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Planting for a Healthy Environment Loudoun County Master Gardeners
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id you know that the vast majority of insect species are harmless or actually beneficial? Insects are critically important to the overall web of life that makes up a healthy environment. Anyone with a small plot of garden or even some flower pots can make a positive contribution to creating a landscape that provides food and shelter for native species. Both the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy promote planting the “Super Nine” to make the greatest environmental impact: 1. Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea) has lacy foliage and yellow flowers. It is a host plant for the black swallowtail butterfly and provides nectar for bees, butterflies, and other insects.
3. Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) prefers moist areas or frequent watering; 4. B utterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) prefers dryer areas than the swamp milkweed. Both milkweed plants are hosts for the monarch butterfly and provide nectar for butterflies, bees, and other insects. Monarch caterpillars prefer tender leaves. Cut back the milkweed by 1/3 in mid-June and again by 1/3 in mid-July to promote the growth of foliage to draw monarchs. 5. Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum spp.) attracts a wide variety of nectar loving insects.
2. Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea) is a profuse spring bloomer. Plant in difficult places where it will out-compete Japanese stilt grass and garlic mustard.
Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea)
6. Carolina Wild Petunia (Ruellia caroliniensis) is host for the buckeye butterfly and provides nectar for butterflies. This is a tough plant with blue to purple flowers. 7. Orange Coneflower (Rudbeckia) is host for the silvery checkerspot butterfly and provides nectar for bees and other insects. This is an easy and trouble-free plant. 8. Aster (Symphoyichum) is host for the Pearly Crescent butterfly and provides nectar for butterflies, native bees, and insects. It comes in a wide range of colors and sizes. 9. Goldenrod (Solidago) provides an important source of nectar for butterflies and native bees. There are many species of goldenrod, tall and short, and some that will grow in the shade. For more information on native plants, visit www.plantnovanatives.org (Plant NOVA Natives).
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