Planting for Pollinators

Get Local, Go Native

The easiest and best way to help Texas pollinators is to get local and go native.

native (noun): an organism indigenous to the area it inhabits, coevolved to other organisms also in the system
Merriam-Webster

Installing locally native forbs (flowers) and grasses not only attracts the most efficient pollinators (solitary bees and wasps, flies, beetles) to your property but also a host of beautiful butterflies and moths as well.

“Keystone” species of plants — select trees and forbs — are known to host dozens or even hundreds of different pollinator species. Remember: animal insects have evolved over millions of years with their plant partners. Understand and appreciate these animal-to-plant relationships so you can restore them in your yard. Build a habitat garden or even a small pocket prairie.

Plant a “Pocket Prairie” (Video)

Understand Local Nature

Pollinating insects as a general rule do not travel great distances from where they were born. It is also the rule rather than the exception that insect pollinators are specialists: caterpillars (larvae of butterflies and moths) require a specific genera or family of plant leaves to munch; many adult female bees collect pollen from specific genera of plants with which to provision their nests. Local insects do not always recognize plants from far away places as food for themselves or to provision for their young.

Texas is a large state! Focus on plants native to your ecoregion or county. Every plant is evolved to its local region with soil, precipitation, and climate; Fort Bend, Waller, and Wharton Counties are in the Coastal Prairie Ecoregion.

Go Plant Shopping

Download a 3-page pictorial of natives and their wildlife (PDF) for shopping

Here are some local nurseries for shopping plants native to our area. They understand the relationships between local natives and their tiny animal partners.

Houston Audubon Native Plant Nursery — bird friendly is also insect and pollinator friendly in west Houston, Texas
Morningstar Prairie Plants — Coastal Prairie native plants by growers Mark and Andrea Morgenstern (also TMNCPC Members) in Damon, Texas
Greenstar Wetlands — for native plants which generally require mostly or an entirely wet environment (wetlands, riparian, ponds), in Alvin, Texas
Next Door Nursery — Coastal Prairie native plants, seed locally sourced and propagated

Learn More

Here are some additional resources for you to learn about and help our local pollinators.

Native Plants Society of Texas, Houston Chapter — native plants list (PDF) for the Greater Houston area (Remember: double check whether it is native to your county … with BONAP below)
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center — once you know the name (taxonomic or common) of the plant species you’d like to explore, this resource will give you growing details like height, width, soil conditions, sun conditions, and whether it is a native local to your county (via the USDA link at the end of each species page)
BONAP.net (by genus) — this resource will help you determine whether a species (taxonomic names only) is local native to Fort Bend County to assure that it will grow successfully in your yard

Interested in learning more about the native plants and their wildlife? Read these!