What are pollinators? They are insects that transferpollen from plant to plant. Pollination is essential forfruit and seed production. Pollinators include avariety of bees, both native (such as bumble bees,mason, leafcutter and sweat bees) and non-nativehoney bees, as well as flies, moths, butterflies, andsome beetles.

A note about native bees: There are well over 400species of native bees in BC. Native bees are mostlysolitary. They don’t form hives. Bumblebees formsmall nests, but over 70% of native bees spend mostof their lives underground in tunnels. Other nativebees live in cavities of dead wood or pithy stems.Unlike honey bees, native bees collect mostly pollenand do not produce surplus honey. Except forbumble bees, native bees don’t sting. They have ashort life span (often only 2-3 weeks) and have ashort foraging range of only 100 – 200 metres fromtheir nesting sites. Honey bees are not native toCanada.

Threats to pollinators: Urban sprawl, industrialagriculture and landscaping practices lead to habitatloss and loss of plants used by pollinators for forage.Pesticide use kills beneficial insects as well astargeted insects. Honey bees are threatened byprotozoa and mites.

What can we do to help pollinators?Supply plant diversity by choosing:

• A variety of flowers that are in bloom at any timeduring the spring, summer and fall,

• A variety of colours,

• Flowers with different shapes. Pollinators comein many sizes and with different mechanisms forpollinating.

• Native flowers, abundant in nectar and pollen.Exotics, especially double flowers and newcultivars tend to have less nectar and pollen.

• Heirloom varieties that are rich in nectar andpollen,

• Clumps or swaths of each flower species thatattract the attention of pollinators,

• Shrubs and trees such as apple, dogwood, andnative willow (avoid weeping willow) that providepollen and nectar in the spring.

Enhance pollinator habitat by:

• Offering water to pollinators in a shallow dish orbirdbath,

• Providing a muddy spot that supplies nutrientsto butterflies and nesting materials for some bees,

• Allowing a corner of your yard to go wild withgrasses, weeds, wildflowers, logs and brush thatprovides food, nesting sites, shelter and over-wintering sites,

• Leaving areas in your yard mulch free for groundnesting bees,

• Allowing leaf litter to remain in your garden asover-wintering sites for bumble bees.

Avoid pesticides, insecticides, herbicides,fungicides, etc.

• Pesticides may kill beneficial insects as well astargeted insects.

• ‘Organic’ and lower-risk pesticides may also killbeneficial insects.

• Reconsider aesthetic standards to allow for somepests. (e.g. The presence of aphids is not alwaysa problem. Clover can be beneficial for your lawn.)

Gardening forpollinators

Supporting bees andbeneficial insects...why should we care?

The work of pollinators benefits us every day,whether it is the food we eat, the cotton t-shirt wewear, or the beautiful annuals in our gardens. Manyinsects that feed on nectar or pollen also providepest control in their larval and/or adult stages.

Planting for pollinatorsAttract bees by:

• Choosing open flowerswith packed clusters of tinyflowers,

• Planting blue, purple, whiteand yellow flowers.

Attract pollinating flies such aslacewings & syrphid flies by:

• Choosing open flowerswith packed clusters of tinyflowers,

• Planting white and yellowflowers.

Attract butterflies & day flyingmoths by:

• Choosing open or deeperflowers to accommodatetheir feeding habits,

• Choosing plants that aresuited as hosts for theircaterpillar stage,

• Planting blue, violet, andred flowers.

Attract night flying moths by:

• Choosing deep and openflowers with a strong, sweetscent,

• Planting white, cream orpale green flowers that arevisible at night.

Attract pollinating beetles by:

• Choosing wide open bowlshaped flowers.

Specific suggestions areprovided in a chart on the nextpage.

