Wild Strawberry
(Fragaria virginiana)
| Bloom Time: | Spring |
| Wildlife Value: | Nectar and pollen for many native bees and other pollinators. Host plant for numerous butterfly and moth larvae. Fruits very popular with wildlife and people! |
| Notes: | Essential native plant for a flowering "pollinator lawn", it can even be mowed! |
Small White American Aster
(Symphyotrichum racemosum)
| Bloom Time: | Late Summer into Fall |
| Wildlife Value: | Nectar and pollen for a multitude of pollinators. Host plant for many lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species. Seeds are fall and winter forage for songbirds. |
| Notes: | This aster is covered in sprays of tiny white flowers. |
Northeastern Beardtongue
(Penstemon hirsutus)
| Bloom Time: | Spring |
| Wildlife Value: | Flower nectar for at-risk bumble bees and ruby-throat hummingbirds. Host plant for Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly larvae. |
| Notes: | We will be trialling this plant in very dry soil at Leicester Library |
Orange Butterfly Milkweed
(Asclepias tuberosa)
| Bloom Time: | Early to Mid Summer |
| Wildlife Value: | Nectar source for a diversity of bees and butterflies, including at-risk Yellow-banded Bumble bee (Bombus terricola) and Half-black Bumble bee (B. vagans). Milkweed is the essential host plant for Monarch butterfly caterpillars and a host of other milkweed specialist insects. |
| Notes: | This milkweed grows in sandy, well-draining soils |
Nodding Onion
(Allium cernuum)
| Bloom Time: | Late Summer |
| Wildlife Value: | Pink-white flowers provide nectar to butterflies, moths, native bees and beneficial predatory wasps. |
| Notes: | A late-blooming Allium native to NY State south and west |
Stiff Aster
(Ionactis linariifolius)
| Bloom Time: | Late Summer into Fall |
| Wildlife Value: | Nectar and pollen for a multitude of pollinators. Seeds are fall and winter forage for songbirds. |
| Notes: | A short aster for rock gardens and barren soils. |
Birds-foot Violet
(Viola pedata)
| Bloom Time: | Spring |
| Wildlife Value: | Violets are the sole host plant for Fritillary butterfly caterpillars. |
| Notes: | Named for the deeply-lobed leaves resembling a bird's foot, this violet grows in dry, sandy, well-drained soils where little else thrives. Ballistic (explosive) seed dispersal sends seeds 16' in every direction. |
September 2025 - CGLT has begun planting the Native Plant Pollinator Pathway on the front lawn of Leicester Library! We chose this site because of its high visibility to traffic, pedestrians, and library visitors.
Orange Coneflower
(Rudbeckia fulgida)
| Bloom Time: | Summer to Fall |
| Wildlife Value: | Large yellow flowers provide nectar to butterflies and other pollinators. Seeds are winter forage for birds. A host plant for Silvery Checkerspot butterfly and Wavy-lined Emerald moth larvae. |
| Notes: | A midwest native that we include in our Massachusetts pollinator gardens for its. bright and showy blooms in late summer. |
Bluets, Quaker Ladies
(Houstonia caerulea)
| Bloom Time: | Spring |
| Wildlife Value: | Flower nectar for tiny native bees and pollinators. |
| Notes: | Essential native plant for a flowering "pollinator lawn" |
Gayfeather, Sessile-headed Blazing Star
(Liatris spicata)
| Bloom Time: | Summer |
| Wildlife Value: | Tiny purple stalkless (sessile) flowers on spikes provide nectar for a diversity of small bees, butterflies, beneficial insects and hummingbirds. The seeds are loved by songbirds. |
| Notes: | Massachusetts is slightly north and east of this plant's native range, but it is popular in New England for its showy flowers and its value to birds and pollinators. |
New England Blazing Star
(Liatris scariosa var novae angliae)
| Bloom Time: | Summer |
| Wildlife Value: | Tiny purple flowers on stalked "buttons" that alternate up the spikes provide nectar for a diversity of small bees, butterflies, beneficial insects and hummingbirds. The seeds are loved by songbirds. |
| Notes: | New England's only native blazing-star, growing in dry, sandy or disturbed soils. A rare and protected plant in Massachusetts. |
Eastern White (Pale) Beardtongue
(Penstemon pallidus)
| Bloom Time: | Spring |
| Wildlife Value: | Tubular flowers supply nectar to at-risk bumble bees and ruby-throat hummingbirds. Host plant for Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly larvae. |
| Notes: | Grows in very dry soil |
Lowbush Blueberry
(Vaccinium angustifolium)
| Bloom Time: | Spring |
| Wildlife Value: | Flower nectar for at-risk bumble bees and other pollinators. Important host plant for hundreds of herbivorous insects. Fruits are a "Super Food" for people and wildlife. |
| Notes: | Beautiful red fall color when grown in sun |
Red Columbine, Rock-bells
(Aquilegia canadensis)
| Bloom Time: | Spring |
| Wildlife Value: | Flower nectar for ruby-throat hummingbirds. Host plant for Columbine Duskywing butterfly larvae. |
| Notes: | The tubular Red Columbine flowers are almost guaranteed to attract ruby-throat hummingbirds! |
Winterberry Holly
(Ilex verticillata)
| Bloom Time: | Spring |
| Wildlife Value: | Nectar and pollen for bumble bees. Fruits are a winter food source for birds. |
