Pollinator Test Plants

Below is the list of what we have planted. The majority have been perennials, shrubs and trees for their longevity. We’re testing different plants to see how they do during our fun Texas summers, how they survive the crickets and which ones the pollinators frequent.

last updated 6/14/2024

Common Name Scientific Name Native? Bloom Period Keeper?
Agarita Mahonia trifoliolata Native
Autumn Sage Salvia greggii
Bat-faced Cuphea Red Cuphea
Black Dalea Dalea frutescens Native
Blue Fan Fan Flower Scaevola aemula
Blue Plumbago Plumbago capensis
Butterfly bush Buddleia x
Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Native
Catmint Nepeta mussinii
Cigar Plant Cuphea ignea
Creeping Phlox Phlox subulata Native
Daisy Bush Euryops chrysanthemoides
Dark Lavender Chiffon Hibiscus syriacus
Esperanza Tecoma stans Native
Firecracker Plant Russelia equisetiformis
Gaura Pink Gaura lindheimeri
Glossy Abelia Abelia x grandiflora
Gregg’s Mistflower Conoclinium greggii
Honeysuckle Coral Vine Lonicera sempervirens Native
Mealycup Sage Salvia farinacea ‘Rhea’
Mexican Petunia Dwarf Ruellia brittoniana
Mexican Plum Prunus mexicana Native
Mountain Laurel Texas Sophora secundiflora Native
Penstemon Penstemon Cobaea Native
Red Yucca Hesperaloe parviflora Native
Russian Sage Perovskia atriplicifolia
Sage ‘Mexican Bush’ Salvia leucantha Native
Salvia ‘Black & Blue’ Salvia guaranitica
Salvia Coral Salvia coccinea
Salvia Henry Duelberg Salvia farinacea Native
Salvia Marvel Rose Salvia nemorosa
Skullcap Pink Scuttellaria suffrutescens
Tangerine Beauty Crossvine Bignonia capreolata Native
Texas Lilac / Vitex Vitex agnus-castus
Texas Rock Rose Pavonia lasiopetala Native
Texas Sage Leucophyllum frutescens Native
Turk’s Cap Malvaviscus arboreus Native
White Autumn Sage Salvia greggii Native

 

Here are some that we want to try but haven’t planted yet:

Common Name Scientific Name Native? Bloom Period Keeper?
Bee Balm Monarda fistulosa Native
Bee Brush Aloysia gratissima Native
Flame Acanthus Anisacanthus quadrifidus Native
Golden Thryallis Galphimia glauca

 

Plant families attractive to honey bees:

  • Fabaceae (alfalfa, clovers, redbud, soybean, black locust)
  • Lamiaceae (mints, rosemary, sage, thyme, bee balm, basil, catnip)
  • Brassicaceae (broccoli, turnip greens, canola, wild mustards)
  • Asteraceae (sunflowers, dandelion, boneset, cosmos, echinacea, zinnia)
  • Rosaceae (apples, peaches, crabapple, blackberry, hawthorn, pears)

DO NOT PLANT BRADFORD PEARS!