One of the most popular topics for our presentations is how to create a garden that attracts pollinators. Typically, a sunny area is the best choice for establishing this type of garden, which can leave those with shady yards feeling overlooked. But don’t worry! You may be amazed to find that there are plenty of plants that can entice pollinators in both partially shaded and fully shaded gardens.

Let’s start by defining what sun, part sun, part shade, and full shade mean from a horticultural perspective

• Full sun: More than 6 hours of sun
• Part sun: 4-6 hours of sun (can be afternoon sun)
• Part shade: 4-6 hours (preferably morning) sun followed by filtered sun or shade to keep plants protected from the harsh afternoon rays
• Full shade: less than 2-3 hours of morning sun or little direct sun throughout the day.  This can be filtered light.  This doesn’t mean darkness — the plants still need sunlight to survive, just not direct exposure.

Both “part shade” and “full shade” refer to a plant’s need for moderate sunlight.  “Part sun” plants are more tolerant of light, while “part shade” plants are more sensitive to heat and prefer the cooler, indirect light of morning sun or dappled shade.

Even if your garden bed is in less than full sun you can still plant for pollinators!

These beneficial creatures come in many shapes and sizes and transfer pollen from one part of a flower to another or from one flower to a second flower.  Bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, beetles, ants, hummingbirds and even bats are pollinators!  In this article we will focus on the two largest categories- bees and butterflies/moths. It’s common knowledge that planting flowers can support local pollinators.  Keeping this in mind, when we think of pollinator habitats, we picture vast wildflower fields and vibrant flower gardens thriving in the sunlight. Although these habitats are wonderful, homeowners who live in shaded areas might think that creating a pollinator-friendly landscape is out of reach. That is just not that case. Landscapes featuring mature trees that create an abundance of shade can still provide great resources for pollinators.

Did you know the mighty oak tree Quercus spp is a pollinator superpower playing host to 395 species of lepidoptera (moths and butterflies)?

This superpower earns oaks the title of “keystone species.” Keystone plants are the native plants that are deemed essential for upholding the food web through their ability to support a large variety of caterpillars.  The caterpillars that don’t turn into butterflies or moths become food for birds (whose populations are sharply declining due in part to a lack of food).

A well designed pollinator garden provides more than just pretty flowers to feed the bees and butterflies

It also provides pollen, shelter and a combination of host and nectar plants that support the complete life cycle of these helpful insects.  Invite these beneficial garden friends in to fuel up with some nectar plants, and encourage them to stay for a while by providing host plants that their young (caterpillars) need to eat. You can also provide habitat for them to shelter and rest in such as plants with large leaves and dense foliage which offer protection from the elements and predators alike.  Some bees lay their eggs in dead flower stems, and moth and butterfly larvae are often hiding in leaf litter, so resist the urge to clean up the yard too soon in the springtime, for you will be disturbing the next generation.

Some more tips for providing a well rounded pollinator habitat:

• Diversity is key.  Choose at least 10 flowering species and a mixture of plants of varying sizes and types.
• Aim to have 3 plants blooming at any given season. This will ensure a steady source of nectar for your pollinator friends.
• Plan for the mature plant size in your layout.
• Layer groups of plants with various heights and shapes.
• Remember that the caterpillars will eat the host plants – that’s a good thing!
• Include a water source.
• Limit the use of pesticides and spot treat only when absolutely necessary.

Now on to the plants.  For the purposes of this article, we will focus on part shade and full shade plants.

I used the FREE Florida-Friendly Landscaping Plant App, Florida-Friendly Landscaping Bee and Butterfly Gardening Apps (all found here) as well as the Florida Wildflower Foundations Great Wildflowers for Shade guide to compile a list of my favorite options for less than sunny yards in North Florida. Key for notations after each plant: N=Native, H= Host Plant

Perennials and Wildflowers:

Aquatic Milkweed – Asclepias perennis N, H

Blue Daze – Evolvulus glomeratus

Coleus – Coleus spp. (typically grown for foliage, but if you let it flower the bees will visit frequently!)

Cutleaf Coneflower – Rudbeckia laciniata N, H

Giant Ironweed – Vernonia gigantea N, H

Leavenworth’s Coreposis – Coreopsis leavenworthii N

Lyreleaf Sage – Salvia lyrata N

Pineland twinflower – Dyschoriste angusta N, H

Purple Coneflower – Echinacea purpurea N

River Sage – Salvia misella N, H

Rouge Plant – Rivina humilis N

Shrimp Plant – Justicia brandegeeana

Snow Squarestem – Melanthera nivea N

Spotted Bee Balm – Monarda punctata N, H

Wild Columbine – Aquilegia canadensis N

Wild Petunia – Ruellia caroliniensis (a wonderful substitute for the invasive Mexican Petunia – Ruellia simplex) N, H

Vines:

Pipevine – Aristolochia tomentosa N, H

Carolina Jessamine – Gelsemium sempervirens (Potentially toxic to honeybees, do not locate adjacent to a managed hive) N, H

Corkystem Passionvine – Passiflora suberosa N, H

Crossvine – Bignonia capreolata N

Shrubs/Small Trees:

Beautyberry – Callicarpa americana N, H

False Indigo – Amorpha fruticosa N, H

Firebush – Hamelia patens N

Fire Spike – Odontonema cuspidatum

Fringe Tree – Chionanthus virginicus N, H

Golden Cestrum Cestrum aurantiacum  (pictured in banner image) 

Oakleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia N

Red Powderpuff – Calliandra haematocephala

Wild Coffee – Psychotria nervosa N

Wild Lime – Zanthoxylum fagara N, H

Grasses:

Fakahatchee Grass – Tripsacum dactyloides N, H

As you can see, there is a wide range of plants that have the ability to attract welcome insects to the shade garden.  It all comes down to practicing Florida-Friendly Landscaping Principle #1– Right Plant, Right Place. Creating a pollinator garden goes beyond just aesthetic appeal; it plays a crucial role in supporting the entire life cycle of these essential insects by providing food, shelter, and a diverse habitat. By thoughtfully incorporating a variety of plants and minimizing disturbances, gardeners can foster a thriving ecosystem that benefits both pollinators and the environment.

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Resources:

UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions Florida’s Keystone Plants- https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/floridas-keystone-plants/ and

UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions Landscaping in the Shade- https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/landscaping-for-specific-sites/shady-landscapes/

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Plant Guide- https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/apps/plant-guide/

Florida Wildflower Foundation Great Wildflowers for Shade- https://www.flawildflowers.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ShadyLandscapes.pdf

UF/IFAS Extension Duval County Fact Sheet- https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/media/sfylifasufledu/duval/horticulture/homowner-hort-pdfx27s/Butterfly-fact-sheet.pdf

Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Bee Gardens and Butterfly Gardens Apps- https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/resources/apps/