As the days grow shorter and cooler with the onset of autumn, native pollinators get busy and hungry! Some, like the Monarch and Painted Lady butterflies, migrate south. Many others, like native bees and bumble bees, hibernate. All of them need lots to eat before the cold sets in!
This kit features primarily late season bloomers with nectar and pollen that is crucial to survival. A standout is the pairing of Asters and Goldenrods, two keystone species that support pollinators preparing for fall migrations and overwintering. In fact, the complementary colors of yellow and purple are a feast for the eyes and attract many species. Native bees are more likely to visit these powerhouse plants when they are planted together, which mimics the way they naturally grow together in wild fields. As the blossoms die back, the seeds become food for both overwintering and migrating birds.
Planting this kit helps ensure the survival of pollinators, birds, and other small animals who will appreciate the supply of food and shelter this kit provides through the long winter months.
This kit includes 16 plants, 2 each of 8 different varieties, with a diversity of flower shapes, textures, colors and bloom times. They may be planted together in a garden plot, but also scattered throughout your landscape, or in smaller groupings.
Design Tips:
- Allow for approximately 1sq ft per plant, 16 sq feet (plot sizes like 4' x 4'); the same variety of plant may be planted closer together for a more filled in look
- Prepare your garden site (follow the link for details)
- A full to partial sun location is ideal for this grouping
- Plants in this kit will all do well in moist to moderate soil moisture conditions
- Group plants of the same species together
- Consider the height of each plant. Position taller plants at the back and shorter plants at the front.
Kit Contents:
8 native varieties, 2 of each plant (total of 16). Details for each variety are below and each is pictured at the left side of your screen in the listed order:
2 - Blue Vervain
2 - False Sunflower
2 - Ironweed
2 - Joe Pye (Pink)
2 - New England Aster
2 - Rose Milkweed
2 - Showy Goldenrod
2 - Sky Blue Aster
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
Sun Exposure: Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Height: up to 6'
Bloom Time: June - October
Bloom Color: Blue, Purple
Resistant: Deer
Attracts: Native Bees, Bumblebees, Butterflies, Birds
Pollinator Benefit: Larval Host for the Common Buckeye butterfly; Special Value to Native Bees (Recognized by pollination ecologists as attracting large numbers of native bees.)
False (Early) Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides)
Sun Exposure - Full, Partial
Soil Moisture - Medium-wet, Medium, Medium-dry, Dry
Height - 5'
Bloom Time - June-September
Bloom Color - Yellow
Tolerance - Drought, poor soils
Attracts - Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Pollinator Benefits - Xerces Society rates as good for beneficial insects
Ironweed (Veronia missurica)
Sun Exposure: Sun
Soil Moisture: Medium to Wet
Height: 3'to 5'
Bloom Time: July - August
Bloom Color: Magenta purple
Tolerates: Deer, wet soil
Attracts: Butterflies, bees
Pollinator benefit: Good nectar source for all pollinators; Xerces Soc.: Special Value to native bees
Joe Pye-Pink (Eutrochium maculatum)
Sun Exposure: Full
Soil: Clay, Sand, Loam
Soil Moisture: Wet, Medium-Wet
Height: 4'–6'
Bloom Time: July–September
Bloom Color: Pink
Host: Great Tiger Moth, Three-Lined Flower Moth
Attracts: Butterflies, bees, birds
Pollinator benefit: Great for native bees; generous nectar for all nectaring insects; Late nectar source for migrating Monarchs
New England Aster (Symphiotrichum novae-angliae)
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Moisture: Wet, Moist, Medium-Dry
Height: 5ft
Bloom Time: August - October
Bloom Color: Purple
Resistant to: Deer, Drought
Attracts: Bees, butterflies, birds
Pollinator benefit: Larval Host Plant for Checkerspot butterfly and various moths, late season nectar producer for all nectaring insects; Xerces Society identifies this plant as having special value for native bees, bumblebees and honey bees.
Keystone plant supporting 133 Native Species!!
Rose Milkweed (Asclepius incarnata)
Sun Exposure: Full, Partial
Soil Moisture: Wet, Medium-Wet, Medium
Height: 4'
Bloom Time: June, July, August
Bloom Color: Pink
Resistance: Deer
Attracts: Butterflies, bees, hummingbirds
Pollinator Benefit: Larval Host for Monarch and Queen butterflies; excellent nectar source for other pollinators; Xerces Society identifies as Special Value to Native Bees and Bumble Bees
Showy Goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry, Medium
Soil Type: Loam, Sand
Height: 1'-3'
Bloom Time: August, September, October
Bloom Color: Yellow
Resistance: Deer
Attracts: Butterflies, native bees, birds
Pollinator Benefit: Late season nectar source; value to native bees for pollen and nesting materials; migrating Monarchs
Keystone plant that supports 177 different species!
Sky Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum oolentangiense)
Sun Exposure: Sun, Part Shade, Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry, Moist
Soil Type: Mesic to dry, average soils.
Height: 1'-5'
Bloom Time: August - October
Bloom Color: Blue, Purple, Violet
Resistance: Drought
Attracts: Butterflies, native bees, birds
Pollinator Benefit: Late season nectar source; value to native bees for pollen and nesting materials; supports migrating Monarchs
Keystone plant supporting over 177 different species!