Feeding Pollinators for Food Security
Choosing the Right Plants for Our Food Supply
When it comes to plant types and food on the table, the more the merrier.
In June, I love to eat strawberries. In July, it’s potato salad and hamburgers. In the fall, please give me apple pie, turkey and gravy. As we move through the year, seasonal produce offerings and traditions influence what we eat as people.Whether you realize it or not, pollinators – bees, wasps, bats, beetles, flies, moths, butterflies – are the reason we get to eat, and they are in danger of collapse.
Apply our expectations of seasonal availability and traditions, but add in the idea of survival.
Pollinators do not get to choose what they need at the time they need it, they can only pollinate what nature provides. We are stamping out their food supply by getting rid of plants and trees completely, or planting things that do not grow here naturally.
According to the Penn State Extension, one in every three bites of food is pollinator powered. To keep both us and pollinators eating, we need to help. Changing how we manage our yards is a small step that creates a big positive impact. Think native wildflowers, trees and shrubs in place of mowed lawns and nonnative plants.
According to the Penn State Extension, one in every three bites of food is pollinator powered. To keep both us and pollinators eating, we need to help. Changing how we manage our yards is a small step that creates a big positive impact. Think native wildflowers, trees and shrubs in place of mowed lawns and nonnative plants.
U.S. Department of Agriculture: Crops that Need Pollinators
| Legumes and relatives | Beans, Cowpea, Lima Beans, Lupines, Mung Bean/Green or Golden Gram, Soybean |
| Vegetables | Artichoke, Asparagus, Beet, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cantaloupes, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Cucumber, Eggplant, Endive, Green Pepper, Leek, Lettuce, Okra, Onion, Parsnip, Pumpkin, Radish, Rutabaga, Squash, Tomato, Turnip, White Gourd |
| Fruits, berries and nuts | Almonds, Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cacao, Cashew, Cherry, Chestnut, Citrus, Coffee, Coconut, Crabapple, Cranberry, Currant, Date, Fig, Gooseberry, Grapes, Guava, Huckleberry, Kiwi, Kolanut, Litchi, Macadamia, Mango, Olive, Papaw, Papaya, Passionfruit, Peach, Pear, Persimmon, Plum, Pomegranate, Raspberry, Strawberry, Tung, Vanilla, Watermelon |
| Herbs and spices | Allspice, Anise, Black Pepper, Caraway, Cardamon, Chive, Clove, Coriander, Dill, Fennel, Lavender, Mustard, Nutmeg, Parsley, Pimento, Tea, White Pepper |
| Oils, seeds and grains | Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Canola, Flax, Oil Palm, Safflower, Sesame, Sunflower |
| Clover and relatives | Alsike Clover, Arrowleaf Clover, Ball Clover, Berseem Clover, Black Medic/Yellow Trefoil, Cider Milkvetch, Crimson Clover, Lespedeza, Peanut, Persian Clover, Red Clover, Rose Clover, Strawberry Clover, Subterranean Clover, Sweet Clover, Trefoil, Vetch, White Clover |
| Other | Cotton, Kenaf |
Native Plants Support Pollinators
Planting native plants is important, and equally important is selecting plants that offer ‘meals’ for different pollinators throughout the growing season. Pollinators are very important, so how do we support them? The answer is native plants, trees and shrubs and lots of them.Native plants provide two essential functions:
- Support many pollinators as a food source, which nonnative plants are unable to provide
- Provide sources of food throughout the growing season for different pollinators
Native Woody Plant Genera
| Common Name | Plant Genus | # of Butterfly/Moth Species Supported |
|---|---|---|
| Oak | Quercus | 534 |
| Black Cherry | Prunus | 456 |
| Willow | Salix | 455 |
| Birch | Betula | 413 |
| Poplar | Populus | 368 |
| Crabapple | Malus | 311 |
| Blueberry | Vaccinium | 288 |
| Maple | Acer | 285 |
| Elm | Ulmus | 231 |
| Pine | Pinus | 203 |
