Selecting Plants for Pollinators: American Semi Desert - North American Pollinator Protection Campaign

8/3/2019 Selecting Plants for Pollinators: American Semi Desert - North American Pollinator Protection Campaign

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Including the states of:

California

and

Arizona

and parts of:

Nevada

and

Utah

A Regional Guide for Farmers, Land Managers, and Gardeners In t

AmericanSemiDesert

andDesert Province

Selecting

Plants

for

Pollinators

andNAPPC


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Selecting Plants or Pollinators

This is one o several guides or

dierent regions in the United

States. We welcome your eedback

to assist us in making the uture

guides useul. Please contact us at

[email protected]

Why Support Pollinators?

Getting Started 5

American semidesert & Desert Province

Meet the Pollinators

Plant Traits 10

Developing Plantings 1

Farms 13

Public Lands 14

Home Landscapes 15

Bloom Periods 16

Plants That Attract Pollinators 18

Habitat Hints 0

Checklist

Resources and Feedback 3

Table o CONTENTS


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American semidesert and desert Province

A Regional Guide for

Farmers, Land Managers,

and Gardeners

In the

Ecological Region of the

American SemiDesert

& Desert Province

Including the states of:

California and Arizona

And parts of:

Nevada and Utah

a NAPPC And Pollinator Partnership Publication


This guide was unded by the National Fish and Wildlie Foundation, the C.S. Fund, the Plant Conservation Alliance

the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau o Land Management with oversight by the Pollinator Partnership

(www.pollinator.org), in support o the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPCwww.nappc.org)


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IntheIr1996 book, theForgotten PollInators, Buchmann and

Nabhan estimated that animal pollinators are needed or the reproduction

o 90% o owering plants and one third o human ood crops. Each o usdepends on these industrious pollinators in a practical way to provide us

with the wide range o oods we eat. In addition, pollinators are part o the

intricate web that supports the biological diversity in natural ecosystems

that helps sustain our quality o lie.

Abundant and healthy populations o pollinators can improve ruit set

and quality, and increase ruit size. In arming situations this increases

production per acre. In the wild, biodiversity increases and wildlie ood

sources increase.

Broccoli, cabbage, citrus, and melons are some o the crops raised in theAmerican Semidesert and Desert Province that rely on honey bees and

native bees or pollination. Domestic honey bees pollinate approximately

$10 billion worth o crops in the U.S. each year.

Unortunately, the numbers o both native pollinators and domesticated

bee populations are declining. They are threatened by habitat loss,

disease, and the excessive and inappropriate use o pesticides. The loss o

commercial bees to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has highlighted how

severe the issues o proper hive management are to reduce stresses caused

by disease, pesticide use, insufcient nutrition, and transportation practices.

Currently, the pollination services that the commercial beekeeping industryprovides are receiving much needed research and conservation resources.

The eorts to understand the threats to commercial bees should help us

understand other pollinators and their roles in the environment as well.

It is imperative that we take immediate steps to help pollinator populations

thrive. The beauty o the situation is that by supporting pollinators need

or habitat, we support our own needs or ood and support diversity in the

natural world.

Thank you or taking time to consult this guide. By adding plants to your

landscape that provide ood and shelter or pollinators throughout their

active seasons and by adopting pollinator riendly landscape practices, you

can make a dierence to both the pollinators and the people that rely on them.

Farming eeds

the world, and

we must remember

that pollinators

are a critical

link in our ood

systems.-- Paul Growald

Co-Founder

Pollinator partnership


4

Why support pollinators?

Laurie Davies Adams

Executive DirectorPollinator Partnership


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thIsregIonalguIdeIsjust one

in a series o plant selection tools

designed to provide inormation

on how individuals can inuence

pollinator populations through

choices they make when they arm

a plot o ground, manage large

tracts o public land, or plant a

garden. Each o us can have a

positive impact by providing the

essential habitat requirements orpollinators including ood, water,

shelter, and enough space to allow

pollinators to raise their young.

Pollinators travel through the

landscape without regard to

property ownership or state

boundaries. Weve chosen to use

R.G. Baileys classifcation system

to identiy the geographic ocus

o this guide and to underscore

the connections between climateand vegetation types that aect

the diversity o pollinators in the

environment.

Baileys Ecoregions o the United

States, developed by the United

States Forest Service, is a system

created as a management tool

and is used to predict responses

to land management practices

throughout large areas. This guide

addresses pollinator-riendly land

management practices in what is

known as the American Semidesert

and Desert Province.

