Native Plants that Support Beneficial Insects
Nothing herein should be taken as medical or as personal advice, nor as a diagnosis or a prescription in any form.
Increased biodiversity can help harmonize a landscape. When we add variety to our farms and gardens, we foster more security through diversity.
And when we draw and sustain beneficial insects specifically, the twin objectives of reducing mischievous insect populations as well as reducing artificial inputs can be met. One of the most critical aspects in supporting beneficial insects and pollinators is to protect them from chemicals and artificial inputs that either injure or kill the pollinators directly, or harm their ability to perform their many, beneficial functions.
Having evolved and adapted in an area, native* plants tend to thrive without excess maintenance, all while withstanding various regional stress. They also co-evolved alongside local wildlife, developing a network of interdependent relationships. Research shows that native plants promote more abundant and diverse pollinator populations compared to non-native species, and native bees provide a substantial portion of pollination for many crops. A diversity of pollinators helps provide a form of “pollination insurance”. *Here, “native” refers to the east, north-central Midwest.
In addition to pollinators, beneficial insects include lacewings, ladybugs and other predatory beetles, small solitary parasitic wasps, aphid-eating flower flies, and more! Each of these, along with birds [for more information, see the post “Native Plants to Support Birds”], can dramatically (and naturally) reduce the numbers of mischievous insects.
Beneficial insects need food across the seasons (choose plants that bloom at various times), as well as shelter. Bumble bees for example, live in family units, often in brush piles, native bunch grasses, or piles of stones. Some solitary bees nest in the hollow stems of plants (grasses, shrubs, trees, and large wildflowers), while other solitary bees nest in the ground. Leaving soils and plants untilled and undisturbed can support their populations. Many over-story trees also provide beneficial habitat and blooms, including wild black cherry (Prunus serotina), American basswood (Tilia americana), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), maples (Acer spp.), and many other native trees.
Pollinators also need some protection from wind in order to pollinate, and bees especially have been observed to preferentially pollinate on the leeward side of trees when windy. Adding plantings that reduce wind speed will make it easier for pollinators to fly and land.
While there are many examples of native plants that support beneficial insects, here are a few favorites:
- asters (Symphotrichum spp.) – summer and fall blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees, specialist bees, butterflies & moths, beetles, wasps
- bee balm/ bergamot (Monarda spp.) – summer blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees, specialist bees, butterflies & moths, beetles, wasps, hummingbirds; also a host plant
- black and brown eyed Susans (Rudbeckia spp.) – summer blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees, specialist bees, butterflies & moths , beetles, wasps
- wild black cherry (Prunus serotina) – early spring blooms for bees and butterflies
- chickweed (Stellaria spp.) – spring blooms for native bees and pollinating flies
- clovers (Dalea spp.) – long-blooming, late-spring through summer for bumble bees, solitary bees, specialist bees, butterflies & moths, beetles, wasps; nitrogen-fixing plant
- columbine (Aquilegia canadensis) – spring blooms for bumble bees, hummingbirds; also a host plant
- coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) – summer blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees, specialist bees, butterflies & moths, beetles, wasps; stems also provide nesting habitat
- coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.) – summer blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees, specialist bees, butterflies & moths, beetles
- dogwoods (Cornus spp.) – spring blooms for solitary bees and butterflies
- elderberry (Sambucus spp.) – summer blooms for solitary bees, beetles
- evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) – summer to fall blooms for bumble bees, specialist bees, butterflies & moths
- false indigo (Amorpha fruticosa) – late spring to early summer blooms; nitrogen fixing plant
- wild indigo (blue: Baptisia australis and white alba) – late spring blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees, butterflies & moths; nitrogen fixing plant
- goldenrod (Solidago spp.) – late summer to fall blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees, specialist bees, butterflies & moths, beetles, wasps; also a host plant
- purple giant hyssop (Agastache scrophularifolia) – summer blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees, butterflies/ moths, beetles, hummingbirds
- lead plant (Amorpha canescens) – summer blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees, specialist bees, beetles, wasps; also a host plant for >20 species of butterflies & moths; nitrogen-fixing plant
- milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) – summer blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees, butterflies & moths, beetles, wasps, flies, hummingbirds; also a host plant
- mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) – summer blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees, butterflies & moths, beetles, wasps
- partridge pea (Chamacristae fasiculata) – summer blooms until frost and flowers plus extra-floral nectaries (nectar-producing glands located at leaf stems) for bumble bees, solitary bees, butterflies & moths, beetles, wasps; nitrogen fixing plant with abundant biomass
- sundial lupine (Lupinus perennis) – mid-spring to mid-summer blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees; also a host plant
- New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) – summer blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees, specialist bees, butterflies & moths, beetles, wasps; also a host plant for ~7 species of butterflies & moths; nitrogen fixing plant
- paw paw (Asimina triloba) – spring blooms for beetles and flies
- persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) –late spring blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees
- passionflower/ maypop (Passiflora incarnata) – summer blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees, butterflies & moths
- phacelia (Phacelia spp.) – mid- to late-summer blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees, butterflies & moths
- queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota) – summer blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees, butterflies & moths, beetles, wasps
- redbud (Cercis canadensis): – early spring blooms for specialist bees, butterflies & moths
- serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) – early spring blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees; also a host plant for > 90 species of butterflies & moths
- wild strawberries (Fragaria virginiana) – spring blooms for bumble bees, solitary bees, specialist bees, butterflies & moths, beetles, wasps; also a host plant for >65 species of butterflies & moths
- spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) – early spring blooms for specialist bees
- sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) – summer blooms for solitary bees, specialist bees, butterflies & moths, beetles
- willows (Salix spp.) – late winter to early spring blooms for specialist bees
- yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – summer blooms for bees, butterflies, hoverflies, lacewings, ladybugs & other beetles, wasps
Adding plants to a landscape can change the ecology as well as the resonance of an area. Incorporating native plants in the haven of your landscape can support the health of the extended ecosystem. Well done, and thank you!
Sources:
NRCS pollinator resources
plants.usda.gov
Prairie Moon Nursery
USDA National Agroforestry Center
Xerces Society