10 Native Plants for Pollinators in Coastal Georgia
Oct 02, 2023
If you want to attract pollinators to your garden in Coastal Georgia, planting native species is a great way to do it. Here are 10 native plants that are sure to bring in bees, butterflies, and other important pollinators.
1. Butterfly Weed
Butterfly weed is a bright orange perennial that is a favorite of monarch butterflies. It blooms in the summer and prefers full sun.
Butterfly weed is a common name for several plants in the genus Asclepias, which are also known as milkweeds. These plants are native to North America and have colorful flowers that attract butterflies, especially monarchs, which feed on their nectar and lay their eggs on their leaves. Butterfly weed is also a host plant for other insects, such as bees, wasps, and beetles. Some species of butterfly weed have medicinal uses, such as treating coughs, asthma, and wounds
2. Black-eyed Susan
Black-eyed Susan is a cheerful yellow flower that is easy to grow. It blooms in the summer and prefers full sun to partial shade.
Black-eyed Susan is a common name for several plants in the genus Rudbeckia, which are native to North America and have yellow or orange flowers with a dark center. The name comes from the resemblance of the flower to the eye of a person named Susan who has a black eye.
3. Joe-Pye Weed
Joe-Pye weed is a tall plant with beautiful pink-purple flowers. It blooms in late summer and prefers full sun to partial shade.
Joe-Pye Weed is a common name for several plants in the genus Eutrochium, which are native to North America and have pink or purple flowers in large clusters. The name comes from a Native American healer named Joe Pye, who used these plants to treat various ailments, such as kidney stones, fever, and rheumatism.
4. Goldenrod
Goldenrod is a bright yellow flower that blooms in the fall. It is an important source of nectar for bees and butterflies.
Goldenrod is a common name for several plants in the genus Solidago, which are native to North America and have yellow flowers in clusters. These plants are often used as ornamental plants, herbal remedies, or tea ingredients. They are also important sources of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and other insects.
5. Swamp Milkweed
Swamp milkweed is a beautiful pink flower that is a favorite of butterflies. It prefers moist soil and blooms in the summer.
Swamp milkweed is a plant that belongs to the milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae) and is native to parts of Canada and the US. It has pink or white flowers in round clusters that are attractive to bees and butterflies, especially monarchs. It grows in moist or wet soil and can reach up to five feet tall. It has narrow, lance-shaped leaves that are opposite on the stem. It is also known as rose milkweed, pleurisy root, or white Indian hemp
6. Purple Coneflower
Purple coneflower is a hardy plant with beautiful pink-purple flowers. It blooms in the summer and prefers full sun to partial shade.
Purple coneflower is a common name for a plant that belongs to the genus Echinacea, which has about nine species of herbaceous perennials native to North America. The most widely cultivated and well-known species is Echinacea purpurea, which has purple or pink flowers with a cone-shaped center. The flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, and the seeds are eaten by birds. The plant is also used as an ornamental plant, a herbal remedy, and a tea ingredient. Here are some images of purple coneflower that I found for you
7. Wild Bergamot
Wild bergamot is a fragrant plant with pink-purple flowers that bloom in the summer. It prefers full sun to partial shade
Wild bergamot is a common name for a plant that belongs to the genus Monarda, which has about 16 species of herbaceous perennials native to North America. The most widely cultivated and well-known species is Monarda fistulosa, which has lavender or pink flowers in round clusters that are attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It grows in dry to medium soil and can reach up to four feet tall. It has narrow, lance-shaped leaves that are opposite on the stem. It is also known as bee balm, horsemint, or oswego tea.
8. Coral Honeysuckle
Coral honeysuckle is a beautiful vine with bright red-orange flowers that bloom in the spring and summer. It prefers full sun to partial shade.
Coral honeysuckle is a type of flowering vine that is native to the southeast United States. It has trumpet-shaped flowers that are red, coral, orange, or yellow in color. The flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators, and the red berries that form in the fall attract songbirds. Coral honeysuckle is evergreen in warm climates, but it may lose some leaves or die back in colder climates. It can grow up to 25 feet long and can be used as a cover for trellises, fences, or ground. It is not invasive like some other honeysuckles, and it is easy to grow and care for.
9. Eastern Redbud
Eastern redbud is a small tree with beautiful pink-purple flowers that bloom in the spring. It prefers full sun to partial shade.
Eastern redbud is a beautiful flowering tree that is native to North America. It belongs to the pea family (Fabaceae) and has pink or purple flowers that bloom in early spring, before the leaves emerge. The flowers are followed by green pods that turn brown and dry in the fall. The leaves are heart-shaped and change from reddish to dark green to yellow throughout the seasons. The tree has a rounded crown and a multi-trunked shape, and it can grow up to 30 feet tall and wide. It is a popular ornamental tree for gardens and landscapes because of its attractive flowers, foliage, and bark.
10. American Beautyberry
American beautyberry is a shrub with beautiful purple berries that attract birds. It blooms in the summer and prefers partial shade.
American beautyberry is a common name for a plant that belongs to the genus Callicarpa, which has about 140 species of shrubs and small trees native to various regions of the world. The most widely cultivated and well-known species is Callicarpa americana, which is native to the southeastern United States. It has purple or white berries that grow in clusters around the stems and persist into the winter. The berries are edible but have a bitter taste, and they are used as a food source by some birds and mammals. The plant also has pink or lavender flowers that bloom in the summer, and it can grow up to 6 feet tall and wide. It is a popular ornamental plant for gardens and landscapes because of its attractive berries, flowers, and foliage.
Planting native species is not only great for pollinators, but it also helps to support the local ecosystem. These 10 plants are just a few examples of the many native species that can be found in Coastal Georgia.