Portions o our southwestern states

make up the 87,700 square miles

o this province with elevations

ranging rom 280 eet below sealevel to over 11,000 eet in some

mountain ranges. This province

includes the Mojave, Colorado, and

Sonoran Deserts. The topography

primarily eatures gently rolling

plains interspersed with low

mountains and buttes. Average

annual temperatures are relatively

high, ranging rom 60 to 75F.

This dry province is characterized

by long, hot summers, erraticrainall, and virtually no rainall

in the summer. Vegetation is thus

very sparse, and includes ew

trees except along the northern

edge o the province, which

eatures Joshuas, junipers, and

pinyons. Other common vegetation

includes cacti and other thorny

shrubs, creosote bushes, mesquite,

paloverde, ocotillo, saguaro, and

bitterbrush.

Many areas o this province are as

yet undeveloped, however, building

in some parts has eliminated some

o the natural ecosystems upon

which the regions pollinators

depend. Long beore there were

homes and arms in this area,the original, natural vegetation

provided continuous cover and

adjacent eeding opportunities

or wildlie, including pollinators.

In choosing plants, aim to create

habitat or pollinators that allow

adequate ood shelter, and water

sources. Most pollinators have very

small home ranges. You can make

a dierence by understanding the

vegetation patterns o the arm,orest, or neighbors yard adjacent

to you and by making planting

choices that support the pollinators

need or ood and shelter as they

move through the landscape.

Getting Started


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6

Understanding

the American Semi-Desert & Desert Province

nThis region is designatednumber 322 in the Baileys

Ecosystem Provinces. To see a map o the provinces go to:

www.s.ed.us/colorimagemap/ecoreg1_provinces.html

nNot sure about which bioregion you live or work in? Go to

www.pollinator.org and click on Ecoregion Locator or help.

n 87,700 square miles within Arizona, Caliornia, Nevada,

and Utah.

nPrimarily gently rolling plains intersperesed with low

mountains and buttes.

nElevations ranging rom 280 eet below sea level to over

11,000 eet.

nAverage annual temperature range rom 60 to 75F.

nAverage year-round precipitation between 2-10 inches.

nUSDA Hardiness Zones 8a-10a (1990 version).

Characteristics

nLong, hot summers, erratic rainall, and virtually no rainall in

the summer.

nSparse vegetation with bare ground in between

individual plants.

nVegetation includes cacti and other thorny shrubs, creosote

bushes, mesquite, paloverde, ocotillo, saguaro, and bitterbrush

nTrees in the northern part o the region including Joshuas,

junipers, and pinyons.


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The American Semidesert

& Desert Province includes the

states o:

Arizona and Caliornia

And parts o:

Nevada and Utah

Adding native plantings in riparian areasto improve pollinator habitat makes

sense in advancing our amily arms

conservation and economic objectives

enhancing benecial wildlie and

improving pollination in our orchard

and garden.

--Lee McDaniel, Farmer and President

National Association of Conservation Districts


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8

Who are thepollinators?

BeesBees are well documented

pollinators in the natural and

agricultural systems o the American

Semidesert and Desert Province.

A wide range o crops including

cantalope, broccoli, citrus and

cabbage are just a ew plants that

beneft rom bee pollinators.

Most o us are amiliar with thecolonies o honey bees that have

been the workhorses o agricultural

pollination or years in the United

States. They were imported rom

Europe almost 400 years ago.

There are nearly 4000 species o

native ground and twig nesting bees

in the U.S. Some orm colonies

while others live and work a solitary

lie. Native bees currently pollinate

many crops and can be encouraged

to do more to support agricultural

endeavors i their needs or nesting

habitat are met and i suitable

sources o nectar, pollen, and water

are provided. Bees have tongues o

varying lengths that helps determine

which owers they can obtain nectar

and pollen rom.

The bumble bee (Bombus spp.) orms

small colonies, usually underground.They are generalists, eeding on a

wide range o plant material rom

February to November and are

important pollinators o tomatoes.

The sweat bee (amilyHalictidae)

nests underground. Various species

are solitary while others orm loose

colonies.

Solitary bees include carpenter bees

(Xylocopa spp.), which nest in wood;

digger, or polyester bees (Colletes

spp.), which nest underground;

leacutter bees (Megachile spp.),

which preer dead trees or branches

or their nest sites; and mason bees

(Osmia spp.), which utilize cavities

that they fnd in stems and dead

wood. Cactus bees (Diadasia spp.)

are also solitary ground nesters.

ButterfiesGardeners have been attractingbutteries to their gardens or

some time. These insects tend to

be eye-catching, as are the owers

that attract them. Position owering

plants where they have ull sun and

are protected rom the wind. Also,

you will need to provide open areas

(e.g. bare earth, large stones) where

butteries may bask, and moist soil

rom which they may get needed

minerals. By providing a sae place

to eat and nest, gardeners can also

support the pollination role that

butteries play in the landscape. It

might mean accepting slight damage

to the plants, known as host plants,

that provide ood or the larval stage

o the buttery.

