Woodie’s Picks: Late Summer Blooms To Support The Bees & Butterflies
Slowly but surely, the weather is beginning to cool down on the East Coast. You know what that means…fall is coming! While there is much to look forward to as the season brings a warm blend of colors with the fall foliage, there is something you should be worried about.
As blooms wilt and many of our favorite summer plants head into dormancy, little variety is left for our pollinators to sustain life. That is where you, the gardener, can come into play and make a huge impact! There are a few late-season bloomers that keep blooming strong into early fall and work to support pollinators like bees and butterflies as they prepare for winter or migration. This blog will highlight the importance of late-season flowers and share some late summer favorites to keep the party going and the pollinators buzzing with life.
Why Late Summer Blooms are Essential to Pollinators
Support Bumblebee Queens
Many bumblebee species are busy producing new queens in late summer and fall, which need to build up fat reserves for the winter. In bumblebee colonies, the newly mated queen is the only member that survives the winter. All other bumblebees, including the original queen, her workers, and the males, die off at the end of the summer.
The newly mated queen will hibernate underground and emerge in the spring to start a new colony. Late-blooming plants like goldenrod and asters provide the necessary food for these queens to sustain life and gain energy for the busy working seasons ahead.
Ensure Winter Survival
Similar to how humans often need a midday caffeine pick-me-up with a cup of coffee, pollinators like bees and some butterflies rely on late-season blooms to fuel their migration south or survive the winter. These plants provide the last burst of energy they need to make it through the colder months.
Sustain Biodiversity
Late-blooming plants attract a wide variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, flies, beetles, moths, and wasps, ensuring the health of the entire pollinator community. Some late-blooming plants, like asters, also provide nesting sites for stem-nesting bees, further supporting pollinator populations.
Our Favorite Late-Season Pollinator Plants
Agastache
Often referenced as ‘Hummingbird Mint,’ Agastache is often a hub for bees and butterflies in the late summer and early fall seasons. Native to the western and southwestern regions of the United States, Agastache plants are a great option for supporting pollinators when much else in the landscape begins to dwindle. The bright purple bloomer boasts tall, brightly colored flower spikes that provide a continuous food source throughout the season. Agastache is said to be abundant in nectar, and the tubular shape of the flowers is ideally suited for the tongues of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Goldenrod
Solidago Plants, commonly known as ‘Goldenrod,’ are vibrant golden sprouts of flowery sunshine that persist into the fall season. The honey-toned frays of wand-like flower clusters are a beacon of light to pollinators in the late summer and early fall when not much else is blooming. Rich in nectar and pollen, this U.S. native perennial is a valuable late-season nutrient source to local pollinator populations. As an added bonus, as the blooms fade, the seeds of the goldenrod plant provide sustenance for the local bird populations.
Aster
Last on the list of late bloomers is the bold and beautiful Aster! Coming in a range of colors and often exploding in blooms and color in late August, asters are a top-tier option for late summer planting. Their late-season flowers provide essential nectar and pollen for bees and butterflies, helping them gather food for hibernation or migration. Asters are relatively easy to grow and can adapt to various conditions, including full to partial sun and well-drained soil. There are many different species and varieties of asters, ranging in size and bloom time, offering options for different garden spaces and preferences in the landscape design.
Butterfly Bushes
Butterfly bushes often spark debate in pollinator circles; loved for their beauty, questioned for their impact. While they aren’t native and don’t host caterpillars, there’s no denying their value as a nectar powerhouse. With long-blooming, vibrant flowers that draw in butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds all summer long, they can be a dazzling addition to your garden. For the best of both worlds, pair them with native plants to keep pollinators well-fed and supported year-round.
Shop Late Summer Bloomers Online Today
Just because the season is coming to an end doesn’t mean the garden has to! Make a difference in your environment and work to support local pollinator populations when you choose to plant late summer to early fall blooming plants! Shop our wide variety of fall interest plants online today and build a garden that both you and the butterflies can enjoy.