous plants were growing in the region before human settlement.
A plant is “native” if it coevolved with animals in the community.
It’s important to understand that “Native” plants were growing in the area before European settlement. Be aware that all “wildflowers” are not native, such as dandelions and Queen Anne’s Lace which arrived in North America with the European settlers. However, queen Anne’s Lace is an exception to the rule, in that, the black swallowtail and broad winged skipper can develop on this plant as it is a relative of the carrot (apiaceae) family. Parsley and dill as well.
Indigenous plants were growing in the region before human settlement. Hence, the idea that plants and animals in an area ‘coevolved’. Each group continually influencing the evolution of the other over thousands, maybe millions of years..

4. Native plants for all seasons.
Ensure there are plants flowering throughout the season, from early spring to fall for a continuous supply of nectar and pollen. Try to plant in clumps of 3 to 5 plants to help attract the attention of pollinators. Choose flowers in a variety of colours and shapes to attract a diversity of pollinators. Bees prefer blue, yellow, white and purple flowers. Pollinator tongues vary in size, short tongued bees require shallow flowers in order to reach nectar. Adult butterflies prefer tubular or flat topped flowers that make it easier for them to feed with their long tongue, called a proboscis. They choose flowers of many colours including red, through blue or violet. The Ruby throated hummingbird is drawn to red or orange flowers of a tubular shape.
All natives are not created equal in terms of the pollinators/ insects they support. For example many trees like oaks, willows and cherries host over 400 species. Trees are also able to support many pollinators just by virtue of the large number of blooms compared to perennials. This is very important in early spring when they can provide pollen and nectar early in the season when food is scarce.

5. Spring blooms Polyphemus Moth Io Moth
This is a Pin Oak that grows to 16 metres (50 feet) high and almost as wide in full sun. It prefers rich, well-drained, moist soil. There are native white and red oaks that will tolerate a more thin, dry soil. These are large trees and require plenty of space and are not for a small suburban yard. However, in the right location, Oaks support more species of Lepidoptera than any other plant genus and therefore provide many types of bird food. They are also responsible for hosting many moth species, including the large showy polyphemus moth and the io moth to name a few. They provide catepillars from May to October for bird food.
Polyphemus Moth
Io Moth

6. Salix discolor, (PussyWillow) 9 Metres
Comma
Salix discolor, (PussyWillow) Metres
Andrena Bee
Second on the list of Lepidoptera hosts is Salix or Willow. There are 97 species of native willow in North America. This is Salix discolor, better known as Pussy Willow known for their ornamental catkins in spring. Butterflies will visit this shrub or small tree in spring for nectar and bees will visit for pollen, as this is one of the few sources available in early spring. This does not include the Weeping Willow or Salix babylonica which is a huge tree, however, it is not a native.
This willow grows in moist areas in full sun and can reach a height of 9 metres or 30 feet. It has a tendency to form thickets and is very easy to grow. It is the host for Viceroys, Commas, red-spotted purples, mourning cloaks, white admirals and many species of Hairstreaks. Many moth species, such as the Sphinz moth and numerous beetles are supported by this species as well. Bees that fly in early spring, such as the Andrena bee also frequents the willow for pollen. These bees tend to nest in bare soil or grassy areas.
Viceroy
Pandora Sphinx Moth

7. Prunus serotina, Wild Black Cherry Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Cecropia Moth
Native wild cherries which includes the black cherry (Prunus serotina), chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) and pin cherry (P. pensylvanica) are all excellent sources of food for pollinators and wildlife. In spring, the flowers are white with roundish petals that occur in clusters. This provides nectar and pollen attracting bees, butterflies, flies and beetles. This is the genus that ranks third in the number of Lepidoptera it supports on its foilage. It hosts 10 species of giant silk moths, which includes the Cecropia Moth; many butterflies such as the Swallowtails, the Red-spotted purple, Gossamer Wings and Hairstreaks; 18 species of dagger moths and multitudes of inchworms. It also produces an enormous amount of berries, sustaining birds for weeks in late summer.
The chokecherry and black cherry are very similar in appearance and grow well in a variety of soils, from 2 to 20 feet (.6 to 6.1M) in height. They are often found growing along the forest edge and prefer sunnier conditions.
Red-Spotted Purple
Prunus serotina, Wild Black Cherry
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Larvae

