Our Mission: Grow a network of habitat for songbirds and pollinators in gardens across the Rocky Mountains and beyond, save water for our streams and rivers, and restore our joy in nature every day. 

All-You-Can-Eat Buffets for Pollinators

In keeping with our #pollinatorsummer campaign, this week we're featuring two of our favorite groups of plants native to the Rocky Mountain region that serve as always-open buffets for pollinators in early summer.

These plants are not only striking in the garden, their nectar and pollen-laden blossoms provide an ever-changing pollinator show, attracting and feeding many kinds native bees, butterflies, beetles, moths, and hummingbirds, as well as honeybees.

Penstemons--A Shape and Color for (most) Everyone

The larger and more diverse group of pollinator-buffet plants are the Penstemons or beardtongues, a genus of plants unique to North America. These plants with the tubular flowers in blues, purples, red, yellow, orange, pink and white have specialized to attract many different kinds of pollinators.

Of the 273 species of penstemons in North America, around 60 are native to Colorado and Wyoming. There are also horticultural varieties, like the Mexicali hybrids developed by Plant Select®.

Different kinds of penstemons appeal to butterflies, moths (like the sphinx moth in the photo at the top of the post), bumble bees and parasitic wasps, and hummingbirds.

In general, the blue-purple-pink-white sorts with wide floral tubes attract insects, while the red-orange-yellow penstemons with narrow tubes are hummingbird-pollinated.

Many Kinds for Many Tastes

Penstemons may be tall plants with big flowers like the snapdragon penstemon above, small shrubs, shorter plants with tall flower spikes like scarlet bugler, or spreading mats with dainty flowers, like pine-leafed penstemon.

Whatever the kind of penstemon, these food-rich, beautiful flowers each have their pollinator "fans."

Milkweeds--Every Pollinator Loves 'em

There aren't nearly as many different kinds of milkweeds as there are penstemons, or as many colors, but these plants with the architectural flowers attract a broader array of pollinators to each plant.

Milkweeds, named for the "milky" sap that contains natural latex compounds, are the host-plant for caterpillars of Monarch Butterflies (meaning they are the sole food for the caterpillars, without which, of course, there can be no adult butterflies).

Two species of milkweed are widely adapted to the Rocky Mountain region, Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) and Showy or Common Milkweed (A. speciosa). Flower clusters of both attract pollinators including butterflies, beetles, native bees and honeybees, and beneficial wasps.

In half an hour of watching a clump of Showy Milkweed, our Communications Director counted at least six species of native bees, three species of butterflies (including monarchs), one kind of beetle, two kinds of beneficial wasps, and honeybees. A veritable pollinator parade!

For those who can't plant the larger Showy Milkweed, Butterfly Weed, its smaller and more sedentary cousin, also provides great habitat for monarch caterpillars and nectar and pollen for the whole gamut of insect pollinators.

A Pollinator Feast

Make room for penstemons and milkweeds in your garden and give your pollinators a summer feast!

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