Evening‐primrose Flowers at the
Border
Plant native flowers around your yard to attract pollinators and other beneficial insects. By Heidi Kratsch, Hor culture Specialist Special Publica on‐14‐07 Supported by a grant from the USDA Forest Service, Great Basin Na ve Plant Selec on and Increase Project. Pollinators, including bees, moths, beetles and bu erflies, are cri cal to the produc on of nearly one‐third of the world’s food supply. Our pollinator popula ons are decreasing due to a combina on of factors, including habitat loss and fragmenta on, overuse of pes cides, malnutri on, disease and parasites. It is impera ve that we, as responsible gardeners, provide food and habitat for pollinators by crea ng patches of sanctuary habitats to support and preserve these valuable creatures. Other beneficial insects that deserve a place in the garden include those that protect our crops and ornamental landscape plants from herbivory by pest insects. Some mes these insects are called natural predators or natural enemies. They help protect our plants by feeding on or parasi zing pest insects. Examples include ladybeetles, lacewings, parasi c wasps, ground beetles, minute pirate bugs, praying man s and arachnids, such as spiders and predatory mites. beneficial insects. Why na ve plants? Na ve plants a ract na ve pollinators. Most people are not aware of the complex rela onships among plants, insects and other beneficial organisms that have evolved over millions of years. Insects pollinate flowers while they feed on nectar and pollen. Sure, you can a ract honeybees by plan ng almost any nectar‐
producing flower. But honeybees are not our only pollinators, and they are not our best pollinators. Honeybees are not even na ve to North America, so they have not developed the specialized plant‐pollinator rela onships typical of many of our na ve pollinators. Bo om line, na ve pollinators, such as solitary bees and wasps, bumblebees, bu erflies and moths do a be er pollina ng job, and are a racted and supported by the na ve plants with which they evolved. This publica on provides a list of 50 of the most a rac ve flowering species na ve to the intermountain western region of the U.S. Included You can protect these valuable garden allies by is informa on on each species’ lifecycle, size plan ng flowers that not only a ract them but poten al, flower color and bloom period, cultural also provide valuable nectar and shelter for requirements, and benefit to pollinators and breeding and overwintering. If you want other beneficial insects. beneficial insects to s ck around and do their job, But this is only the beginning. If you are serious you must provide their basic living needs. Provide about providing a pollinator‐friendly habitat, nectar by plan ng na ve flowers that bloom at different mes of the year; and don’t forget to put there are other steps you should take. Limit your use of insec cides, par cularly systemic out a container of water, such as a birdbath, or insec cides, which are absorbed through the even small dishes of water around your yard. Leave garden cleanup un l late spring. Perennials leaves and stems and transported throughout the and ornamental grasses le standing give shelter plant. Purchase untreated seeds and organic vegetable and bedding plant starts. Purchase and provide winter interest. Homemade bee na ve plants and seeds from local vendors when houses, small piles of stones and areas of bare possible. ground also provide overwintering sites for 2 ANNUAL FLOWERS sulfur‐flower buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum) Rocky Mountain beeplant (Cleome serrulata) blanke lower (Gaillardia aristata) Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) s cky purple geranium (Geranium viscosissimum) common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) old man’s whiskers (Geum triflorum) baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii) Utah sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale) hoary verbena (Verbena stricta) showy goldeneye (Heliomeris mul flora) Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) PERENNIAL FLOWERS common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) ne leleaf giant hyssop (Agastache ur cifolia) silvery lupine (Lupinus argenteus) smoothstem blazingstar (Mentzelia laevicaulis) oblongleaf bluebells (Mertensia oblongifolia) taper p onion (Allium acuminatum) Colorado four o’clock (Mirabilis mul flora) western pearly everlas ng (Anaphalis margaritacea) wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) rosy pussytoes (Antennaria rosea) Mohave sandwort (Arenaria macradenia) flatbud pricklypoppy (Argemone