Opportunity to Join Nativars Research Project
We know that native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators have a preference for native wildflowers and trees. So one of the questions many in the garden business get is about cultivated varieties of native plants, sometimes called “nativars.”
Do nativars provide the same resources for pollinators as their wild cousins?
Nativars can be different from their native parents in flower color and scent, the shape or number of flowers and petals, phenology, foliage color, and more. Since color, scent, timing, and size of flowers are very important to pollinators, it is easy to imagine that nativars might be more, or less, attractive to pollinators than the wild (native) species. They may even attract a different group of pollinators all together.
Scientists need your help to answer this important question.
You can participate in this citizen science project through Chicago Botanic Garden’s “BudBurst” portal. They are asking participants to plant certain nativars, watch plants until they come into bloom, then complete weekly 10 minute observations while flowers are blooming and record the number and type of pollinators that visit.