Honey bees and other pollinators in the U.S. and throughout the world have experienced ongoing and rapid population declines. The continuation of the crisis threatens the stability of ecosystems, the economy, and our food supply.
With summer solstice just passing us and the weather warms our thoughts turn to gardening, or at least mine do! It's a good time to consider planting flowering trees, shrubs and other plants that are attractive to bees, butterflies and other pollinators. You can beautify your yard, diversify the landscape, feed and protect pollinators, all at the same time. Unfortunately where you get these plants from makes a big difference. Unfortunately, many "bee friendly" plants sold at Home Depot, Lowe's and other leading garden centers have been treated with pesticides shown to harm and kill bees according to a study released August 2013 by Friends of Earth-US, Beyond Pesticides, and others.
“The weight of accumulated evidence from scientists across Europe and North America shows that neonicotinoids harm honey bees, bumble bees, and other important pollinators,” said Scott Hoffman Black, executive director of the Xerces Society. “Swift action is needed by all sectors of society to reduce the prevalence of these insecticides in our environment. By phasing out their use, nurseries can play a leadership role in this change.”
Neonicotinoids, such as imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, and acetamiprid, are highly toxic to bees and other beneficial organisms including aquatic life and birds. These chemicals contaminate the entire plant, including nectar and pollen, throughout the life cycle of the plant, persist in the soil and contaminate surface water. A growing body of science has implicated neonicotinoids (neonics), applied or incorporated into seeds for agriculture, ornamental, and garden plants, are a key factor in recent global bee die-offs.
“While neonics may not be the only factor in bee die offs, they are a significant factor, and one that we can do something about. It’s time for EPA to step in and suspend use of these pesticides on bee-attractive plants,” said Larissa Walker, policy & campaign coordinator at the Center for Food Safety.
With summer solstice just passing us and the weather warms our thoughts turn to gardening, or at least mine do! It's a good time to consider planting flowering trees, shrubs and other plants that are attractive to bees, butterflies and other pollinators. You can beautify your yard, diversify the landscape, feed and protect pollinators, all at the same time. Unfortunately where you get these plants from makes a big difference. Unfortunately, many "bee friendly" plants sold at Home Depot, Lowe's and other leading garden centers have been treated with pesticides shown to harm and kill bees according to a study released August 2013 by Friends of Earth-US, Beyond Pesticides, and others.
“The weight of accumulated evidence from scientists across Europe and North America shows that neonicotinoids harm honey bees, bumble bees, and other important pollinators,” said Scott Hoffman Black, executive director of the Xerces Society. “Swift action is needed by all sectors of society to reduce the prevalence of these insecticides in our environment. By phasing out their use, nurseries can play a leadership role in this change.”
Neonicotinoids, such as imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran, and acetamiprid, are highly toxic to bees and other beneficial organisms including aquatic life and birds. These chemicals contaminate the entire plant, including nectar and pollen, throughout the life cycle of the plant, persist in the soil and contaminate surface water. A growing body of science has implicated neonicotinoids (neonics), applied or incorporated into seeds for agriculture, ornamental, and garden plants, are a key factor in recent global bee die-offs.
“While neonics may not be the only factor in bee die offs, they are a significant factor, and one that we can do something about. It’s time for EPA to step in and suspend use of these pesticides on bee-attractive plants,” said Larissa Walker, policy & campaign coordinator at the Center for Food Safety.
What to Plant to Help Pollinators in Your Area:
Common Name Borage.......................................................(A) Sunflower, Lemon Queen.............................(A) Coriander/Cilantro.......................................(A) Siberian Wallflower....................................(B/P) Dill.............................................................(A) Coreopsis, Lance Leaf..................................(P) California Poppy..........................................(A) Gaillardia....................................................(A) Zinnia, Lilliput..............................................(A) Basil, Sweet................................................(A) Cosmos......................................................(A) Purple Prairie Clover....................................(P) Glob Gilia....................................................(A) Catnip........................................................(P) Lemon Mint.................................................(A) Black-Eyed Susan.......................................(A/P) Goldenrod...................................................(P) Lavender Hyssop..........................................(P) Bergamot....................................................(P) Nasturtium..................................................(A) Lupine, Sundial............................................(P) Hollyhock, Dark............................................(A) Butterfly Weed.............................................(P) Texas Sage.................................................(P) Phlox..........................................................(A) Rocket Larkspur...........................................(A) Spider Flower..............................................(A) Godetia.......................................................(A) Bee Balm.....................................................(P) Columbine, Shooting Star..............................(P) Penstemon, Tubular Bells..............................(P) Red-Hot Poker..............................................(P) Standing Cypress..........................................(B) Foxglove......................................................(B) Flowering Tobacco.......................................(A) Coral Bells...................................................(P) | Botanical Name Borago officinalis Helianthus annuus Coriandrum sativum Cheiranthus allionii Anethum graveolens Coreopsis lanceolata Eschscholzia californica Gaillardia pulchella Zinnia elegans Ocimum basilicum Cosmos bipinnatus Dalea purpurea Gilia capitata Nepeta cataria Monarda citriodora Rudbeckia hirta Solidago rigida Agastache foeniculum Mondara fistulosa Tropaeolum majus Lupinus perennis Alcea rosea Asclepias tuberosa Salvia coccinea Phlox drummondii Delphinium ajacis Cleome hasslerana Clarkia amoena Monarda fistulosa Aquilegia canadensis Penstemon hartwegii Kniphofia uvaria Ipomopsis rubra Digitalis purpurea Nicotiana alta Heuchera sanguinea |
A - Annual, B - Biennial, P - Perennial