By Rachel Link
Happy Pollinator Week! Each year, this event is celebrated to highlight the importance of pollinators and how we can support and protect them.
What is a pollinator, and why are they important?
A pollinator is any animal that moves pollen from the male part of a flower to the female part of a flower for the plant to become fertilized and produce fruit, seeds, and more plants.
When you hear the word pollinator, you’re probably thinking about bees, but other bugs and small vertebrates like birds and bats also contribute to pollination. When these animals rest to eat and drink nectar, moving from flower to flower, pollen will stick to their bodies and accompany them along their travel paths.
While some plants are self-pollinating, according to Pollinator Partnership, between 75% to 95% of all flowering plants on the earth need help with pollination – so pollinators are a big deal for crop production and the food we eat!
What is happening to pollinators?
Pollinator populations have been in rapid decline for decades, and the trend doesn’t look like it will improve anytime soon. Urbanization has significantly contributed to their disappearance, as there are fewer places for pollinators to nest and rest. Other factors like pollution and changing climate patterns have also made matters worse.
How can we help?
Creating real estate for pollinators to find respite is a great way to support them – and you don’t need a ton of space to do it. Even if you can’t plant a dedicated pollinator garden, one or a few pollinator-friendly plants can make a big difference. Read on for some suggested pollinator plants!
4 Pollinator Friendly PHS Gold Medal Plants
We’ve got recommendations for some of our favorite pollinator plants from the PHS Gold Medal Plant program. As a reminder, Gold Medal Plants have been selected for their ease of cultivation, multiple seasons of interest, commercial availability, appropriateness for the Mid-Atlantic region, and value to wildlife – including pollinators!
