10 PERENNIALS TO PLANT FOR POLLINATORS
For the past decade, the global bee population has been in severe decline. This is a VERY big problem for all of us. An article posted by CNN in March, 2015 stated that “bees are responsible for about one in every three bites of food in the United States. That’s a crop value of $15 billion to $18 billion.” Here in Canada, the economic contribution of bee pollination is $3.97-$5.5 billion per year.
If you enjoy foods like nuts, berries, fruits, and vegetables, then you may want to consider planting more flowering perennials so that bees (and other pollinators) have more opportunities to thrive.
Here are some hardy and beautiful perennials that pollinators love:
- Black Eyed Susan
- Coneflower
- Blazing Star
- Giant Hyssop
- Milkweed
- Wild Columbine
- Aster
- Purple Prairie Clover
- Lavender
- Yarrow
Once you decide which perennials to plant, remember to place them in clusters to better attract pollinators. Also consider that selecting a variety of flowers with different bloom times will provide a constant supply for the bees throughout the season.
Not only will you be helping the bee population, but all of these plants will add more color, height, and texture to your yard!
That sounds like a win-win solution!
Staff
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2015/03/04/living/iyw-5-ways-to-help-bees/index.html