Idaho Native Flowers

When you hear the phrase “native flowers”, what do you picture? Maybe a landscape full of beautiful, colorful, and beneficial flowers? Or does your mind conjure up an image of valueless, unattractive, and dull flowers? In this article, I will present three native flowers to consider planting in your landscape or garden: Common Yarrow, Wild Blue Flax, and Common Camas, emphasizing reasons to plant Idaho native flowers.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a perennial that grows early spring and blooms through mid-summer. It has long leaves that appear fern-like and flowers that range from white, yellow, pink, or red. Yarrow was a food source in the 17th century and North American tribes used it to treat many ailments. Its rapid growth from seed and rhizomes encourages spreading. It also tolerates many conditions and soil types and is relatively pest-free. Because it attracts beneficial pollinators and is a food source for big horn sheep, deer, sage grouse, and their chicks, Yarrow seed has been added to other nature seeds to rehabilitate disturbed sites along roadways and parks and is very well suited for xeriscaping. Yarrow is also good for composting.

Wild Blue Flax (Linum lewisii) is an annual which blooms from May to June. It produces concentrations of small, cheery blooms balanced on thin green stems. Flowers last a day and are replaced with fresh blooms of light blue, blue, yellow, and red. Blue Flax produces a lot of seeds and reseeds itself. It is adaptive to most soil conditions and is drought tolerant with minimal problems with disease. It is a food source for deer, antelope, and birds and may provide protective cover for small animals and birds. Blue Flax is also valued by land management for helping with erosion control.

Common Camas (Camassia quamash) is a perennial herb grown from an edible bulb in the Lily family. It blooms from April through June and produces many seeds. A single plant may live from fifteen to twenty years. Flowers range from light to deep blue. Camas is a food source for elk, deer, moose, and gophers. Common Camas is still considered to be one of the most important (root) foods and medicinal plants of the North American Indigenous population. The bulbs are usually harvested after flowering in the summer. It is recommended that people use caution when identifying and harvesting Common Camas so as not to confuse plants with Death Camas which can be toxic if eaten.

Native flowers are not invasive, but rather protect the biodiversity that supports our local ecosystem maintaining land development and conserving resources. Native plants are almost effortless to grow and nurture. Native plants are masterfully adapted to our unique environment, saving time and money. Along with providing beauty and benefits, with some experimentation and education, you could format your landscape for year-round attraction. For these reasons, consider planting Native flowers and help support and safeguard Idaho’s legacy.

5 Steps to Create a Pollinator Paradise in Your Own Back Yard

There are simple steps anybody can take to make their own backyard more friendly to pollinators.

Why should you create a pollinator’s paradise?

In short, some pollinator populations are currently under threat, especially bees. Pollination is vital to our food supply and ecosystem. We can all be part of the solution with a few simple steps!

One: Thoughtfully plant a variety of native flowers and plants.

Planting native and non-invasive plants is key. There are many species of invasive plants which have a negative effect on our ecosystems. When possible, invasive species should be identified quickly and removed. Always check your labels and ask for scientific names of plants to be sure you have native varieties. Invasive species out compete and overgrow native plants, and are often introduced to landscapes as ornamentals. Some examples of invasive species to watch out for in Idaho might be purple loose-strife or salt cedar. Learn more about invasive plants here.

When it comes to flowers, it is also best avoid wild flower mixes.

Tip: Look for flat faced flowers, rather than ruffled, double layer petals, as these are more approachable to bees and butterflies.

Your thoughtful planting should consider visual impact on pollinators. It might be good idea to choose an area specific to your pollinators, and plant a swath of plants there. Or, paint the whole yard in flowers and native plants! As long as bees, birds, moths or butterflies can see your blooms easily, they’ll stop by. Be sure to plant a variety of plants, so that your flowers do not bloom all at once. This provides pollen to bees and butterflies for a longer period of time, ensuring they have food for the duration of their lifespan.

Tip: Variety can apply to color, species, shape, height, and more! The more options pollinators have, the more likely they are able to find something they like, at any stage of life.

Two: Provide water for pollinators.

Birdbaths and water features (in every season) are great for birds, bees and butterflies. It’s important to monitor standing water, especially during the warm mosquito breeding season. Be sure to change out water in birdbaths 2-3 times a week. More details here.

Three: Create spaces for shelter.

Bees need spaces to create their homes, whether it be up high or down low! Be sure to leave ground space as native bees are solitary and dwell near the ground. Nesting sites might include dead wood or even messes of twigs and grass on the ground. These can serve as habitable spaces for bees, and even provide overwintering protection. Another consideration is mulching. If there is too much mulch, bees are unable to penetrate the surface for shelter on the ground. Tip:Leaving bare ground or using leaf cuttings or compost in a lighter layer will provide access and protection.

Four: Feed the birds, bees and everything in between.

Provide seed for birds by leaving seed heads and stalks intact for habitat and food to birds and overwintering insects.

When planting, include a few plants which support larvae and adult insect pollinators. It is always best to consider the lifespan of insects and other pollinators, as they may have a food source for one stage of life, but not another. For example: monarch caterpillars only eat milkweed. Without this food source, there is no butterfly to become a pollinator! Here's how to optimize your yard.

Five: Maintain your pollinator garden.

Weed your garden by hand often. Limit your use of pesticides. Pesticides and herbicides can end up killing off beneficial pollinators or insects that are vital pest controllers themselves. In the end, it is best to use as little pesticides or herbicides as possible. Instead, work toward maintaining your soil, and creating a healthy landscape overall, as this is the best way to keep pests or weeds at bay.

Tip: Add compost in the spring, but remember to leave room for ground dwelling bees. Plant species which require less water together. If plants require more water, group them together so they can be watered efficiently.

There are so many approaches you can take to make your backyard pollinator preferred. Here's some links:

Bee Habitat - UIdaho Extension
Idaho Pollinator Protection Plan

 Choose one, and get started today!