munita) heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia) columbine (Aquilegia spp.) bu erfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) milkvetch (Astragalus spp.) arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagi ata) purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) lavenderleaf sundrops (Calylophus lavandulifolius) western white clema s (Clema s ligus cifolia) Blue Mountain prairie clover (Dalea ornata) hummingbird trumpet (Epilobium canum) aspen fleabane (Erigeron speciosus) mountain monardella (Monardella odora ssima) tu ed evening‐primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) penstemon (Penstemon spp.) silky phacelia (Phacelia sericea) longleaf phlox (Phlox longifolia) slender cinquefoil (Poten lla gracilis) western coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis) purple sage (Salvia dorrii) spearleaf stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum) Oregon checkerbloom (Sidalcea oregana) Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) desert princesplume (Stanleya pinnata) hookedspur violet (Viola adunca) 3 Rocky Mountain beeplant (Cleome serrulata) ANNUAL Size: 1 to 5 feet Bloom: White, pink, purple; July—September Growing ps: Part shade; moist, organic soil; nigh me temperatures below 65 F. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees. hoary verbena (Verbena stricta) Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; sandy, well‐
drained soil. Start from seed sowed thickly. ANNUAL OR SHORT‐LIVED PERENNIAL Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees and honeybees; larval host for the checkered white bu erfly. Bloom: Blue‐purple; July—September Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella) ANNUAL Size: 1 to 2 feet Bloom: Red, yellow; May—August Size: 1 to 4 feet Growing ps: Full sun; dry, sandy soil. Seeds require two months cold‐moist stra fica on. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees and bu erflies; larval host for the common buckeye bu erfly. common yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Growing ps: Full to part sun; well‐drained, sandy PERENNIAL, zone 3‐9 soil. Bloom is prolonged by deadheading and Size: 2 to 3 feet extra summer water. Reseeds readily. Bloom: White, pink; June—September Pollinator benefits: A racts bu erflies and na ve Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; sandy soil. bees. May be used as a flowering ground cover and mowed to 3 inches to prevent aggressive spread. common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) ANNUAL Size: Up to 8 feet Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees; supports natural enemies of insect pests. ne leleaf giant hyssop Growing ps: Full sun; prefers dry, disturbed soil. (Agastache ur cifolia) Bloom: Yellow; July—October Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees. baby blue eyes (Nemophila menziesii) ANNUAL Size: 6 inches Bloom: Blue; May—June PERENNIAL, zone 5‐10 Size: 3 to 6 feet Bloom: Pink, lavender; June—August Growing ps: Part shade; well‐drained soil. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees, bumblebees and honeybees. 4 taper p onion (Allium acuminatum) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐7 Size: 6 to 12 inches Bloom: White; April—July Growing ps: Full to part sun; sandy, well‐drained soil. Do not overwater. Bloom: Pink, white; May—July Pollinator benefits: A racts bu erflies and na ve Growing ps: Sun or shade; sandy loam soil. Plant bees. bulbs 3 to 4 inches deep. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees and honeybees. flatbud pricklypoppy (Argemone munita) western pearly everlas ng (Anaphalis margaritacea) Size: 15 to 40 inches PERENNIAL, zone 4‐8 Size: 1 to 3 feet Bloom: White, yellow centers; July—September Growing ps: Sun to part shade; sandy, gravelly soil. Good for dried flower arrangements. Pollinator benefits: Nectar source for American lady bu erfly; larval host for painted lady bu erfly. rosy pussytoes (Antennaria rosea) PERENNIAL, zone 2 Size: 8 to 16 inches Bloom: Pink; June—August Growing ps: Full sun; well‐drained soil. Spreads from stolons. May be used as a ground cover; tolerates light foot traffic. Pollinator benefits: A racts bu erflies. PERENNIAL, zone 5‐10 Bloom: Large, white, yellow centers; June—
