The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station 123 Huntington Street New Haven, CT 06511 Phone Number: (203) 974-8500 Toll-Free: 1-877-855-2237 Fax: (203) 974-8502 Here is a list of Connecticut native plants that are very attractive to monarch butterflies and other pollinators. With some 25 native varieties available, “Goldenrod is good practically anywhere in the garden,” she adds (though this blue-stemmed baby does like some shade). Crops rely on a robust population of pollinators to bring them into existence. To discover more native plants for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife, check out Plants for Birds. They’re best suited for your growing conditions and for the local pollinators. The best way to attract pollinators, he says, is to plant more native species, because they provide food and the habitat needed to complete the life cycle. Plant in groups - Clumps of flowering plants will attract more pollinators than single plants scattered in the landscape. An interdisciplinary working group formed in 2016 to address the interest and need to explore the definition, production, distribution and public awareness of native plants in Connecticut … At present, most nursery stock is composed of human-engineered cultivars and non-native plants. The pollinators rely on native plants. No insecticides - Insecticides have the potential to poison or kill pollinators. If you don’t see the native plant species that you want at the nursery, ask them if they would be willing to order them for you from a wholesaler. While beautiful, these plants require additional resources for growth and offer little value to the ecosystems they are planted in. Founded in 2020, Connecticut Pollinator Plants facilitates habitat restoration through native plant landscaping. The plant, whose pollen is not born on the breeze but must be moved from plant to plant by a pollinator, has gotten what Turoczi calls “a bad rap” for no good reason. An ideal pollinator garden should offer constant and overlapping flowering of native wildflowers from early spring to late fall. UConn has a list of nurseries that sell Connecticut native plants. For the flowering dates in the table below, reported months of flowering were tabulated as follows: Native plants, which are adapted to local soils and climates, are usually the best sources of nectar and pollen for native pollinators. *Hay-scented fern is best for mass plantings or areas you wish to colonize with one plant. Links to valuable information on pollinators in Connecticut. Plant flowering time varies depending on species, geographical location, and annual weather variations. As much as possible, choose varieties that are native to your area. Includes links from CAES, Department of Energy, University of Connecticut, Pollinator Pathways, Zerces Society. Incorporating native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees into any landscape promotes local biological diversity and provides shelter and food for a diversity of wildlife. The Problem: CT’s changed landscape (from meadow to lawn, from farmland to subdivision) poses a threat to the food production that remains in farms and gardens. Some Pollinator Plants for Connecticut 09-09-09 The following plants are suitable for pollinator habitat as indicated below. Another source is the Native Plant Trust (New England Wildflower Society). This robust native fern is great for filling in big areas and drowning out weeds. Connecticut Native Plants for Pollinators and Wildlife Working Group Information Sheet. 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