The United States is home to about 4,000 species of native bees. Many are solitary, nesting in the ground or inside hollow stems. Some bees are generalists, foraging widely. Others are specialists whose survival depends on a single genus. When landscapes include the right mix of plants, bees thrive.
At Loma Vista Nursery, the native plants we grow are ornamentals—as well as critical sources of food and shelter for our native bee species. Plants such as prairie dropseed, Rhus aromatica, Husker Red penstemon, Fiber Optics® buttonbush, Kobold liatris and butterfly milkweed directly support the life of the Midwest’s native bee populations. Scientists estimate there are between 500 and 600 native bees throughout the region.
Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)
A Grass that Shelters Life
Prairie dropseed is a warm-season perennial grass that prefers full sun and dry to medium, well-drained soils. It matures at 2 to 3 feet tall and about as wide. Its fine, arching foliage forms dense clumps that last through winter. Airy seed heads, with a scent reminiscent of buttered popcorn, are wind-pollinated, so they do not provide nectar. But they do offer habitat.
Mining bees and other ground-nesting species use dropseed for cover. Its clumps moderate soil temperature and shield nesting sites. While planting prairie dropseed alone is just fine, it works best when planted en masse with flowering perennials like liatris or milkweed. Once established, dropseed is drought tolerant and low maintenance, needing only a spring cutback.
Fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica)
A Shrub that Feeds and Protects
Fragrant sumac is a deciduous shrub that grows 2 to 6 feet tall and 6 to 10 feet wide. Spread by root suckers, it is a great choice for stabilizing slopes and banks. The shrub tolerates rocky, clay or sandy soils with good drainage when planted in full sun to part shade. Clusters of yellow blossoms appear in early spring before other plants flower.
When crushed, its leaves release a pleasant scent. In September, young queen bumble bees are foraging heavily to build up fat reserves. Fragrant sumac provides the pollen they need. The shrub requires little care beyond occasional pruning and thrives in naturalized plantings where it provides shelter for pollinators and other wildlife.
Husker Red penstemon (Penstemon digitalis ‘Husker Red’)
Tubular Blooms for Native Bees
Husker Red penstemon reaches about 30 inches tall and up to 18 inches wide at maturity. Burgundy foliage in spring gives way to pink-white tubular flowers in early to midsummer. Full sun brings the best color and bloom, though this perennial plant tolerates light shade. Well-drained soil is essential.
Bumble bees, mason bees and leaf-cutting bees are frequent visitors, drawn to penstemon’s tubular blossoms that fit their tongue length and foraging habits. Each stalk holds dozens of flowers, providing abundant nectar and pollen. Husker Red belongs in borders or mass plantings where its dark foliage can contrast with green grasses and bright perennials. Deadheading extends bloom, but its sturdy habit requires little maintenance once established.
Fiber Optics® Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis ‘Bailoptics’)
A Wetland Favorite in Bloom
Fiber Optics® Buttonbush is a compact cultivar of a native wetland shrub. It grows to about 6 feet tall and wide. Thriving in moist to wet soils, it tolerates standing water and is a good choice for rain gardens and pond margins. In midsummer, the shrub bursts into fragrant, spherical flower clusters with dozens of tiny tubular florets.
Bumble bees, digger bees and sweat bees flock to the blossoms. Buttonbush blooms during a midsummer gap when few woody plants provide nectar, making it especially important to sustain colonies. It pairs well with other moisture-loving natives such as swamp milkweed. Periodic pruning of older wood maintains vigor and bloom.
Kobold Gayfeather (Liatris spicata)
Vertical Color that Sustains Pollinators
Kobold liatris is a compact blazing star that stands 12 to 18 inches tall. It requires full sun and well-drained soil. Vertical spikes of purple flowers open gradually in mid to late summer, offering a steady supply of nectar and pollen. Bumble bees, sweat bees and other long-tongued species forage heavily on liatris spikes.
As a prairie perennial that evolved with hundreds of Midwest bee species, it plays a reliable role in sustaining pollinators. Kobold’s upright form adds structure to landscapes and contrasts well with arching grasses like prairie dropseed. It is drought tolerant, requires little care beyond division every few years and looks best when planted in groups.
Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Bee-utiful Blooms that Endure
Butterfly milkweed is a quintessential pollinator perennial. Deep taproots make it drought resistant once established but difficult to transplant, so siting is important. It grows 2 to 3 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide, requiring full sun and well-drained soils.
Bright orange flowers open in early to mid-summer, attracting sweat bees, leaf-cutting bees and bumble bees. These native bee species represent only a fraction of the native bee species in the Midwest. But their activity on butterfly milkweed illustrates how essential it is as a nectar source. In landscapes, butterfly milkweed, which is also a vital host for monarch butterflies, performs best in drifts or mass plantings where its color creates impact. It pairs well with liatris, coneflowers and prairie grasses.
Cross-Season Pollinator Habitats
The sequence of bloom makes these Loma Vista Nursery-grown plants critical for sustaining bees. Fragrant sumac flowers first in spring. Penstemon and milkweed follow into summer. Buttonbush and liatris extend the season through mid- to late-summer. Prairie dropseed ties the plantings together, providing structure and nesting cover without nectar.
Together, these six species support a significant share of native bee species throughout the Midwest. Each offers beauty and ecological function, sustaining landscapes and the people – and pollinators – who depend on them.
Stay tuned for our second blog in this two-part pollinator series! Coming up next: “Cultivating Pollinator Friendly Spaces.”
Learn More About Loma Vista Nursery’s Landscape Plants
Loma Vista Nursery grows a variety of pollinator-friendly plants for Midwest landscapes. Our customers are Midwest independent garden centers, landscape contractors and wholesale distributors. Our team of plant experts helps people learn about plants and the healthy varieties we grow.
Review Loma Vista Nursery’s plant catalog for information and visit our website to learn about our values and best practices as a wholesale Midwest plant grower. For help with orders and plant-related questions, send an email to sales@lomavistanursery.com or call (785) 229-7200.
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