Observations from a Pollinator Garden - Part 3: Annuals

When talking about annuals, you are assured of one thing.  They are not native!  Annuals typically only survive in climates warmer than ours.  Our winters are too harsh for them.  Some of them might have seed that can survive, but the original plant will not.  But before we talk annuals, back to shrubs one more time.  

The heavy rain of last week put an end to my bottlebrush buckeye blooms but now I see swallowtails and other butterflies and bees on my hydrangea paniculata ‘White Blush’ and Clethra Summersweet, Clethra alnifolia.  Because Clethra is a late season bloomer, they have recently sprung alive with fragrant blooms that look like mini bottlebrush buckeye blooms.  These are slow growers to me and this is the first year they have really bloomed.  I am quite pleased with what I see and would plant a few more of these next season.  I know where they will go too...they tolerate wet soil so they will go to a low lying area of the yard where they will do the most good and be happiest.  But be aware that they are one of the last shrubs to show signs of life in spring.  Patience is needed.  
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Likewise, Deb from BGC has chimed in to say she sees many Swallowtails as well as small pastel butterflies and a wide variety of bees on her Hydrangea paniculata ‘pink diamond’ shrubs.  I have a wide variety of hydrangeas on my property and it doesn’t seem that, when it comes to pollinators, all hydrangeas are equal.  Some seem more popular with pollinators than others but that could be due to when they are at their peak pollination. So, if you have them, take a look and see who prefers your hydrangeas and what type they are.  Let us know in the comments below if you see preferences like Deb and me.

Viceroy on White Blush Hydrangea, photo by Beth Martin

​​Now, onto our non-native pollinator enhancers!  Why would annuals be so important?  Shrubs and perennials have their moment in the sun and then their blooms fade away for the rest of the season.  Annuals tend to bloom consistently all season as long as they are well watered and fertilized.  So they can keep blooming well into fall as long as conditions are right.  If pollinators can find them, they give them those all important last chances to help bulk up food stores for migration or hibernation.  My absolute favorite is the first one on my list because it is important for Monarch migration.  And I think we all know by now, Monarchs need our help.

Monarch on Tithonia, photo by Beth Martin

1. Tithonia, Mexican sunflower, are sought out by monarchs which migrate to Mexico, so this is likely a familiar plant to them.  They can grow quite large so a few of them go a long way.  Mine are over 6’ tall now and are about 3’ round and still growing.  One thick stem will support multiple branches which will branch again and flowers will appear at the end of all the branches.  It gets covered in 2” round flowers with bright orange petals around a golden center in which you will find every pollinator.  And I pretty much mean everything.  All bees, butterflies large and small, hummingbirds and dragonflies.  Now, this is not a plant you think of for hummingbirds.  There really is no throat, but hummers will find it and be a regular visitor to them.  But one of the primary reasons you want to plant this giant is for the monarch butterflies.  The Monarchs eggs being laid right now are going to be the butterflies who travel to Mexico and start the return journey back north in 8 or 9 months.  The previous 4 generations lived only 2-6 weeks.  In order to get this significant 5th generation to Mexico, they need as much nectar as possible and they adore Tithonia.  The other thing that makes it important to plant is that once it starts blooming (which is around August 1), it keeps blooming until the first hard freeze.  Not a great deal is blooming at that time, so it becomes even more important. One thing I will likely do next year is put a large thick bamboo support with my tiny plant when I plant it.  The weather this summer has knocked a few of mine down.  Because they are annuals, they do not have deep root systems.  So they need more watering and some support.  This is a plant that you could pull up a chair to and literally watch it grow!  If you have the room, help the monarchs and plant this stunner.  You want to harvest seeds before the first hard freeze.  We will talk more about that at a later date.
2. Salvias, in particular Black and blue salvia, are recommended by pretty much everyone at BGC.  I see a variety of insects at them but the reason we all plant it every year is for the hummingbirds.  Hummers will go to just about any salvia, but they fight over the black and blue.  It is the first one they typically come to in the morning at my house. Our birding expert, Belinda, agrees that this is the must have for Hummingbirds.
3. Verbena, I like to put in my prairie, especially the tall variety.  All pollinators are attracted to it and I thought they would self seed, but I mis-calculated this year and will need more of these lavender beauties next year.  Jackie also loves this beauty in her yard.
4. Herbs: (I am cheating again, 6x over!) Dill, fennel, parsley are Jackie's recommendation for swallowtails.  I have mostly planted fennel for the swallowtails but Jackie aids them further with dill and parsley.  I am always excited if I purchase parsley and a swallowtail caterpillar is already on it.  Carrot tops and Queen Anne's Lace (which is in my prairie) are also popular for swallowtails.  For the bees as well as butterflies I would add chives, mint and borage.  I particularly love borage.  Not only because honeybees love them but because they are such a different annual and one of the few true blue flowers I know.  My borage has not reached successful levels yet.  It will reseed and has in places in my yard, but I would like to get a large swath going.  Any allium, chives, ornamental or perennial onion will benefit bees. There are some deep pink/purple varieties blooming right now which is nice to have. Honey bees, bumble bees, black bees, and those tiny metallic green bees are all over them.  If you have a safe place to plant mint, bees of all sorts will love you for that as well.  Be aware that mint will spread.
5. Vegetables: how can you not throw them in here!  We need pollinators to do their jobs in order to benefit us with fruits and vegetables.  So it is only smart to put some beloved herbs in their vicinity to help increase pollination and be a more successful food producer!  Kim and I both see many varieties of bees around our veggies.  Some of them are extremely small.  
6. Zinnias have been called out by many BGC’ers as well.  Cece, Jackie and Tracy see bees and butterflies on them all the time.  It is my first year with them and I certainly see many varieties of bees and have seen swallowtails on them.  I will be planting them again.
7. Cuphea, batface plant is one I like for Hummingbirds.  Seems like a natural for them. They feed on them multiple times a day before hanging out on our tomato cages for a little R and R.
8. Agastache, Black adder and blue profusion are must haves for Deb.  She has noted Swallowtails and pastel small butterflies on them as well as a large variety of bees.  They are a zone 6 which is too warm for us, but if you plant these near your house or another protected area, you may be lucky and have it return the following spring.  I will be adding these to my gardens next year.  Thanks Deb!
9. Lantana, is a favorite of  Janet.  She has observed many bees along with monarchs and swallowtails.  Take a look at the photo she included as well. Jackie also loves lantana.  It will be back in my yard next year.
10. Gerber daisies have brought lots of pollinators into Kim’s gardens. The bright large flowers just seem like happiness on a stem.
11. Cleome is popular with pollinators in Randy’s gardens. I seed them in a few places in my yard.  I love the tall willowiness of them.  Diamond frost (bees) and yellow snapdragons (monarchs) are two other suggestions from Cece and Jackie.
12. There are lots of vines that support pollinators as well.  One of my favorites for hummingbirds when I lived in Chicago was Mexican firecracker vine.  I haven’t found the perfect place for it here in Wisconsin yet to make it grow to a large size but I think I have my plan for them for next year.  They like warm soil.  In Chicago I had them planted near a sidewalk that likely acted as a heating element for them.  Bright sun for them.

