Backyard Habitat Guide: New 2023 Edition

Backyard Habitat Guide

HOW TO CREATE A GARDEN ABUNDANT IN LIFE AND BEAUTY

OUR GARDENS ARE WHERE WE SAVOR THE ABUNDANCE OF NATURE .

Once we start to see our outdoor spaces as part of a fully connected ecosystem, a new world of discovery and magic is open to us.

In discussing habitat gardens, there has been a rise in the debate about native vs. non-native plants, and which is better for pollinators. Cultivars can be excellent choices. The most important way you can support pollinators is to grow a diverse mix of plants. Consider your climate, soil and water conditions, and of course, your personal style, to choose what’s right for you.

The Backyard Habitat Guide is designed to support you as you use your garden to create an abundant space of beauty — one that is interactive, vibrant, diverse, and full of life. Inside, you’ll find three different habitat garden sections, including a hummingbird garden, a backyard birding garden, and a bee and butterfly garden. Each section provides two illustrated landscape designs by Lisa Nunamaker of Paper Garden Workshop, plant lists, and expert tips for building a healthy habitat.

ON THE COVERS

BACK:

SPECIAL THANKS

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and The Nature Conservancy

Photography by Doreen Wynja

Landscape plans and illustrations by Lisa Nunamaker of Paper Garden Workshop

Hummingbird Garden

“ Small insects are a lesser known but essential part of the hummingbird diet... encouraging insects in your yard means you’ll have spiders – and hummingbirds make their beautiful tiny nests from spider silk! ”

HUMMINGBIRDS ZOOM THROUGH THE AIR , hover and flit around the garden is so delightful, it’s no wonder so many of us want to see more visiting our gardens. The key to a lively hummingbird garden is selecting the appropriate flowers for them to feast upon, and then planting a lot of them. This allows them to fuel up more efficiently, without extra flying. Hummingbirds love bright, tubular flowers; their long tongues allow them to reach the nectar inside. Nectar isn’t the only thing that keeps hummingbirds happy — they also eat small insects.

WATCHING

Hummingbird Garden Landscape Plan

My Fair Maiden™ Maiden Grass

A superb grass that adds visual excitement wherever used. As summer draws to a close, the showy plumes take center stage, as they glisten and shine in the sunlight high above the foliage. Nearly sterile with a notably low seed set. Photo by Star Roses.

UP TO 8’ TALL, 5’ WIDE

FULL SUN

ZONES 5-9 | #41620

Major Wheeler Honeysuckle

Hummingbirds flock to blazing red and gold blooms all summer long. An excellent, vigorous (but not invasive) selection of a North American native that thrives in high humidity and is mildew-free.

UP TO 10’ TALL WITH SUPPORT

PARTIAL TO FULL SUN

ZONES 4-8 | #06783

Blue Heaven Little Bluestem

Narrow, upright, grassy foliage creates a great vertical accent. Emerges blue, develops pink and burgundy hues in late summer, and turns a rich copper in fall. Also perfect for bird-friendly landscapes.

UP TO 4’ TALL 3’ WIDE FULL SUN ZONES 3-10 | #08611

Kudos Gold Dwarf Agastache

Strike it rich with shades of gold that adorn this prolific bloomer with loads of richly colored flowers on dense, upright flower spikes. Wonderful summer color for warm, dry regions. Drought tolerant in coastal regions.

UP TO 26” TALL AND WIDE

FULL SUN

ZONES 5-10 | #41252

Mango Popsicle Dwarf Poker

Mango-orange spikes bloom continuously throughout summer and into fall. The tidy clump of narrow green foliage remains neat throughout summer. A terrific drought tolerant garden plant and excellent cut flower.

FOLIAGE UP TO 18” TALL AND WIDE;

BLOOMS REACH 30” TALL

FULL SUN

ZONES 6-9 | #08025

Brakelights® Red Yucca

Vibrant, brake light-red blooms are a great color improvement to this species! This compact selection rarely sets seedpods, meaning more prolific flowering over an exceptionally long season.

FOLIAGE UP TO 2’ TALL AND WIDE;

BLOOMS RISE 3’ TALLER.

FULL SUN

ZONES 5-10 | #06418

Apex™ Blue Meadow Sage

A compact selection and stunning addition to any border with spikes of intense blue-violet flowers that top dense, shrub-like clumps of fragrant, green foliage throughout summer. Adds bold color in mass plantings.

UP TO 18” TALL AND WIDE

FULL SUN

ZONES 4-9 | #43497

Kudos Coral Dwarf Agastache

This prolific new compact hybrid has an impeccable habit, increased hardiness, improved disease resistance, and tolerance of wet, cold soils! Drought tolerant in coastal regions.

