Avatar for Ceckery
Aug 6, 2020 4:31 PM CST
Thread OP
Bellevue, NE
I'm in zone 5, near Omaha Nebraska. What could I plant that you've successfully attracted pollinators with? Right now I've got false sem spirea, some miniature roses, milkweed, and bee balm (those should all come back next year). I also always plant some snapdragons.

I've got a bed the full length of the house that's about 1.5 feet deep I can plant in. It gets around 4 hours sun in the late morning. I've got a raised bed on the north side of the house that gets morning/ early afternoon sun. And I've got my garden beds on the south side of the house that get sun basically all day (though once garden plants get big enough they could be shaded part time).
Avatar for hwmpg
Aug 11, 2020 12:53 PM CST

For the full sun area, herbs are usually winners with pollinators.....sages, hyssop, fennel, dill, lavender, thyme and others. However, I'm not sure about the cold hardiness of any of those relative to your climate. But in my garden when several of those are in bloom, it's downright dangerous to walk on the path through the middle of those plants.

If any grow in your area, Sedums are very popular with buzzing pollinators.

In the fall, bees seem to lose their mind over Asters, and you should definitely be able to find some cold tolerant varieties for your area. Most Asters can get pretty tall, but I shear mine back 40-50% around the 4th of July, just to keep their height manageable---and so I can see the flowers.
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Sep 3, 2020 9:43 AM CST
Name: UrbanWild
Kentucky (Zone 6b)
Kentucky - Plant Hardiness Zone 7a
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Birds Vegetable Grower Spiders! Organic Gardener Native Plants and Wildflowers
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I agree with @hwmpg...any of the culinary herbs are great.

But plan on all of the seasons. It's easy enough to get stuff to flower mid season, but keep a special eye on VERY early and VERY late. On the late side, you can't go wrong with Tithonia spp. (Mexican sunflower). They start flowering mind summer and go all the way to frost. Any of the large Salvia (guarantica group), and medium salvias will flower to frost as well. Early stuff - consider bulbs and things that grow well with the possibility of lower temps. Snapdragons help. Sedums both tall and low have flowering periods conducive to planning for full seasons (early-mid-late). Consider staggering various Heuchera spp. and cultivars (coral bells) the same way, you can extend the season for smaller pollinators by planning for blooming periods (and colors of foliage and flowers don't hurt either). Coral bells flower for a long time as well. Basically, you don't need to do it all at once. Just keep chipping away at adding habitat structure and you should be better every year.

Lastly, there is a LOT of sales literature on seed packets, websites, etc that say various plants are good pollinator plants. A lot of them aren't...sometimes at all, others may not be in some locations. Don't be in a hurry to fill gaps and do a LOT of looking up species/cultivars before adding them or you'll have several plants that while decent, really may not function like you thought. Additionally, there is a good reason to check on invasiveness before planting. You don't want to compound problems for you or your neighbors down the road.
Always looking for interesting plants for pollinators and food! Bonus points for highly, and pleasantly scented plants.

"Si hortum in bibliotheca habes, nihil deerit." [“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”] -- Marcus Tullius Cicero in Ad Familiares IX, 4, to Varro. 46 BCE
Avatar for Ceckery
Sep 12, 2020 2:46 PM CST
Thread OP
Bellevue, NE
I picked up these seeds today. Would any of them be good for putting down seeds now so they'll grow in the spring? The place I'm going to plant is currently filled with snapdragons so buying actual plants right now won't work. I'd love to show some seeds now if possible but I'm also fine with waiting until spring (I can start them inside if needed).
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Sep 13, 2020 9:32 PM CST
Name: UrbanWild
Kentucky (Zone 6b)
Kentucky - Plant Hardiness Zone 7a
Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Birds Vegetable Grower Spiders! Organic Gardener Native Plants and Wildflowers
Hummingbirder Frogs and Toads Dog Lover Critters Allowed Butterflies Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
I wouldn't plant any of those until spring.
Always looking for interesting plants for pollinators and food! Bonus points for highly, and pleasantly scented plants.

"Si hortum in bibliotheca habes, nihil deerit." [“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”] -- Marcus Tullius Cicero in Ad Familiares IX, 4, to Varro. 46 BCE
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Nov 28, 2020 5:41 PM CST
Name: Jen
The Dry Side of Oregon (Zone 6b)
Native Plants and Wildflowers Seed Starter Cactus and Succulents Cut Flowers Dahlias Bulbs
Birds Bee Lover Hummingbirder Greenhouse Region: Oregon
I'm not sure if your local nurseries sell it, but my Walker's Low Catmint is abuzz with bees and butterflies from May - October each year. It's one of my favorite plants for lots of reasons, but especially this! It's a super hearty perennial (I'm in Zone 6b) and I have covered my yard in it from ONE plant! I just take a shovel each fall or spring and divide. It's bee heaven!
"Gardening is cheaper than therapy - plus you get cucumbers."
Low-Water/High Desert Seeds
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