8. Crataegus spp., Hawthorn
Malus, Crabapple
Crataegus spp., Hawthorn
Apple, crabapple and hawthorne are all members of the Rosaceae Family which is the same family as the cherry (Prunus) trees and therefore they host many of the same species of butterflies and moths. They provide nectar for butterflies in the spring and pollen for the bees, flies and beetles. While there are native apples trees, crabapples in this area are mainly ‘alien ornamentals”; however, this is one case where the alien leaf chemistry is so similar to the native that insects can’t tell the difference. Therefore there are a large mumber of crabapple trees to choose from that will act as host to at least 311 lepidoptera species, including the Grey Hairstreak, Viceroy and 8 species of sphinx moth.
All of these trees are medium sized trees around 20 feet or 7 metres that prefer full sun. They have beautiful bloosoms in the spring followed by showy berries in the summer that draw many different birds including cedar waxwings and cardinals. The Hawthorn has spines of 2 to 4 inches long that makes it an excellent nesting site for many small songbirds to find shelter. It also has good fall colour, making it an attractive choice for any yard.
Grey Hairstreak
Malus domestica, Apple

9. Amelanchier canadensis, Serviceberry Lindera benzoin, Spicebush
There are several native species of Amelanchier, the common shadbush (A. aborea), smooth shadbush (A. laevis) and the above Downy serviceberry (A. canadensis). These plants are often grown as shrubs that form thickets or they can be grown as small trees. They range in height from 1 to 20 feet (.30 to 7 metres) and have a profusion of bloom in spring with loose bunches of fragrant white flowers, giving a delicate appearance. Serviceberries produce nectar and pollen that attracts many different bees, buttterflies and flower flies. This is followed by dark blue fruit in early summer that rarely stays on the tree long enough to fully ripen before the birds devour it. It is a favourite of cedar waxwings. In fall the leaves turn a papery orange. It grows well in sun to partshade; average to moist sites and will tolerate poor soil.
The Spicebush is one of the first shrubs to bloom in Spring with greenish yellow fragrant flowers. While it is not a significant nectar source for pollinators it does provide the larval food for the Spicebush Swallowtail. If you grow a male and female plant, there will also be reddish purple fruit that will be eaten by the birds. Leaves turn a golden yellow in fall. The spicebush grows 6 to 12feet. It grows well in sun to part shade in average soil.
Spicebush Swallowtail and larva

10. Cercis canadensis, Redbud, 4 m
Vaccinium myrtilloides, Blueberry, .6 m
Blueberry, as known as velvetleaf blueberry, is an acid loving shrub that flowers in late spring and will produce copious amounts of berries in mid to late summer, if grown in full sun. Older specimens take on a gnarled appearance that is attractive and the flowers, fruit and fall colour give this shrub merit in the spring, summer and fall. It is a low branching shrub, about 2 feet tall that grows well in sandy soil. A close relative is the lowbush blueberry (vaccinium angustifolium) and highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) which is taller, 2 metres (6 feet). While it supports, wildlife, including humans with its berries, it also serves as host to hundreds of species of moths and butterflies, including the spring azure, brown elfin, Henry’s elfin and the striped hairstreak.
Cercis canadensis or Redbud, is an understory tree, growing 4 metres (12 feet) in part shade/sun with a layered lacy appearance. It has a wide crown but is not tall, with large heart shaped leaves. It blooms early in spring, with many pink blossoms covering the branches before the leaves appear. It is hardy in this zone, but not always reliably for the bloom. A hard winter may kill the flower buds. It provides nectar and pollen for the bees early in the spring and is host to the Henry’s Elfin butterfly.
Brown Elifn
Henry’s Elfin

