Research on Native Plants for Provision of Summer Nectar and Pollen
Spotted knapweed blooms over an extended period in mid to late summer, providing pollen and nectar to a variety of insects. In areas where knapweed is managed, it may be desirable to establish plants that bloom during the same period to maintain these resources in the landscape. MSU researchers are investigating the potential of native plants to provide summer pollen and nectar resources to a variety of insects. The aim of this research is to investigate the establishment and effectiveness of seed mixes that could provide a diversity of flowering species and are appropriate for a wide variety of sites in Michigan.
Currently, spotted knapweed is commonly found growing on dry to dry-mesic soils of relatively low fertility. Such sites would have historically supported oak barrens, pine barrens, dry sand, and dry-mesic prairies containing a wide variety of mid to late summer blooming plant species. Using description of these habitats from the Michigan Natural Features Inventory, the researchers selected a subset of species that historically grew these habitats and which met the following criteria:
- Plants native throughout Michigan (both Upper and Lower Peninsulas)
- Available as seed from Michigan native plant producers
From these species they created two mixes for further testing. Mix #1 is a relatively low diversity mix comprised of 3 grasses and 8 forbs. Mix #2 is a moderate diversity mix containing the same 3 grasses species and a total of 16 forbs. In each case, the total seed weight of grasses and forbs was maintained the same in both treatments. Grasses are included as they are historically part of these habitats and many facilitate future management through prescribed fire. This research is in its initial phases but will be updated as results become available. In the meantime, land managers may use the following information as a starting point for conducting their own trials.
Mixture #1
Plant type | Common name | Scientific name | oz/A |
---|---|---|---|
Forbs | Candle anemone | Anemone cylindrica | 2 |
Forbs | Common milkweed | Asclepias syriaca | 14 |
Forbs | Lanceleaf tickseed | Coreopsis lanceolata | 6 |
Forbs | Flowering spurge | Euphorbia corollata | 6 |
Forbs | Tall blazing star | Liatris aspera | 8 |
Forbs | Wild bergamot | Monarda fistulosa | 2 |
Forbs | Blackeyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta | 2 |
Forbs | Gray goldenrod | Solidago nemoralis | 0.5 |
Grasses | Big bluestem | Andropogon gerardii | 12 |
Grasses | Prairie Junegrass | Koeleria macrantha | 4 |
Grasses | Little bluestem | Schizachyrium scoparium | 16 |
Total | 72.5 |
Mixture #2
Plant type | Common name | Scientific name | oz/A |
---|---|---|---|
Forbs | Candle anemone | Anemone cylindrica | 1 |
Forbs | Common milkweed | Asclepias syriaca | 7 |
Forbs | Smooth blue aster | Symphyotrichum laeve | 2 |
Forbs | Lanceleaf tickseed | Coreopsis lanceolata | 3 |
Forbs | Showy ticktrefoil | Desmodium canadense | 8 |
Forbs | Flowering spurge | Euphorbia corollata | 3 |
Forbs | Rabbit-tobacco | Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium | 0.1 |
Forbs | Woodland sunflower | Helianthus divaricatus | 5 |
Forbs | Tall blazing star | Liatris aspera | 4 |
Forbs | Wild bergamot | Monarda fistulosa | 1 |
Forbs | Spotted beebalm | Monarda punctata | 2 |
Forbs | Foxglove beardtongue | Penstemon digitalis | 2 |
Forbs | Blackeyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta | 1 |
Forbs | Early goldenrod | Solidago juncea | 0.25 |
Forbs | Gray goldenrod | Solidago nemoralis | 0.25 |
Forbs | Showy goldenrod | Solidago speciosa | 1 |
Grasses | Big bluestem | Andropogon gerardii | 12 |
Grasses | Prairie Junegrass | Koeleria macrantha | 4 |
Grasses | Little bluestem | Schizachyrium scoparium | 16 |
Total | 72.6 |