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Part 3 by Karen Rogers, Master Gardener/Photo Credit: Pat Burns
Now that you have your containers, soil, and picked the perfect location for your container gardens, what shall we plant in the containers?
Since our goal is to attract pollinators, like butterflies, bees, moths, and other beneficial pollinators, there are many native and Florida friendly (FFL) options available. To be successful, pollinator plants need to provide nectar or be a host plant. In other words, some plants will be used as a quick stop at the diner for a meal (nectar), and other plants will be like a hotel (host), the pollinator comes and stays awhile, they complete their lifecycle. Many pollinators stay within 20-30 feet of where your containers are located. This makes container gardens perfect for small areas (i.e. balconies, small yards, patios).
Pollinators can be a picky bunch. Many of them prefer a certain color or shape of flower. For instance, Monarch butterflies prefer Milkweed and their orange/yellow flowers; bees have short proboscis and enjoy coreopsis because it's a rather flat flower with easy access to nectar. Scarlet salvia is a favorite of many beneficial pollinators. With some greenery tossed in, these three plants could make for a lively container.
Being aware of some of the common pollinators in your area will assist you in making good plant choices. Take a few minutes, look around the area where your future container gardens will be located and watch for what insects are flying around. Utilizing this information increases your chances of providing a pollinator attractive neighborhood.
Below are some examples of pollinator friendly plants from UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, Perfect Plants for Pollinators. Follow this link for whole list:
Perfect Plants for Pollinators - Gardening Solutions - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (ufl.edu)
Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) produces lovely purplish flowers that can be appreciated by gardeners and pollinators alike. It is very easy to grow and is drought tolerant once established.
Basil is a beloved herb that adds fresh spicy flavor to a variety of dishes. African blue basil flowers most of the year in central Florida and is a favorite of bees.
Salvias are great plants - and there are hundreds of annual and perennial varieties that come in an array of colors and sizes.
When you go to a nursery to purchase plants, ask if the plants have been treated with a systemic pesticide. If you don't see insects or insect damage - be suspicious. You may want to shop local nurseries to acquire your pollinator plants. And you can always be confident that Master Gardener nurseries have raised pollinator-safe plants.
Checklist to use when choosing plants:
*Location of container - sun or shade
*Size & type of container
*Types of pollinators to attract: butterflies, bees, beetles, etc
*Annual, perennial, native, Florida Friendly, high/low maintenance
*Pesticides used? Yes/No?. The presence of systemic pesticides might defeat the goal of promoting pollinators.
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