RECOMMENDED PLANTS
Below is a selection of plants that we recommend when installing your pollinator garden. Included is information on wildlife value, height, growth rate, common pollinators, flower type, bloom times, seeding rate, and precipitation range. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, but rather just some of our favorites! Forbs are listed first, followed by shrubs.
The key to establishing a good pollinator habitat is choosing the correct plants that will bloom throughout the growing season - plants that will provide nectar and pollen desired by insects in spring, summer, and fall. Ideally, a plant mix will include nine species: three that bloom in spring, three in summer, and three in fall.
Recommended Forbs for Pollinators
Prairie Smoke
Geum triflorum
Mature Height: 1'
Growth Rate: Moderate to rapid
Wildlife Value:
Attracts: Bees
Flowers: Yellow (enclosed by pink sepals)
Bloom: May - July (late spring - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 18 - 25+"
Seeding Rate: 2lbs/acre
Native
Slender Cinquefoil
Potentilla gracilis
Mature Height: 1 - 2'
Growth Rate: Rapid
Wildlife Value: Poor to fair forage
Attracts: Bees and butterflies
Flowers: Yellow
Bloom: June - July (early - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 18 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 1lb/acre
Native
Hotrock Penstemon
Penstemon deustus
Mature Height: 0.75 - 2'
Growth Rate:
Wildlife Value: Fair to good forage
Attracts: Bees and butterflies
Flowers: White
Bloom: June - July (early - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 9 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 3lbs/acre
Native
Showy Daisy
Erigon speciosus
Mature Height: 6 - 32"
Growth Rate: Slow
Wildlife Value: Poor forage
Attracts: Bees and butterflies
Flowers: Purple to white
Bloom: June - August (summer)
Precipitation Range: 18 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 1lb/acre
Native
Western Mountain Aster
Symphiotrichum spathulatum
Mature Height: 0.5 - 3'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Wildlife Value: Excellent food and cover
Attracts: Bees, butterflies, and beetles. Larval host of some Crescent butterflies
Flowers: Purple
Bloom: July - October (mid summer - mid/late fall)
Precipitation Range: 12 - 25"
Seeding Range: 2lbs/acre
Native
Blanketflower
Gaillardia aristata
Mature Height: 1 - 1.5'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Wildlife Value: Excellent food and cover
Attracts: Bees and butterflies
Flowers: Orange to Yellow
Bloom: July - September (mid summer - early fall)
Precipitation Range: 16 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 6lbs/acre
Native
Missouri Goldenrod
Solidago missouriensis
Mature Height: 0.75 - 3'
Growth Rate: Rapid
Wildlife Value: Fair forage. Seeds eaten by songbirds
Attracts: Bees and butterflies
Flowers: Yellow
Bloom: August - October (late summer - mid/late fall)
Precipitation Range: 12 - 25+"
Seeding Rate: 1lb/acre
Native
Threadleaf Fleabane
Erigeron filifolius
Mature Height: 4 - 20"
Growth Rate: Slow
Wildlife Value: Poor forage
Attracts: Bees
Flowers: Blue, pink, white
Bloom: June - August (summer)
Precipitation Range: 6 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 4lbs/acre
Native
Small Burnet
Sanguisorba minor
Mature Height: 1 - 2.5'
Growth Rate: Rapid
Wildlife Value: Excellent forage
Attracts: Bees
Flowers: Green and red
Bloom: June - August (mid - late summer)
Precipitation Range: 12 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 20lbs/acre
Introduced
Yellow Blossom Alfalfa
Medicago sativa ssp. falcata
Mature Height: 2 - 3'
Growth Rate: Fast
Wildlife Value: Excellent Forage
Attracts: Bees and butterflies
Flowers: Yellow
Bloom: May - July (late spring - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 9 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 5lbs/acre
Introduced
Lewis Flax
Linum lewisii
Mature Height: 1 - 2'
Growth Rate: Moderate to rapid
Wildlife Value: Excellent food
Attracts: Bees
Flowers: Light blue
Bloom: May - July (late spring - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 9 - 25"
Seeding Range: 5lbs/acre
Native
Nineleaf Biscuitroot
Lomatium triternatum
Mature Height: 2 - 3'
Growth Rate: Slow
Wildlife Value: Good forage
Attracts: Bees, flies, beetles, & butterflies. Host for Anisa and Indra Swallowtail Butterfly larvae
Flowers: Yellow-green
Bloom: May - June (late spring - early summer)
Precipitation Range: 9 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 20lbs/acre
Native
Western Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Mature Height: 0.5 - 1.5'
Growth Rate: Rapid
Wildlife Value: Forage
Attracts: Butterflies and some bees
Flowers: White to yellow
Bloom: June - August (summer)
Precipitation Range: 6 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 0.5lbs/acre
Native
Wooly Sunflower/Oregon Sunshine
Eriophyllum lanatum
Mature Height: 4 - 24"
Growth Rate: Rapid
Wildlife Value: Food and cover
Attracts: Bees
Flowers: Yellow
Bloom: May - July (late spring - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 9 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 4lbs/acre
Native
Taper-leaved Penstemon
Penstemon attenuatus
Mature Height: 4" - 3'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Wildlife Value: Fair to good forage
Attracts: Bees and butterflies. Host of some Checkerspot Butterfly larvae
Flowers: Blue, purple, pink
Bloom: May - July (late spring - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 12 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 1lb/acre
Native
Canada Milkvetch
Astragalus canadenis
Mature Height: 1 - 2.5'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Wildlife Value: Forage and seed food source
Attracts: Bees and butterflies. Is host for some White and Sulphur Butterfly larvae
Flowers: Cream
Bloom: June - July (summer)
Precipitation Range: 16+"
Seeding Rate: 4lbs/acre
Native
Yellow Penstemon
Penstemon confertus
Mature Height: 0.75 - 2'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Wildlife Value: Fair to good forage
Attracts: Bees and butterflies. Host of some Checkerspot Butterfly larvae.
