More spring blooming plants for pollinators

Beyond shrubs, there are a variety of other early season blooming plants that you can use to attract pollinators before the more extensive blooms of summer emerge.

One such early blooming perennial is called sea pink or thrift. It is low growing, and sends up several to many early stems with a small, round pinkish cluster of flowers. The plant leaves you with a tidy mat of leaves for the rest of the summer. Mine doesn’t rebloom, but I may not give it enough water for that.

Creeping phlox comes in white, purples,
and pinks. [1]

Another gorgeous early bloomer is creeping phlox. It's also low growing and spectacular in the spring, especially if planted with tulips. It doesn’t leave a plant as attractive as thrift, so it is better suited behind a plant that doesn’t come up until later in the summer. It does need good sun though, so don’t let the other plant cast shade on it for the entire day.

Growing basil as a pollinator plant

• Annual
• Comes in many varieties
• Takes sun but needs water
• Edible
• Attracts many types of pollinators
• Ht 8”-20”

Basil is an herb garden staple. There are numerous varieties, many with an aroma that is close but not the same, as the traditional plant. There are also many varieties used in different culinary cultures that have strikingly different scents.

Sweet basil on the left, Thai basil on the right Photo by Cchatfield, from Wikimedia Commons

Basil is slow to germinate from seed in spring/cool soils, but transplants easily. With regular watering, it does well in full sun, but most varieties won’t tolerate a frost.

The leaves are soft, and vary in size from about 1”- 4”, depending on which type you are growing. The leaves are easy to harvest and can be used fresh in a salad, marinara sauce, or any number of ethnic dishes. You can also air dry the leaves in the arid west on a cookie rack and save them for winter use. I am not a fan of oven-drying or dehydrator-drying of herbs because the heat seems to change the flavor. And it’s not really necessary here, where the air carries so little moisture.

The problem with basil as a pollinator attractor is that if you allow it to blossom, the plant becomes less productive. Since it is an annual, once the flowers are pollinated or fertilized, the plant starts to funnel its energy into seed production and not leaf production.

Therefore, it is generally recommended that the blossom stems be removed to keep the plants productive. One solution is to plant more basil than you need and allow some to flower. Keep the rest pruned and productive.