UP TO 10’ TALL WITH SUPPORT

PARTIAL TO FULL SUN

ZONES 5-10 | #41251

More Hummingbird-Friendly Plant Options

HUMMINGBIRD GARDEN TIPS

Use plants with prolific tubular flowers in shades of bright orange, red, yellow, pink, and even vivid purple.

Plant hummingbird-friendly plants in masses to provide plenty of nectar for their incredibly high metabolism.

Avoid pesticides and be more tolerant of insects in your garden (and any resulting damage on your leaves).

Complement native flowers with longer blooming cultivars to keep the feast going from April through September.

“

Remember to keep cats indoors (they are experts at catching hovering hummingbirds) and not to use pesticides. ”

KEVIN MUNROE, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

Hummingbird Weekend Project Plan

Blue Boa Agastache

Tall, deep violet-blue flower spikes bloom atop an upright, well-branched form. This low-maintenance beauty captivates in mass plantings or a focal point. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies and is drought tolerant once established.

UP TO 24” TALL AND 18” WIDE FULL SUN

ZONES 5-9 | #40052

Safari Orange Aloe

Hummingbirds love the brilliant orange flower clusters on this compact, repeatblooming aloe. Makes a stunning statement in a container and works well as a carefree accent for rock gardens.

UP TO 18” TALL AND 40” WIDE

PARTIAL TO FULL SUN

ZONES 9-11 | #28003

Colorburst™ Yellow Cape Fuchsia

An exclusive cape fuchsia from Monrovia, with abundant yellow flower clusters that attract nectar-seeking visitors from midsummer to fall. This variety offers a seemingly endless supply of tubular, nectar-rich flower clusters.

UP TO 3’ TALL AND 2’ WIDE

PARTIAL SHADE TO PARTIAL SUN

ZONES 6-10 | #42882

Chateau™ de Versailles Rose of Sharon

This Monrovia-exclusive shrub impresses with large, showy blue-violet flowers featuring deep red-violet centers that act as a bullseye for hummingbirds. it offers height, a long bloom season, and attractive green foliage.

UP TO 6’ TALL AND 4’ WIDE

PARTIAL TO FULL SUN

ZONES 5-9 | #40947

Birding Garden

“

Gardening is most beneficial for wildlife when it’s a bit messier than most of us are used to: fallen leaves, branches and old stems provide lots of nutrition and habitat. ”

THE RESOUNDING AGREEMENT OF BIRD LOVERS and habitat experts is that an insect-friendly garden is a bird-friendly garden. Kevin Munroe of The Nature Conservatory says, “the best bird feeder you can have on your property is an insect-friendly landscape of native plants, wildflower gardens with no pesticides, and several ‘wild patches.’ Even nectar- or seed-specialists like hummingbirds and goldfinches feed insects to their hungry young.” On top of plenty of insects, birds seek fruit, seeds, shelter, and clean water to thrive.

Birding Garden Landscape Plan

Black Tower Elderberry

The fantastic burgundy colored foliage on this upright shrub offers beautiful contrast in the garden. Bright pink flowers are followed by blackish red berries that provide seasonal forage for birds.

UP TO 8’ TALL, 4’ WIDE

PARTIAL TO FULL SUN

ZONES 4-8 | #00408

Cheyenne Spirit Echinacea

Expect a vibrant color range in rich shades of orange, scarlet, purple, cream, and golden yellow. Each is unique and all are exceptional bloomers on vigorous, full plants. Leave seedheads up over winter for birds.

UP TO 30” TALL, 24” WIDE

FULL SUN ZONES 4-10 | #08702

Goldsturm Black-Eyed Susan

A colorful, fuss-free border plant and excellent choice for wildlife and wildflower gardens. Bright, daisy-like, golden yellow flowers with black centers cover the dark green foliage. Tolerates heat, humidity, and clay soil.

UP TO 26” TALL, 24” WIDE

FULL SUN

ZONES 3-9 | #07101

Standing Ovation Little Bluestem

Sturdy stems of vibrant blue-green have hints of green, pink, and purple. Color softens in late summer, turning fiery red and orange in fall. Showy silver plumes provide forage for birds through winter.

UP TO 4’ TALL, 2’ WIDE

FULL SUN

ZONES 3-8 | #43133

Overdam Feather Reed Grass

Beautiful yellow-margined foliage with red-brown, feathery summer plumes that turn a rich gold color in fall. Sterile seeds do not produce unwanted seedlings but still offer food for birds. Thrives in sunny, dry northern climates.

