5 Native Shrubs You Didn't Know Were Pollinator Powerhouses
The air is crisp, the leaves are turning, and you might be thinking your gardening season is winding down. But as a homesteader or dedicated gardener, you know that planning for next year starts now. While many focus on flowers for pollinators, it's easy to overlook a crucial element: shrubs. I've noticed fewer buzzing bees and flitting butterflies visiting my garden lately, a sad reminder of the growing concerns around pollinator decline. It’s a challenge that impacts us all, from the yield of our vegetable gardens to the overall health of our ecosystems. The good news is, we can make a difference!
Here’s a secret weapon: native shrubs. These unsung heroes offer vital food and shelter for pollinators, extending the blooming season beyond the typical floral displays. Focusing on shrubs provides early spring and late fall resources, times when traditional flower sources can be scarce. By incorporating these often-overlooked plants, you can supercharge your pollinator garden and contribute to a healthier, more vibrant ecosystem. Let's explore five native shrubs that deserve a place in your pollinator paradise!
1. Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) – Early Spring Feast
Spicebush is an incredible, shade-tolerant shrub that kicks off the pollinator season with a bang. This native beauty, typically found in woodland understories, boasts small, delicate yellow flowers that emerge in early spring, often before the leaves even appear.
Key Points:
Description: Spicebush is a deciduous shrub that grows to about 6-12 feet tall and wide. It features smooth, gray bark and aromatic leaves that release a spicy fragrance when crushed. In the fall, female plants produce bright red berries that are relished by birds.
Pollinator Benefits: Its early-blooming flowers provide a crucial nectar source for early-emerging bees, like mining bees (Andrena species), and butterflies that are just coming out of hibernation. It is also a host plant for the Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly.
Homestead Benefits: Beyond its pollinator value, Spicebush offers several homestead benefits. The aromatic leaves can be used to make a tea, and the berries, while pungent, are a valuable food source for wildlife. Historically, it has also been used medicinally.
Companion Planting: Spicebush thrives in the shade, making it an excellent companion for ferns, hostas, and other woodland plants.
Care Tips: Provide well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Spicebush prefers partial to full shade. Prune to remove dead or damaged wood. It is generally pest and disease-resistant.
Key Takeaway: Spicebush is the ultimate early-season pollinator haven, providing that essential early-season food source when other options are limited. Plus, it thrives in those shady spots that often go unplanted!
2. Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) – Wetland Wonder
For those with consistently moist areas in their landscape, Buttonbush is an absolute must-have. This unique shrub is a magnet for pollinators, thanks to its distinctive spherical flower heads.
Key Points:
Description: Buttonbush is a deciduous shrub that grows to about 5-12 feet tall and wide. It’s characterized by its globe-shaped flower clusters, which are covered in tiny, creamy-white florets. It thrives in wet environments like swamps, marshes, and stream banks.
Pollinator Benefits: These flower heads are literally buzzing with life! They attract a wide array of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, moths, and even hummingbirds, all seeking the abundant nectar and pollen.
Homestead Benefits: Buttonbush is excellent for erosion control in wet areas. It also provides essential habitat for aquatic wildlife, including amphibians, reptiles, and waterfowl.
Companion Planting: Plant Buttonbush with other moisture-loving plants like sedges, rushes, and willows.
Care Tips: Buttonbush requires consistently moist to wet soil. It can tolerate full sun to partial shade. Prune in late winter or early spring to maintain its shape. Be aware that it can spread by suckers, so manage its growth as needed.
Key Takeaway: If you have a wet area on your property, Buttonbush is the perfect solution to turn that space into a pollinator paradise. Its unique flowers and ability to thrive in challenging conditions make it a true wetland wonder!
3. New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) – Nitrogen Fixer
New Jersey Tea is a tough, adaptable shrub that not only attracts pollinators but also improves soil health. Its name comes from its historical use as a tea substitute during the American Revolution.
Key Points:
Description: New Jersey Tea is a deciduous shrub that grows to about 2-4 feet tall and wide. It features attractive, oval-shaped foliage and clusters of small, white flowers that bloom in the summer. It's highly drought-tolerant once established.
Pollinator Benefits: The white flowers are a favorite of native bees and butterflies, providing a valuable source of nectar and pollen.
Homestead Benefits: This shrub is a nitrogen fixer, meaning it has the ability to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use, enriching the soil. The leaves can also be dried and used to make a caffeine-free tea.
Companion Planting: Plant New Jersey Tea with other nitrogen-loving plants or use it as a ground cover to improve soil fertility.
Care Tips: New Jersey Tea prefers well-drained soil and full sun. It is highly drought-tolerant and requires minimal watering once established. Prune in late winter or early spring to remove dead or damaged wood.
Key Takeaway: New Jersey Tea is a low-maintenance, versatile shrub that enhances soil fertility while providing nectar for pollinators. It's a winner for both the garden and the environment!
4. Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) – Fragrant Late Bloomer
As summer fades, Summersweet steps in to provide a late-season nectar source for pollinators. Its fragrant flowers fill the air with a sweet scent, attracting a wide range of beneficial insects.
Key Points:
Description: Summersweet is a deciduous shrub that grows to about 3-8 feet tall and wide. It features upright spikes of fragrant white or pink flowers that bloom in late summer. It's adaptable to a variety of soil types and can tolerate shade.
Pollinator Benefits: It's a magnet for late-season pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, providing a crucial food source when other flowers are fading.
Homestead Benefits: In addition to its pollinator value, Summersweet adds a delightful fragrance to the garden and extends the blooming season.
Companion Planting: Plant Summersweet with hydrangeas, azaleas, and other shade-tolerant plants that prefer moist soil.
Care Tips: Summersweet prefers moist, well-drained soil and can tolerate partial shade. Prune in late winter or early spring to remove dead or damaged wood.
Key Takeaway: Extend the pollinator season with Summersweet. By blooming late in the summer, it's a crucial food source for pollinators when other flowers are fading. That fragrant aroma is an added bonus!
5. Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) – Showstopping Spring Blooms
While technically a small tree, Eastern Redbud can easily be grown as a large shrub. Its showstopping spring blooms provide an essential early food source for pollinators, painting the landscape with vibrant color.
Description: Eastern Redbud grows 20 to 30 feet high and 25 to 35 feet wide. It has a moderate growth rate, can grow in full or partial sun, and tolerates many soils.
Pollinator Benefits: Supports early-emerging bees with its nectar-rich flowers.
Homestead Benefits: Provides visual interest in the spring and can be used as a specimen tree or shrub. Edible flowers.
Companion Planting: Plant with dogwoods and other understory trees.
Care Tips: Pruning, soil preferences, and pest/disease resistance.
Plant the Future, One Shrub at a Time
Adding native shrubs to your garden or homestead is a powerful step towards supporting pollinators and creating a more sustainable ecosystem. These often-overlooked plants offer a multitude of benefits, providing food, shelter, and extending the blooming season.
As fall approaches, now is the perfect time to plan and prepare for planting these shrubs next spring. Research the specific native species suitable for your local region and consider incorporating at least one of these powerhouse shrubs into your landscape.
What native shrubs have you had success with in your pollinator garden? Share your experiences in the comments below! Don't forget to visit your local nurseries and ask about native shrub options. And for more seasonal gardening tips and homesteading inspiration, subscribe to the Better Homes and Harvests newsletter. Don’t keep this great information to yourself, make sure you share this with anyone who might find it helpful!