![\"Bombus](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/realgardensgrownatives.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Bombus-vosnesenskii.jpg?resize=720%2C664&ssl=1\")
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In honor of National Pollinator Week<\/a>,<\/strong> let’s zoom in on the bees and other hard-working pollinators<\/a> whose lives are dictated by weather, season, and the availability of food, nesting habitat, and overwintering sites.<\/p>\n Nature has provided pollinators with unique ways of gathering nutritious pollen and nectar for their young, and they\u2019re enthralling to watch. But bees and other pollinators are in terrible trouble worldwide due to our presence and actions. We can give back to them by growing flowering native plants in our gardens (as well as noninvasive exotics that are especially attractive to bees, like lavender and sunflower) with consecutive blooms from early spring till fall. But don’t forget to provide for them during all<\/em> their life stages \u2014 not just their adult stage \u2014 by leaving the leaves<\/a>, dead wood<\/a>, and spent flower stalks to make sure they can get through the winter and have habitat to raise their young. And, no pesticides whatsoever!<\/p>\n If you’ve already included some native plants in your yard, you’re well on your way to providing for a wide variety of wildlife. Offering a variety of flower shapes, colors, and sizes, with smaller plants in groups of at least<\/em> three of the same species (like a big, obvious \u201cEat\u201d sign) will help provide for many different types of pollinators\u2014from long and short-tongued bumblebees and syrphid flies<\/a> to hummingbirds<\/a>, beetles and thrips<\/a>. Below are some Pacific Northwest native herbaceous perennials and shrubs that offer food for pollinators from early to mid or late summer in the Pacific Northwest, west of the Cascades.<\/p>\n The list is just a sampling (read about others in my book or within my blog’s PNW native plant profiles<\/a>), and the species were chosen because they naturally occur in large parts of the region, are generally easy to grow, aren’t too hard to find at native plant nurseries (although you may need to call around for availability), and attract their fair share of native pollinators. I\u2019ve listed them alphabetically with some basic care guidelines. Fall planting is best, as winter rains begin. (If you’re reading this in springtime, don’t worry\u2014you can plant now, but you’ll definitely need to keep an eye on their water needs during the first couple of summers, at the very least.)<\/p>\n As always, plan ahead and choose plants that fit your light, moisture, and soil conditions, but also choose those that are appropriate to the natural landscape\u2014that is, look to nearby natural areas and add flora that likely would have grown in your area historically. You can also search for a species\u2019 natural range (to county level) here,<\/a> or check with your local native plant society chapter or county soil & water conservation district. Growing them with associated species that evolved alongside them in nature will help them thrive. No fertilizer is necessary (although a one-time addition of compost such as leaf compost to the soil will add some nutrients and improve soil structure), but do keep them adequately hydrated until they\u2019re established (2 to 5 years). Enjoy!<\/em><\/p>\n \u25ca Achillea millefollium<\/em> var. occidentals<\/i> (Western yarrow)<\/strong>: Perennial. 1-3 feet tall x 1-3 feet wide. Sun to part sun. Not fussy about soil; moist or dry (will spread faster with more moisture). Spreads by rhizomes and seed. Flat-topped clusters of white, fragrant flowers bloom nearly all summer. (Not to be confused with the Eurasian Achillea millefolium<\/em> var. millefolium<\/em>).<\/p>\n \u25ca Asclepias speciosa<\/em> <\/strong>or A. fascicularis <\/em><\/strong>or A. cordifolia<\/em> (milkweed) <\/strong>: Perennial. 2-3 feet tall x 2-3 feet wide. Sun to part shade. Moist, well-drained soil, but can handle some drought when established. Rounded clusters of soft pink, fragrant flowers. Check out the Xerces Society’s info on milkweed of Oregon<\/a> and of Washington<\/a>. (A. fascicularis<\/em> is pictured, right) \u25ca Campanula rotundifolia<\/em> (common harebell)<\/strong>: Perennial. 1-2 feet tall x 1-2 feet wide. Sun to part sun. Well-drained, moist to dryish soil. Spreads slowly by rhizomes or seed. Bell shaped, violet-blue blossoms.<\/p>\n \u25ca Ceanothus velutinus<\/em> (snowbrush<\/strong>): Fast growing evergreen shrub. 6-12 feet tall x 6-12 feet wide. Sun to part shade (intolerant of full shade). Rich or poor soil; very drought tolerant. Dense pyramidal clusters of tiny, fragrant white flowers. Occurs mainly at mid to high elevations; check natural occurrence, to county level, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u25ca Erigeron speciosus<\/em> (showy fleabane)<\/strong>: Perennial. 2 feet tall x 2 feet wide. Sun to part shade. Well-drained, moist to dry soil. Lovely and abundant daisy-like, bluish lavender blossoms go nearly all summer. (pictured below)<\/p>\n \u25ca<\/b> Holodiscus discolor<\/em> (oceanspray, aka <\/b>cream bush<\/span>)<\/b>: Fast growing, very attractive deciduous shrub. 8-16 feet tall x 8-12 feet wide (larger on protected sites, smaller on windy, harsh sites). Sun to part shade (intolerant of full shade). Not fussy about soil; moist or dry. Drought tolerant when established. Lavish, feathery plumes of creamy-white flowers in early to mid-summer. Nice for hedgerows. Controls erosion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u25ca Lupinus polyphyllus<\/em> (large-leaved lupine)<\/strong>: Perennial. 2-4 feet tall x 2-4 feet wide. Sun to part shade (intolerant of full shade). Moist soil preferred but will tolerate short dry periods. Tall spikes of bluish-purple, pea-like flowers. (pictured, right) \u25ca Sedum spathulifolium<\/em> or S. oreganum<\/em> (stonecrop)<\/strong>: Perennial. 1-4 inches tall; spreads slowly. Sun to part sun (afternoon shade is welcome). Well-draining, gritty, lean soil. Bright yellow star-shaped flowers. Nice for rock gardens. Not a ground cover for foot traffic. (S. spathulifolium<\/em> pictured below)<\/p>\n \u25ca Symphoricarpos albus<\/em> (snowberry)<\/strong>: Deciduous shrub. 4-6 feet tall x 4-6 feet wide. Sun to mostly shade. Moist or dry soils; tolerates heavy soils. Drought tolerant when established. Tiny, paired, pink, bell-shaped flowers. Eventually forms a thicket. Controls erosion.<\/p>\n \u25ca Tiaralla trifoliata<\/em> (foam flower)<\/strong>: Perennial. 8-14 inches tall x 1-14 inches wide. Shade to part shade. Spreads very slowly by rhizomes or seed. Needs moist, well-draining soil rich in organic matter. Panicles of white to pale pink flowers bloom from late spring to late summer. More details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Asclepias](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/realgardensgrownatives.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Asclepias-fascicularis-sRGB.jpg?resize=290%2C435&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n![\"Erigeron](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/realgardensgrownatives.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Erigeron-speciosus.jpg?resize=350%2C301&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n![\"Lupinus](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/realgardensgrownatives.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Lupinus-polyphyllus.jpg?resize=290%2C435&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n![\"Sedum](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/realgardensgrownatives.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Syrphid-low.jpg?resize=720%2C552&ssl=1\")
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