A diverse group o butteries

are present in garden areas and

woodland edges that provide brightowers, water sources, and specifc

host plants. Numerous trees, shrubs

and herbaceous plants support

buttery populations.

Butteries are in the Order

Lepidoptera. Some o the species

in the American Semidesert and

Meet the Pollinators

A Western Tiger Swallowtail butterfy

in Arizona.

A bat pollinating a Saguaro cactus

in Arizona.


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Desert Province are Brush-ooted,

Gossamer-winged, Swallowtail,

Parnassian, Skipper, White,

Sulphur and Milkweed butteries.

They usually look or owers that

provide a good landing platorm.

Wet mud areas provide butteries

with both the moisture and

minerals they need to stay healthy.

Butteries eat rotten ruit and even

dung, so dont clean up all the

messes in your garden!

MothsMoths are most easily distinguished

rom butteries by their antennae.

Buttery antennae are simple with a

swelling at the end. Moth antennae

dier rom simple to eatherlike,

but never have a swelling at the

tip. In addition, butteries typically

are active during the day; moths at

night. Buttery bodies are not very

hairy, while moth bodies are quitehairy and more stout.

Moths, generally less colorul

than butteries, also play a role

in pollination. They are attracted

to owers that are strongly sweet

smelling, open in late aternoon or

night, and are typically white or

pale colored.

BeetlesOver 30,000 species o beetles

are ound in the United States

and many o them can be ound

on ower heads. Gardeners have

yet to intentionally draw beetles

to their gardens, possibly because

beetle watching isnt as inspiring

as buttery or bird watching. Yet

beetles do play a role in pollination.

Some have a bad reputation

because they can leave a mess

behind, damaging plant parts that

they eat. Beetles are not as efcient

as some pollinators. They wander

between dierent species, oten

dropping pollen as they go.

Beetle pollinated plants tend to be

large, strong scented owers with

their sexual organs exposed. They

are known to pollinate Magnolia,

sweetshrub (Calycanthus), pawpaws, and yellow pond lilies.

FliesIt may be hard to imagine why one

would want to attract ies to the

garden. However, like beetles, the

number o y species and the act

that ies are generalist pollinators

(visit many species o plants),

should encourage us all to leavethose ies alone and let them do

their job as pollinators.

Recent research indicates that ies

primarily pollinate small owers

that bloom under shade and in

seasonally moist habitats. The

National Research Councils Status

of Pollinators in North America study

states that ies are economically

important as pollinators or a range

o annual and bulbous ornamental

owers.

Plants pollinated by the y

include the American pawpaw

(Asimina triloba), dead horse arum

(Helicodiceros muscivorus ), skunk

cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus),

goldenrod (Solidago spp.), and

members o the carrot amily like

Queen Annes lace (Daucus carota).

BirdsHummingbirds are the primary

birds which play a role in

pollination in North America.

Their long beaks and tongues draw

nectar rom tubular owers. Pollen

is carried on both the beaks and

eathers o dierent hummingbirds.

The regions closer to the tropics,

with warmer climates, boast the

largest number o hummingbird

species and the greatest number o

native plants to support the birds

need or ood.

White-winged doves (Zenaida

asiatica) are also pollinators o the

saguaro cactus (Carnegeia gigantea)

in the south central United States.

Bright colored tubular owers

attract hummingbirds to gardensthroughout the United States.

Hummingbirds can see the color

red; bees cannot. Many tropical

owers, grown as perennials in

the American Semidesert and

Desert Province, along with native

woodland edge plants, attract

hummingbirds.

BatsBats play an important role in

pollination in the southwest where

they eed on agave and cactus. The

long-nosed bats head shape and

long tongue allows it to delve into

ower blossoms and extract both

pollen and nectar.


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10

Plant Traits

PlantTrait Bats Bees Beetl

ColorDull white, green

or purple

Bright white,

yellow,

blue, or UV

Dull whit

green

Nectarguides

Absent Present Absen

OdorStrong musty;

emitted at night

Fresh, mild,

pleasant

None to st

ruity or

NectarAbundant;somewhat

hidden

Usually presentSometimpresen

not hidd

Pollen AmpleLimited; oten

sticky

and scented

Ampl

FlowerShape

Regular; bowl

shaped closed

during day

Shallow; have

landing platorm;

tubular

Large bow

Magno

Which Flowers

Do the

Pollinators

preer?

notallPollInatorsareound

in each North American province,

and some are more important

in dierent parts o the UnitedStates. Use this page as a resource

to understand the plants and

pollinators where you live.