| Notes: | A deciduous holly. Hollies need a separate male plant nearby for berries to form on female plants. |
Bearberry, Kinnikinnick
(Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)
| Bloom Time: | Early Spring |
| Wildlife Value: | Flower nectar for native bees. Host plant for Hoary Elfin, Brown Elfin butterfly larvae and 12 other lepidoptera species. Fruits are eaten by birds and mammals. |
| Notes: | Evergreen groundcover for sandy, well-draining soil |
Field Pussytoes
(Antennaria neglecta)
| Bloom Time: | Spring |
| Wildlife Value: | Flower nectar for native bees and pollinating flies. Host plant for American and Painted Lady butterfly larvae. |
| Notes: | Groundcover with adorable tufted flowers that look like tiny cat's paws |
Purple Wood Aster
(Eurybia spectabilis)
| Bloom Time: | Late Summer into Fall |
| Wildlife Value: | Large flowers provide nectar and pollen for a multitude of pollinators. Host plant for many lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species. |
| Notes: | A short native aster for dry, sandy soils. |
Northern Bush-honeysuckle
(Diervilla lonicera)
| Bloom Time: | Summer |
| Wildlife Value: | Small yellow flowers provide nectar to at-risk Half-black Bumble Bees (Bombus vagans) and hummingbirds. Seeds are winter forage for birds. |
| Notes: | A small (3') native shrub with beautiful fall foliage color when grown in full sun. |
Three-toothed Cinquefoil
(Sibbaldiopsis tridentata)
| Bloom Time: | Late Spring, Early Summer |
| Wildlife Value: | Nectar for a diversity of small bees and butterflies. A host plant for herbivorous rose-family specialist insects. |
| Notes: | Evergreen groundcover in the Rose family, growing in dry, gravelly or sandy soils and rock outcrops. Foliage turns deep red in the fall. |
Downy Goldenrod
(Solidago puberula)
| Bloom Time: | Late Summer into Fall |
| Wildlife Value: | Nectar and pollen for a multitude of pollinators. Host plant for many lepidoptera (butterfly and moth) species. Seeds are fall and winter forage for songbirds. |
| Notes: | A well-behaved goldenrod that does not overtake surrounding plants! Goldenrod does NOT cause hay fever, its pollen is not airborne. Ragweed is the cause of fall allergies, not goldenrod. |
Mountain Mint
(Pycnanthemum muticum)
| Bloom Time: | Summer to Fall |
| Wildlife Value: | White flowers provide nectar for a diversity of bees, butterflies and beneficial insects. Host plant for tiny Mint Moth caterpillars. |
| Notes: | A robust native mint with a long bloom time. |
Wild Blue Lupine
(Lupinus perennis)
| Bloom Time: | Late Spring |
| Wildlife Value: | Sole host plant for endangered Karner Blue butterfly larvae, and Frosted Elfin butterfly larvae. Flowers have no nectar, but are pollinated by bumble bees who can pry open the flowers. |
| Notes: | This native grows in sandy, well-draining soils and is rarely found due to the invasive western native Bigleaf Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus) which is planted all over New England as an ornamental. Do not plant the native lupine if you have bigleaf lupines nearby, they can cross-pollinate and resulting crosses cannot be used by the Karner Blue. |
Spotted Bee-balm, Horsemint
(Monarda punctata)
| Bloom Time: | Late Summer to Fall |
| Wildlife Value: | Unique tiered flowers are popular with native bees and the docile Blue Mud Dauber wasp and Great Black wasp. |
| Notes: |
Purple Lovegrass
(Eragrostis spectabilis)
| Bloom Time: | Late Summer |
| Wildlife Value: | Host plant for small butterfly species. Seeds are foraged by birds. |
| Notes: | A native grass that thrives in the poorest soils. Look for the purple haze of the inflorescenses (flowers) along roadsides in late summer. |
The soil in front of Leicester Library is very lean, acidic and dry, and very difficult for plants to grow. Instead of trying to amend the soil to accommodate more plants, we are planting northeast native (indigenous) plants that will happily grow in dry, barren locations without needing to be watered! Our plant selection includes native plants that hold special value for pollinating insects suffering precipitous population declines in Massachusetts! (Sourced from Native Plants Preferred by Imperiled Bee and Butterfly species)
We hope our pollinator garden will inspire and invigorate others to plant attractive native New England plants that thrive in poor soil, while supporting at-risk wildlife species at the same time.
Here are the native plants being planted in front of Leicester Library, and the forms of wildlife that they support!
Moss Phlox (Phlox subulata)
| Bloom Time: | Spring |
| Wildlife Value: | Flower nectar for butterflies |
| Notes: | Evergreen groundcover that is native just west of New England |
Shrubby St. Johnswort
(Hypericum prolificum)
| Bloom Time: | Summer to Fall |
| Wildlife Value: | Bright yellow pom-pom flowers provide pollen to at-risk Half-black Bumble bees (Bombus vagans) and Yellow-banded Bumble bees (B. terricolor). Seeds are winter forage for birds. |
| Notes: | Native shrub growing to 3-4' maximum |
Leicester Library Pollinator Pathway
PO Box 400, Leicester, MA 01524 Email: info@commongroundlt.org Tel: 774-371-0156