Native plants
Oer 85% of the U.S. is privately owned or urbanized, and urbanization has taken a toll on our ecosystems. By planting native plants in our yards, we can restore habitat, support the local pollinators and the food web.
Create a micro pollinator habitat
Why
Why is it important and urgent?
How
How do I create a local pollinator habitat?
What
What are the native plants in Utah for local pollinators?
Where
Where can you get the plants or seeds?
– Why –
We’ve replaced where they live and took over what they need
Human development has been taking over more and more land and leaving less resources to other species every year. We think about nature as somewhere in the wild, not our backyard. You might be surprised how much you can help restore nature.
The local food web
This is a simplified version of a low-level food web. Simple as it is, but if anything on this diagram is missing, the whole system will collapse. Below are several reasons why the system is very fragile right now.
National parks are not enough
You might think nature and wildlife can be preserved in those protected areas. Research has shown that animals (including pollinators) need connected habitat to thrive, not isolated protected “islands”.
Alien plants and lawn
The obsession with manicured lawns and alien species has pushed native species out of our everyday landscapes. Many nurseries still prioritize non-native ornamentals, making it harder for people to find the plants local wildlife actually depends on. As a result, our yards often look beautiful but offer little ecological value.
The Picky Caterpillars
Insects can be categorized as generalists (eat any plants) or specialists (picky eaters). Local pollinators are mostly the latter. Many caterpillars and native bees can only survive on very specific plants they evolved with. For example, monarch caterpillars only eat milkweed, pruinose squash bees only visit squashes, blue orchard bees love fruit trees, etc.
The hungry birds
Birds love eating soft caterpillars, especially their babies. Some woodpeckers can bring food back to their nest over 4000 times a day! Birds in migration also need lots of food – it usually eats enough insects to increase 30-50% of their body weight in a day.
Overuse of pesticide and mosquito spray
Pyrethroid-based insecticides used by mosquito foggers indiscriminately kill all insects, not just mosquitos. Ironically, targeting adult mosquitos is the worst and by far the most expensive approach to mosquito control, because mosquitos are best controlled in the larval stage.
On the Brink of Collapse
Monarch butterflies have fallen to just 3% of their historic population, and some bumblebee species have dropped to 4%, with several now facing extinction. When their numbers get this low, these species become extremely vulnerable to collapse.
You can change it in your yard
By planting native plants to provide food, a space for their life cycle and their next generations.
Select a few keystone plants that can support the majority of the insects.
– how –
Design a space that supports their life cycles
Aim for layers—native trees, shrubs, and a mix of groundcover and flowering plants—with as much variety as you can. This mimics the habitat local pollinators depend on. But you don’t have to transform your whole yard at once. Start small by planting a few native perennials each year and see what thrives.
Layers: structural – theme plants – ground cover
1) Layer your garden like nature does—using trees, shrubs, and flowers at different heights—to create shelter and food for pollinators. These deeper-rooted native plants also improve soil health by breaking up compacted ground and helping it hold more water.
2) Monarch caterpillars almost never form their chrysalises on milkweeds; they crawl off to other structures, often yards away from the milkweed plants on which they developed,
3) About 70% of our native bee species nest in the ground, while others nest within wood or pithy plant stems or in any nook or cranny of the appropriate size.
4) Groundcovers planted under trees, such as native pachysandra, woodland phlox, or native shrubs, make perfect sites for moths to complete their development safely.
5) Select the flowers that bloom alternately throughout the whole season. Bees, like most other multicellular organisms, must eat every day. Because the pollen and nectar they need comes from flowers, we need to ensure that plants are blooming in our landscape throughout the season.
Information from the book "Nature's Best Hope"
Provide water
As you know, the summer in Utah is hot and dry. Install a bubbler (you can DIY) so the birds, bees, and other backyard visitors can have a sip and stay hydrated.
Start from small
Plant a few native plants in different spots of your yard each year and see what works, what doesn’t. Some spots might not get enough sun, some areas might be too hot in the afternoon, etc. After years of experimenting and adding more, you’ll be able to create a beautiful space that works for you and pollinators.
– What –
The Keystone Plants
A “keystone plant” is a native plant species that supports lots of different insects — serving as host plants for caterpillars, providing nectar or pollen for many pollinators, shelter for insects and animals, and forming the foundation for a stable food web.
Because these plants offer critical resources, including just a few in a garden can significantly amplify its ecological value.
– Where –
The nurseries and programs that provide native plants
There are some nurseries and online shops where you can get native plant seedlings, or you can start them from seeds. Or you can apply for Utah Pollinator Habitat Program in spring – they provide free native plants to selected applicants in fall.
Organizations & programs:
Utah Native Plant Society – save the dates for their free events including workshops and seed swap (free seeds giveaway!)
Utah Pollinator Habitat Program – offer free plant kits for the selected participants
Cultivate – gardening platform where everyone can trade/share seeds or plants