Plants can be grouped together

based on the similar characteristics

o their owers. These oral

characteristics can be useul to

predict the type o pollination

method or animal that is mosteective or that group o plants.

This association between oral

characteristics and pollination

method is called a pollination

syndrome.

The interactions o animal

pollinators and plants have

inuenced the evolution o both

groups o organisms. A mutualistic

relationship between the pollinator

and the plant species helps the

pollinator fnd necessary pollen and

nectar sources and helps the plant

reproduce by ensuring that pollen is

carried rom one ower to another.

This chart and more inormation on pollinator syndromes can be ound


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and the Pollinators they Attract

Pollinator

Birds Butterfies Flies Moths Wind

arlet, orange,

red

or white

Bright, including

red and purple

Pale and dull to

dark brown or purple;

fecked with translucent

patches

Pale and dull red,

purple, pink or white

Dull green, brown, or

colorless;

petals absent

or reduced

Absent Present Absent Absent Absent

None Faint but resh PutridStrong sweet;

emitted at nightNone

mple; deeply

hidden

Ample; deeply

hiddenUsually absent

Ample; deeply

hiddenNone

Modest Limited Modest in amount LimitedAbundant; small,

smooth, and not sticky

Large unnel

; cups, strong

erch support

Narrow tube with

spur; wide

landing pad

Shallow; unnel like or

complex and trap-like

Regular; tubular

without a lip

Regular; small and

stigmas exerted

http://www.s.ed.us/wildowers/pollinators/syndromes.shtml


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1

WhetheryouareaFarmer

o many acres,land manager o a

large tract o land, or a gardener

with a small lot, you can increase

the number o pollinators in your

area by making conscious choices to

include plants that provide essential

habitat or bees, butteries, moths,

beetles, hummingbirds and other

pollinators.

Food:Flowers provide nectar (high in

sugar and necessary amino acids)

and pollen (high in protein) to

pollinators.

Fermenting allen ruits also provide

ood or bees, beetles and butteries.

Specifc plants, known as host

plants, are eaten by the larvae o

pollinators such as butteries.

Plant in groups to increase

pollination efciency. I a pollinator

can visit the same type o ower

over and over, it doesnt have to

relearn how to enter the ower

and can transer pollen to the same

species, instead o squandering the

pollen on unreceptive owers.

Plant with bloom season in mind,

providing ood rom early spring to

late all. (see Bloom Periods pp.16-17

Plant a diversity o plants to

support a variety o pollinators.Flowers o dierent color,

ragrance, and season o bloom

on plants o dierent heights will

attract dierent pollinator species

and provide pollen and nectar

throughout the seasons.

Many herbs and annuals, although

not native, are very good or

pollinators. Mint, oregano, garlic,

chives, parsley and lavender are

just a ew herbs that can be planted.

Old ashioned zinnias, cosmos, and

single sunowers support bees and

butteries.

Recognize weeds that might be a

good source o ood. For example,

dandelions provide nectar in the

early spring beore other owers

open. Plantain is alternate host or

the Baltimore Checkerspot.

Learn and utilize Integrated PestManagement (IPM) practices to

address pest concerns. Minimize or

eliminate the use o pesticides.

Shelter:Pollinators need protection rom

severe weather and rom predators

as well as sites or nesting and

roosting.

Incorporate dierent canopy

layers in the landscape by planting

trees, shrubs, and dierent-sized

perennial plants.

Leave dead snags or nesting sites

o bees, and other dead plants and

lea litter or shelter.

Build bee boxes to encourage

solitary, non-aggressive bees to nest

on your property. Leave some areas o soil uncovered

to provide ground nesting insects

easy access to underground tunnels.

Group plantings so that pollinators

can move saely through the

landscape protected rom predators.

Include plants that are needed

by butteries during their larval

development.

Water:A clean, reliable source o water is

essential to pollinators.

Natural and human-made water

eatures such as running water,

pools, ponds, and small containers

o water provide drinking and

bathing opportunities or pollinators

Ensure the water sources have

a shallow or sloping side so the

pollinators can easily approach the

water without drowning.

Your current landscape probably

includes many o these elements.

Observe wildlie activity in your arm

felds, woodlands, and gardens to

determine what actions you can take

to encourage other pollinators to eed

and nest. Evaluate the placement o

individual plants and water sources

and use your knowledge o specifc

pollinator needs to guide your choice

and placement o additional plants

and other habitat elements. Minor

changes by many individuals can

positively impact the pollinator

populations in your area. Watch

or - and enjoy - the changes in your

landscape!

CAUTION: Remember that

pesticides are largely toxic to

pollinators. Extreme caution is

warranted i you choose to use

any pesticide. Strategically apply

pesticides only or problematic

target species.

