Fall garden performers are key for pollinators

Although temperatures still feel like midsummer, the calendar says it is fall. Some of my favorite pollinator plants choose this time of year to put on a spectacular show in the garden.

Gaura, Blue Plumbago and Firespike really stand out at this time of year. Each brings something different to the landscape, and butterflies and bees, along with hummingbirds preparing for their fall migration, take advantage of the abundant nectar these plants provide.

Gaura, sometimes called Bee Blossom, is a graceful perennial that produces slender flower stalks covered with delicate flowers. These flowers can be white, pink or shades in between, and they dance in the breeze. Their long bloom period makes gaura especially valuable in the late-summer garden.

The plants can become quite airy and open, giving the garden a light, natural appearance that pollinators seem to appreciate.

Gaura performs best in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, it is relatively drought-tolerant, making it a good choice for Mississippi landscapes.

Blue Plumbago, known scientifically asPlumbago auriculata, is one of my personal favorites.

This beautiful plant produces delicate clusters of sky-blue flowers from late spring all the way to frost. That long bloom period makes it an especially valuable source of nectar when many other plants are beginning to slow down.

Blue Plumbago has a graceful, sprawling growth habit and can reach 3 to 10 feet tall and wide when given the right conditions.

It can be grown as a perennial in warm climates. This includes U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 8 through 11, part of which includes Mississippi. Treat it as an annual in cooler areas or bring it indoors for the winter.

For best flowering, plant Blue Plumbago in full sun where it receives at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. Regularly water it to keep it growing vigorously. Give it monthly applications of a balanced fertilizer during the growing season to encourage healthy growth and plenty of flowers.

Blue Plumbago prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil, and an early-spring pruning helps maintain its shape and encourages fresh growth. Its cascading habit makes it particularly attractive when grown along fences, trellises or walls. Butterflies visit those beautiful blue flowers, which is an added bonus.

Firespike, known both as Odontonema strictum or Odontonema cuspidatum, is another excellent late-season pollinator plant that has brilliant red, tubular flowers.

Firespike provides an important lesson in pollinator gardening: different flower shapes attract different pollinators. The tubular blooms are perfectly suited to hummingbirds, while other insects may visit the plant as well.

Like Blue Plumbago, Firespike can be grown as a perennial in warmer climates. Grow it as an annual in colder climates or bring it indoors for the winter.

With the heat still hanging on, take a moment to look around your garden to see just how much pollinator activity is taking place among the flowers.