11. Dogwoods Cornus alternafolia Cornus racemosa, Grey Dogwood, 3 m
Pagoda dogwood, 7 m
There are several species of native dogwood in our region. The Pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternafolia) is a mid-story tree, growing up to 7 meters in part shade and can tolerate full sun, if protected from the wind. It prefers a moist, acid and well-drained soil. It has a spreading open canopy with a layered appearance. Flowers are creamy white and fragrant in late May, early June, followed by bluish, black berries in July-August.
The Grey dogwood is a lowerstory woodland shrub at 3 metres high, but can be pruned to grow as a small tree. Again it prefers a part shade location with moist to average soil. Flowers are white in spring followed by attractive white, bluish fruit with the pedicels remaining red into late fall and early winter.
The Redosier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera, a.k.a. Cornus sericea) is covered with clusters of white flowers in late spring/early summer, bluish berries in late summer and striking red twigs in winter. It grows 4 to 8 feet ( m). It prefers moist soil and partshade, but can tolerate full sun. All dogwoods are a good source of nectar for butterflies, bees and flies, pollen for bees, fruits for birds and are one of the host plants for the spring azure butterfly.
Spring Azure
Cornus stolonifera, Redosier dogwood

12. Mayapple Podophyllum peltatum
Woodland Perennials
Canada Violet
Viola canadensis 25cm
Great Spangled Fritillary
Most of these are early blooming before trees leaf out…..and go dormant after blooming in heat of the summer.
2 types
Spring ephemerals – dormant after blooming – trout lily (Erythronium americanum), Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Asarum canadense)
Early blooming but leaves remain after blooming – Mayapple, Ginger, Trillium
Prefer part shade location.
It is essential that you look at the area you’re choosing plants for – size matters
Woodland sunflower can grow 6’ tall
Native cranesbill grows 6” – 12” tall
Goat’s Beard requires consistent moisture or the leaf margins will turn brown and crispy. It can tolerate some sun but prefers afternoon shade.
Flowers late April, early May.
Mayapple does not go dormant and is juglones tolerant, i.e. can grow under walnut trees. Its small white flower is usually hidden by the leaves. Generally poisonous.
Canada Violet, just one of many native violets. This one prefers rich moist woodlands. Native violets are also the host for the Great Spangled Fritillary. Females tend to lay their eggs near withered violets. The tiny caterpillars hiberate through winter and feed on violets in spring.
For all of these examples, ensure you buy from a reputable dealer that does not harvest plants from the wild!
Mark Uchneat Photo
Goat’s Beard Aruncus dioicus
1.5 m
Mayapple Podophyllum peltatum cm

13. Woodland – Perennials Spotted Cranesbill Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Geranium maculatum
60 cm
All of these perennials provide pollen to many different types of bees.
Spotted Cranesbilll, or Wild Geranium, will grow 1' to 2' tall with deeply cleft leaves.
Its rose-purple flowers appear in May to June followed by seed capsules that resemble a crane’s bill – hence the common name.
Mourning Doves and Chipmunks eat seeds.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit looks good as a perky accent rising out of a low groundcover. Put them where you will appreciate the red berries in early autumn.
Canada Anemone is a familiar native species. there is also the wood anemone (A. quinquefolia) and candle anemone (A. anemone). They grow best in moist woods and wet areas blooming in late spring. Be aware that they can be quite vigourous, spreading quickly and will also grow in rocky and sandy areas as well.
Baneberry is grown for its compound leaves and colorful berries. Unfortunately, like many, many plants, the berries are highly poisonous – hence the name – Baneberry.
Canada Anemone
Anemone canadensis 4o-60 cm
© 2009 by P.B. Pelser
Jack-in-the-Pulpit
Arisaema triphyllum
60 cm
White Baneberry
Actaea pachypoda, 30-60cm

14. Woodland Gardens – Groundcovers
Andrenid bee
Foam flower sends up billowy clouds of small star-like flower spikes in mid-spring. The flowers last for a long time. Its shallow roots make it ideal for use around the base of trees or in areas without a deep soil layer.
Trillium, also known as wakerobin, makes an enchanting show in the spring woodland. They also require consistent moisture – don’t let them dry out.
Bloodroot’s rhizome is POISONOUS. Also effective as a ground cover at the base of trees. It is one of the earliest blooms. Many of these natives are pollinated by small bees such as the Nomada and Andrenid bees and flies. The Andrenid bee, shown here, is a solitary gentle bee that nests in the ground in dry, sunny sites. It overwinters as a pupae and emerges as an adult as soon as the weather starts to warm.
Bloodroot
Sanguinaria canadensis
20 cm
Foam Flower
Tiarella cordifolia
30 cm
White Trillium
Trillium grandiflorum
45 cm

