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. Connecticut Native Plants for Pollinators and Wildlife Working Group Information Sheet. For the flowering dates in the table below, reported months of flowering were tabulated as follows: Plant flowering time varies depending on species, geographical location, and annual weather variations. The pollinators rely on native plants. Another source is the Native Plant Trust (New England Wildflower Society). At present, most nursery stock is composed of human-engineered cultivars and non-native plants. No insecticides - Insecticides have the potential to poison or kill pollinators. Native plants, which are adapted to local soils and climates, are usually the best sources of nectar and pollen for native pollinators. While beautiful, these plants require additional resources for growth and offer little value to the ecosystems they are planted in. Incorporating native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees into any landscape promotes local biological diversity and provides shelter and food for a diversity of wildlife. They’re best suited for your growing conditions and for the local pollinators. Links to valuable information on pollinators in Connecticut. An ideal pollinator garden should offer constant and overlapping flowering of native wildflowers from early spring to late fall. Plant in groups - Clumps of flowering plants will attract more pollinators than single plants scattered in the landscape. Crops rely on a robust population of pollinators to bring them into existence. 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 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. 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 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 … UConn has a list of nurseries that sell Connecticut native plants. Here is a list of Connecticut native plants that are very attractive to monarch butterflies and other 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. As much as possible, choose varieties that are native to your area. To discover more native plants for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife, check out Plants for Birds. Some Pollinator Plants for Connecticut 09-09-09 The following plants are suitable for pollinator habitat as indicated below. This robust native fern is great for filling in big areas and drowning out weeds. Founded in 2020, Connecticut Pollinator Plants facilitates habitat restoration through native plant landscaping. *Hay-scented fern is best for mass plantings or areas you wish to colonize with one plant. 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