Here are suggestions
for plants to attract
pollinators and for
pond gardens, along
with other things for
pollinators in the garden.
Greene’s Country Store and Feed
We have items to encourage pollinators including bee keeping supplies (complete hive ready to go along with veils, gloves, smokers, bee brushes, hive tools, and feeders). Native bee homes along with butteryfly houses, humming bird feeders and nectars. We have lots of plants that will work to attract pollinators —- butterfly bushes, loads of perennials, berry plants. We also have bulk wild flower seeds —true seeds not the “stuff” you see in the mass market no filler or waste seeds but true wild flower seeds —plant May thru June for the birds to eat when in seed. from Randy Greene, Greene’s Country Store, www.greenescountrystore.com, 8621 Hwy N, Lake St. Loius, MO 63367
Hillermann Nursery & Florist –
NATIVE PLANTS: Hibiscus lasiocarpos-Rose Mallow—big, bold statement with large flowers, Pontederia peltatum—Pickeral Rush—good hardy plant, long blooming, Thalia dealbata—exotic looking, Lobelia cardinalis—Cardinal flower—great color contrast against dark foliage, Bright red flower, great for hummingbirds. Nelumbo—Water Lotus—great showy foliage withy gorgeous flowers and fragrant, Nymphaea—Water Lily—surface floater, wonderful flowers and fragrant. ORNAMENTAL PLANTS: Ludwigia—Water Primrose—bright yellow flowers, good oxygenator, Canna—colorful foliage, big show, beautiful flowers, Ruellia ssp.—continuous blooms, pink or purple petunia like flowers. From Patty Bragg at Hillermann’s, www.hillermann.com, 636-239-6729, 2601 E. 5th Street, Washington, MO 63090
Sherwood’s Forest Nursery
and Garden Center
Plants that attract pollinators are Buddleja – butterfly bush comes in many colors and attracts butterflies all summer. Asclepias turberosa is a native perennial that has small orange flowers June to September. Tina Flowering Crab provides great cover and food for birds and has a spring bloom that attracts bees. Lagerstroemia – Crape Myrtle will bloom all summer and the bees love them. Rose of Sharon comes in a tree or bush form with many colors and blooms in the summer and is always full of bees. From Dave Sherwood, Sherwood’s Forest, www.sherwoods-forest.com, 314-966-0028, 2651 Barrett Station Rd., Ballwin, MO 63021
Greenscapes Gardens
Some of my favorite pollinator selections are: Annuals:- Pentas lanceolata (especially the butterfly series). They are butterfly magnets. Zinnia (especially profusion series), Perennials: Nepeta spp. (‘Walker’s Low’, ‘Snowflake’, ‘Six Hills Giant’). Besides attracting masses of butterflies and bees, they are deer and rabbit resistant. Heliopsis ‘Summer Sun’ or ‘Prairie Sunset’. Their flowers are huge and quite showy! Shrubs:- Sambucus ‘Black Lace’ I LOVE the foliage on these plants! The flowers are HUGE and showy and a MAGNET to butterflies and bees! – Hypericum ‘Sunburst’.. Butterflies love it and bees too! Trees:- Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’ is fragrant and attracts butterflies.- Hydrangea paniculata ‘Snow Mountain’. Also a butterfly magnet. From Justin McCoy, Perennials manager, www.greenscapesgardens.com, 314 821-2440, 2832 Barrett Station Rd, Manchester, MO 63021
Bowood Farms
Some of my favorite pollinators are: dill, fennel, parsley, chives, basil, borage, oregano, marjoram and thymes. We grow all these herbs at Bowood chemical free. This is an important point when purchasing pollinator plants. Cosmos and Zinnias are great pollinator plants which also provide color. Zinnia UpRoar Rose, in the Dreamland Series, and Zinnia Starlight Rose in the new short Zahara Series are wonderful. White clover should be used more in subdivision green spaces, not only pollinators are attracted, but clover provides food for rabbits and deer and gives these creatures something else to eat besides your landscape and helps cut down on use of fertilizer and dollars spent on mowing green spaces! This is a desired plant in other countries! From Ellen Barredo, www.bowoodfarms.com, 314 454-6868, 4605 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63108
Summerwinds Nursery
For butterflies I am an avid larval plant enthusiast. I always grow herbs and flowers for them. I grow Bloodflower (Asclepias curassavica ) for Monarch butterflies. Rue for Giant Swallowtails, fennel or parsley for swallowtails. Cosmos is a nectar plant. Beebalm is also a great plant. Nepeta (Walker’s Low) attracts hummingbirds, and butterflies, AND is deer resistant. For shrubs, I would recommend Blue Princess Holly. Plant a Blue Prince, or Little Rascal Holly nearby and you will get bees to pollinate, and berries for the birds to eat during the winter. From Carolyn Boardman, Summerwinds Nursery, www.summerwindsmo.com, 636.227.0095, 54 Clarkson Rd, Ellisville, MO 63011.