Hummingbird on Black and Blue Salvia, photo by Beth Martin

Hummingbird enjoying red salvia, photo by Beth Martin

Hummingbird in Cuphea 'Bat Face', photo by Beth Martin

Lantana hosts many pollinators like this swallowtail. photo by Janet Kosut

Almost any annual will benefit our pollinators and there are more good annuals besides those suggested above.  Maybe these will give you a few new ideas for plantings you would like to do for next year.  Or if you are a fan of a particular pollinator, some of these specific suggestions may further help you attract them to your yard.  The important thing to remember is:

•  a good balance between trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals. 
•  make sure you have early bloomers and late bloomers to keep your home popular with pollinators and to support the all important migration and hibernation. 

an overview of Beth's prairie

A close up of the prairie, photo by Beth Martin

What is the result of all of this hard work on your part?  For me, I took about an acre of property and have struggled to turn it into a prairie.  I fail, succeed, fail, succeed, etc.  But overall, I am heading in the right direction.  It helps to have a partner who helps you pull invasives and listens to you debate the merits of this plant or that plant.  He nods his head, smiles, agrees and pulls another weed.  But it gives me great joy to see him with his phone out trying to take a picture of a bee he has not seen before or of a bird that is in the prairie and does not visit the feeders.  Every year our insect quota seems to be greater.  And with that, you get some surprises.  For the first time ever last week, we have seen mating monarchs.  I wasn’t sure what I was seeing at first, but this morning, I saw another mating pair.  The result of this pairing will be the monarchs that live 8-9 months that will make the difficult trek back to Mexico.  There is a saying something to the effect, “it’s the little things in life that are important.” All the hard work seems worth it to know you have created a space with a goal in mind and have achieved it.

Hummingbird on Firecracker Vine, photo by Beth Martin

Pollinator week is June 21-27 next year.  Do yourself a favor.  In these times of uncertainty, nothing keeps you more grounded then being in touch with nature, getting plenty of vitamin D from the sun and helping out nature.  Buy a single plant of anything we have discussed in this series and plant it this week.  You will be at the beginning of a wonderful path that gives you joy... along with an occasional back ache.  If you get a chance, let us know what you plant in the comments below.
  
Next time, we can discuss a little seed saving.  It makes my OCD happy.  
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Beth Martin is a BGC employee, Master Gardener, Master Composter, and Naturalist.  
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