September Growing ps: Full sun; dry, infer le, well‐drained soil. Deer‐resistant. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees, honeybees, and bu erflies. heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia) PERENNIAL, zone 2 Size: 8 to 12 inches Bloom: Yellow; May—August Growing ps: Full to part shade; moist soil. Pollinator benefits: A racts bu erflies, na ve bees and bumblebees. columbine (Aquilegia spp.) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐8 Size: 6 to 40 inches Bloom: White, yellow, blue, red; spring/summer Mohave sandwort (Arenaria macradenia) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐8 Size: 5 to 18 inches Growing ps: Sun to part shade; keep soil moist in spring, dry in summer. Pollinator benefits: A racts hummingbirds. 5 bu erfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐9 purple poppymallow (Callirhoe involucrata) Size: 18 to 24 inches PERENNIAL, zone 4‐8 Bloom: Flat‐topped, bright orange; May—
September Size: 8 to 12 inches, sprawling to 3 feet Bloom: White, pink, purple; March—June Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; well‐drained Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; well‐drained soil; drought‐tolerant. rocky or sandy soil. Can be used in hanging baskets. Pollinator benefits: A racts bumblebees, honeybees and hummingbirds. Larval host for gray hairstreak, monarch and queen bu erflies. Supports natural enemies of insect pests. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees; larval host for the gray hairstreak bu erfly. milkvetch (Astragalus spp.) Lavenderleaf sundrops (Calylophus lavandulifolius) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐7 PERENNIAL, zone 5‐9 Size: Up to 12 inches Size: Up to 8 inches, mounding Bloom: Purple, pink, white, bu erfly‐like; spring/
summer Bloom: Yellow; May—September in flushes every four to five weeks Growing ps: Full sun; dry, well‐drained, gravelly Growing ps: Full sun; gravelly, well‐drained soil. soil. Do not overwater. Drought‐tolerant. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees, bumblebees and bu erflies. Pollinator benefits: Pollinated by moths and na ve bees. arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagi ata) western white clema s (Clema s ligus cifolia) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐7 PERENNIAL VINE, zone 3‐7 Size: 6 to 32 inches Size: 12 to 18 feet Bloom: Yellow, sunflower‐like; May—July Bloom: White, prolific; April—August Growing ps: Full sun; deep, sandy or gravelly soil. Do not overwater a er bloom. Best results with direct‐seeding. Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; rich, well‐
drained soil. Provide a ernoon shade in hot areas. Prune back to 1 foot every three to five years to rejuvenate. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees, bumblebees and bu erflies. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees and hummingbirds. 6 Blue Mountain prairie clover (Dalea ornata) sulfur‐flower buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐7 PERENNIAL, zone 4‐8 Size: 12 to 24 inches, upright Size: 1 to 2 feet Bloom: Purple, woolly looking spikes; June—
August Bloom: Variable, cream, yellow, orange, red; June—September Growing ps: Full sun; dry, rocky or sandy soil. Do Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; well‐drained not overwater. Cut back in early spring to loamy to gravelly soil. May be grown from seed. encourage new growth. Cold‐stra fica on improves germina on; may self
‐seed in the garden. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees, bumblebees and honeybees. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees and bu erflies. Larval host for the lupine blue hummingbird trumpet (Epilobium canum) bu erfly. Supports natural enemies of insect pests. PERENNIAL, zone 5‐9 Size: 12 to 18 inches Bloom: Red, orange‐red; September—October Growing ps: Full sun; dry, rocky, well‐drained soil. Divide in spring when plant outgrows its space. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees and hummingbirds. showy fleabane (Erigeron speciosus) PERENNIAL, zone 2‐8 Size: 6 to 30 inches Bloom: White, pink, blue; June—August blanke lower (Gaillardia aristata) PERENNIAL, zone 2‐8 Size: 1 to 3 feet Bloom: Red, yellow, brownish centers; June—
September Growing ps: Full sun, shade‐intolerant; well‐
