Notes on Using Plant Lists
- Use plants appropriate to your landscape conditions, emphasizing plants that are native to your region.
- Species may vary based on region.
- Remember that plant diversity is crucial – not all pollinators use every plant.
- Reference these lists in combination with other recommended resources to select the best possible pollinator plants for your Pollinator Victory Garden.
host = larval host plant for butterflies and/or moths
Botanical Name |
Common Name |
Nectar/Pollen |
Notes |
Acer rubrum | Red maple | N & P | Very early bloom, host |
Acer saccharum | Sugar maple | P | Very early bloom, host |
Acer saccharinum | Silver maple | P | Very early bloom, host |
Alnus incana | Speckled alder | P | Early bloomer, host |
Alnus serrulata | Smooth alder | P | Early bloomer, host |
Alnus viridis | Green alder | P | Early bloomer, host |
Amelanchier arborea | Downy serviceberry | N & P | Edible fruit, host |
Amelanchier canadensis | Shadbush | N & P | Edible fruit, host |
Amelanchier x grandiflora | Apple serviceberry | N & P | Edible fruit, host |
Amelanchier laevis | Allegheny serviceberry | N & P | Edible fruit, host |
Celtis occidentalis | Hackberry | N & P | Early bloomer, host |
Cercis canadensis | Eastern redbud | N & P | Early bloomer, host |
Cladastris kentuckea | Yellowwood | N & P | Fragrant |
Cornus alternifolia | Pagoda dogwood | N & P | Fruit for birds, host |
Cornus amomum | Silky dogwood | N & P | Fruit for birds, host |
Cornus florida | Flowering dogwood | N & P | Fruit for birds, host |
Cornus racemosa | Gray dogwood | N & P | Fruit for birds, host |
Cornus sericea | Red osier dogwood | N & P | Fruit for birds, host |
Corylus americana | American hazelnut | P | Early, minor pollen, host |
Corylus cornuta | Beaked hazelnut | P | Early, minor pollen, host |
Crataegus mollis | Downy hawthorn | N & P | Fruit for birds, host |
Crataegus punctata | Dotted hawthorn | N & P | Fruit for birds, host |
Crataegus viridis | Green hawthorn | N & P | Fruit for birds, host |
Diospyros virginiana | American persimmon | N & P | Edible fruit, host |
Fraxinus americana | White ash | P | Emerald Ash Borer, host |
Fraxinus nigra | Black ash | P | Emerald Ash Borer, host |
Fraxinus pennsylvanica | Green ash | P | Emerald Ash Borer, host |
Ilex glabra | Inkberry | N & P | Fruit for birds, host |
Ilex opaca | American holly | N & P | Fruit for birds, host |
Ilex verticillata | Winterberry | N & P | Fruit for birds, host |
Juglans cinerea | Butternut | P | Edible nuts, host |
Juglans nigra | Black walnut | P | Edible nuts, host |
Lindera benzoin | Spicebush | N & P | Early bloomer, host |
Liriodendron tulipifera | Tulip poplar | N & P | Hummingbirds, host |
Malus coronaria | Sweet crabapple | N & P | Edible fruit/birds, host |
Nyssa sylvatica | Black tupelo | N & P | Fruit for birds, host |
Photinia floribunda | Purple chokeberry | N & P | Fruit for birds, host |
Photinia melanocarpa | Black chokeberry | N & P | Fruit for birds, host |
Photinia pyrifolia | Red chokeberry | N & P | Fruit for birds, host |
Prunus americana | Wild plum | N & P | High eco-value, host |
Prunus maritima | Beach plum | N & P | High eco-value, host |
Prunus pensylvanica | Pin cherry | N & P | High eco-value, host |
Prunus serotina | Black cherry | N & P | High eco-value, host |
Prunus virginiana | Chokecherry | N & P | High eco-value, host |
Quercus alba | White oak | P | High eco-value, host |
Quercus palustris | Pin oak | P | High eco-value, host |
Quercus rubra | Red oak | P | High eco-value, host |
Robinia pseudoacacia | Black locust | N & P | Weedy in some states, host |
Rhus aromatica | Fragrant sumac | N & P | Food for birds, host |
Salix amygdaloides | Peachleaf willow | N & P | Very early bloom, host |
Salix bebbiana | Gray willow | N & P | Very early bloom, host |
Salix discolor | Pussy willow | N & P | Very early bloom, host |
Salix lucida | Shining willow | N & P | Very early bloom, host |
Salix nigra | Black willow | N & P | Very early bloom, host |
Salix sericea | Silky willow | N & P | Very early bloom, host |
Sassafras albidum | Sassafras | N & P | Fruit for birds, host |
Ulmus americana | American elm | P | Resistant cultivars, host |
Ulmus rubra | Slippery elm | P | Host |
Vaccinium angustifolium | Lowbush blueberry | N & P | Edible fruit, host |
Vaccinium corymbosum | Highbush blueberry | N & P | Edible fruit, host |
Vaccinium macrocarpon | Cranberry | N & P | Edible fruit, host |
