The health of your garden is highly impacted by the presence of pollinators such as butterflies, bees, wasps, and hummingbirds. Not only do plants depend on them, but our pollinator friends are responsible for 70 percent of the food we eat. Recent news states that pollinator populations are drastically declining. Thus, planting gardens to attract them is even more important! Here are some common pollinators and Chicago and the plants you can grow to attract them.
Butterflies:
What to plant:
Beebalm
Black-eyed Susan
Blanket flower
Butterfly weed
Butterfly bush
Coneflower
Dill
Globe thistle
Gayfeather
Milkweed
Parsley
Red valerian
Tomatoes
Yarrow
Zinnia
Bees!!!!:
What To Plant:
Bayberry
Beebalm
Big blue lobelia
Black-eyed Susan
Catmint
Foxtail lily
Goldenrod
Jacob's ladder
Joe-pye weed
Lavender
Purple coneflower
Smooth blue aster
Smooth beardtongue
Stonecrop
Sunflower
Hummingbirds
What To Plant:
Beebalm
Flowering tobacco
Foxgloves
Fuchsia
Honeysuckle
Hyssop
Lantana
Lobelia
Morning glory
Red buckeye
Rhododendron
Salvia
Trumpet creeper
Verbena
Weigela