drained, infer le soil. Divide clumps every two to three years. Leave flower heads a er bloom for winter interest and for the birds. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees and bu erflies. Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; amend soil with organic ma er. Drought‐tolerant. Forms colonies; divide as needed. Pollinator benefits: Supports natural enemies of insect pests. 7 s cky purple geranium (Geranium viscosissimum) showy goldeneye (Heliomeris mul flora) PERENNIAL, zone 4‐10 Size: 5 to 20 inches Size: 1 to 2 feet Bloom: Yellow, daisy‐like; July—September Bloom: Pink, purple; May—August Growing ps: Full sun; dry, well‐drained soil. Will bloom in its first year. Will reseed; a rac ve in a meadow garden. Growing ps: Part shade; loamy soil. Give extra moisture in spring; cut back in summer. May sprawl in full shade. Leaves turn red in fall. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees and bu erflies. old man’s whiskers (Geum triflorum) PERENNIAL, zone 4‐10 Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees and bu erflies. Rocky Mountain iris (Iris missouriensis) PERENNIAL, zone 4‐8 PERENNIAL, zone 2‐5 Size: 1 to 2 feet Size: 6 to 18 inches Bloom: Purple, lavender; May—July Bloom: Pink, red, nodding, bell‐shaped; become erect as flowers give way to plume‐like seedheads; June—August Growing ps: Full sun; needs moisture un l flowering. Plant seeds or rhizomes. Divide every three years to prevent spreading. Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; tolerates Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees, loamy, clayey or sandy soil; forms dense mats. bumblebees, bu erflies and hummingbirds. May be used as a ground cover. Leaves turn deep red in fall. Lewis flax (Linum lewisii) Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees, bumblebees and bu erflies. PERENNIAL, zone 4‐9 Size: 6 to 30 inches Utah sweetvetch (Hedysarum boreale) Bloom: Blue, purple; May—September PERENNIAL, zone 3 Growing ps: Full sun; dry, well‐drained sandy soil. Will self‐seed; may cut back a er bloom. Size: 8 to 24 inches Bloom: Magenta pink; April—July Growing ps: Full sun; dry, sandy or rocky, infer le soil. Takes three years from seed to bloom. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees, honeybees and bu erflies. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees, bumblebees and bu erflies. 8 PERENNIAL, zone 2 Colorado four o’clock (Mirabilis mul flora) Size: 1 to 2 feet PERENNIAL, zone 4‐8 Bloom: Purple, lavender; June—August Size: 12 to 30 inches Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; dry, rocky soil. Bloom: Pink, purple; June—October silvery lupine (Lupinus argenteus) Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees and bumblebees; important nectar source for bu erflies. Growing ps: Full sun; blooms its first year; re‐
seeds. Useful as a ground cover and for erosion control. Can be mowed to the ground in October. Pollinator benefits: A racts bu erflies and hummingbirds. smoothstem blazingstar (Mentzelia laevicaulis) wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) BIENNIAL, 3‐7 PERENNIAL, zone 3‐9 Size: 1 to 3 feet Size: 1 to 3 feet Bloom: Yellow; June—September Bloom: Lavender, pink, white; June—September Growing ps: Full sun; sandy or gravelly soil. Grow from seed. Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; adaptable to soil type; easy to grow from seed. Deadhead flowers to prolong bloom. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees, bumblebees and bu erflies. oblongleaf bluebells (Mertensia oblongifolia) Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees, bumblebees, bu erflies and hummingbirds. PERENNIAL, zone 4 mountain monardella (Monardella odora ssima) Size: 4 to 16 inches PERENNIAL, zone 4‐10 Bloom: Blue, bell‐shaped; May—July Size: 3 to 18 inches Growing ps: Full sun to shade; coarse, well‐
drained soil; slow to establish but moderate lifespan. Bloom: Purple, light pink; June—September Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees, bumblebees and bu erflies. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees, bumblebees and bu erflies. Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; sandy to rocky, well‐drained soil; blooms its first year. 9 tu ed evening‐primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐8 PERENNIAL, zone 4‐9 Size: 2 to 6 inches Size: 8 to 16 inches Bloom: Pink, white; April—July Bloom: White; April—August Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; coarse, well‐
drained, infer le soil. Blooms its second year from seed; long‐lived. Growing ps: Full sun; dry clayey or sandy soils. Do not overwater in summer. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees. penstemon (Penstemon spp.) longleaf phlox (Phlox longifolia) Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees, bumblebees and bu erflies. PERENNIAL, zone 4 slender cinquefoil (Poten lla gracilis) Size: 1 to 5 feet PERENNIAL, zone 2 Bloom: Blue, purple, red, pink, white; spring/
