Last year I planted a Cow Parsnip (a native) in my rain garden. It had already bloomed for the year, so I didn’t really appreciate how big it could get. Well, now that it is a new year I can see- it is the huge plant shown above with the large white flower umbrella tops.
How much wildlife can one huge native plant attract? Since the flowers are so large and numerous, an incredible variety of pollinators visited.
Honey Bees have been regular visitors, and that’s what most people usually expect to see. But there are other important pollinators out there.
Flies! Believe it or not, flies are actually very important pollinators as well. I got very close and could see their siphons drinking up nectar in the flowers.
Pollinators weren’t the only ones attracted to the flowers though. Predators followed close behind. I saw several spiders crawling around- some like the one shown above, and some were crab spiders that blended with the white flowers.
Hunting on the stalks were quite a few Western Blood-red Ladybird Beetles. They were eating the aphids that were drinking out of some of the plant stalks.
Even at the bottom of the Cow Parsnip is evidence of animal life. See the strips of skin that have been peeled away?
This one native plant has added a nice variety of wildlife to my yard. So if you’re struggling with how to begin growing your own wildlife garden, it’s OK to start small. Try planting just one plant that can support wildlife and watch what comes to visit. I promise you that it won’t take long for you to be hooked and looking for new places in your yard to add more habitat.
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Thanks for mentioning this plant, it looks awesome. I’ve been thinking about giving it a try, if I kind find room for it. Maybe an excuse to dig up more lawn! I love “big” plants, they’re great conversation starters.
Julie Stone recently posted..True or False?
Thanks Julie. Hopefully you’ll find a spot for it- I can’t stop watching it!
Mike Bezner recently posted..Proof of a Grafted Rose
I don’t know if cow parsnip counts as starting small…!
UrsulaV recently posted..Nasturium-splosion
Point taken…
Mike Bezner recently posted..Proof of a Grafted Rose
It’s so amazing what we’ll find if we take the time to look at the ecosystem created on just one plant. Thanks for taking the time to notice these small details that so many of us overlook. I’ve got a new project now, pull up a chair and observe the visitors to just one plant in my wildlife garden.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Starting From Scratch In the Wildlife Garden
I found even more creatures on it today!
Oh I hope I gave mine some room
Love to see what visits once it starts growing!
Donna@ Gardens Eye View recently posted..Gardens Eye Journal-June 2012
What an awesome plant! Just one of those would take up the lion’s share of my garden, but I may need to find room anyway. Thanks for sharing.
Keep an eye for the caterpillars of swallowtails. Several species feed on this plant. I assume that you have some in the West Coast.
Beatriz Moisset recently posted..Gardening for Honorary Butterflies (Mint Moths)
Will do. Swallowtails are about the only butterflies we get around here.
Mike Bezner recently posted..Proof of a Grafted Rose
I adore cow parsnip, which does grow naturally here in southern CT, but only in select sunny, moist but well-drained locations with deep alluvial soil. How did you start it? Seed or plant?
Plant. And it is in a sunny spot with moist, well-drained soil. I got lucky!
Well said, I could get so much more done if I didn’t spend so much time observing the life coming to the plants.
that is one beautiful plant. I checked and it must not like the heat. not found in FL, TX and a few others in the S.E. I’m very jealous!
That is great advice to start small. People hold off doing the planting because they don’t know where to start or they think they need to create a completely landscaped garden all at once. When I do the outreach programs I tell those seeking information to pick one native plant to add to their garden and once that is in the ground try another. There is no time limit on gardening~
Loret recently posted..Condo living for bluebirds?
Terrific illustration of how one plant can begin a wildlife habitat Mike! Thanks for the reminder . . . I have been meaning to get this plant again. I guess some critter (vole) found the root tasty. My first one disappeared.
Carol Duke recently posted..Early June Garden Fragrances Merge ~ A Potpourri of Pinks With Touches of White ~ Roses and Pink Lilacs
What is the Latin name for this great looking plant?
Heracleum lanatum
Mike B. recently posted..Ladybugs Have Found a Home