Flowers: Pale yellow
Bloom: June - July (early - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 18 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 2lbs/acre
Native
Canada Goldenrod
Solidago canadensis
Mature Height: 3 - 5'
Growth Rate: Rapid
Wildlife Value: Fair forage. Seeds eaten by songbirds
Attracts: Bees and butterflies
Flowers: Yellow
Bloom: August - October (late summer - mid/late fall)
Precipitation Range: 18 - 25+"
Seeding Rate: 1lb/acre
Native
Blue Flax
Linum perenne
Mature Height: 1 - 2'
Growth Rate: Moderate to rapid
Wildlife Value: Excellent Food
Attracts: Bees
Flowers: Light blue
Bloom: May - July (late spring - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 9 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 4lbs/acre
Introduced
Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
Mature Height: 2 - 3'
Growth Rate: Rapid
Wildlife Value: Excellent Forage
Attracts: Bees and butterflies. Host of some Blue and Hairstreak Butterflies.
Flowers: Purple
Bloom: May - July (late spring - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 9 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 5lbs/acre
Introduced
Sunflower
Helianthella spp.
Mature Height: 0.75 - 3.5'
Growth Rate: Slow
Wildlife Value: Food and cover
Attracts: Bees, wasps, and butterflies
Flowers: Yellow
Bloom: June - August (summer)
Precipitation Range: 12 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 4lbs/acre
Native
Shaggy Daisy
Erigeron pumilus
Mature Height: 2 - 20"
Growth Rate: Slow
Wildlife Value: Poor forage
Attracts: Bees and butterflies
Flowers: White, blue, pink
Bloom: May - July (late spring - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 6 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 1lb/acre
Native
Tall Cinquefoil
Potentilla arguta
Mature Height: 1.5 - 3'
Growth Rate: Rapid
Wildlife Value: Fair to good forage
Attracts: Bees and butterflies
Flowers: Pale yellow to white
Bloom: June - July (early - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 18 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 1lb/acre
Native
Sticky Geranium
Geranium viscosissimum
Mature Height: 2 - 3'
Growth Rate: Rapid
Wildlife Value: Good forage
Attracts: Bees and butterflies
Flowers: Pink to purple
Bloom: May - June (late spring - early summer)
Precipitation Range: 16 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 20lbs/acre
Native
Fireweed
Chamerion angustifolium
Mature Height: 2 - 4'
Growth Rate: Rapid
Wildlife Value: Fair to good forage
Attracts: Bees
Flowers: Pink
Blooms: June - September (summer, early fall)
Precipitation Range: 18+"
Seeding Rate: 0.5lbs/acre
Native
Arrowleaf Balsamroot
Balsamorhiza sagittata
Mature Height: 1 - 2'
Growth Rate: Slow
Wildlife Value: Fair forage
Attracts: Bees
Flowers: Yellow
Bloom: April - May (spring)
Precipitation Range: 16 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 18lbs/acre
Native
Fernleaf Biscuitroot
Lomatium dissectum
Mature Height: 0.5 - 3'
Growth Rate: Slow
Wildlife Value: Good forage
Attracts: Bees, flies, beetles, & butterflies. Host for Anise and Indra Swallowtail Butterfly larvae
Flowers: Yellow-green
Bloom: May - July (late spring - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 12 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 20lbs/acre
Native
Clover species
Trifolium spp.
