Nurturing Native: Pollinating Flowers, Shrubs, and Trees That Help Our Ecosystem

Story & Photos by Chuck Keller

Our town is full of beautiful gardens tended with care by thoughtful gardeners. One trend that has caught on is the use of native plants in the landscape. This makes sense. Native plants, shrubs, and trees are low maintenance, drought tolerant, heat tolerant, and often deer resistant. There’s a great variety in blooms and foliage which adds seasonal interest but also helps  our native bumblebees, monarch butterflies, hummingbirds and mason bees that rely upon native pollinators and are beneficial to helping our gardens grow. 

Marcia Fanthorp, Lead Gardener for Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center and the former Lead Gardener for Fort Thomas Forest Conservancy’s Model Native Garden, says that native pollinator plants are good for our landscape. She said, “They are low maintenance. They are heat and drought tolerant” and are often deer resistant, all desirable traits. The uptick in gardeners adding native pollinators is a good thing considering that there are over 400 types of native bees in the country in addition to the honey bees brought from Europe and all rely upon pollinator plants.  

Fanthorp recalled that one of the Fort Thomas Forest Conservancy (FTFC) members saw over thirty different types of butterfly species in the Model Native Garden last year. She added, “We saw a lot more … than we have, even with the conditions that we had.”

Defining a native plant can be tricky but generally it is a plant that was native to an area prior to European colonization. There are even geographic distinctions because what may be native to the rolling hills and forests of Fort Thomas may not be native to the lower elevation of the riparian area of the Ohio River.  

Tower Park has two interesting native plant areas. One, of course, is the Model Native Garden that is located near the museum. Plants have been curated to display what grows well in the area. Feel free to engage the volunteer gardeners to learn more. 

The other one are is much wilder but has been carefully curated as well, and that is along the main stream in Tower Park which runs between the park and Carmel Manor. When that stream underwent restoration some years ago, native plants were selected for their unique abilities to grow in those challenging areas. 

Fanthorp divides her suggested native pollinators into seasonal plantings. “Spring is best for Baptisia, Columbine, Solomon Seal.  Summer would be Rose Mallow, Brown-eyed Susan, Purple Coneflower and Bee Balm. Fall is for New England Aster and Late Boneset. If people are serious about their landscaping then they’ll put a little bit of everything in there.”

Fanthorp said,  “Here’s my top ten: Baptisia {False Indigo}, Columbine, Purple Coneflower, Brown and Black-eyed Susan, Rose Mallow, Golden Alexander, Bee Balm, New England Aster, Late Boneset and Cardinal Flower.” 

Other favorite pollinating plants include milkweed to help butterflies, Blazing Star or Liatris, and Virginia Bluebells.  Sunflowers and Ironweed  and Joe Pye Weed are tall and colorful pollinators that birds and bees enjoy. 

D J Scully from the UK Extension Office said, “Usually, people think about flowers (annually or perennials) when they think about pollinators. But don’t forget about trees and shrubs. Of the trees, I’m very fond of Tilia americana – Basswood, our native linden.” Also consider the Eastern Redbud, Pawpaw, and the Serviceberry. 

As for shrubs, Scully likes Buttonbush and St. John’s Wort. Also think about Spicebush. 

Some of the best guides are fellow gardeners who are always eager to chat about their favorites and often split their plants to share. Or chat with the gardeners in the Model Native Garden in Tower Park. They are usually there on Tuesday mornings but you can always contact them at ftfc.com. 

Finding reputable native garden outlets can also be a bit of a challenge. Many like the seasonal native plant sales at the Cincinnati Nature Center or at Bowyer Farm which is the Cincinnati Zoo’s farm.  You can also check online with the Kentucky Native Plant Society.  

Nurturing native plants, shrubs, and trees not only creates an interest in your garden but it is also good for the environment.