Native Plants: The Key to a Pollinator Garden in Cedar Park

While exotic flowers might catch the eye, native plants offer a deeper connection to our local environment. Here's why they're the ultimate pollinator magnets:

1. Co-Evolution: Texas pollinators and native plants have evolved together for millennia, forming a perfect symbiotic relationship. Our native bees, for instance, have specific tongue lengths and behaviors that align with the unique flower shapes of plants like Texas bluebonnets and Turk's cap.
2. Drought-Resilience: Our scorching summers are no match for native plants. They've adapted to thrive in our challenging climate, requiring less water and maintenance than their thirsty, non-native counterparts. This not only benefits your water bill but also supports pollinators through dry spells.
3. Caterpillar Cuisine: Many butterflies are picky eaters, relying on specific native plants as hosts for their caterpillars. By planting milkweed for monarchs, passionflower vine for gulf fritillaries, or spicebush for spicebush swallowtails, you're providing a crucial lifeline for the next generation of these beautiful pollinators.
4. Year-Round Blooms: Native plants offer a buffet of nectar and pollen throughout the seasons. By carefully selecting a mix of early, mid-, and late-season bloomers, you'll ensure pollinators have a consistent food source from spring's first warmth to autumn's gentle cool-down.

Click this link to view a blog post on why Natives are supreme!