summer Size: 1 to 2 feet Bloom: Yellow; June—August Growing ps: Full sun; adaptable to soil type; Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; excellent drainage required. Do not overwater. Will bloom difficult to transplant; extremely cold‐hardy. in its second year. May be short‐lived. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees and bu erflies. Pollinator benefit: A racts na ve bees, bumblebees and hummingbirds. silky phacelia (Phacelia sericea) western coneflower (Rudbeckia occidentalis) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐7 PERENNIAL, zone 3‐9 Size: 4 to 20 inches Size: 3 to 6 feet Bloom: Purple, blue; June—August Bloom: Purple‐brown, showy, dis nc ve; July—
Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; gravelly, well August ‐drained soil; minimal care, but does not Growing ps: Full sun; prefers loamy soil with transplant easily. consistent moisture. Will bloom its first year from seed. Deadhead flowers to prolong bloom. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees, honeybees and bu erflies. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees. 10 purple sage (Salvia dorrii) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐6 Size: 1 to 2 feet Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; adaptable to soil type. Forms colonies. May divide to check growth. Bloom: Blue and purple, two‐toned; May—June Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees and Growing ps: Full sun; well‐drained, infer le soil. bu erflies; supports natural enemies of insect pests. Lightly prune a er flowering. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees and bu erflies. scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) PERENNIAL, zone 4‐9 spearleaf stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum) PERENNIAL, zone 4‐9 Size: 2 to 10 inches Size: 2 to 16 inches Bloom: Scarlet orange; May—July Growing ps: Full sun; coarse, well‐drained soil; extremely drought‐tolerant. Do not overwater. Growing ps: Full sun to part shade; dry, gravelly, Spreads by rhizomes but is not aggressive. well‐drained soil. Useful as a ground cover. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees, bu erflies and syrphid flies (aphid predators). Bloom: Yellow; June—August desert princesplume (Stanleya pinnata) PERENNIAL, zone 4‐9 Oregon checkerbloom (Sidalcea oregana) PERENNIAL, zone 2 Size: 16 to 50 inches Size: 1 to 4 feet Bloom: Yellow; June—September Growing ps: Full sun; sandy or rocky, well‐
drained, infer le soil. Grow from seeds or Growing ps: Full sun; prefers moist, well‐drained transplants. soil. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees and Prune back to the basal rose e of leaves in fall. bu erflies. Pollinator benefits: A racts na ve bees and bu erflies. Bloom: Pink, purple; May—August Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) PERENNIAL, zone 3‐9 Size: 2 to 4 feet Bloom: Yellow; July—October 11 hookedspur violet (Viola adunca) PERENNIAL, zone 4 Size: 6 to 10 inches Bloom: Purple, lavender; March—August Growing ps: Shade; sandy, well‐drained soil; easy to establish. Pollinator benefits: A racts bumblebees and bu erflies; larval host for a variety of fri llary bu erflies. References: Anderson R.M., J.D. Gunnell and J.L. Goodspeed. 2012. Wildflowers of the Mountain West. Utah State University Press, Logan, UT. Brown T., S. Kegley, L. Archer. 2013. Gardeners Beware: Bee‐Toxic Pes cides Found in “Bee‐
Friendly” Plants Sold at Garden Centers Na onwide. h p://www.foe.org/beeac on. Accessed 30 Aug. 2013. Grissell, E. 2006. Insects and Gardens: In Pursuit of a Garden Ecology. Timber Press, Portland, OR. Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, Na ve Plants Database. h p://www.wildflower.org/
plants. Accessed 28 Aug. 2013. Mee, W., J. Barnes, R. Kjelgren, R. Su on, T. Cerny, C. Johnson. 2003. Water Wise: Na ve Plants for Intermountain Landscapes. Utah State University Press, Logan, UT. Missouri Botanical Garden, Plant Finder. h p://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/
plan inder/plan indersearch.aspx. Accessed 28 Aug. 2013. Ogle, D., D. Tilley, J. Cane, L. St. John, K. Fullen, M. Stannard, P. Pavek. 2011. Plants for Pollinators in the Intermountain West. USDA NRCS Technical Note No. 2A. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conserva on. h p://www.xerces.org/pollinator‐
conserva on. Accessed 28 Aug. 2013. USDA Natural Resources Conserva on Service Plants Database. h p://www.plants.usda.gov. Accessed 9 April 2014. The University of Nevada, Reno is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirma ve Ac on employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, creed, na onal origin, veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orienta on, or gene c informa on in any program or ac vity it operates. The University of Nevada employs only United States ci zens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States. 12 Copyright © 2014 University of Nevada Cooperative Extension