Unusual Heirloom Plants for Pollinators & Wildlife

Heirloom plants have gained immense popularity over the last few years due to their value in preserving our history and the environment.

Not only do they reproduce genetically unique crops that store ancient genetics, but they also provide vital habitat support for natural systems, specifically pollinators and wildlife.

In this blog post, I will cover some of the top heirloom plants that are not only unusual but also support the sustainability of the environment.

By the end of this article, you will know which plants to invest in for your backyard garden to contribute to the robust ecosystem and become a part of the solution.

Let’s dive right into some of the most incredible heirloom plants for pollinators and wildlife.

Pawpaw

Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is a small deciduous tree that bears delicious oblong fruits, similar in shape to mangoes. These fruits are nutritious and have a sweet taste similar to custard and banana.

As an heirloom plant, Pawpaw has been grown for centuries, and it’s still relatively unknown among home gardeners. However, this fruit tree is worth planting not only for its fruit but also for its ecological benefits.

If you plant Pawpaw, you’ll attract many pollinators, including bees, which will help fertilize your trees and increase your yields. Moreover, Pawpaw is also a host plant for Zebra Swallowtail butterfly larvaes. So, if you want to create a wildlife-friendly garden, you should consider planting them.

In addition to these benefits, Pawpaw trees are resistant to most pests and diseases, and this means it requires little care after being planted. Therefore, if you’re looking for a fruit tree to add to your garden, consider Pawpaw. With its delicious fruits and ecological benefits, it’s an excellent choice to make.

Bee Balm

Bee Balm is a perennial plant that comes in various colors such as red, pink, and purple. It blooms in the summer and has a unique fragrance that can easily fill the garden.

Heirloom plants like Bee Balm can thrive in almost any type of soil and environment. They have been around for decades, and many home gardeners have kept them alive for a long time. As a result, they demonstrate a level of hardiness and an ability to adapt to different conditions making them a go-to option for many gardeners.

Bee Balm benefits pollinators greatly as it serves as one of the favorite hosts of the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. The birds love the bright, catchy colors of the plant and its rich nectar supply. Also, Bee Balm is ideal for bees due to its abundant nectar reserve and fresh pollen producer.

Creating a habitat using this distinctive heirloom plant provides essential support to the ecosystem and helps to bring pollinators of different species to your garden. As an added benefit, Bee Balm is known for its medicinal properties which can be soaked to make the tea and will help calm an upset stomach.

So, why not add Bee Balm to your garden? You can be sure to have pollinators flocking to it for the sweet nectar. Best of all, it requires little maintenance, making it an ideal heirloom plant for novice gardeners.

Butterfly Weed

Butterfly Weed is a beautiful plant with bright orange flowers that bloom from summer to fall. I personally love this plant for the color it brings to a garden. However, it’s also great for pollinators, including butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

Butterfly Weed is considered an heirloom plant because it has been cultivated for many years and is a perennial that can survive for decades in the same spot. This means that once you plant it, you can pretty much forget about it, and it will continue to provide benefits to pollinators year after year.

Butterfly Weed is particularly beneficial to pollinators because of the abundant nectar it provides. Its bright orange color also makes it easy for pollinators to spot and find, and the plant’s structure provides a good landing pad for them to rest while they feed.

If you’re looking to attract more butterflies to your garden, Butterfly Weed is a must-have. This plant is a food source for Monarch butterfly larvae, making it an essential part of their life cycle. By planting Butterfly Weed, you can help support the threatened Monarch butterfly and ensure that generations to come can experience the beauty of these creatures.

One thing to note about Butterfly Weed is that it’s toxic to some animals, including humans, if ingested. So, if you have small children or pets, it’s important to keep them away from the plant. However, it’s worth noting that the plant’s toxicity also makes it deer-resistant, which is a huge plus if you live in an area with a lot of deer.

In summary, if you want to attract more pollinators to your garden, including butterflies and hummingbirds, Butterfly Weed is an excellent choice. Its bright color and abundant nectar make it easy for pollinators to find and benefit from, and it’s a low-maintenance perennial that can survive for many years. Just be sure to keep it away from small children and pets!

Moonflower

The moonflower (Ipomoea alba) is a stunning, fragrant vine that produces pure white, trumpet-shaped flowers that open at dusk and close at dawn. It can easily grow up to 10-15 feet long in one season, making it perfect for trellises, arbors, and other types of supports.

As an heirloom plant, the moonflower has been passed down through generations of gardeners. It can be grown from seed year after year, and its hardiness and beauty have been appreciated by gardeners for generations.

