Take Action to Help Pollinators #5

This post was originally published on January 7, 2012, on my blog “Pollinators Info” (no longer online).

Use native grasses

You might not have thought about using grasses to help pollinators, but they’re great for several reasons:

They’re part of your local ecology and adding them to your garden brings you one step closer to having an authentic native plant community!
Some bees nest in grass tussocks- bumble bees are one example
They encourage a balanced insect community- some pollinators will eat grass pollen, some will eat the leaves, and other beneficial insects will nest, hide, and hunt in the grass patch.
They’re an attractive ground cover option! The pink muhly grass in the featured image is native to North Carolina. (not original content)

Plant your grasses in large patches to provide a continuous habitat. This will benefit pollinators, other beneficial critters, AND other wildlife like birds and chipmunks!

Figuring out which grasses are native to your area can be a challenge. Contact your local agricultural extension office, nature center, or native garden nursery for information. You might also try the local library or bookstore to look through books on native plant gardening in your area. The Xerces Society book, Attracting Native Pollinators, has a lot of information about creating habitats.

What native grasses have you used in your garden? Share your tips with us in the comments below!

Athena Rayne Anderson