UP TO 2’ TALL AND WIDE; BLOOM

STALKS REACH 6’ TALL

FULL SUN

ZONES 4-9 | #01407

JeanGenie™ Colorado Blue Spruce

The beauty of a classic Colorado Blue Spruce on a slower-growing plant, perfect for smaller landscapes. A handsome pyramidal form with a denser growth habit and brighter blue needles. Offers fantastic year-round shelter for birds.

SLOW GROWS UP TO 15’ TALL, 8’ WIDE

PARTIAL TO FULL SUN ZONES 2-8 | #05271

Brilliant Red Chokeberry

An improved, compact selection noted for its brilliant red fall foliage and larger, more abundant glossy red fruit. The tart and bitter fruit is a favorite for birds, and is good for jams and jellies.

UP TO 8’ TALL AND WIDE

FILTERED TO FULL SUN ZONES 4-9 | #00307

Eichholz Cotoneaster

A very low-growing, wide-spreading groundcover with showy red berries that form in summer and offer nutrition for birds through the winter. Glossy leaves provide rich autumn color as they turn to gold to orange-red.

UP TO 1’ TALL, SPREADING TO 10’ WIDE

PARTIAL TO FULL SUN ZONES 5-8 | #02910

More Bird-Friendly Plant Options

BIRDING GARDEN TIPS

A couple of clean, well-maintained bird feeders are ok, but insects, seeds, and fruit should be the focus of a bird-friendly garden.

Allow your yard to be “insect friendly”; avoid pesticides as much as possible and learn to tolerate some insect damage on plants. Strive for seasonal and structural diversity with evergreens for yearround shelter, and varying sizes of plants and shrubs.

Allow plants to go to seed and leave the seedheads standing through winter to provide nutrition for birds like goldfinches.

Provide a source of water that is cleaned and filled often.

“ Learn to accept predators in your yard ... they are signs your yard is thriving enough to support a healthy food web! ”

KEVIN MUNROE, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

Birding Weekend Project Plan

Little Goldstar Black-Eyed Susan

A favorite for any habitat-friendly landscape, with a compact habit and bright, golden-yellow, daisy-like flowers. Offers carefree color for sunny borders, rock gardens, or containers. Thrives in heat and humidity.

UP TO 2’ TALL AND 18’ WIDE

FULL SUN

ZONES 4-8 | #01863

Blonde Ambition Blue

Cold hardy and rugged, this native grass showcases blue-green foliage and stunning golden seed heads that endure through winter. It adds cool-season interest and offers winter forage for birds.

UP TO 3’ TALL AND WIDE

PARTIAL TO FULL SUN

ZONES 4-9 | #06779

Darkstar® Purple Leaf

Sand Cherry

A compact, improved sand cherry with dense branching and red-purple foliage that lasts all summer. White-pink flowers bloom in spring and turn to berries in late summer, attracting birds.

UP TO 5’ TALL AND 4’ WIDE

PARTIAL TO FULL SUN

ZONES 3-9 | #42328

Kismet® White Coneflower

With abundant white blooms, this low-maintenance perennial draws pollinators and songbirds with early and continuous flowering until the first frost. Each long-lasting flower graces your garden for weeks.

UP TO 18’ TALL AND WIDE FULL SUN

ZONES 4-9 | #44958

Bees and Butterflies Garden

“ Find some part of the garden or yard where there is a permanent area tucked away where you can have an organic layer into which all sorts of insects can nest, overwinter, and find shelter. This is great for birds, too! ”

NO MATTER HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN GARDENING , the activity of pollinators in your garden can be a source of new joy, enthusiasm and curiosity every season. There’s really nothing like a pollinator-friendly garden to remind you of the positive impact you can make, even in a small space. When you see bees and butterflies visiting your flowers, you know you’re doing a great job!

Bees and Butterflies Landscape Plan

A spectacular summer show of slender, dark lavender to reddish purple flower spikes accented by gray-green foliage. A useful dwarf form with nectar-rich flowers that have a light, pleasant fragrance.

UP TO 5’ TALL AND WIDE

PARTIAL TO FULL SUN

ZONES 5-9 | #01377

Northwind Switch Grass

A compact, clumping grass with excellent vertical form. Olive to blue-green foliage turns golden yellow in autumn. Airy flower panicles produce showy seed heads, and sturdy stems stay upright, giving protection to wintering songbirds.

