In 2018 the Weeders Garden Club created the Pollinator Garden at Tumbleweed Ranch, 2250 S. McQueen Rd. in Chandler, with support from Chandler Parks Department.  The Garden is inside the park, in front of the McCroskey House.

A pollinator garden is a garden that is planted predominantly with trees, shrubs, vines and flowers that provide nectar and pollen for a wide range of pollinating insects, such as bees and butterflies. In addition to providing food, a pollinator garden also supplies a resting place as they migrate, especially important for the Monarch Butterfly.

Pollinators are indicators of a healthy environment and ecosystem, but pollinator populations are shrinking worldwide. There are several factors that are contributing to this disturbing global trend. The exposure and use of pesticides in home gardens and farmland. Parasites attacking specific species, especially honey bees. The loss of diversity and abundance of different kinds of plants due to land use. Without these pollinators most plants cannot produce fruits and seeds. All of which are an important food source for people and wildlife. At least 80% of ours world’s crop species require pollination to set seed.

By planting a pollinator garden, with a diverse amount of flowering plants and native species in your landscape, you are helping to create and maintain habitats and ecosystems that many animals rely on for food and shelter.

Pollinator Garden Spring 2020

Pollinator Garden Planning and Planting

Pollinator Garden Plant List

As of April, 2018. The plant selections are expected to change with the seasons, donations and attrition.

Size / Requirements  Bloom Color Season Pollinators Attracted
Large Shrub/Small Tree
AZ Yellow Bells (Tecoma stans v angustata) 6’x6′, full sun yellow spring-fall hummingbirds
Hopbush (dodonacea viscosa) 12’x10′, sun cream spring all
Large Tree
Palo Verde, Desert Museum 25’x25′, full sun yellow spring all
Shrubs/Perennials
Aloe Blue Elf 2’x2′, filtered sun orange winter hummingbirds
Angelita Daisy (Hymenoxis acaulis) 1’x1′, sun/filtered shade yellow all year butterflies
AZ Foldwing (Dicliptera resupinata) 2’x3′, pm shade magenta spring-fall hummingbirds
Baja Red Fairy Duster (calliandra californica) 5’x5′, sun red spring-fall all
Black Dalea (Dalea frutescens) 3-5’x3-5′, full sun purple summer-fall all
Blue Hibiscus (Alyogyne huegelii) 6’x6′, full sun blue spring-fall bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Blue Mist (Caryopteris clandonensis) 3’x4′, filtered sun violet blue summer butterflies
Brittlebush (Encelia farinosa) 3’x4′, full sun yellow winter-spring birds, butterflies
Butterfly Weed Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) 2’x18″, full sun orange summer all
Cassia (Cassia oliogophylla) (or Senna oliogophylla) 6’x6′, full sun yellow spring all
Chocolate Flower (Berlandiera lyrata) 1’x11, sun yellow spring-fall birds, butterflies
Chuparosa (Justicia californica) 3’x3′, sun orange-red winter- fall butterflies, hummingbirds, caterpillars
Coral Fountain Grass (Russelia equisetiformis) 3’x4′, sun coral all year hummingbirds
Creeping Daisy (Wedelia trilobata) 6″x30″, sun yellow spring-fall butterflies
Desert Lavender (Hyptis emoryi) 6’x4′, sun lavender spring hummingbirds, birds, bees
Desert Marigold (Baileya multiradiata) 1’x1′, full sun yellow all year birds, butterflies
Firebush (Hamelia paens) 3-10’x3-10′, sun scarlet May-Nov hummingbirds
Globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) 3’x4′, sun apricot Feb-May all
Golden Dogbane (Thymophylla Pentachaeta) 1’x1′, sun yellow spring-fall butterflies
Indian Mallow(Abutilon palmeri) 3-4’x3-4′, sun apricot spring-fall caterpillars
Lantana 2’x3′, sun yellow/red spring-fall butterflies, birds, bees
Trailing Lantana (Lantana montividensis) 1’x4′, pm shade lavender all butterflies, bees
Lions Tail (Leonotis Leonorus) 6’x3′, sun orange/red summer hummingbirds
Mexican Honeysuckle (Justicia spicagera) 3’x4′, filtered sun orange spring-fall all
Milkweed , Arizona (Asclepias angustifolia) 2’x2′, filtered sun white spring-fall butterflies
Milkweed, Desert (Asclepias subulata) 4’x3′, sun white spring-fall butterflies
Milkweed, Pineleaf (Asclepias linearas) 2’x2′, filtered sun white spring-fall butterflies
Penstemons (Penstemon-parryi) 1.5’x1.5′, sun hot pink spring hummingbirds
Red Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) 6’x6′, sun red & yellow spring-fall hummingbirds, butterflies
Red Justica (Justicia candicans) 3’x3′, filtered sun red-orange Oct-May all
Red Yucca (Hesperaloe parviflora) 6’x6′, sun red May-Sept birds, hummingbirds
Russian Sage(Perovskia atriplicifolia) 3’x3′, sun lavender blue summer butterflies
Skyflower (Duranta erecta v Sweet memories) 10-25’x6-10′, sun purple/white spring-summer butterflies
Spurge, Ascot Rainbow (Euphorbia martini) 18″x18″, pm shade pink/yellow all bees, butterflies
Sunrise emu (Eremophila maculata v sunrise) 6’x5′, sun yellow all hummingbirds
Valentine emu (Eremophila maclata v valentine) 4’x5′, sun red Feb-March hummingbirds
Verbena, Trailing (Verbena tenuisecta) 12’x12′, filtered sun blue spring-fall butterflies
Wooly Butterfly Bush (Buddleia mamubifolia) 5’x5′, sun orange spring butterflies, birds
Yellow Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia gilliesii) 5-10’x4-6′, sun yellow March-Oct hummingbirds
Vines
Cape Honeysuckle (Tecoma capensis) 6’x5′, afternoon shade red orange all hummingbirds
Baja Passion Flower (Passiflora factida) 10’x10′, sun white & purple summer Gulf Fritillary butterfly
Cat Claw Vine (Macfadyena unguis-cati) 25’x15′, sun, fast grower yellow spring hummingbirds
Annuals
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea), sow seeds in fall 3′, sun various spring butterflies
Desert Wildflower mix various, sun various spring butterflies, hummingbirds, birds
Sun Flowers 6′, sun yellow summer butterflies, birds