100 Plants to Feed the Bees: Provide a Healthy Habitat to Help Pollinators Thrive

by The Xerces Society

Overview

The international bee crisis is threatening our global food supply, but this user-friendly field guide shows what you can do to help protect our pollinators. The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation offers browsable profiles of 100 common flowers, herbs, shrubs, and trees that support bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds. The recommendations are simple: pick the right plants for pollinators, protect them from pesticides, and provide abundant blooms throughout the growing season by mixing perennials with herbs and annuals! 100 Plants to Feed the Bees will empower homeowners, landscapers, apartment dwellers — anyone with a scrap of yard or a window box — to protect our pollinators.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612127019
Publisher:	Storey Publishing, LLC
Publication date:	11/29/2016
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	162,947
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

The Xerces Society is a nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon, that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat. Established in 1971, the Society is at the forefront of invertebrate protection worldwide, harnessing the knowledge of scientists and the enthusiasm of citizens to implement conservation programs. They are the authors of 100 Plants to Feed the Bees, Farming with Native Beneficial Insects, and Attracting Native Pollinators.   

Table of Contents

Preface: What's Old Is New
Plants and Pollinators: An Overview
Pollinators and Pesticides
Icon Key
1  Native Wildflowers
  Anise Hyssop, Giant Hyssop
  Aster
  Beebalm
  Black-Eyed Susan
  Blanketflower
  Blazing Star
  Blue Curls
  Blue Vervain
  California Poppy
  Clarkia
  Coreopsis
  Culver's Root
  Cup Plant, Compass Plant, Rosinweed
  Figwort
  Fireweed
  Globe Gilia
  Goldenrod
  Gumweed
  Ironweed
  Joe-Pye Weed, Boneset
  Lobelia
  Lupine
  Meadowfoam
  Milkweed
  Mountainmint
  Native Thistle
  Penstemon
  Phacelia
  Prairie Clover
  Purple Coneflower
  Rattlesnake Master, Eryngo
  Rocky Mountain Bee Plant
  Salvia
  Selfheal
  Sneezeweed
  Spiderwort
  Sunflower
  Waterleaf
  Wild Buckwheat
  Wild Geranium
  Wild Indigo
  Wingstem
  Wood Mint
2  Native Trees and Shrubs
  Acacia
  Basswood
  Blackberry, Raspberry
  Black Locust
  Blueberry
  Buckwheat Tree
  Buttonbush
  Chamise
  Coyotebrush
  False Indigo, Leadplant
  Golden Currant
  Inkberry
  Madrone
  Magnolia
  Manzanita
  Mesquite
  Ocean Spray
  Oregon Grape
  Rabbitbrush
  Redbud
  Rhododendron
  Rose
  Saw Palmetto
  Serviceberry
  Sourwood
  Steeplebush, Meadowsweet
  Toyon
  Tulip Tree
  Tupelo
  Wild Lilac
  Willow
  Yerba Santa
3  Introduced Trees and Shrubs
  Orange
  Plum, Cherry, Almond, Peach
4  Introduced Herbs and Ornamentals
  Basil
  Borage
  Catnip
  Coriander
  Cosmos
  Hyssop
  Lavender
  Mint
  Oregano
  Rosemary
  Russian Sage
  Thyme
5  Native and Nonnative Bee Pasture Plants
  Alfalfa
  Buckwheat
  Clover
  Cowpea
  Mustard
  Partridge Pea
  Radish
  Sainfoin
  Scarlet Runner Bean
  Sweetclover
  Vetch
Average Number of Flower and Herb Seeds per Pound

Editorial Reviews

2017 GWA Media Awards Silver Medal winner

“A wonderful and much-needed book that will inspire and inform the creation of bee-friendly wildflower gardens. Perhaps we can turn our gardens, neighborhoods, towns, and cities into vast, colorful havens for bees, butterflies, and other vital insects!”
— Dave Goulson, biologist, founder of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, and author of A Sting in the Tale

“If you’re ready to help save the bees, this is a great place to start. No matter where you live, this well-organized companion shows you the best plants to use.”
— Joe Lamp’l, creator, executive producer, and host of Growing a Greener World® 

“The ever-helpful Xerces Society shows us how to bring back our threatened species, one gorgeous garden at a time. Everybody wins!”
— Dar Williams, singer, songwriter, and environmental activist
 


 

From the Publisher

11/15/2016
Four experts from the Xerces Society—a nonprofit with the mission of invertebrate conservation—offer their all-star lineup of plants beneficial to pollinators. The 100 are divided into five groups: native wildflowers, native woody plants, introduced woody, introduced herbs and ornamentals, and native and nonnative bee pasture plants. Readers will learn about the requirements of each plant, growing zones, bloom time, the kinds of pollinators attracted, and usually some idea as to the honey yield and sugar content of its nectar. Geographical coverage is well balanced across all of the continental United States and Canada. Eric Lee-Mäder's introduction puts the book on firm footing with his mention of key historical insect preservationists and his review of the basic science of pollination. The catchy design reflects Storey's credo of "practicality": large, full-color primary images, minimal text, and purposeful graphics provide just enough information to get readers interested. VERDICT The authors' challenge of choosing just 100 plants is well met, though some readers will undoubtedly lament the absence of their own favorites. Gardeners concerned about their pollinator friends will be enthused, as will beginner apiarists.—Robert Eagan, Windsor P.L., Ont.

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