#nectarinsects

[itskatra-blog]

Catalpa bignonioides - Catalpa

Plant community: N/A

Native region: United States

Mature size: Height: 30 to 60 feet, Spread: 20 to 40 feet

Habitat: Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), forests

Hardiness Zone(s): 5-9

Leaf color: Summer: light green above, pubescent below, Fall: yellow

Bloom color: white flowers with purple and yellow inner markings

Benefit to Wildlife: Important source of nectar for honey bees. 

Larval host: Sole larval host: Catalpa sphinx (Ceratomia catalpae)

Sources:

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/catalpa/bignonioides/

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=277905&isprofile=0&

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CABI8

[itskatra-blog]

Amorpha fruticosa - False Indigo

Plant community: N/A

Native region: Southern United States

Mature size: Height: 4 to 12 feet, Spread: 6 to 15 feet

Habitat: Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), forest edges

Hardiness Zone(s): 4–9

Leaf color: Summer: gray-green, Fall: N/A

Bloom color: dark purple

Benefit to Wildlife: Important plant for nectar-bees, nectar-butterflies, and nectar-insects. It is also an occasional browse source for large mammals such as white-tailed deer.

Larval host: Specific larval host: Hoary edge (Achalarus lyciades) (1/4), Silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus) (1/2)

Sources:

Tallamy, Douglas W. Bringing Nature Home. Portland: Timber, 2009. Print.

http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=amfr

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/amorpha/fruticosa/

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=280343&isprofile=0&#AllImages

http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=AMFR

[itskatra-blog]

Amelanchier canadensis - Serviceberry

Plant community: New England Barrier Beach

Native region: Eastern North America

Mature size: Height: 25 to 30 feet, Spread: 15 to 20 feet

Habitat: Anthropogenic (man-made or disturbed habitats), cliffs, balds, or ledges, forest edges, meadows and fields

Hardiness Zone(s): 4–8

Leaf color: Summer: dark green, Fall: red/orange

Bloom color: White

Benefit to Wildlife: Because serviceberry is an early blooming plant, it plays an important role as a food source for pollinators like bees and butterflies. Birds and wildlife are very attracted to serviceberry’s fruit. The fruit may be eaten by orioles, cardinals, thrushes, catbirds, woodpeckers, waxwings, robins, squirrels, and chipmunks. The larvae of tiger swallowtail butterflies, viceroy, admirals, and striped hairstreak feed on the leaves. The plant is seldom severely damaged by deer.

Larval host: Tiger swallowtail, viceroy, admirals, and striped hairstreak

 Sources:

Tallamy, Douglas W. Bringing Nature Home. Portland: Timber, 2009. Print.

http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=j290

https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/amelanchier/canadensis/

https://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_amca4.pdf