Native Plant Sale Catalogue - Delaware Nature Society Native Plant Sale Catalogue 2019 | Page 22

Hypericum prolificum
SHRUBBY ST. JOHN’S-WORT
A large shrub for a floodplain, natural area,
shrub border, or raingarden. 30+ species of birds eat
the berries. It provides cover and nesting opportunities.
Its leaves host 42 species of Lepidoptera and flowers
provide pollen and nectar for many beneficial insects.
The pithy canes are used by solitary bees and wasps
for nesting and winter cover! Get multiple for best fruiting.
Find it on page 27. A small compact shrub, great for under a sunny
window. Interesting fluffly flowers are a beautiful pop
of yellow mid-summer color. Enjoy watching bumble
bees and other small beneficial insects scramble over
them. The leaves support 20 species of Lepidoptera
including our Grey Hairstreak butterfly. A species of
Conservation Concern in Delaware. Deer resistant!
Find it on page 21.
AMERICAN ELDERBERRY
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Sambucus canadensis
Did you know that Ladybug larvae are voracious
eaters of aphids? Did you know that Firefly
larvae can eat slugs? Beneficial insects, such as
Assassin Bugs, Lacewings, Fireflies, Lady Bugs,
Hoverflies, and Parasitoid Wasps perform valuable
services such as pollination and pest control.
The Xerces Society estimates the value of native
beneficial insects to crop pest control at $4.5 billion
annually. They replace a lot of pesticides! Put their
power to work in your yard with some of the plants
highlighted here and in the article on page 18!
You can bring them to your yard by planting a
diversity of native flowering plants for continuous, all
season bloom. Many prefer flowers that are shallow
or open in shape such as Asclepias, Helianthus,
Pycnanthemum, Solidago, and Symphyotrichum, as
well as Salix and Rosa. You can also attract beneficial
insects with tall grasses such as Andropogon, Panicum
and Schizachyrium, groundcovers (Antennaria, Zizia,
Packera, Coreopsis, Salvia), keeping brush and rock
piles, adding mason bee houses, and leaving your
leaves, perennial canes, and seedheads standing
well into spring. Converting lawn to native plants,
avoiding soil disturbance, and adding organic matter
to your soil will all benefit the insects too. And, of
course, avoid the pesticides and herbicides so your
insects and birds can safely do their job – eat!
We have many beautiful native plants for every
garden situation, and this year we are highlighting
some stunning plants that will attract a diversity of
beneficial insects to your yard.
Beautiful Plants for Beneficial Insects
Many of the native plants in this catalog support
beneficial insects. Here are a few of our favorites:
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Sambucus
canadensis
by articles,
Tom Potterfield
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for native
plant lists,
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Monarda punctata
DOTTED MONARDA, HORSEMINT
A tall and dramatic plant for the back
of a hot dry sunny border. The beautiful flowers
offer pollen for Bumblebees, but this plant also has
extrafloral nectaries (nectar glands) on the leaf stems
that attract beneficial insects such as fireflies, ants, and
ladybugs. In addition, it hosts 9 species of Lepidoptera
including the Cloudless Sulphur, Little Sulphur,
and Sleepy Orange butterflies. Deer resistant!
Find it on page 15. Unusual, tiered flowers with
showy bracts, late in the season when little
else is blooming. Full-sun or partial shade in a
dry spot – great for the top of a wall or raised bed.
The Sphinx Moth caterpillars like the leaves,
while flowers provide pollen and nectar for an
assortment of bees, moths, predatory wasps
and other beneficial insects. Deer resistant!
Find it on page 13.
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Senna hebecarpa
WILD SENNA
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