Does this mean though, that only male willow plants have pollen, or is it a case of male and female flowers on the same plant? this obviously would make a difference in terms of planting a pussy willow for pollen.It seems that if you can plant them and grow them, this would be an excellent thing to do. It is also a plant with both male and female versions it seems only the male catkins have pollen, though this pollen is described as abundant. Pussy willow sounds like a good source for early spring nectar, when the native bees need it the most. Somewhat simplified,it seems nectar is what keeps the adult bees alive in and is needed on an emergency basis in early spring, and pollen is what is needed to make new bee larvae? My understanding is that native bees are awake earlier than honeybees and really need early nectar as well as early pollen. While I can understand the point of view that a purely native garden could be considered more beautiful and or more worthwhile than one than includes non native plants, I think that we also need to look at the actual benefits each plant brings to the table. I think with regard to dandelions, there might be a need to compare apples with apples. To learn more about sustainable wildlife gardening, check out some 200 articles or try one of these 5 online classes. Sharp-Lobed Hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba) Yellow Trout Lily (Eryhronium americanum) Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum) Large-Flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) Woodland Perennials / Ephemerals (perfect for shady urban lots)ĭutchman's Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) Prairie Blu-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium campestre)

Prairie Dandelion (Nothocalais cuspidata) Native Currants or Gooseberries (Ribes spp.)Įarly Buttercup (Ranunculus fascicularis) (but often beyond), with a special focus on the Midwest. The below list of plants represents a range primarily in the eastern half of the continental U.S. There are a plethora of native plants that either bloom at the same time as dandelion or weeks earlier. Let's revive wildness and use native plants. Consider that 99% of the tallgrass prairie has been eradicated, yet so much of the wildlife that depend on the plants found within that ecosystem still exist in the same geographical area - even in cities. What can we do? As we alter landscapes we lose ecological function. Need one even mention the benefit of native plants as larval hosts to a variety of insects and bugs?Īdditional research shows that dandelion pollen has allelopathic properties (which it also has in its roots and tissue), and when spread to other plants reduces seed production.

Specialists are incredibly crucial to keeping the pollinator system in balance, and when we lose even one such species pollination rates for plants suffer. In addition, many specialist bees have evolved relationships with specific native plants, timing their life cycles for when pollen is available from those plants.

Nutritious pollen is what bees are after many are out only for a few weeks to mate and provision egg cells as quickly as possible. For example, according to bee expert Heather Holm, the earlier-blooming and native pussy willow’s pollen protein count is 40%, whereas dandelion is only at 14%. While early-spring insect species will use dandelion - especially generalist species and European honey bees who evolved with the flower - in many cases it is not the most nutritious option when it comes to pollen. This refers to the exotic dandelion Taraxacum officinale, not one of the native species we have like Nothocolais cuspidata. A growing voice in garden circles dotes on dandelions for pollinators, particularly as they are claimed as the first flowers to bloom in spring.

Bee pollen benefits myth