Native Pollinator Plants
Native pollinators are the flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees that naturally grew in our region long before modern landscaping. Because they evolved alongside local bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and birds, these plants provide the exact nectar, pollen, habitat, and seasonal cues that our native pollinators depend on.
Why Native Pollinator Plants Matter
Native pollinators are responsible for a large portion of the fruits and vegetables we grow in Colorado. When we plant natives, we help support healthy ecosystems, increase biodiversity, and create food and shelter for the pollinators that keep our gardens—and our local food systems—thriving. Native plants also tend to be more drought-tolerant, climate-adapted, and resilient than many ornamentals.
Types of Native Pollinator Plants in Northern Colorado
Here in the Front Range, popular native plants that attract pollinators include:
- Mountain Blue Flax (Linum lewisii) – delicate flowers, hardy in poor soil
- Rocky Mountain Bee Plant (Cleome/Peritoma serrulata) – essential for monarch caterpillars
- Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) – long bloom season and very drought-tolerant
- Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) – critical fall nectar source
- Showy Milkweed (Asclepias speciosa) – mid-season; strong nectar source + monarch host value
- Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) – late season; crucial pollen/nectar when many plants are done
These and many other native plants thrive in our dry, sunny climate and provide year-round food for pollinators when mixed together in garden beds.
Local Organizations Supporting Native Pollinators
Several groups in Northern Colorado actively promote native plants and native pollinators. They offer seed swaps, workshops, plant sales, volunteer opportunities, and educational resources:
- Wild Ones Front Range Chapter - Frontrange.wildones.org
- Northern Colorado People & Pollinators - Peopleandpollinators.org
- Colorado Native Plant Society (CONPS) – Northern Chapter - Conps.org
- Xerces Society – Colorado Resources - Xerces.org
- Nature in the City (City of Fort Collins) - FCgov.com/natureinthecity/
- CSU Extension – Native Plants & Pollinators - Extension.colostate.edu/resource/native-plants/
These organizations are great places to learn more, find native plant lists, and connect with people who are working to support pollinators across our region.