Developing landscape plantings

that provide pollinator habitat


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Farms

Broccoli, cabbage, citrus and

melons are a ew o the ood crops

in the American Semidesert and

Desert Province that will beneft

rom strong native bee populations

that boost pollination efciency.

Incorporate dierent plants

throughout the arm that provide

ood or native populations when

targeted crops are not in ower.

Farmers have many opportunities

to incorporate pollinator-riendly

land management practices on theirland which will beneft the armer

in achieving his or her production

goals:

Manage the use o pesticides

to reduce the impact on native

pollinators. Spray when bees arent

active (just ater dawn) and choose

targeted ingredients.

Careully consider the use o

herbicides. Perhaps the targeted

weeds can provide needed ood or

pollinators.

Minimize tillage to protect ground

nesting pollinators.

Ensure water sources are scattered

throughout the landscape.

Choose a variety o native plants to

act as windbreaks, riparian buers,

and feld borders throughout the

arm.

Plant unused areas o the arm

with temporary cover crops that

can provide ood or with a variety

o trees, shrubs, and owers thatprovide both ood and shelter or

pollinators.

Check with your local Natural

Resources Conservation Service

(NRCS) ofce to see what technical

and fnancial support might be

available to assist you in your eort to

provide nectar, pollen, and larval ood

sources or pollinators on your arm.

ood supplies or

bees are critical

to maintaining

strong hives

or almond

pollination

the ollowing

winter.-- Dan Cummings

Chico, California

almond grower

IllustrationsbyCarolynVibbert


14/24


14

Public Lands

Public lands are maintained or

specifc reasons ranging rom high

impact recreation to conservation.

In the American Semidesert and

Desert Province, natural areas havebeen altered to allow or roads,

buildings, open lawn areas, boat

ramps, and vistas. Less disturbed

natural areas can be augmented with

plantings o native plant species.

Existing plantings around buildings

and parking areas should be

evaluated to determine i pollinator-

riendly plants can be substituted

or added to attract and supportpollinators. Public land managers

have a unique opportunity to use

their plantings as an education

tool to help others understand

the importance o pollinators in

the environment through signs,

brochures, and public programs.

In an eort to increase populations

o pollinators the land manager can:

Inventory and become

knowledgeable o local pollinators.

Provide connectivity betweenvegetation areas by creating

corridors o perennials, shrubs, and

trees that provide pollinators shelter

and ood as they move through the

landscape.

Maintain a minimum o lawn areas

that support recreational needs.

Restrict the use o pesticides and

herbicides.

Provide water sources in largeopen areas.

Maintain natural meadows and

openings that provide habitats or

sun-loving wildowers and grasses.

Remove invasive species and

encroaching shrubs and trees.

From

hummingbirds

to beetles, to

butterfies,

natures

pollinators help

keep Midewins

Tallgrass prairie

restorations

ull o diverse

fowering

plants. Insect

monitoring

provides a key

measure o our

success.-- Logan Lee

Prairie Supervisor, Midewin

National Tallgrass Prairie


15/2415


Gardeners have a wide array o

plants to use in their gardens.

Native plants, plants introducedrom years o plant exploration

rom around the world, and plants

developed by proessional and

amateur breeders can be ound in

garden centers, in catalogs, and

on web-sites. Use your knowledge

o pollinator needs to guide your

choices.

Choose a variety o plants that

will provide nectar and pollenthroughout the growing season.

Resist the urge to have a totally

manicured lawn and garden. Leave

bare ground or ground nesting

bees. Leave areas o dead wood and

lea litter or other insects.

Strive to eliminate the use o all

pesticides.

Find local resources to help you

in your eorts. Contact your localcounty extension agent or native

plant society. Visit your regional

botanic gardens and arboreta.

The scale o your plantings will vary

but it is important to remember

that you are trying to provideconnectivity to the landscape

adjacent to your property. Dont

just look within your property

boundaries. I your neighbors

property provides an essential

element, such as water, which can

be utilized by pollinators visiting

your land, you may be able to

devote more space to habitat

elements that are missing nearby.It is best to use native plants which

have evolved to support the needs

o specifc native pollinators. Some

pollinators, however, are generalists

and visit many dierent plants, both

native and non-native. Be sure that

any non-native plants you choose

to use are not invasive. Remember

that specialized cultivars sometimes

arent used by pollinators. Flowersthat have been drastically altered,

such as those that are double or

a completely dierent color than

the wild species, oten prevent

pollinators rom fnding and eeding

on the owers. In addition, some

altered plants dont contain the same

nectar and pollen resources that

attract pollinators to the wild types.