Mature Height: 0.5 - 1'
Growth Rate:
Wildlife Value: Excellent forage
Attracts: Bees and butterflies. Host for some White and Sulphur Butterfly larvae
Flowers: White, red, pink
Bloom: May - July (late spring - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 18 - 25+"
Seeding Rate: 4lbs/acre
Introduced
Sainfoin
Onobrychis vicifolia
Mature Height: 2 - 5'
Growth Rate: Rapid
Wildlife Value: Excellent Forage
Attracts: Larger Bees
Flowers: Pink
Bloom: May - July (late spring - early summer)
Precipitation Range: 14 - 25"
Seeding Rate: 34lbs/acre
Introduced
Recommended Shrubs for Pollinators
Snowberry
Symphoricarpos albus
Mature Height: 2 - 4'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Wildlife Value: Food, berries, browse, and cover
Attracts: Butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Larval host of the Snowberry Checkerspot Butterfly
Flowers: Pink
Bloom: June - August (mid - late summer)
Precipitation Range: 18 - 25+"
Native
Nootka Rose
Rosa nutkana
Mature Height: 3 - 6'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Wildlife Value: Nesting, cover, and excellent food
Attracts: Bees, butterflies, and beetles
Flowers: Pink
Bloom: May - July (late spring - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 16 - 25"
Native
Antelope Bitterbrush
Purshia tridentata
Mature Height: 2 - 6'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Wildlife Value: Cover and fall forage
Attracts: Bees, butterflies, and flies. Larval host of some Hairstreak Butterflies
Flowers: Yellow
Bloom: May - June (late spring - early summer)
Precipitation Range: 11 - 24"
Native
Lewis' Mockorange
Philadelphus lewisii
Mature Height: 4 - 8'
Growth Rate: Slow
Wildlife Value: Food (berries)
Attracts: Bees and butterflies
Flowers: White
Bloom: May - June (late spring - early summer)
Precipitation Range: 12 - 25"
Native
Sulphurflower Buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum
Mature Height: 0.5 - 2'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Wildlife Value: Cover and fall forage
Attracts: Moths, butterflies, and bees. Larval host of some Blue Butterflies
Flowers: Yellow
Bloom: July - September (mid summer - early fall)
Precipitation Range: 6 - 25"
Native
Redstem Ceanothus
Ceanothus sanguineus
Mature Height: 2 - 6'
Growth Rate: Rapid
Wildlife Value: Elk browse, berries for birds
Attracts: Bees and butterflies. Larval host for the Pale Swallowtail and some Hairstreak and Blue Butterflies
Flowers: White
Bloom: May - June (late spring - early summer)
Precipitation Range: 18 - 25"
Native
Blue Elderberry
Sambucus nigra ssp. cerulea
Mature Height: 6 - 15'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Wildlife Value: Nesting and food
Attracts: Bees, nesting bees, butterflies, beetles, and flies
Flowers: White to cream
Bloom: June - July (early - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 18 - 25+"
Native
Wax Currant
Ribes cereum
Mature Height: 3 - 4'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Wildlife Value: Berries and cover
Attracts: Early spring bees and bumblebees, butterflies, and flies. Larval host of some Angelwing Butterflies
Flowers: White, green-ish white, pink
Bloom: April - May (spring)
Precipitation Range: 16 - 25"
Native
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Mature Height: 10 - 20'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Wildlife Value: Excellent food and cover
Attracts: Bees and butterflies. Larval host of the Two-Tailed Swallowtail (largest butterfly in PNW)
Flowers: White
Bloom: May (spring)
Precipitation Range: 12 - 25"
Native
Oregon Grape
Mahonia aquifolium, M repens
Mature Height: 1 - 2' (M. repens); 3 - 5' (M. aquifolium)
Growth Rate: Rapid
Wildlife Value: Food and cover
Attracts: Bees
Flowers: Yellow
Bloom: May - June (late spring - early summer)
Precipitation Range: 16 - 25+"
Native
Shrubby Cinquefoil
Dasiphora fruiticosa
Mature Height: 2 - 4'
Growth Rate: Slow
Wildlife Value: Food and cover
Attracts: Moths, bees, butterflies, beetles, and flies
Flowers: Yellow
Bloom: May - June (late spring - early summer)
Precipitation Range: 18 - 25+"
Native
Serviceberry
Amelanchier alnifolia
Mature Height: 6 - 15'
Growth Rate: Slow
Wildlife Value: Good cover and food
Attracts: Bees and butterflies
Flowers: White
Bloom: May - June (late spring - early summer)
Precipitation Range: 12 - 25"
Native
Wood's Rose
Rosa woodsii
Mature Height: 3 - 6'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Wildlife Value: Nesting, cover, and excellent foodw
Attracts: Bees and butterflies
Flowers: Pink
Bloom: May - July (late spring - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 12 - 25"
Native
Golden Currant
Ribes aureum
Mature Height: 4 - 6'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Wildlife Value: Nesting, cover, and fruit
Attracts: Early spring bees and bumblebees. Larval host of some Angelwing Butterflies
Flowers: Yellow
Bloom: April - May (spring)
Precipitation Range: 16 - 25"
Native
Ninebark
Physocarpus malvaceus
Mature Height: 1.5 - 6'
Growth Rate: Slow
Wildlife Value: Food and cover
Attracts: Bees and butterflies
Flowers: White
Bloom: June (early summer)
Precipitation Range: 18 - 25+"
Native
Oceanspray
Holodiscus discolor
Mature Height: 3 - 9'
Growth Rate: Moderate
Wildlife Value: Browse and cover
Attracts: Bees and butterflies. Larval host of the Pale Swallowtail and some Blue Butterflies
Flowers: Cream
Bloom: May - July (late spring - mid summer)
Precipitation Range: 18 - 25+"
Native
Black Hawthorn
Crataegus douglasii
Mature Height: 12 - 30'
Growth Rate: Slow
Wildlife Value: Food and cover
Attracts: Moths, bees, & butterflies
Flowers: White
Bloom: May - June (late spring - early summer)
Precipitation Range: 16 - 25+"
Native