All-Stars wildlife brochure.indd - the UC Davis Arboretum

WHY PLANT FOR
WILDLIFE?
As development spreads out from California’s
urban centers, more and more wildlands are
converted to housing and industrial uses.
It’s hard for animals to survive when their
food sources and shelter disappear. Home
gardeners can provide a refuge that supports
local populations of birds and insects and
helps them continue their ancient patterns
of migration. As an added bonus, they will
pollinate your plants and add sound and
motion to your garden.
POLLINATORS & FLOWERS:
CO-EVOLUTION
Flowers attract pollinators in amazing ways.
Some fl owers have evolved special colors or
produce odors; others provide nectar that only
specialized mouth parts can reach. Insect
pollinators are the most common, easily
observable on warm days:
• Beetles visit large fl owers with lots of pollen.
• Bees prefer fl owers with landing pads that
refl ect light in the ultra-violet range.
• Moths zig-zag their way through evening
scents to pale fl owers whose fragrance acts
as a beacon.
• Butterfl ies sip nectar from fl owers with their
long, coiled mouth parts.
In the Central Valley, hummingbirds are agents
of pollination. Hummingbirds prefer long,
tubular fl owers that fi t their slender beaks.
They are especially attracted to red fl owers.
HOW TO ENCOURAGE BIRDS &
INSECTS TO VISIT YOUR GARDEN
• Choose plants that animals use for food and shelter
(see list on back).
• Use a variety of plants that bloom in sequence over
the course of the year.
• Select plants that grow to different heights and
widths to provide many locations for birds to feed
and build their nests.
• Use plants that produce silken fi bers to provide
nesting materials.
• Create perches from bare branches for birds to rest
on.
• Provide a water source—a fountain, pool, or
birdbath.
BENEFICIAL INSECTS
FOR PEST CONTROL
You can choose plants for your garden that attract
benefi cial insects—those that prey on insect pests. For
example, syrphid fl ies are common benefi cial insects that
eat aphids. The adults look like small bees, although they
are really fl ies. They hover in the air and need nectar
and pollen plants on which to lay their eggs. The legless
larvae can often be seen on roses dining on aphids.
A NOTE OF CAUTION
While butterfl ies are nectar-sippers, caterpillars are
voracious eaters and can strip the leaves off their
favorite plants. Plant the nectar sources in the front
of the garden and the larval food plants in an inconspicuous
place in the back. Also, remember that cats
might discourage nesting or kill young birds.
HOW TO
ATTRACT
WILDLIFE
TO YOUR
CENTRAL VALLEY
GARDEN
PROTECT native plants by
supporting the pollinators
they depend on
ENJOY the sight and sound
of birds and butterfl ies in the
garden
HELP combat habitat loss by
making your garden a wildlife
refuge
GREAT PLANTS FOR CENTRAL VALLEY GARDENS