15. Woodland Gardens – Groundcovers
Bunchberry rarely grows taller than 6” high. Its white flowers blanket the leaves and make a spectacular show, and the red berries follow in late summer and fall.
Wintergreen is a good creeping evergreen with dark leaves that turn red in fall. It also has white flowers and red berries.
Wild ginger spreads rapidly. Its single cup-shaped maroon flower appears in late spring, close to the ground, hidden by the foliage.
Bunchberry
Cornus canadensis
20 cm
Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens
5 cm
Wild Ginger
Asarum canadense
30 cm

16. Meadow Gardens – Spring Blooms
Prairie Smoke, 20 cm.
Geum triflorum
Coreopsis – 30 – 45 cm.
Coreopsis lanceolata
Meadows are famous for their Wildflowers which like
Sunny conditions
Very dry to moist soils
They have a longer bloom period than woodland flowers – They are summer and fall bloomers
They are mid-height to tall -- 24” and up
These are examples of the earliest blooms: May and June
Geum triflorum is good as either a specimen plant or groundcover at the edge of the meadow. The dark pink flowers in the spring form a fluffy pale pink seed head in the summer and fall leading to it’s name of prairie smoke.
Coreopsis has fine narrow leaves and yellow, daisy-like flowers. It prefers dry soil, and is deer resistant, attracts butterflies, and is good as a cut flower.
Wild Strawberry has the small white flowers that turn into tasty red berries after pollination occurs. Bees and butterflies will visit this plant to collect pollen and nectar. It starts to bloom early in the spring, April and may continue throughout the season to October. It spreads by runners that can be separated from the parent plant to form new plants.
Silverweed, Potentilla anserina
Low spreading plant up to 10" high
Moist to dry, sandy soils
1" wide yellow flowers, bloom June to October
Excellent, quick-spreading ground cover
Seed source for some Finches
Columbine is an early bloomer, May to early June and creates a good transition from a woodland to a sunny meadow. It will grow in open areas, dry woods and rockly places. It produces pollen and nectar, and is attractive to bees , butterflies and hummingbirds, in particular. As with many non-native double varieties are not desirable for pollinators.
Wild Columbine, 30 – 90 cm Aquilegia canadensis
Silverweed – 5 – 15 cm.
Potentilla anserina
Wild Strawberry-15cm
Fragaria virginiana

17. Meadow Gardens – Summer Blooms
Bee Balm 70 – 150 cm.
Monarda didyma
Wild Lupine
50 – 80 cm.
Lupinus perennis
Bee Balm is well known for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. It blooms from summer into fall and grows will in moist or dry soils. There are several other native varieties: wild bergamot (M. fistulosa) with lavender flowers and horsemint (M. punctuata) with pale yellow flowers.
Hyssop blooms from July well into September and is a magnet for many bees, flies and butterflies.
Wild lupines are the only plant that is a food source for the threatened and endangered Karner Blue Butterfly larvae. Although no longer in our immediate area, all of the Great Lakes area was once part of their native range.
Penstemon is a favorite of multiple species of butterflies and hummingbirds due to the tubular flowers.
Hyssop,
Agastache
Foeniculum,
30-15-cm.
Penstemon
30 – 100 cm.
Penstemon hirsutus

18. Summer Blooms Downy Sunflower – 150 cm. Helianthus mollis
Bottle Gentian, 30 – 60 cm. Gentiana andrewsii
Culver’s Root – 1 m. Veronicastrum virginicum
Bottle Gentian is a lesser know wildflower whose blooms are almost iridescent blue. They enjoy moist areas that include meadows, shores and forest. Bottle gentian is pollinated by bumblebees, the only insect strong enough to open the corolla tube.
Downy sunflower is a very tall welcome addition to the back of the border. It attracts many species of birds and bees to the garden.
Echinacea purpurea, or purple coneflower, is one of the more recognized garden flowers. It flowers from late June, through late August. The seeds heads are also well used by American Finches.
Culver’s root grows well in a wide range of soils, and provides a strong upright vertical element to the meadow garden or back of border.

