Sow What? Natives vs. Introduced Plant Use for Pollinator Conservation

April 2017 

Project Apis m.’s primary mission has been to fund and direct research to help honey bees, but as we expand our forage programs, including Seeds for Bees in California and The Bee and Butterfly Fund in the Upper Midwest, there is a whole new body of interests to understand. The recent campaign from General Mills, where Buzz the honey bee disappeared from the Cheerios box, has gotten a lot of attention--both praise and criticism. Not only did they quickly ‘sell out’ of all the free seed packets that were offered, but there was equally swift backlash criticizing the effort for the seeds chosen. As we engage to replace critical habitat which has been lost for honey bees, below the surface of that good deed are interests that may seem at odds, and may confuse most audiences seeking to help the situation. As I discussed this issue with the Director of Habitat Partnerships from Pheasants Forever, Pete Berthelsen, he provided the following explanation from his years of service building habitat: 
 
The use of “Invasive” or “Introduced” plants in seeding mixtures to benefit pollinators has been a hot topic the past month or so.  This is an interesting and important discussion and it’s exciting to see the enthusiasm around the topic of planting pollinator habitat. But like most complicated issues, there are many aspects to this story that we need to consider carefully.  Here are five points to consider when deciding whether “introduced” plants are friend or foe.

(Pete Berthelson, Director of Habitat Partnerships
from Pheasants Forever)
 
Just like the ‘Flow Hive’ generated lots and lots of media attention, dollars raised, Facebook posts, enthusiasm, etc., it was a far more complicated issue than the message on the surface would have the public believe.  The issue of introduced plants vs. native plants is just as complicated.  Here are a few points that need to be understood and considered about Introduced plants in pollinator plantings:

1. Not all Introduced plants are all bad.  If you were to remove all introduced species from a pollinator planting, you would also remove the most important plants for honey bees (sweet clover and many other introduced clovers).  Recent research conducted by USGS in the Dakotas has identified introduced clovers as the most important plants on the landscape for honey bees.
2. Even if bees love them, not all introduced plants are good for the landscape.  Introduced plants like sweet clover can become invasive in areas with moderate to generous rainfall (about 32” of annual rainfall or more).  That’s why species like sweet clover are not included our Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund NextGen Habitat Project seed mixtures east of the Dakotas and Nebraska.  When designing pollinator seed mixtures, you must take the time to consider where and how each of the species- native or introduced- will function on the landscape, and in the mixture.  If they have a tendency to become ‘invasive’, they are likely to outcompete the other species in the mixture.
3. There is a “Natives First” movement out there.  There are states where there is a strong movement to use only native species in their conservation/pollinator plantings.  This effort can usually be traced back to conservation programs that used introduced species in their past program seed mixes, like Fescue, smooth brome, etc., which were generally detrimental to wildlife and pollinators. The backlash solution is often to recommend the use of only native species in conservation programs going forward, assuming all non-natives are similarly detrimental.
4. Introduced and native can live and work well together.  When Conservation/pollinator program seed mixtures are designed properly, there is a role for both native and introduced species to perform well in mixtures.  This is especially important where pollinator habitat is concerned.  If we allow people to repeat the message that “All Introduced species are bad”, we will be removing one of the most valuable tools in the toolbox for pollinators……especially honey bees.
5. Introduced plants can fill important roles.  The use of the correct combination and rate of introduced species alongside native species can provide important benefits in other areas like: cost-effective seed mixtures, habitat that establishes quicker and easier, providing significant pollinator benefits within just a few months, and a habitat planting that is better able to compete with weeds.

 
The bottom line is that this is a complex topic without a simple answer or response.  We need to be thoughtful and careful about how this message is relayed to the public that is enthusiastically wanting to help the bees and butterflies! I hope these five points will help inform habitat enthusiasts as they encounter these debates.  
 
By Danielle Downey with Pete Berthelsen