I read an article in FINE GARDENING magazine about pollinators that itemized them and the types of flowers that attract them. Even if you do not have room for a garden, pollinators will still visit flowers grown in containers. The following is a synopsis of the “Meet the Pollinators” chart.
DOMESTICATED HONEYBEES (European honeybee). They like shallow or tubular flower shapes, ideally with a landing area. Attracting bloom colors are bright white, blue, or yellow.
WILD BEES (bumblebees, orchard bees, carpenter bees, sweat bees, mason bees, and leaf-cutter bees). Their favorite flowers include shallow or tubular shapes, preferably with a landing pad. Blue, purple, white, orange, and yellow comprise their favorite flower colors.
WASPS (paper wasps, yellow jackets, mud daubers, thread-waisted wasps, and Trichogrammas). Wasps like shallow, nectar-rich flowers, often with dull colors or unusual scents. While searching for insect prey and nectar, wasps pick up and distribute pollen.
BUTTERFLIES (skippers, blues, swallowtails, hairstreaks, sulphurs, and brush-footed). They prefer bright red or purple flowers with tubular shapes, abundant nectar, and wide landing pads.
MOTHS (hawk moths, sphinx moths, tussock moths, daggers, and luna moths). Their flowers of choice include white, pink, purple, or pale red that are sweetly fragrant with ample, deeply hidden nectar. Most moths feed only at night, so they are probably underappreciated by gardeners.
FLIES (hoverflies, robber flies, flower flies, syrphid flies, often mistakenly called sweat bees because of their yellow and black stripes, and tachnids). Flies enjoy shallow or funnel-like shapes that are pale, dark brown, or purple. Also, flies are attracted to plants with a putrid odor.
HUMMINGBIRDS (ruby-throated, broad-tailed, rufous, Anna’s, Costa’s, and black-chinned). They choose colorful flowers and tubular flowers with abundant nectar. Hummingbirds can hover, so they do not need a landing pad.
BEETLES (soldier beetles, scarabs, long-horned beetles, checkered beetles, sap beetles, and lady beetles, aka ladybugs). They prefer large, bowl-shaped blooms with ample pollen and strong scents, including sweet, musky, spicy, fruity, or putrid. Beetles are some of the oldest pollinators on earth.
To attract a variety of pollinators to your yard, try choosing all the various flower types listed above, then enjoy the show.
For any questions on daylilies or gardening, call or email the Edgar County Extension Master Gardeners at 217-465-8585 or schiver@illinois.edu.
Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities. Illinois Extension is part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.