Introducing the First Ecotype Seeds from the PollinateHV Collection
We partnered with PollinateHV, a project by Partners for Climate Action, to produce local ecotype seeds for home gardeners. The PollinateHV Collection features easy-to-grow, beautiful seeds native to the Hudson Valley region that support at-risk pollinators.
The first two of these important native seeds are available now. Learn more about these varieties and the threatened pollinators that they support below.
Great Blue Lobelia is a stunning perennial herb in the bellflower family with blue-violet flowers that bloom from summer into fall. These long-lasting blooms provide essential food for pollinators over an extended period.
The flower's shape is perfectly designed for bees with its lower petals forming a “landing pad.” This structure allows bees to crawl into the flower to access nectar while the downward style and stigma brush pollen onto their backs.
This moisture-loving plant thrives in damp, shaded areas such as roadside ditches, floodplains, lakesides, swamps, and wet prairies. When planting at home, choose a spot that stays damp and gets some shade or ensure regular watering.
In New York State, plant rarity is ranked on an S-scale from S1 (very rare) to S5 (ubiquitous and secure). Great Blue Lobelia is ranked S3, indicating it is relatively rare but not endangered.This plant is known to support at least three native Hudson Valley bumblebees whose populations are threatened including the ones mentioned below.
Pollinators that Great Blue Lobelia Supports:
This bumblebee is native to much of the eastern United States and Midwest, with a conservation rank of S3 (vulnerable) in New York. A ground-nesting bee, it’s often found in old fields, orchards, forest edges and hedgerows. Overwintering queen bees emerge later in spring than many other hibernating bee species.
Has a wide native range but is declining rapidly in the Northeast for reasons that are mostly unknown. But scientists do know that this bee is a specialist, requiring plants with long, narrow flower shapes like Great Blue Lobelia. The decline of these native flowers might be a primary threat to the half-black bumblebee.
This bee has a conservation rank of S1 in New York, meaning its populations are “critically imperiled”. It may once have been the most-observed bee in the United States, but is now threatened by pesticide use, disease, and habitat loss. Its main habitats, open meadows and grasslands, are also disappearing.
The Purple-stemmed American Aster is a charming perennial herb known for its delicate purple petals and bright yellow center, reminiscent of a daisy. Blooming from July to November, it adds a splash of color to the late-season landscape.
With an S-rank of S5, this aster is commonly found in the wild, indicating it is widespread and secure.Thriving in a variety of environments, the Purple-stemmed American Aster can be found in bogs, creeksides, marsh edges, meadows, and wetlands. It prefers damp areas and does well in full to partial sun, making it a versatile addition to any garden.
Pollinators that Purplestem Aster Supports:
This bee is a “social parasite." It survives by taking over the colonies of other bumblebee species, eliminating the colonies’ queen bees, and forcing the worker bees to care for its own offspring. Even though its host bees have stable populations, this bee is declining most likely due to declines in its food plants, which include native asters and goldenrods often found in fallow fields.
Scientists are still learning about the habits and needs of solitary bees like the orange-legged furrow bee, which is known to feed on purple-stemmed American aster. This small, ground-nesting bee is likely only able to travel short distances in search of food, meaning that increasing the presence of native plants like asters across our landscapes may be key to its survival.