The Forgotten Plant Natives that Sustain Pollinators

But it is easy to forget that the real world of nature exists among the high-rise buildings‚ and it exists in the suburbs․ It grows among other native trees and shrubs that we do not notice‚ as we hurry to work‚ but which sustain much life․ Unnoticed and regularly outshone by the many other cultivars‚ hybrids‚ and ornamental varieties‚ the native plants provide seasonal food and shelter for the insects who pollinate the flowers․ Their very presence is a quiet reminder of the interconnected nature of all things‚ and the way a balanced ecosystem must be properly nurtured․ This post is a celebration of those plants which once thrived by the thousands before land became available for the comforts of urban living․

Types of Natives That Offer Food or Shelter For These Friendly Flyers

Many of the native plants are excellent for pollinators‚ like the goldenrod‚ a showy yellow flower that attracts pollinating insects and provides a suitable habitat for the next stage of its life cycle․ Bees and butterflies may use the thick stems and dense foliage of native plants to create good habitat and to protect themselves from predators․ A good example is milkweed‚ which is the necessary larval host for the cobalt blue monarch butterfly as well as being home to all sorts of other insects․ Or you could plant something leafy‚ like a large-leafed hosta‚ for the pollinators to rest on to escape the wind as they forage․ We can create a cornucopia of sheltering plants to meet the needs of these pollinators so their average daily activities include find somewhere to nest‚ raise their young‚ rest and hide from danger․

In addition to being used as nesting and shelter sites‚ many native shrubs and trees provide food for pollinators․ Serviceberries and their sweet fruit are eaten by many bird and insect species‚ for example․ Its early spring flowers are an important source of pollen to bees that have survived the winter․ Elderberry (Sambucus) has also large clusters of flowers and is an insect‚ bird and animal food source․ Some plants produce seeds or fleshy fruits․ Some of them produce high quantities of nectar‚ to attract birds‚ as well as pollinators‚ to the bush or shrub․ From their large tree canopies covered with a collection of branches to their acorns‚ oaks shelter and feed insects‚ birds and other animal species․ When we have oak trees and other oak woodland species in our gardens‚ we can give pollinators both food and shelter in a garden ecosystem full of other species․

Ecological Importance of Native Species

But they are more than just background characters․ Their long roots and climate-specific adaptations work to control soil erosion‚ increase water retention‚ and provide habitat for the many creatures that depend on native flora for their survival․ Unlike non-native plants that upset the balance of local flora‚ the native trees and shrubs have a symbiotic relationship with the native fauna‚ and contribute to the biodiversity of the ecosystem․ By saving and growing the trees and bushes we are planting the fabric of life that will provide sustenance for all pollinators‚ birds and animals․ We are planting the fabric of life‚ and reaffirming the fact that every one of us is a part of the story of life․

Pollinator Dependency on Specific Plants

While many flowering plants are pollinated by bees‚ butterflies‚ and hummingbirds‚ many groups are dependent on particular native plants․ An example of this is flowering trees like Eastern Redbud․ These trees bloom in the early spring‚ providing food for bees that have just come out of their winter dormancy․ Coneflowers‚ milkweed‚ and other native wildflowers are sources of food for many species of butterflies and moths‚ though the habitat for these plants and pollinators is threatened as the land is developed for housing and industry․ If we know what is important to these essential pollinators we can perhaps inspire people to create more biodiversity-rich gardens‚ neighborhoods‚ and parks to support life across the landscape․

Restoration of Native Habitats

Merely being a native plant does not mean it is suitable for use as a dominant species in restoration․ Restoration seeks to recreate native plant communities displaced by development and horticultural preferences․ This requires a means of creating the interactions that define ecological communities․ Community gardens and local wildlife and nature conservation projects have begun to implement this idea‚ planting native trees and shrubs․ When we do this‚ we can work with nature again‚ and also regenerate links with nature‚ to feed pollinators and other wildlife again․ In this way‚ an ordinary piece of land can be changed into a colorful‚ vibrant oasis of life and ecological integrity can be restored․

Educational Importance of Local Flora

Additionally‚ native plants can play an important part in teaching about conservation and the natural world‚ and a new generation of conservationists can be inspired by knowing their local flora․ Native plants can be used to teach botany‚ ecology‚ and conservation to students of all ages‚ and gardens can act as a classroom and laboratory by complementing a native plant curriculum․ Workshop and community involvement gives residents a chance to get involved․ The more we learn about the benefits these resources provide us‚ the more we take ownership and pride in our community and learn how we can act to protect them․

Community Involvement in Conservation

Community involvement is a major part of the conservation process‚ especially in restoring the habitat’s natural state․ As such‚ residents may attend tree planting days‚ clean-up days‚ and workshops with conservation groups․ Through this collaborative work‚ participants build relationships with their surroundings and come to appreciate the diversity of the life in their local environment․ They then promote the life in their own backyards and neighborhoods‚ gardens‚ parks‚ locally owned businesses‚ and other parts of the community․ If we all work together to protect and care for the forsaken native trees and shrubs‚ pollinators will have food and nesting resources‚ and soil health will be improved․

Conclusion

There is such power in these forgotten native trees and shrubs and their forgotten existence․ We can redefine what we consider sacred in our environment and we can cultivate the persistence of our native ecosystems․ We can restore our local ecosystems‚ educate our community and recreate the relationships that have been lost․ But we must learn how to recognize the value of these forgotten trees and shrubs and we must ensure that others can do the same․ In doing so‚ we create not just beautiful gardens‚ but sustainable ecosystems‚ nourishing all forms of life throughout all the seasons‚ renewing our relationship with the natural world‚ and ensuring our legacy for generations to come․

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About the author: Tammy Sons is an avid lobbyist for the environment, conservation, and climate change. She is the founder of TN Nursery, a native plant nursery in Tennessee. Tammy spends her time outdoors and enjoying her family in nature.