CAUTION: Take time to evaluate

the source o your plant material.

You want to ensure you get plants

that are healthy and correctly

identifed. Your local native plant

society can help you make inormed

decisions when searching or plants

Home Landscapes

A garden isonly as rich and

beautiul as the

integral health

o the system;

pollinators

are essential to

the system - make

your home their

home.-- Derry MacBride

National Affairs and

legislation Chairwoman,

garden club of America


16/24


16

The ollowing chart lists plants and the time they are in bloom throughout the growing seasons. Choose a variety o ower colors and make sure

something is blooming at all times! Note or all charts: When more than one species o the same genus is useul, the genus name is ollowed by spp.

BLOOM PERIODS

FOR THEAmerican SemiDesert & Desert PROVINCE

Botanical Name Common Name Feb March ApTrees & Shrubs

Acacia greggii catclaw acacia

Agave parryi Parrys agave

Calliandra eriophylla airyduster pale to deep pink

Carnegiea gigantea saguaro

Cylindropuntia bigelovii terrybear cholla yellow yellow yel

Dasylirion wheeleri common sotol

Ferocactus wislizeni candy barrelcactus

Fouquieria splendens ocotillo red to red-orange red to red-orange red toora

Nolina bigelovii Bigelows nolina

Olneya tesota desert ironwood

Opuntia engelmannii cactus apple yel

Parkinsonia microphylla yellow paloverde pale y

Prosopis velutina velvet mesquite greenish-yellowgree

yel

Yucca elata soaptree yucca

Perennial Flowers

Datura wrightii sacred thorn-apple

Lupinus sparsiforus Mojave lupine blue bl

Penstemon parryi Parrys beardtonguebright pink to

purple-pink

bright pink to

purple-pink

bright

purple

Vines

Cucurbita oetidissima Missouri gourd


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May June July Aug Sept OctTrees & Shrubs

pale yellow pale yellow

yellow yellow yellow

white white

yellow

een or violet-tinged

whitish

green or violet-

tinged whitish

green or violet-

tinged whitish

green or violet-

tinged whitish

orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow

red to red-orange

greenish-white greenish-white greenish-white

pale lavender pale lavender

yellow yellow

pale yellow

greenish-yellow greenish-yellow greenish-yellow greenish-yellow

creamy-white creamy-white

Perennial Flowers

white white white white white white

Vines

yellow yellow yellow yellow


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18

The ollowing chart lists plants that attract pollinators. It is not exhaustive, but provides guidance on where to start

Annuals, herbs, weeds, and cover crops provide ood and shelter or pollinators, too.

Plants that attract pollinators

in THEAmerican SemiDesert & Desert PROVINCE

Botanical Name Common Name Color H

Trees & Shrubs

Acacia greggii catclaw acacia pale yellow 1

Agave parryi Parrys agave yellow 1

Calliandra eriophylla airyduster pale to deep pink

Carnegiea gigantea saguaro white 2

Cylindropuntia bigelovii terrybear cholla yellow

Dasylirion wheeleri common sotol green or violet-tinged whitish 1

Ferocactus wislizeni candy barrelcactus orange-yellow

Fouquieria splendens ocotillo red to red-orange 1

Nolina bigelovii Bigelows nolina greenish-white

Olneya tesota desert ironwood pale lavender 2

Opuntia engelmannii cactus apple yellow

Parkinsonia microphylla yellow paloverde pale yellow 1

Prosopis velutina velvet mesquite greenish-yellow 2

Yucca elata soaptree yucca creamy-white 2

Perennial Flowers

Datura wrightii sacred thorn-apple white 12

Lupinus sparsiforus Mojave lupine blue 18

Penstemon parryi Parrys beardtongue bright pink to purple-pink

Vines

Cucurbita oetidissima Missouri gourd yellow 6


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lower Season Sun Soil Visitation by PollintaorAlso a host

