Hello, is there a place to get a list of non-native options for a pollinator garden? I’ve looked up a lot of native plant options, but was sad to learn that caryopteris isn’t native (in my experience, bees go nuts for their flowers). I’m hoping to see a comprehensive list of good non-native pollinators to add them to my list of possible garden options. Thanks for your help!
Hi Gardener,
Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners. Although we are very strong advocates of growing plants that are natives, it is not a strict policy. Most of us have non-natives enhancing our gardens with their beauty.
Non-native plants can be excellent pollinators. Please consult the Toronto Master Gardeners Guide on growing pollinators for plants that are good for the shade and the sun that has suggestions for both natives and non-natives. This Toronto Master Gardeners Guide on Shade Perennials also has a very long list of perennials for you to consult.
Just to cover some basics: A pollinator is a bug, beetle, bee, fly, moth, butterfly, wasp, bird, or even a small rodent that is fulfilling the function of pollinating flowers. The population of pollinators is in decline due to climate change and human activity that is eroding their habitat. As gardeners, we want to grow plants that native pollinators really like and will encourage their growth and health. This is why we are such strong advocates for growing native flowering plants that attract and can feed some of the more specialized native insects.
Just because I am fascinated by the complexity and complicated nature of pollination, here is an article from the Britannica that covers the basics of pollination. What is truly fascinating is that the article says that plants’ dependence upon external agents to fertilize them goes back to the flowering plants of the Mesozoic age.
Jun 3, 2024