6’ TALL, 3’ WIDE

PARTIAL TO FULL SUN

ZONES 4-9 | #02296

A neat, compact bluebeard with unique, fragrant, and shiny yellow foliage that adds a warm glow to the landscape. An abundance of deep-blue flower spikes offers nectar and pollen in summer and early fall.

UP TO 36” TALL, 30” WIDE

FULL SUN

ZONE 5-9 | #40981

Vibrant flowers on upright stems wave enthusiastically above a compact mound of green foliage. A profusion of gold-tipped, brick-red flowers full of pollen for bees from late summer into fall, often until first frost.

UP TO 15” TALL, 18” WIDE

FULL SUN

ZONES 3-9 | #43122

Prairifire Crabapple

An outstanding early flowering tree with an upright form that becomes rounded with age. Reddish new foliage matures to a dark green. Lovely deep pink spring flowers produce persistent, small, dark red-purple fruit.

UP TO 20’ TALL AND WIDE

FULL SUN

ZONES 4-8 | #06114

Gay Butterflies Milkweed

A brilliantly colored, easy-care, and well-behaved milkweed with fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow in summer. Tolerant of lean, unimproved soils, and perfect for naturalized areas, meadows, and borders.

UP TO 3’ TALL, 2’ WIDE

FULL SUN

ZONES 4-11 | #02828

Grape Crush New England Aster

Deep purple flowers are densely packed on a nicely rounded mound. A fantastic way to keep your garden blooming beyond summer, providing continuing bright color and a nectar source for butterflies. Photo by Walter’s Gardens.

UP TO 2’ TALL, 3’ WIDE

FULL SUN ZONES 3-8 | #45141

More Pollinator-Friendly Plant Options

SunSparkler® Firecracker Sedum

Brilliant burgundy-red sedum clusters all season long with soft pink flowers in late summer. Perfect in shallow containers, in front of taller plants, or tucked into pathways.

UP TO 8” TALL AND WIDE

FULL SUN

ZONES 4-10 | #41272

BEES AND BUTTERFLIES GARDEN TIPS

Avoid pesticides as much as possible, and if pest control is necessary, always start with the gentlest, most targeted approach.

Remember that a healthy insect population is full of beneficial insects that will naturally keep pests in check.

Plant the same pollinator-friendly plant in masses of at least 3’x3’. This makes them easier to find and more efficient to forage for pollinators.

Find a balance between tidying up the garden and leaving some potential nesting structures for insects.

Have something in bloom from spring through fall to provide nectar and pollen for as long as possible.

“ By having an insect-friendly garden, you’re setting the foundation for so much more life to come. ”

MACE VAUGHAN, THE XERCES SOCIETY

Bees and Butterflies Weekend Project Plan

Shenandoah Switch Grass

Ideal for mass background plantings and prized for its unmatched foliage color, this grass features fast-growing green leaves with red tips in spring, darkening through summer, and turning burgundy in fall.

UP TO 4’ TALL AND 3’ WIDE

PARTIAL TO FULL SUN

ZONES 4-9 | #06388

Kismet® Raspberry Coneflower

A vibrant and low-maintenance coneflower with abundant raspberry-pink flowers that bloom until first frost. Each flower lasts for weeks with attractive color.

UP TO 18” TALL AND 24” WIDE

FULL SUN ZONES 4-8 | #44954

Teenie Genie® Compact Lantana

Compact and dense, this shrub requires no pruning and is perfect as an annual in containers or borders. It dazzles with continuous, multi-colored flowers that attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

UP TO 30” TALL AND WIDE

FULL SUN ZONES 9-11, OR GROW AS ANNUAL #02446

John Creech Stonecrop

A durable groundcover with small, scalloped green leaves that suppress weeds, making it perfect for tucking between pavers and pathway edges. Delicate pink flowers offer late-season nectar for bees. Foliage turns burgundy in cool temps.

UP TO 2” TALL AND 12” WIDE

PARTIAL TO FULL SUN

ZONES 3-9 | #01182

AT MONROVIA, we recognize the integral role that pollinators and beneficial insects play in plant and environmental health. We grow thousands of plants that support pollinators, and we work with experts like the Xerces Society to develop and improve our pollinator-friendly growing methods.

Representatives at The Xerces Society and The Nature Conservancy were consulted in the making of this book, and we recommend checking their websites for more detailed information about how we can all be better stewards of the little ecosystem in our backyards.

GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GARDENING FOR POLLINATORS AND BIRDS HERE:

pollinator.org/guides

pollinator.org/gardencards

xerces.org/bring-back-the-pollinators

xerces.org/pollinator-resource-center

xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/habitat-assessment-guides

audubon.org

nature.org