plant

Trees & Shrubs

May-Jun ull sun rocky, gravelly bees, fies, butterfies

Jun-Aug ull sun rocky, well drainedbats, hummingbirds,

hawkmoths, beesX

Feb ull sun dry, gravelly bees, fies, butterfies

May-Jun ull sun silty to rocky, well drained bats, birds, bees X

Feb-May ull sun rocky, gravelly cactus bees

May-Aug ull sun rocky, well drained fies, bees, wasps, butterfies

Jul-Sep ull sun rocky, gravelly, or sandy cactus bees

Feb-May ull sun rocky, well drained hummingbirds

May-Jul ull sun rocky, well drained fies, bees, wasps, butterfies

May-Jun ull sun gravelly bees, fies, butterfies

Apr-Jun ull sun sandy cactus bees

Apr-May ull sun dry, rocky bees

Mar-Aug ull sun silty, gravelly, or rocky bees, fies, butterfies

May-Jun ull sun silty-clay yucca moths X

Perennial Flowers

May-Oct ull sun alluvial hawkmoths

Mar-Apr ull sun sandy bees, bumblebees

Feb-Apr ull sun gravelly, well drained bees

Vines

May-Aug sun alluvial squash bees


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0

Habitat Hints

FOR THEAmerican SemiDesert & Desert PROVINC

HABITAT REQUIREMENTS FOR BEE-POLLINATED GARDEN FLOWERS AND CROPS

Bumble DiggerLg

CarpenterSm

CarpenterSquash/Gourd

Leafcutter Mason Sweat PlastererYellow-faced

Andreni

F L O W E R S

Catalpa x

Catnip x x x

Clover x x

Columbine x

Cow parsley x

Goldenrod x x x x

Impatiens x

Irises x x

Lavender x x x xMilkwort x

Morning glory x

Penstemon x x x

Passion fowers x

Phacelia x x x x x x x x

Potentilla x

Rose x x x x x

Salvia x x x x x

Saxirages x x

Sorrel x

Sunfowers x x x x x x x x

Violet x x

Wild Mustard x x

Willow catkins x x

C R O P S

Almond x x x

Apple x

Blueberry x x x

Cherry x x

Eggplant x x x

gooseberry x x

Legumes x x x x

Water melon x x

Squash/Pumpkins/

Gourdsx x

Tomatoes x x x x

Thyme x x x x x


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Habitat and Nesting requirements:

MONARCHBUTTERFLIES

NEVER FAIL TO

CATCH THE

VISITORS EYE

AND ALWAYS

LEAD TO

A TEACHABLE

MOMENT.-- LOGAN LEE

PRAIRIE SUPERVISOR

MIDEWIN NATIONAL

TALLGRASS PRAIRIE

Bumble Bees:Abandoned mouse nests, other rodent burrows, upside down fower pots, under boards,and other human-made cavities. Colonies are ounded by a queen in the spring anddont die out in the all. New queens mate then and overwinter in a sort o hibernation.Bumble bees are usually active during the morning hours and orage at coldertemperatures than honey bees, even fying in light rain.

Large carpenter bees:Sot dead wood, poplar, cottonwood or willow trunks and limbs, structural timbersincluding redwood. Depending on the species, there may be one or two brood cycles peryear. These bees can be active all day even in the hottest weather.

Digger bees:Sandy soil, compacted soils, bank sides. Anthophorid bees (now in the Apidae) are usuallyactive in the morning hours, but can be seen at other times.

Small carpenter bees:Pithy stems including roses and blackberry canes. These bees are more active in themorning but can be ound at other times.

Squash and Gourd bees:Sandy soil, may nest in gardens (where pumpkins, squash and gourds are grown) orpathways. These bees are early risers and can be ound in pumpkin patches beore dawn.Males oten sleep in the wilted fowers.

Leafcutter bees:

Pre-existing circular tunnels o various diameters in dead but sound wood created byemerging beetles, some nest in the ground. Leave dead limbs and trees to support not

just pollinators but other wildlie. Leacutter bees can be seen oraging throughout theday even in hot weather.

Mason bees:Pre-existing tunnels, various diameters in dead wood made by emerging beetles, orhuman-made nesting substrates, drilled wood boards, paper soda straws inserted intocans attached to buildings. Mason bees are generally more active in the morning hours.

Sweat bees:Bare ground, compacted soil, sunny areas not covered by vegetation. Like most bees,sweat bees orage or pollen earlier in the morning and then or nectar later.

Plasterer or cellophane bees:Bare ground, banks or clis. Colletid bees can be active in the morning or later in the day.

Yellow-faced bees:In dead stems. These bees are more active during morning hours.

Andrenid bees:Sunny, bare ground, sand soil, under lea litter or in soil in banksides and clis. Thesegenerally spring-active bees are most commonly seen on fowers during the morningwhen pollen and nectar resources are abundant.


22/24


Become amiliar with pollinators

in your landscape.

n Watch or activity throughout the day and the seasons.

n Keep a simple notebook o when and what comes to your garden.

NOTE: It is not necessary to identiy each species when you frst

get started. Simply note i it is a bee that likes the yellow ower that

blooms in the all.

n Consult a local feld guide or web site when you are ready to

learn more details.

Add native plants to attract more

native pollinators.

n List the plants you currently have in your landscape.

n Determine when you need additional owers to provide nectar and

pollen throughout the growing season.

n Add plants that provide additional seasons o bloom, create variable

heights or shelter, and attract the types o pollinators you want.

n Dont orget to include host plants that provide ood and shelter or

larval development.

n Contact your local native plant society or extension agent or more

help.