Moonflowers benefit pollinators and nocturnal wildlife, such as moths and bats, because they are open during the evening and night hours. Moths are some of the most important pollinators in the world, and they are attracted to many different types of flowers. The moonflower is specifically tailored to moths with its large, white, and fragrant blooms.

Planting moonflowers near a porch, patio, or other outdoor living space allows humans to enjoy their beauty and fragrance in the evening hours when other flowers may not be open. The moonflower is also a nectar source for hummingbirds.

Overall, the moonflower can add both beauty and function to gardens. Its evening blooms, inherent hardiness, and attractiveness to nocturnal pollinators make it a unique and valuable addition to any garden.

Scarlet Runner Bean

Scarlet Runner Bean is a delightful heirloom plant that is super easy to grow. It can be grown in small spaces since it doesn’t take up too much ground and can be also grown in containers. The plant produces a showy red flower that attracts the attention of hummingbirds, bees, and other pollinators, making it a perfect addition to any garden.

This bean plant has been known for generations as an heirloom vegetable, but it is also an heirloom flower, and it brings beauty to any garden. It is a very old variety of pole bean with large leaves and beautiful red flowers, and it is prized for its ability to nourish the soil.

Since the Scarlet Runner Bean is a very attractive flower, it provides food for the nectar-sipping hummingbirds and bees. The plant’s leaves, vines, and flowers are beautiful to look at and have a lovely texture. The plant’s flowers are also used to make natural dyes, and the bean itself is edible, making it a versatile addition to your garden.

If you want to attract more pollinators, planting Scarlet Runner Beans is a smart choice. This type of heirloom plant is also good for the soil, as it is able to fix nitrogen in the soil, which in turn helps to enrich the ground and makes it more nutrient-rich for other plants.

In conclusion, planting Scarlet Runner Beans is a great way to add a bold, bright flower to your garden, while also promoting wildlife and helping to improve the soil quality. So, if you want to do your part to create a healthy, vibrant garden, consider adding Scarlet Runner Beans to your list of heirloom plants to try.

Monarda

Monarda, commonly known as bee balm and wild bergamot, is a beautiful and fragrant flowering plant that is also an heirloom plant. This plant is easy to grow and provides a lot of benefits to pollinators and wildlife.

If you want to attract pollinators like bees and butterflies to your garden, Monarda is a great choice. This plant produces fragrant flowers that are rich in nectar and pollen, making it an important food source for these pollinators.

In addition to attracting pollinators, Monarda also attracts beneficial insects like ladybugs and praying mantises, which help control pests in your garden naturally.

Monarda is also a great addition to a herb garden. The leaves of this plant have a strong, pleasant aroma and can be used to make flavorful tea and other culinary dishes.

To grow Monarda, plant it in a sunny spot in well-draining soil. This plant prefers soil that is consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Mulching around the base of the plant can help conserve moisture in the soil.

By adding Monarda to your garden, you can create a beautiful space that benefits both pollinators and wildlife.

Morning Glory

Looking for a plant that can add vibrancy to your garden while also attracting pollinators and wildlife? Look no further than the morning glory! These flowers, which come in shades of purple, pink, and white, not only add a pop of color, but are also a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies.

Admired for their unique trumpet-like shape and the variety of colors available, morning glories have been grown for centuries. In fact, some species of morning glories have been cultivated since the 16th century, making them a classic choice for any garden.

One of the benefits of planting morning glories is the way in which they grow. These climbing flowers can grow up to ten feet tall, creating a beautiful backdrop for trellises or fences. As the name suggests, morning glories bloom in the morning, but new buds continue to open throughout the day, providing an ongoing source of food and beauty for pollinators and wildlife.

Plus, morning glories are easy to grow from seed, making them an ideal addition for gardening enthusiasts of all levels. Simply plant the seeds in well-draining soil and watch as the vines grow and the flowers bloom. For best results, make sure to plant your morning glories in an area that receives plenty of sunlight and is well-watered.

By choosing to plant morning glories, you are not only adding a splash of color to your garden, but also providing a valuable food source for pollinators and wildlife. So why not add these beautiful heirloom flowers to your garden today?

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, heirloom plants are not only beautiful, but they are also important for the survival of pollinators and wildlife.

By incorporating these plants into your garden, you can make a positive impact on the environment and create a lush and vibrant space for yourself to enjoy.

So my question to you is: which of these heirloom plants are you excited to try in your garden?

Let me know by sending me a message!

And if you found value in this blog post, please share it on your social media pages to spread the word to other home and garden enthusiasts.

Thank you for reading!