Des

ign:

Mad

er &

Ass

oc.

syrphid fly native bumble bee ground dwelling native bee honey bee

Common name Scientific name

AnnualsBlack-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta S D M - L Sb, BiCalifornia Poppy Eschscholzia californica S - PS D E - M highly attractiveCosmos (single) Cosmos bipinnatus S - PS A - D M - L Hb,Sb, BiLacey Phacelia Phacelia tanacetifolia S - PS A - D M - L highly attractiveMexican Heather Cuphea hyssopifolia S - PS A - D M - L BMexican Sunflower Tithonia rotundifolia S A - D M BSalvia, blue Salvia farinacea ‘Victoria’ S A - D M - L highly attractiveSunflower Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’ S - PS A - D M - L highly attractive, BiSweet Alyssum Lobularia S A -D M - L Sb, Bi

PerennialsAster Symphyotrichum spp. S - PS D - W L Hb, B, Sb, BiBeebalm Monarda spp. S - PS A - D M BBlack-eyed Susan Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’ S - PS A - W M - L Sb, BiBlanket Flower Gaillardia grandiflora S A - D M - L Hb,Sb, BiBluebeard Caryopteris x clandonensis S A - D L Hb, BCatmint Nepeta ‘Dropmore’ S A - D E - L highly attractiveChrysanthemum Chrysanthemum weyrichii S - PS A L Hb, Bi

‘White Bomb’False Lamium Lamiastrum ‘Herman’s Pride’ S - PS A E Hb, BGoldenrod Solidago spp. S - PS D - W L highly attractive, BiHyssop Agastache spp. S - PS A - D M highly attractiveJoe Pye Weed Eupatorium purpureum S - PS A - W M Hb, BiLavender Lavandula spp S A - D M Hb, B, SbOregano Origanum spp. S D M Hb, SbPurple Coneflower Echinacea spp. S A M - L Hb, B, Sb, BiRussian Sage Perovskia atriplicifolia S A - D M - L highly attractiveSage (culinary) Salvia officinalis S A - D M highly attractiveSalvia Salvia nemorosa ‘May Night’ S A - D M - L highly attractive

Salvia verticillata ‘Purple Rain’ S A - D M - L highly attractiveSea Holly Eryngium spp. S - PS A - W M - L highly attractiveSpearmint (contain) Mentha spicata S - PS A - W M - L Hb, Sb, BiStonecrop Sedum spp. S - PS A - D M B, Hb,Sb, BiSquill (bulb) Scilla siberica S - PS A - D E Hb, B, SbWild Indigo Baptisia australis S A - D M B, HbYarrow Achillea spp. & ‘Moonshine’ S A - D M Sb, Bi

For more information visit these websites

Information compiled byThompson Shuswap Master Gardeners

Fearon Blair & Elaine Sedgman

Photographs: Elaine Sedgman

This brochure was made possible by aCity of Kamloops Social Planning Grant

Shrubs & TreesMaple Acer spp. S - PS A - W M attractiveSaskatoon Amelanchier spp. S - PS A - D E highly attractiveOregon Grape Mahonia PS - Sh D E B,SbOceanspray Holodiscus S - PS A - D E highly attractive, BiPlum, Cherry Prunus spp. S - PS A E highly nutritiousCurrant Ribes spp. S - PS A - D E attractiveRaspberry Rubus S A E attractiveWillow (avoid weeping) Salix spp. PS - Sh A - W E highly nutritiousNative plants within wilderness areas provide important forage for pollinators such as butterflies, moths andbeetles, and other beneficial insects. When reclaiming disturbed land consider using the following plants:native daisies, asters, thistles & penstemons, goldenrod, rabbitbrush, native currants, ocean spray, saskatoon,oregon grape, native maples and willows.

Plant selection chartSoilmoistureA=averageD=dryW= wet

FloweringseasonE=earlyM=midL=late

VisitorsHb=honey beeB=native bumble beeSb=solitary native beeBi=beneficial insect

ExposureS=sunPS=partshadeS=shade

Note: umbel type flowers are also important forage for beneficial insects & small bees. (dill, cilantro,fennel, parsley, ammi majus).

Master Gardeners Associationwww.mgabc.org

City of KamloopsIntegrated Pest Management & Healthy Landscapes

http://www.kamloops.ca/ipm

XERCES Society Pollinator Conservation Programwww.xerces.org

Pollinator Partnershipwww.pollinator.org

Pollination Canadahttp://www.pollinationcanada.ca/

An excellent source, encourages people to becomepollinator observers, and has downloads of

observation forms.

The Canadian Pollination Initiativehttp://www.uoguelph.ca/canpolin

The Native Plant Society of BCnpsbc.org

Naturescape British Columbia:naturescapebc.ca

Has information on habitat loss & green spaces

Canadian Wildlife Associationwww.WildAboutGardening.org