Use pollinator riendly landscape

practices to support the

pollinators you attract.

n Use Integrated Pest Management Practices to address pest concerns.

n Tolerate a little mess leave dead snags and lea litter, keep areas bare

or ground nesting insects, and leave some weeds that provide ood or

pollinators.n Provide sae access to clean water.

Notice the changes

that you have helped to create!

A Basic Checklist


23/243


Resources

Feedback

We need your help to create better

guides or other parts o North

America. Please e-mail your input

to [email protected] ax to415-362-3070.

nHow will you use this guide?

nDo you fnd the directions

clear? I not, please tell us

what is unclear.

n Is there any inormation you

eel is missing rom the guide?

n Any other comments?

Thank you

or taking

the time to help!

Many books, websites, and peoplewere consulted to gather inormationor this guide. Use this list as a

starting point to learn more aboutpollinators and plants in your area.

Baileys Ecoregion Maps

USDA Forest Servicehttp://www.s.ed.us/land/ecosysmgmt/ecoreg1_home.html

Pollination/Pollinators

Pollinator Partnershipwww.pollinator.org

Coevolution Institutewww.coevolution.org

Natural ResourcesConservation Service

www.nrcs.usda.gov

North American PollinatorProtection Campaign

www.nappc.org

USDA Forest Servicewww.s.ed.us/wildowers/pollinators/

Wild Farm Alliancewww.wildarmalliance.org

The Xerces Societywww.xerces.org

Illinois Natural History Surveywww.inhs.uiuc.edu

Buchmann, S.L. and G.P. Nabhan.1997. The Forgotten PollinatorsIsland Press: Washington, DC.

Committee on the Status oPollinators in North America. 2007.Status of Pollinators in North AmericaThe National Academies Press:

Washington, DC.

Native Plants

Plant Conservation Alliancewww.nps.gov/plants

Seeds o Successwww.nps.gov/plants/sos

Lady Bird Johnson WildfowerCenter

www.wildower.org/plants/

USDA Hardiness Zone Mapwww.usna.usda/Hardzone/

U.S. National Arboretum

www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html

USDA, NRCS. 2007. The PLANTSDatabasewww.plants.usda.gov, 19 July, 2007National Plant Data Center,Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA

Native Bees

National Sustainable InormationService

Alternative Pollinators: Native Beesby Lane Greer, NCAT AgricultureSpecialist, Published 1999, ATTRAPublication #IP126www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/nativebee.html

Agriculture Research ServicePlants Attractive to Native Bees tablewww.ars.usda.gov/Research/docs.htm?docid=12052

Butterfies and Moths

Opler, Paul A., Harry Pavulaan,Ray E. Stanord, Michael Pogue,coordinators. 2006. Butteries andMoths o North America. Bozeman,MT: NBII Mountain PrairieInormation Node.www.butteriesandmoths.org/(Version 07192007)

Pyle, Robert Michael. 1981. NationalAudubon Society Field Guide toButteries. Alred A. Knop: New

York, NY.

North American ButerfyAssociationwww.naba.org


24/24

Research and Writing: Elizabeth L. Le

Stephen Buchmann, Ph.D

Katherine McGuir

Charles B. McDonald

Editorial: Laurie Davies Adam

Larry Stritch, Ph.D

Production Supervision: Katherine McGuir

Design: Marguerite Meye

Concept review:

American Farm Bureau Federation, Ron Gaskell

Bureau o Land Management, Peggy Olwell, Carol Spurrier,

Mary Byrne, Mary Tisdale, Elizabeth Wooster

National Garden Association, Susanne DeJohn

Plant Conservation Alliance Edward Fletcher, Jean Giblette,

Mary Ann Lawler, Ron SmithSmithsonian Institute, Department o Botany,

Gary Krupnick, Ph.D.

USDA - CSREES, Greg Crosby, Ph.D., Leslie Gilbert, Ph.D.

USDA - Forest Service, David Pivorunas, Larry Stritch, Ph.D

USDA - Natural Resource Conservation Service, Doug Holy,

Hilda Diaz-Soltero

USDOI - US Fish and Wildlie Service, Karen Anderson,

Don MacLean, Patricia DeAngelis, Ph.D.

USGS - Steve Hilburger, Elizabeth Sellers

Illustrations:

Carolyn Vibbert

For a copy o this brochure, or or another region, visit www.pollinator.org

The Pollinator Partnership/North American Pollinator Protection Campaign

Plant Conservation Alliance

NAPPC

Selecting Plants for Pollinators: American Semi Desert - North American Pollinator Protection Campaign

Documents