| Hickory | Carya | 200 |
| Hawthorn | Cratageus | 159 |
| Spruce | Picea | 156 |
| Alder | Alnus | 156 |
| Basswood | Tilia | 150 |
| Filbert | Corylus | 131 |
| Walnut | Juglans | 130 |
| Beech | Fagus | 126 |
Native Herbaceous Plant Genera
| Common Name | Plant Genus | # of Butterfly/Moth Species Supported |
|---|---|---|
| Goldenrod | Solidago | 115 |
| Asters | Aster | 112 |
| Sunflower | Helianthus | 73 |
| Joe Pye, Boneset | Eupatorium | 42 |
| Sedges | Carex | 36 |
| Lupine | Lupinus | 33 |
| Violets | Viola | 29 |
| Geraniums | Geranium | 23 |
| Black-Eyed Susan | Rudbeckia | 17 |
| Evening Primrose | Oenothera | 16 |
| Milkweed | Asclepias | 12 |
| Verbena | Verbena | 11 |
| Beardtongue | Penstemon | 8 |
| Phlox | Phlax | 8 |
| Bee Balm | Monarda | 7 |
| Little Bluestem | Schizachyrium | 6 |
| Cardinal Flower | Lobelia | 4 |
Get Started on a Menu for Local Pollinators
Different pollinators need to drink nectar or eat pollen from different plants. Planting a variety of flowers, shrubs and trees can turn your yard into a colorful and beautiful space while helping to feed all the pollinators that visit. The more types of plants, the better. For instance, plant Phlox for spring, Purple Coneflower for summer and Goldenrod for late summer into fall. Of course, your selection depends on what you want as a property owner and your property’s light and soil conditions. Many guides are available on selecting plants that will thrive on your property, but here is a snapshot of native PA plants to consider to get started on a menu for your local pollinators:Wildflowers
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Aster | Aster | Late summer to autumn |
| Butterfly Weed | Asclepias tuberosa | Early to late summer |
| Purple Coneflower | Echinacea purpurea | Midsummer |
| Goldenrod | Solidago | Midsummer to autumn |
| Ironweed | Vernonia fasciculata | Late summer |
| Milkweed | Asclepias syriaca L. | Early spring to summer |
| Mountain Mint | Pycnanthemum maticum | Mid to late summer |
| Phlox | Phlox | Spring |
| Wild Bergamot | Fistulosa | Late summer |
Shrubs
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Season |
|---|---|---|
| American Hazelnut | Corylus americana | Early spring |
| Arrow-wood Viburnum | Viburnum dentatum | Late spring |
| Black Chokeberry | Aronia melanocarpa | Spring |
| Blueberries | Vaccinium | Late spring |
| Buttonbush | Cephalanthus accidentalis | Early spring |
| New Jersey Tea | Ceanothus americanus | Spring to summer |
| Pagoda Dogwood | Cornus alternifolia | Late spring |
| Red-osier Dogwood | Cornus sericea | Late spring |
| Spicebush | Lindera benzoin | Early spring |
| Winterberry | Illex verticillata | Late spring to summer |
Trees
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Blackgum | Nyssa sylvatica | Spring |
| Chestnut Oak | Quercus montana | Late spring |
| Flowering Dogwood | Cornus florida | Late spring |
| Hop-hornbeam | Ostrya virginiana | Spring |
| Red Bud | Cercis canadensis | Spring |
| Red Maple | Acer rubrum | Early spring |
| Sassafrass | Sassafras albidum | Spring |
| Sugar Maple | Acer saccharum | Spring |
| Tuliptree | Liriodendron tulipfera | Spring |
| Witch-hazel | Hamamelis virginiana | Late summer to fall |
For All of the Streamside Property Owners Out There
Streamside, or riparian buffers, are critical for countless reasons. The strip of vegetation that runs alongside waterways can also serve as a food source for pollinators. There are many types of trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers, some of which are listed above, which will fit the bill.
Resources
PA DCNR: Landscaping with Native Plants
Franklin and Marshall College: The Importance of Pollinators
Penn State Extension Master Pollinator Certification
U.S. Forest Service: Growing Plants for Pollinators in the Northeast
Penn State Extension: What Does a Pollinator Friendly Garden Look Like?
Wildlife Connections: Moths and Butterflies