Pollinator perennials are plants that provide food and shelter to pollinating insects and other species

They often have colorful and/or fragrant flowers or foliage to attract the desired pollinator․ Such plant species are often bred with the intent to improve their value to wildlife and to attract such species as bees‚ butterflies‚ and hummingbirds․ The benefit of growing these perennial plants for gardens is to provide a means to create outdoor beauty while simultaneously contributing to biodiversity in a community․ This list shows the environmental benefits of pollinator plants through the emphasis on the aesthetic characteristics of plants which attract pollinators and sustain them․

Native pollinators also benefit from biodiversity

Native pollinators‚ such as some species of bees and butterflies‚ evolved along with the native flowers that are present in a system‚ and generally have great adaptability to their surroundings․ Overall‚ they comprise a key element of the Earth's complex web of life․ Another way gardeners can help native pollinators is to plant perennials native to their area․ Planting native plants is a good option to increase the number of native pollinators․ Native plants provide food sources and other needs that are important to the survival of many native pollinators that other plants cannot provide․ This highlights the importance of conserving and promoting the local biodiversity found in the areas where these species are native․

The seasonal blooming patterns of pollinator perennials are closely intertwined with the life cycles of pollinators

The times of flowering in which certain species of plants bloom are critical for maintaining a continuous supply of nectar and pollen that many pollinators depend upon․ For example‚ earlier blooming plants such as crocuses and snowdrops can help provide resources during the spring‚ when food is scarce for pollinators․ Later blooming plants such as coneflowers and asters provide resources in the late summer and autumn to continue providing for pollinators throughout the growing season․ By flourishing at different times of year‚ flowering plants provide food resources to pollinators that can be critical for their health and longevity․ Gardeners can choose perennial plants that bloom at different times to provide a patchwork of floral displays throughout the growing season․

Another benefit of a pollinator perennial garden is that the very flowers of pollinator perennials will attract butterflies and hummingbirds

 If carefully selected to provide certain flowering plants that these types of pollinators favor‚ a pollinator perennial garden will offer an engaging and varied habitat to a collection of wildlife․ Brightly colored flowers with sweet nectar are attractive to most butterflies․ Milkweed‚ aster and butterfly bush are examples of plants that are especially attractive to butterflies both as a food source and to provide food for their larvae․ Plants such as the trumpet vine or salvia‚ with their long‚ thin‚ tubular flowers that can be extremely high in nectar‚ attract hummingbirds․ Their rapid movement in and out‚ visiting one flower and then the next‚ is one of the most beautiful expressions of nature's interrelationships‚ and the support that gardens can give to wildlife․

In a pollinator garden‚ nectar sources for bees are another consideration․ Honeybees and many native bee species rely on a consistent source of nectar and pollen to feed the colony․ The use of nectar-bearing perennial flowers is considerably helpful to bees․ The flowers used by bees for food include goldenrod‚ clover‚ and lavender‚ which all contain large amounts of nectar․ By planting a diverse variety of these species‚ a garden can have food for bees throughout the entire growing season‚ which increases the chances of pollinating other flowers in that garden‚ thereby having a positive effect on biodiversity and agricultural gains․

Pollinators are Helpful for The Ecosystem

By providing for ecosystem services‚ such as providing for native pollinators‚ season-long bloom‚ and quality butterfly‚ hummingbird‚ and bee habitat‚ pollinator perennials can help increase human interaction with nature‚ and availability of plants and seeds can serve as the first step to improving habitat conditions for local ecosystems․ Growing a collection of perennials that support pollinators can help to save the planet and increase biodiversity in your local area‚ as well as contributing to a more vibrant garden environment․ In view of global problems‚ it is more important than ever to encourage pollinators to visit our gardens․ Yet‚ through careful planning and stewardship‚ it is possible to plant and maintain areas to benefit pollinators and the ecosystems they support․