Ohio Native

Pollinator Plants
The Bikes, Bees & Butterflies list for planting
healthy and diverse pollinator habitats that
provide nesting, nectar and high quality pollen
for pollinators.

Bikes, Bees & Butterflies serves as a catalyst to

create sustainable urban pollinator habitats and
brings awareness to the importance of pollinators
in Clevelands long range sustainability initiatives.

Presented by Ann Cicarella Landscape Design, LLC.

ACLD believes in advancing public education and
providing leadership in the conservation of bees,
butterflies and other pollinators that sustain our world.

Listed below are Ohio native pollinator plant species that are important to
include in any urban pollinator habitat, and will help you select plants that are
varied in floral type, color and bloom period. These plants provide both
habitat and forage sources for bees, butterflies and other native pollinators.
NATIVE FLOWERING PLANTS
AGASTACHE FOENICULUM
BLUE FORTUNE
Height: 24 - 36
Sun
Color: Blue
Season: Summer
Provides nectar and
pollen for bees and
butterflies.

ALLIUM CERNUM
(NODDING ONION)

ASCELPIAS INCARNATA SOUL MATE OR

ICE BALLET (SWAMP MILKWEED)
Height: 36-42
Sun

ASCEPLIAS TUBEROSA
(BUTTERFLY MILKWEED)

Height: 1 - 1.5
Full sun to part shade
Color : Pink
Season: June to Aug.
Excellent nectar and
pollen quality for native
bees and honey bees.

Height: 12-24
Sun

Color: White or Pink

Season: June Aug.
Host plant for monarch
butterfly; attracts native
bees and honey bees.

ASTER NOVAE-ANGLIAE
(NEW ENGLAND ASTER)

Color: Orange, Season:

June Aug.
Host plant for monarch
butterfly; attracts native
bees and honey bees.

CHELONE GLABRA
(TURTLEHEAD)

Height: 2 5
Sun

Height: 24 - 48
Sun/Part Shade

Color: White/Purple
Season: Aug. Oct.
Aster creates
interesting textures for
edges or borders.

Color: White
Season: Aug. Sept.
Attracts bumble bees
and hummingbirds with
large nectar rewards.

ECHINACEA PALLIDA
(PALE PURPLE CONEFLOWER)

CHRYSOGONUM VIRGINIANUM
(GOLDEN STAR)
Height: 6 12
Partial shade
Color: Yellow
Season: May Oct.

Height: 30 - 42
Sun
Color: Pink
Season: June Aug.

Provides early pollen

source for native bees
and honey bees.

A preferred nectar plant

of native bees and
butterflies. Goldfinches
feed on the seed.

ECHINACEA PURPUREA
(PURPLE CONEFLOWER)

EUPATORIUM MACULATUM
GATEWAY

Height: 6 7
Sun/part shade
Color: Pink
Season: June Aug.
Attracts monarchs, red
admirals, fritillaries and
swallowtails.

EUTROCHIUM MACULATUM
(SPOTTED JOE PYE WEED)

HELIANTHUS ANNUUS
(SUNFLOWER)

Height: 4 - 10
Sun
Color: Dark Pink
Season: July Sept.
Loved by monarchs!
Offers large quantities
of nectar for many
pollinators.

Height: 10 - 15
Sun
Color: Yellow
Season: July Sept.
Sunflowers are rated
very highly for their
pollen and nectar quality
for pollinators.

RUDBECKIA HIRTA
(BLACK-EYED SUSAN)

PYCNANTHEMUM VIRGININUM
(VIRGINA MOUNTAIN MINT)
Height: 12 - 36
Sun/Part Shade
Color: White
Season: July Aug.
Flowers attract a
diversity of pollinators
and is a good source
of nectar and pollen.

SALVIA SUPERBA
BLUE HILL

Height: 30 - 48
Sun
Color: Mauve
Season: July Sept.
Pollinator heaven during
bloom time.

Height: 12 - 36
Sun/Part Shade
Color: Golden Orange
Season: July Sept.
A great source of nectar
and pollen for honey
bees, native bees and
butterflies.

SOLIDAGO FLEXICAULIS
(ZIGZAG GOLDENROD)
Height: 18 - 24
Height: 24 - 36
Sun
Very Shade Tolerant
Color: Blue
Color: Yellow
Season: Summer
Season: July Sept.
Excellent source of
An important nectar and
pollen and nectar for
pollen source for a
native and honey bees.
variety of native bees

SOLIDAGO RUGOSA VAR. FIREWORKS

(GOLDENROD)

SOLIDAGO OHIOENSIS
(OHIO GOLDENROD)
Height: 2 - 3
Sun/Part Shade
Color: Yellow,
Season: Late Summer
Supplies valuable
nectar and pollen for a
variety of pollinators.

Height: 18 - 24
Sun/Part Shade
Color: Yellow/Green
Season: Late
Supplies valuable nectar
and pollen source for
native and honey bees.

VERNONIA LETTERMANNII IRON

BUTTERFLY (IRONWEED)

VERNONIA FASCICULATA
(COMMON IRONWEED)

Height: 30-36",
Exposure: Sun/Part
Shade

Height: 48 - 72,
Exposure: Sun/Part
Shade

Color: Purple
Season: Late Summer

Color: Deep purple-red,

Season: Summer

Common visitors are

native bees, honey
bees and skippers.

Benefits butterflies, birds

and other pollinators.

VERONICASTRUM VIRGINICUM
(CULVER ROOT)
Height: 4-5
Exposure: Sun
Color: White
Season: June - July
Loved by bumblebees,
honey bees and
butterflies! Fantastic
addition to the garden.

LARGE NATIVE SHADE TREES

ACER RUBRUM RED SUNSET MAPLE
Height: 45
Color: Orange/Red
Season: Summer Fall
First tree to bloom,
drawing all kinds of
pollinators. Clusters
of red flowers offer
nectar early in the
season.
NYSSA SYLVATICA
(BLACK GUM)
Height: 30 - 50
Sun/Part Shade
Color: White, Green,
Season: April - June
Heavy nectar
producer, drawing all
kinds of pollinators.

LIRODENDRON TULIPIFERA
(TULIP TREE)
Height: 60 - 80
Sun/Partial Shade
Color: Yellow, Green,
Brown
Season: April - June
Flowers attract
hummingbirds, honey
bees and butterflies.

ROBINIA PSEUDOACACIA
(BLACK LOCUST)
Height: 30 - 50
Color: White
Season: Early June
Black Locust flowers
provide forage for honey
production.

TILIA CORDATA
(GREENSPIRE LINDEN)
Height: 40 - 50
Sun/Part Shade
Color: Pale Yellow
Season: June
When in full bloom,
bees visit in abundant
numbers.

SMALL ORNAMENTAL TREES

CERCIS CANADENSIS
(EASTERN REDBUD)
Height: 20 - 30
Part Shade
Color: Magenta, Pink
Season: March - May
Recognized by
pollination ecologists
as attracting bumble
bees and provides
nesting for native bees.
HALESIA CAROLINA
(CAROLINA SILVERBELL)
Height: 30 - 40
Sun
Color: White
Season: April - May
Provides nectar and
pollen for bees and
butterflies.

CRATAEGUS CRUSGALLI INERMIS

CRUSADER (THORNLESS COCKSPUR)
Height: 20 - 30
Sun
Color: White
Season: May
Attracts butterflies for
food and refuge.

MALUS SARGENTII
(SARGENT CRABAPPLE)
Height: 8 - 10
Sun
Season: Pink, White
Season: April - May
Attracts butterflies
and hummingbirds.