Pollinator Plants for the Mountain West

Whether you have the space to make an heroic , pollinator - friendly landscape painting or just enough way to pot up a couple works that are pollinator favorites , we can all do our part in helping these good hemipteran . A safe topographic point to start is seeking out the plant that confirm the pollinators aboriginal to our region . To aid in that search , we ask regional experts to share some of the best pollinator plant for their realm . Below , you ’ll find four pick for theMountain West . To learn even more about gardening for pollinator , check outGardening for Pollinators : Everything You demand to Know and produce for a Gorgeous Pollinator Garden .

1. Rocky Mountain liatris

Name:Liatrisligulistylis

Zones:3–8

Size:3 to 5 feet improbable and 1 to 2 human foot panoptic

condition : Full sun to partial shade ; medium , well - drained soil

Native mountain chain : Central North America

Native from the Upper Midwest across the Northern Plains and down the Rocky Mountains as far south as New Mexico , this durable liatris is by far the one plant in my garden that appeal the most Danaus plexippus butterfly . I have issue forth to expect the little critters every metre it burst into blossom in late summertime . Most effective when maturate en masse , this perpendicular accent begs for attending with acute , fuzzed royal clitoris covering the top half of the stems like feather boas on greenish stalks . Although it ’s a curtly - inhabit perennial , Rocky Mountain liatris will self - sow , making it easy to keep many plants around every year .

2. ‘Blue Cap’ sea holly

Name:Eryngiumplanum‘Blue Cap’ syn. ‘Blaukappe’

Zones:4–8

Size:2 to 3 foot tall and 1½ to 2 feet extensive

condition : Full sun ; sensitive to ironical , well - drain soil

aboriginal range : Central to southeastern Europe , central Asia

This eccentric member of the carrot phratry fly under the radio detection and ranging during the early season , present as basal clustering of loggerheaded and glossy leave of absence . Springing into bloom during our notorious midseason slump , it get to a large bridge deck between early perennials and monsoon bloomers , delighting people and insects alike . A favorite of bees and pollenate WASP , ‘ Blue Cap ’ ocean holly radiates vase - shaped sprays of bracted , metallic - blasphemous flowers that look a turn like stump atomic number 50 . With a superb physique and unfaltering stems , it has groovy winter involvement too . This plant is deep taprooted , so it ’s best to locate it thoughtfully ; it does n’t apprize being transplanted after governing body .

3. Tufted evening primrose

Name:Oenothera caespitosa

Zones:4–9

Size:6 to 10 inches tall and 1 to 2 feet wide

Conditions : Full sun ; wry , well - drained grunge

aboriginal kitchen range : Western North America

As the day wanes , this otherwise demure plantbecomes the eye of aid thanks to its 4 - in - wide blooms and delicious fragrancy . Do n’t let its newspaper publisher - thin petals fool you ; tufted even primula is tough as nail , disdain moist garden bed and organic mulch . Consider plop it between flagstones , in destitute patches , and on shoulder , where it will relish the challenge . I particularly like place it next to my patio , where I can follow its main pollinator — the hummingbird moth — show up like clockwork as its bloom open rapidly just before twilight . These flowers originate off white and then fade to pink . Tufted evening primrose blooms heavily in May and June , then lightly subsequently when occasional deep irrigation ( or precipitation ) is provided .

4. Colorado barberry

Name:Berberisfendleri

Size:5 to 8 understructure tall and wide

Conditions : Full sun to partial shade ; average to moist grime

Native range : Colorado , New Mexico , Utah

I ’m shocked to see this adaptable shrub so seldom in Rocky Mountain gardens . Also called Fendler ’s barberry , Colorado barberry reach a large but attractive arching form and , come May , is just dripping in short golden chain of small , fragrantyellow flowers that pollinators adore . Winter - pertinacious , classic barberry - scarlet fruits follow , which songbirds take advantage of . In longer season , the leave-taking of some plants in the speciesturn red for dip , providing one of comparatively few deep red accents for our autumn garden , especially at lower superlative in the Rockies . This handsome shrub adapt to most garden soil texture and moisture level once established .

Bryan Fischer is a womb-to-tomb gardener and plantsman inFort Collins , Colorado . He is alsothe Mountain West regionalreporter for FineGardening.com .

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Tufted evening primrose

Photo: courtesy of Bryan Fischer

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