Understanding Woodland Pollinators and the Native Plants that Attract Them
- Lauren Landers
- Sep 2
- 5 min read
When most people think about gardening for pollinators, they think about growing pollinator-friendly flowers, like goldenrod and asters, in sunny flower beds or wildflower meadows. But if you have a shaded or wooded lot, you can still do your part to support native bees, butterflies, and other insects. Many pollinators actually spend most, or all, of their time in forested landscapes, and planting and managing wooded properties the right way can make these locations even more beneficial for pollinators and other wildlife!
What are Woodland Pollinators?
If you watch for pollinators in a standard flower garden, you’re likely to spot an assortment of bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and more. However, many of these same pollinators also live in wooded landscapes. They’re just not as noticeable as they emerge at specific times of the year or congregate toward the tree canopy where they’re less evident to human eyes.
Although flowers are less prominent in forests, spring ephemeral and shade-loving perennials provide both food and shelter to woodland pollinators. Many of these pollinators also feed on the pollen and nectar of early-blooming trees and shelter in decaying wood, brush and wood piles, and hollowed out trees or snags. It’s no wonder why woodlands make such perfect pollinator habitats!
8 Native Plants to Attract Woodland Pollinators
Wooded properties naturally benefit pollinators by offering an assortment of food, shelter, and nesting spots. However, you can make these spaces even better for bees, butterflies, and other wildlife by adding a few shade-loving native plants that pollinators love!
Native Maples (Acer spp.)
Native Maine maples, like moose maple and red maple, flower early in the season and provide nectar and pollen for early emerging insects, like bumble bees and sweat bees. Most of the pollinator activity on maples occurs high up in the trees, so it’s not as easy for us to see. But these trees still provide amazing benefits to insects.
Native Willows (Salix spp.)
The black willow, pussy willow, and other native willows serve as host plants for a wide range of pollinators, including cecropia moths and various butterfly species. These plants also provide nectar and pollen for insects and they naturally grow to different sizes, so you can find a willow species that’s the perfect height for your space. Since many willows prefer relatively damp soil, these plants can be an excellent choice for wooded properties that don’t drain well.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)
The Allegheny serviceberry and the running serviceberry are also great for pollinators—especially when they flower early in spring. These plants bloom bountifully with small white flowers and tolerate both sun and the light shade of semi-forested properties. Serviceberries are a particular favorite of native bees, but their summertime berries also attract birds like finches and cardinals.
Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
If you have a flair for the unusual, jack-in-the-pulpit may be the plants for you. These shade-loving natives are found in moist, forested landscapes and swamps, preferring shade to sun. Although these plants resemble pitcher plants, they’re actually not carnivorous, and their curious, cup-shaped form simply evolved to attract flies and other pollinators.
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Native spring ephemerals, like bloodroot, flower early in the season before trees leaf out, and turn yellow and fade as the growing season progresses. But these early bloomers come back every year and provide important, early-season support to mining bees and other native pollinators. Since bloodroot is well adapted to shade, it’s ideal for woodland gardens. Its low growth habit makes it an attractive groundcover option, too!
Red Trillium (Trillium erectum)
Another spring ephemeral, red trilliums emerge in spring in shady woodlands with consistently moist soil. While these plants die back when temperatures climb, they provide nectar and pollen to spring pollinators when they need it most. These plants grow very slowly and are negatively impacted by wild harvesting, so it’s important to only purchase trilliums from reliable suppliers.
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
Growers are often reluctant to plant Virginia creeper as it bears some resemblance to poison ivy. But although this plant can cause skin reactions in sensitive individuals, it is not as troublesome as poison ivy, and it provides a lot of perks for pollinators. Sphinx moths, for instance, use Virginia creeper as a host plant for their caterpillars, birds love eating Virginia creeper berries, and these plants make fantastic weed-suppressing groundcovers for shady gardens and woodland plots.
Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)
Like trilliums and bloodroot, trout lilies flower early in the season, but are true spring ephemerals, fading away soon after flowering. While they last, these pint-sized natives can be enjoyed for their bright yellow blooms and speckled leaves, which are said to resemble the splotchy skin of a trout! Because they tolerate shade well, trout lilies are easy to tuck into woodland gardens, or beneath trees or shrubs that you may already have growing on your property.
5 Tips to Make Wooded Lots More Pollinator Friendly
Growing woodland plants that pollinators love can make forested properties more appealing to wildlife. But there are a few more gardening tricks that will do even more to help out forest-dwelling insects!
Avoid pesticides. Just as in standard gardens, it’s best to avoid using pesticides and other chemicals on woodland properties, and forego pesticides or opt for organic alternatives whenever you can.
Grow a variety. Many trees attract pollinators when they bloom in spring. But you can ensure pollinators always find something good to eat no matter when they visit by growing other woodland plants, like Virginia creeper, that bloom later in the season.
Pay attention to woodland margins. The transitional space between woodlands and open, sunny gardens and fields is particularly important for pollinators. Ensuring you have a good variety of native plants and flowers that tolerate dappled shade, like columbines, in these spaces can have a major impact on pollinator health.
Remove invasives. Invasive plants, such as knotweed and oriental bittersweet, can invade wooded properties and out compete native plants. Keeping a watchful eye out for invasives and removing them as soon as you spot them is the best way to limit their spread.
Leave snags and brush in place. As long as they don’t pose a fall hazard, you may want to leave dead tree snags and brush piles on your property to shelter native pollinators. Many cavity-nesting bees, in particular, love hiding out in hollow trees and fallen logs!
If you’d like to learn more about shade-tolerant natives, you can find these and many other native plants for wooded lots in the NGBH demonstration gardens. We’re also offering hands-on volunteer days and a native plant sale this fall where you can learn even more. We hope to see you there!
Resources:
Native Gardens of Blue Hill: Plant Database
Native Plant Trust: Go Botany
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