Planting to support local pollinators goes a long way

by Ryan Reed

It’s hard not to lean on hyperbole when we discuss the declining state of our local biodiversity.

According to the National Park Service, less than 4 percent of the once 170 million acres of tallgrass prairie remain. Within a single generation, most of this diverse and abundant landscape has been transformed into farms, cities and towns. But making a difference can start with making the right choices when gardening at home. Luckily for us, Kansas City has no shortage of folks like Zach Callaway, founder of KC Native Landscapes, ready to do the work.

“It started as a hobby, but I fell in love with the ecological side of it,” Callaway says. “I was very aware of the kind of ecological collapse we’re going through, so I wanted to have some small way to push back. It’s small, working on one yard at a time, but it’s pushing back.” Callaway founded his landscaping company to do just that, helping locals create beautiful and beneficial landscapes at home that support local pollinators.

Pollinators—like wasps, bees, butterflies, birds and even bats—keep plants thriving, which in turn supports those creatures. This reciprocal cycle helps maintain the interconnected network that keeps the planet alive and breathing. The idea is to cultivate plants that have been here for thousands of years. These are the ones that have co-developed and co-evolved with our local pollinators, a lot of which oftentimes rely on just one or two host plants to exist.

To support a range of pollinators in every season, a garden needs a spectrum of plants that will bloom throughout the year. Diversity is key. Wild columbine is easy to grow, recedes well and comes back year after year. Foxglove beardtongue is a perfect bumblebee plant—the insects climb into the white flowers and collect pollen by buzzing. Purple coneflower, or echinacea, is a top recommendation; butterflies and bees love the four to six weeks of summer blooms, but birds enjoy feeding on them in the fall and winter. Asters serve as a good food source for monarchs and other butterflies during migration. Goldenrod (not to be confused with ragweed) pairs well in the fall and is an ecological powerhouse attracting a wide range of pollinators. Beyond flowers, grasses and sedges provide spreading, fibrous root systems that help maintain the structure and health of the soil. These drought-resistant plants provide shelter for birds and host a variety of larvae.

Callaway suggests shopping at local retailers that specialize in native plants that both support the KC business community and its environment and avoid cultivars—plants that have been bred to be hardier or more colorful but may not attract birds and bugs in the way that works with their shared evolution. Local nonprofit organizations like Grow Native! and Deep Roots are great resources (Deep Roots has a native plant sale coming up at the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center on April 11, and the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is doing the same April 23–26). Additionally, many area nurseries like CritSite, Sow Wild Natives, City Roots Nursery and Missouri Wildflowers Nursery are ready to help you find just the right plants. Or, if you don’t have time to do it yourself, Callaway is up for the task.

“I know it’s a small thing,” Callaway says, “and there’s larger-scale action needed, but it’s a start and it’s a step in the right direction.”

A Growing Guide

Planting an array of native species helps sustain pollinators throughout the year. Callaway has compiled this handy list of native plants to know, as well as a couple tips for success.

“For all of these plants, ideal planting times are late spring and autumn, once we get cooler temperatures and consistent rain,” Callaway says. “You can plant in early summer but may need to do extra watering to make sure the transplants don’t die out.”

Wild Columbine

Sunlight: Full sun, part shade

Bloom Time: April–May

Attracts: Bees, hummingbirds

Foxglove Beardtongue

Sunlight: Full to part sun

Bloom Time: April–June

Attracts: Bumblebees, hummingbirds

Pennsylvania Sedge

Sunlight: Full to part sun

Bloom Time: May

Great for shady groundcover