Eight Introduced Annual Flowers that Support our Native Pollinators
There is a lot of push to plant native species these days, and although there is a lot of wisdom to that, let's not forget that many introduced species actually offer high sources of energy to our native pollinators which cannot be easily replaced by native equivalents in our landscapes. This is especially true for annuals such as the eight examples we will explore below:
1. Cosmos bipinnatus
Cosmos bipinnatus, commonly known simply as cosmos, is a species native to Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica that is widely used in our landscapes and loved by our native pollinators and wildlife in general. There are many cultivars available that range in height from 60 cm to 180 cm and come in a variety of colors.
2. Borago officinalis
Borago officinalis, or simply borage, is a plant native to the Mediterranean region. It is one of the best options to support our bees. Additionally, it isn't only the bees who can feed on it since its light blue flowers and leaves can also be eaten by humans (supposedly tasting something like cucumbers). This plant is not too big, growing 30-75 cm tall and ~ 25 cm wide.
3. Tagetes sp.
Another plant native to Mexico, Marigolds (Tagetes) are a popular flower to plant in gardens around the world. There are many cultivars available that are loved for their beautiful yellow to orange flowers. The plant can grow to a height of 15 to 90 cm and will flower from early summer up through the fall, thus offering a continuous source of energy for native pollinators.
4. Malva trimestris
Malva trimestris is an annual native to the Mediterranean area, from Turkey to Spain. It is a large plant that grows to 120 cm and has showy flowers. The Latin 'trimestris' literally means "three months", referring to its flowering period.
5. Lobularia maritima (Alyssum maritimum)
This plant commonly known by the name Sweet Alyssum is native to the Macaronesia region: (Canary Islands, Madeira, Cape Verde) and to France in the Bay of Biscay. It is a low-growing plant that reaches 5 to 30 cm in height and 20 to 30 cm in width. It develops an inflorescence with numerous tiny white or purple flowers (depending on the variety) that cover the entire plant. The flowers have a sweet honey fragrance and are produced throughout the growing season.
6. Petunia
Petunia is a genus of plants comprised of about twenty species native to the tropics of South America. There are many varieties available that are primarily hybrids of Petunia axillaris (white) and Petunia integrifolia (purple). Petunias are grown primarily for their flowers, which come in many colors and patterns, and bloom from spring until frost.
7. Zinnia elegans
This flower is native to Mexico where it grows wild in the north and center of the country. There are several cultivars available that vary greatly in flower form and color. This plant grows from 30 to 70 cm tall, blooms from July to October, and has creamy white, pink, red, purple, yellow or orange flowers.
8. Helianthus annuus
Helianthus annuus is the scientific name of the Common Sunflower. Although this species is native to North America, it is not native to eastern Canada. This recognizable flower is not only beautiful, but it is also loved by many beneficial insects and wild animals. There are many cultivars available which can reach a height of up to 3 meters, although the tallest recorded height is 9.17 meters!
Photo Credits: 1. (Cosmos bipinnatus) Maurice Flesier, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons 2. (Borago officinalis) https://gestion.aiglonindigo.com/UserFiles/Products/Borago_officinalis_3.jpg 3. ( Tagetes sp.) Pixabay - JamesDeMers 4. (Malva trimestris) Pixabay - Elstef 5. (Lobularia maritima) Pharaoh Hound at the English-language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons 3. 6. (Petunia) Pixabay - Public Domain Pictures 7. (Zinnia elegans) Simon Koopmann, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/de/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons 8. TBD