1 Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) zone 3 Flat-topped clusters of tiny yellow flowers, 30 to 90 centimetres tall, followed by purple seed heads, provide food for native bees, black swallowtail butterflies and other insects. Growing in full or part sun and moist to drysoil, Zizia is also deer resistant.
Pollinators are essential in our gardens throughout the gardening season, says landscape designer Sara Katz, owner of Wild at Heart Design. “The combination of these native perennials will attract and feed pollinators from early spring to frost. Early and late flowers are especially important to help pollinators gain strength before and after migration and hibernation.�
Spring
2 Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) zone 3
3 Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) zone 3
Clusters of pink buds, 30 to 60 centimetres tall, open to nodding trumpet-shaped sky blue blooms for several weeks. They prefer moist loamy soil in part to full shade. Butterflies, moths and large bees are frequent visitors. As bluebells gradually die back and go dormant in summer, you can fill in the space with foamflower.
Short (15 to 30 centimetres) spikes of frothy white flowers that bloom just after bluebells, last for three weeks and thrive in the same conditions. The maple-shaped leaves last all season providing an attractive groundcover.
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Late Spring 2020
Photo: Joshua Meyer flickr (1, 5),Colleen Cirillio (2) Phillip Bouchard flickr (3,4) Stefan Weber (6), Ed Krolow (7), Christa Bee (8)
Native Pollinator Plants
Sara Katz recommends 8 native perennials to take your garden through the seasons
