The Campus Community Garden is a home to many native plants. Among them are:
New England Aster, Tall Coreopsis, Wild Columbine, Purple Cone, Blackeyed Suzan, Common Milkweed, Culver’s Root, Eastern prickly pear cactus, Foxglove beardtongue, Red Osier Dogwood. A visitor would find these plants in our pollinator garden located at the very front of the garden. These plants, similar to other native plants, attract such pollinators as bees, bumblebees, butterflies, moths, flies and beetles. These pollinators need native plants to protect them from predators and provide winter habitat.
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Wildlife Value: Attracts a high number of native bees, bumblebees, and honeybees, as well as butterflies; larval host for the pearl crescent and checkerspot butterflies.
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Wildlife Value: Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies as well as high numbers of native bee species.
Tall Coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris)
Wildlife Value: Attracts high numbers of native bee species, also attractive to birds and butterflies. Provides winter habitat for bees.
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
Wildlife Value: Flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, butterflies and hawk moths; seeds are eaten by finches and buntings.
Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Wildlife Value Nectar source for bees, butterflies and other insects; larval host to two butterfly species; winter seed source for birds.
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Wildlife Value: Attracts a variety of milkweed specific insects and beetles; larval host to monarch butterflies; nectar source for many butterfly species; pollen source for native bees, bumblebees and honeybees.
Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
Wildlife Value: Attracts butterflies and a variety of native bees and bumblebees.
Eastern prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa)
Wildlife Value: Attracts a large number of native bee species.
Foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)
Wildlife Value: Attracts hummingbirds, bees and bumblebees.
Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus Stolonifera)
Wildlife Value: Flowers are an important source of pollen for honey bees. Red squirrels, chipmunks and raccoons include red osier dogwood in their diets, while snowshoe hare and beaver browse the twigs in winter.
Other native plants, herbs, and shrubs found throughout the CCG include: Paw Paw’s trees, native sage, butterfly weed, highbush cranberry, wild cherry, nettles, tall goldenrod, and elderberry.