It's no secret that pollinators, especially honey bees have been declining in recent years. Pollinators are essential in order for successful harvests of food crops.
You can help by adding pollinator-loving plants to your garden. It's super easy and you'll be able to enjoy the beautiful blooms, as well as attract more butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden.
Flowering plants that are recommended for the central Florida area are:
Annuals & Perennials: Cannas, Impatiens, Marigolds, Nasturtians, Pentas, Purple coneflowers, Salvia, Shrimp plant, Sunflowers (especially Mexican), Lantana, Cosmos, Zinnias, Powder Puff, Portulaca, Blue Daze, many varieties of Jasmine, Milkweed.
Natives - Spotted Bee Balm, Blue Curl, Gaillardia (Indian Blanket Flower), Canna Flaccida, Black-eyed Susan, Coreopsis (Tickseed), Stoke's Aster, Pickerelweed, Adam's Needle.
Herbs: Thyme, Mint, Basil.
Vines: Coral honeysuckle, Passionflower, Carolina Jessamine, Cross Vine, Trumpet Creeper. All of these vines are native to Florida. Note: The native passionflower vines are Passiflora Incarnata and Corky Stem 'Passiflora Suberosa.
Other: Saw Palmetto, Walter's Viburnum, Chaste Tree, Sea Grape, Bottlebrush trees, Spanish Bayonet, Ligustrum, Southern Magnolia. Liriope.
These are just some of the plants that pollinators will love that are easy to find in nursery centers.
~ ~ Gardener's Beware ~ ~
Many "Bee-Friendly" plants sold at nursery centers have had "Bee-Toxic Pesticides" applied to them. These plants will KILL the pollinators when they visit the plants.The Good News - Plant growers are now required to include a label on the plant which indicates that it's been treated with Neonicotinoids which are systemic pesticides. The pesticide is taken up through the roots and leaves and is distributed throughout the entire plant - including the pollen and nectar.
Please look for this label (which may not always be easy to find), and AVOID purchasing any plant treated with Neonicotinoids.
Everyone Can Have a Pollinator Garden
If you have a mostly shady garden, a small garden, or live in a condo or apartment - you CAN have a pollinator garden. Consider planting a container garden filled and overflowing with pollinator plants. You don't need a large space to have an impact.
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| Photo credit: Google Images |
Get those 'pollinator gardens' growing and send me a photo on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Central-Florida-Gardener-197232317050577/) and I will gladly share them through the summer to help inspire other Florida gardeners.
Also, leave a comment below and let us know what your favorite pollinator plants are.