Shrubs With Blooms: Attract Pollinators

Do you love early blooming alpines and summer-long showy annuals? Of course you do. But sometimes it is the humble shrub that wins praise with its fantastic blooms and ability to welcome pollinators. When I walked outside and saw my ninebark ( Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Tiny Wine’) in bloom I was surprised by the range and number of bees attracted to the flowers.

All at once I saw wasps, honeybees, bumblebees, hoverflies and mason bees on my ninebark blooms.

Blooming at the same time as my Mock Orange I now think they are great companions in the garden. They both love a dry site, bloom right after French Lilacs and attract pollinators. The Tiny Wine (a Proven Winners introduction) is smallish and hardy to zone 3. It  is also smaller in stature – supposedly under 60 cm. I just received a second Ninebark with even darker leaves from the Bloomin Easy plant series.

Mockorange shrubs have sweetly scented flowers in June. They bloom at the same time as the Ninebarks and both prefer dry soil and sun so are a great pollinator pairing.

My newest Ninebark is called ‘Panther’ and it arrived in a tiny pot so is not in bloom yet. I will try planting out in deer country (AKA my front yard.) If this little plant can attract beneficial insects while repelling sneaky deer we have a winner. I’ll get back to you on that!

A new ninebark, Panther, from Bloomin’ easy plants just arrived. It is so new it isn’t even on their list but it is going to be taller than Tiny Wine and will have the same pollinator friendly flowers.

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DONNA BALZER IS THE BRAND AMBASSADOR FOR BC GREENHOUSE BUILDERS AND SHE LOVES GROWING IN THEM TOO!