Hi Drew,

Thank you for your great  question. It is exciting to hear that you are exploring putting in a pollinator garden as they are so important for the environment.  For the most impact in helping the pollinator community, supporting the local ecosystem and helping songbirds, native plants are recommended. Although all of the plants you mentioned are commonly grown in gardens, only Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.), Ageratum (Conoclinium coelestinum), and some Salvias (Salvia spp.) are native to Maryland. Ageratum, also known as blue mistflower, is an aggressive native that attracts pollinators. While begonias (Begonia spp.) are not native to the area, they can still attract pollinators, however, the best plants for supporting the local ecosystem are native species. Many native pollinator attracting plants are available through local nurseries.

There are a number of things to take into consideration when selecting plants for a pollinator garden. Certain plants host certain pollinators, for example in Maryland, common host plants for butterflies include Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) for monarchs, spicebush (Lindera benzoin) for Spicebush swallowtails (Papilio Troilus), and various native plants like asters and bee balm for other species. Planting these flowers can help support the life cycles of local butterfly populations, and the same applies to bees, hummingbirds and other wildlife. You also have to choose plants that will thrive in your gardens growing conditions. Is it dry or wet, sunny or shady, what is the soil composition? Once you have this worked out and have selected the plants that you want, design is important. With a pollinator garden it is recommending to group 3-5 plants of the same species together for greater positive pollinator impact. Selecting native plants that bloom at different times will ensures a thriving habitat for pollinators throughout the year as well as interesting color and texture.

Here is an example of how you could approach a four seasons pollinator garden design. In winter blooms are limited, but structural elements like dried seed heads and stems from native perennials provide shelter and overwintering sites for insects. As spring arrives, you can select early bloomers such as Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), golden ragwort (Packera aurea), Golden alexander (Zizia aurea) and Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) which offer essential nectar for awakening pollinators. There are many vibrant summer native species bloomers like purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), bee balm (Monarda didyma), Maryland’s state flower, Black-eyes susans (Rudbeckia Hirta) and wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) providing abundant nectar and pollen. In fall, goldenrod (Solidago spp.), New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), and blue-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago caesia) support pollinators preparing for migration or winter dormancy. Then there are long blooming natives like Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium fistulosum) that bloom from July-September and has a seed head that dries and offers food and color during the winter. By selecting a variety of native plants that bloom in succession, you can create a resilient, ecologically valuable garden that supports pollinators year-round in Maryland.

Here are two links  for you to explore that will help you pick out plants and design a garden,  the University of Maryland Extension on pollinator gardens and recommendations for Maryland native plants. I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions.

Happy gardening!

Christine

Oops, I forgot to specify "annual bedding plants." I am quite familiar with native perennials; here at MPT we have two native plant gardens. But politically we are being asked to add color with some bedding plants, which I think of as annuals. What commercially available annual plants are the best for pollinators? The Mt. Washington Community Garden is using alyssum, among others. The attached picture is the Plaza garden from the west, year 2. Now, year 3, plants are filling in but there are sill some holes. Thanks!

Hi Drew,

Thanks for the followup, clarification and for sending photos. Native plants will have a greater  benefit to the ecosystem and wild life community, but if you must go with annuals  that are readily available off the nursery shelf here is a list of plants that are  not invasive and have pollinator value. Some of them you suggested in your original question.  Zinnias (Zinnia elegans) and cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)  offering bold, cheerful blooms in a range of colors that attract bees and butterflies throughout the summer. Lantana (Lantana camara), with its clusters of multi-colored flowers, is very attractive to  butterflies and hummingbirds and can thrive in the heat and drought conditions. Salvias, especially scarlet sage (Salvia splendens) and Texas sage (Salvia coccinea), grow vertically and can be used as accent plants and are favorites of hummingbirds and bees. The Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia), Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella), and Zinnias (Zinnia elegans) offer extended bloom times that stretch into fall and can offer vibrancy. Scarlet Sage (Salvia coccinea) and Lantana (Lantana camara) are especially attractive to hummingbirds, and Dill (Anethum graveolens) serves double duty by feeding pollinators and the larvae of swallowtail butterflies.  Verbena (Verbena x hybrida), with its long-lasting blooms in purples, pinks, and reds, cascades beautifully in containers or borders, attracting butterflies. Cleome (Cleome hassleriana), or spider flower, adds height and an airy texture to the garden while providing nectar for hummingbirds and bees. Even common petunias (Petunia × hybrida), available in a wide range of colors, can help support moths and hummingbirds when planted in sunny spots. When planting, opt for single-flowered varieties for better nectar access, and consider a mix of flower shapes and heights to appeal to a wider range of pollinators.  

I hope this is helpful and good luck with the project!

Christine 

Thanks!

 We hope that your pollinator garden thrives! Christine