Late-Winter Blooming Plants for Pollinators in Pacific Northwest

A selection of choice native and nonnative species can provide valuable food sources to certain insects in January and February

After the torrential rains ofDecember , it is a wonder that anything is blooming in Pacific Northwest gardens . Thankfully there are heavy industrial plant that survive the downpours and even flourish when everything else is a soggy sight . Along with the plants surviving , there are insects that winter over in the trees , and they have it off to see the sunshine just like we do . As before long as the lukewarm sun set out hitting the trees , the groggybeesstumble out look for some food ( kind of reminds me of teenagers ) . It is essential that we gardeners provideearly - blooming plantsfor these very authoritative members of our major planet . Interestingly , some bee are not at all special about their food supply , while others are . Our end should be to provide bothnative food sourcesand ornamental garden food for thought root . Nature ’s animal have a way of accommodate to what is available , but they also search for specifics . The following are a few of my favoritelate - wintertime - blooming plantsforpollinators .

‘Charity’ and ‘Soft Caress’ mahonia

I ’m not a bignative plantperson . Growing up here I have seen the aboriginal plants in so many seat , including open subject area , forests , ditches , ponds , roadside edges , and yes , even parking lots . I plausibly should not go into my opinion of fern and mahonia in parking lots — that ’s another subject . I do , however , have heap of native / nativarpollinating plants in my garden . The other bloom are the fabulous genus Mahonia , include the native creeping mahonia ( Mahoniarepens , zone 5–8 ) . I have two other favorites from this genus . The statuesque ‘ Charity ’ mahonia ( M.×media‘Charity ’ , Zones 7–9 ) is a plant that loves partial refinement and is quitedrought tolerantonce established . I ’m also a lover of the newly popular ‘ indulgent Caress ’ mahonia ( M. eurybracteata’Soft Caress ’ , Zones 4–7 ) . This finely textured shrub prefers full to fond shade and acidic soil . ‘ Soft Caress ’ bloom first in my garden from December throughJanuary . ‘ Charity ’ set off after that and blooms throughFebruary . By the time these mahonias are finished there are many native pollen sources blooming in the woods and along edges of current to fulfil the pollinators ’ appetency .

Paperbush

Some nonnative plants also start bloom in January and February . Many of these are also great forhummingbirdsthat have not left the region and need intellectual nourishment . Paperbush ( Edgeworthiachrysanthaand CV . , Zone 5b–9 ) has awesome hanging prime head with yellow , waxy , tubular blooms and a sweet olfactory property that attracts bee and hummingbird in January and February . It opt fond tad and evenly moist soil . If you desire to do a fiddling more searching , the rare and very cool Japanese red paperbush ( E. papyrifera‘Akebono ’ , Zones 7b–9b ) is striking , with creamy flowers that have tangerine tree - Orange River on the inside .

‘Yuletide’ and ‘Setsugekka’ camellia

More common , yet still lovely , are the winter - blossom camellias . Sasanqua camellias are blossom in gardens all around me in late wintertime . The best ones for pollinators are undivided - bloom varieties such as ‘ Yuletide ’ ( Camelliasasanqua‘Yuletide ’ , Zones 7–10 ) . The brainy red bloom have a yellow center with prominent stamens . This cultivar will sometimes bloom as too soon as December . ‘ Setsugekka ’ ( C. sasanqua‘Setsugekka ’ , Zones 7–10 ) has a exculpated , brilliant white efflorescence that is a semi - twofold . The golden yellow center calls out to any pop off bee to come nigher .

‘Miss Vain’ Scotch crocus

Last but not least are the ahead of time - flower Scotch crocuses . My favorite kind is ‘ Miss Vain ’ ( Crocusbiflorus‘Miss Vain ’ , Zones 3–8 ) with its delicate white-hot petals palisade a party boss of honey - yellowish stamen . Do n’t blank out to implant these little puddles of sunshine in your garden ; the bees will enjoy them decently up until the rest of the landscape painting explodes with flowers in full spring .

Learn more about garden for good bugs in the PNW :

For more Pacific Northwest regional reports , go here .

Susan Calhoun is the possessor of Plantswoman Design in Bainbridge Island , Washington .

Photos : Susan Calhoun

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