PLANTS THAT ATTRACT POLLINATORS

 

Important Notice ~ as you seek bedding plants from nurseries, please read this message from Carol Dunk, an advocate for pollinators, and former president of the Ontario Horticultural Society
 

 

What can YOU do for pollinators? Eliminate your use of pesticides.

 

Secondly, because habitat loss is one of the largest stressors responsible for the decline of our bee-loved pollinators,

the next best thing you can do is plant for them.

 

Do what you can -- plant just one species, or plant a field.

 

Plant native species, or plant species that you know are laden with pollen and nectar (some ornamental hybrids do not produce pollen or nectar).

 

Ideally, a continuous succession of blooms from early spring to late autumn will benefit our pollinating creatures.

 

A final word of caution: if you are purchasing seedlings from a nursery that doesn't advertise itself as organic, ASK if they have used neonicotinoid pesticides on their plants. Learn more about nurseries and their use of this pesticide here. 

 

NEW ~ FOUR ecoregional guides to pollinator-friendly plants from the Pollinator Partnership are now specific to Canada! The Lake Erie Lowlands Guide is applicable to central-southwestern Ontario, and The Lower Mainland Guide refers to the Vancouver, BC area. Two other ecoregional guides for Ontario were recently completed: The Manitoulin-Lake Simcoe and The Algonquin-Lake Nipissing. Aussi disponible en francais. More guides to follow. Another 32 ecoregional guides exist for the United States, with some overlap pertaining to adjoining Canadian provinces. 

If you really want to be more specific in matching plants in the ecozone that you live in, the Evergreen Native Plant Database is the place for you. First determine your ecozone on this map. Then choose the "Advanced Search" option in the Native Plant Database. You may then indicate your ecozone and scroll further down, under the Miscellaneous heading, where you can check off  "Attracts Wildlife" and choose which wildlife to specify. You can also use the North American Native Plant Society database to check if a plant is local to your area.

Evergreen Ecozones

 --  in combination with --  Evergreen Native Plant Database

North American Native Plant Society plant database

Pollinator Partnership Ecoregional Guides with 4 dedicated to Canadian regions (so far)

Nectar and Pollen Plants for Native Wild Pollinators by Susan Chan

Canadian Wildlife Federation Pollinator Plants Kits 

Pollination Guelph List of Links to Native Plants for Pollinators

North American Native Plant Society Gardening Tips for Pollinators

Guelph's Riverside Park Pollinator Gardens Plant List

Organic Gardening List with Plants to Get Started on Integrated Pest Management

 

 

 

BOOKS for SALE

 

How to Make a Pollinator Garden by Clement Kent $8 including shipping; click thumbnail and scroll down to page to open Publications tab

 

Landowner's Guide to Conserving Native Pollinators by Susan Chan $15 including shipping; click thumbnail and scroll down to page to open Publications tab

 

 

PROTECT your POLLINATORS

Raising Awareness Among Canadians About Plant Pollinators

Pollinators and Your Winter Garden

Reference Sheet: organic pest control for cucumber and potato bugs, and flea beetles