19. Milkweeds Common Milkweed, Asclepias syriaca 100-150cm. Swamp
Milkweeds are best known for the role they play in the life-cylce of the Monarch butterfly. They are the host plant for Monarchs to lay their eggs on and once the larva emerge, they eat the leaves. There has been a lot of publicity lately encouraging the public to plant these natives to assist in restoring the Monarch population as their numbers have seriously reduced in the last number of years. All of these plants also supply nectar to many other butterflies, bees, flies, moths and hummingbirds, as well as masses of pollen.
Butterfly weed grows well in dry areas and is very drought tolerant. It blooms for a long time in summer, July through August. It does not likes to be moved as it has a long taproot; however, you can divided the root stalk in early spring or fall, or start fresh seed. This is not considered an invasive plant and is a good choice for the smaller suburban garden.
Swamp milkweed as its name suggests requires moist conditions growing along shores and roadsides. It blooms during summer.
Common milkweed has recently been removed from the noxious weed list in Ontario. In the past it was considered harmful to livestock as its leaves are poisonous; however, due to its bitter taste, it is normally considered distasteful to livestock. Presently, the public is encouraged to plant it responsibly , ie. Not close to farmer’s fields due to the above concern and its tendency to be invasive. It grows freely now in fields and roadsides and likes a well-drained, full sun location. It spreads by seeds and underground rhizomes, hence, it has a tendency to form colonies. If your yard has the space for it, it can be contained by removing the seedheads before they open and spread in late summer, early fall.
A word about dog-strangling vine, a distant relative of the milkweed family that is not native and is not a host for pollinators. It has recently been listed as a noxious weed due to its extremely invasive habit. It can interrupt the monarch’s life-cycle as the monarch is attracted to this plant; however, any eggs laid on it will not survive.
Swamp
Milkweed,
Asclepias
incarnata,
30-91cm
Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa,
30-62cm.

20. Summer Bloom: Moist/Wet Conditions
Turtlehead,
Chelone glabra, cm
Cardinal Flower,
Lobelia cardinalis, 60-
120cm
Obedient
Plant,
Physotegia
Virginiana,
60-120cm
Spotted
Joe-Pye
Weed,
Eupatorium
maculatum, cm
Vervain, Verbena
Hastata, 200cm

21. Meadow Gardens – Grasses
Big Bluestem Grass – 1 – 2 m. Andropogon gerardi i
Little Bluestem – 45 – 135 cm.
Schizachyrium scoparium
Native grasses are less aggressive, and are typically clump forming.
Little Bluestem’s latin name has recently changed from Andropogon scoparius to Schizachyrium scoparium
Seeds of the bluestems are eaten by small birds in the winter, including juncos and sparrows.
Panicum virgatum has many hybrid cultivars including “Heavy Metal”, “Shenandoah”, and “North Wind”, to name a few.
Indian Grass m. Sorghastrum nutans
Blue Panic Grass
1 – 1.8 m.
Panicum virgatum
Canada Wild Rye
1 – 1.5 m.
Elymus canadensis

22. Meadow Gardens – Fall Blooms
Canada Goldenrod 60 – 150 cm.
Solidago canadensis
New York Aster
1 m.
Aster novae-belgii
Canada Goldenrod’s pollen does not cause allergies – it blooms at the same time as ragweed, and this is a common allergy. Goldenrod is a favorite of finches.
Aster seeds are eaten by cardinals, chickadees, nuthatches, towhees, indigo buntings as well as many other kinds of birds.
Gray-headed coneflower adds late season color to the garden and will bloom for up to two months in poor, infertile soils.
Almost all of these species attract multiple types of birds, butterflies and pollinators.
Other plants you may not realize are native:
Joe Pye Weed, Eupatorium maculatum
Blazing Star, Liatris spp.
Black Eyed Susan, Rudbeckia hirta
Meadow Rue, Thalictrum polygamum
Canada Anemone , Anemone canadensis
Example of dry vs moist plants
MOIST Conditions
Joe-Pye Weed, 200 cm.; Blazing Star, Liatris, 100 cm.; Meadow Rue, cm.; Canada Anemone, cm.
DRY Conditions
Purple Coneflower, 75 cm.; Black-eyed Susan, cm.; Lance-leaved Coreopsis 50 cm.
Gray-headed Coneflower
cm.
Ratibida pinnata