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Q: Which plants are being grown in the Pollinator Pathway Gardens?
A: Each garden is planted a little differently, depending on its size, location, and sun exposure. All the new Pollinator Pathway Gardens, and the existing garden at the Arivaca Dancehall, have been planted only with Southern AZ natives that are known to be an especially beneficial source of nectar for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, and/or beneficial food source for caterpillars. The existing garden at the Arivaca Library has been planted with a mix of Southern AZ natives as well as non-native ornamental plants, many of which also attract and nuture pollinators. The full plant lists for each garden are listed below!
Important Notes:
All the gardens contain one or more species of Asclepias (Milkweed) in order to provide food for migrating adult Monarchs and their caterpillars.
All the gardens contain Conoclinium greggii (Gregg's Mistflower) because of its intense attraction for all butterflies in our region.
Cosmos, Nasturtiums, Zinnias, Marigolds, or other pollinator-friendly annuals have been planted here and there in some gardens as "temporary fillers" between the shrubs and perennials while the plants become established.
Q: Where have the Pollinator Pathway Project plants come from?
A: The majority of plants have been purchased from Arivaca's former local nursery, Whorled Leaf Nursery. We are also grateful to have received a large donation of Gregg's Mistflower plants from Desert Meadows Garden in Green Valley AZ, and donations from several Arivaca home gardeners.
Below are alphabetical plant lists for each garden, with each plant's Botanical Name followed by its (Common Name).
Arivaca Sonz Hardware Store: a full sun location, planted in May 2023
Asclepias angustifolia (Arizona Milkweed)
Conoclinium greggii (Gregg's Mistflower)
Glandularia gooddingii (Gooding's Verbena)
Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot Daisy)
Penstemon parryi (Parry's penstemon)
Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage)
La Gitana Cantina: a partly sunny location, planted in May 2023
Asclepias angustifolia (Arizona Milkweed)
Conoclinium greggii (Gregg's Mistflower)
Glandularia gooddingii (Gooding's Verbena)
Lonicera ssp. (Honeysuckle)
Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot Daisy)
Penstemon parryi (Parry's penstemon)
Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage)
Sedum rupestre 'Blue Spruce' (Sedum reflexum)
Arivaca Mercantile: a mostly sunny location, planted in June 2023
Asclepias angustifolia (Arizona Milkweed)
Conoclinium greggii (Gregg's Mistflower)
Lonicera ssp. (Honeysuckle)
Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot Daisy)
Penstemon parryi (Parry's penstemon)
Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage)
Zauschneria (Hummingbird's Trumpet)
La Esquiñita de Arivaca: a full sun location, planted in November 2023
Asclepias angustifolia (Arizona Milkweed)
Conoclinium greggii (Gregg's Mistflower)
Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot Daisy)
Penstemon etonii (Firecracker Penstemon)
Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage)
A Gathering Space: a full sun location with reflected heat from the building's south wall, planted in November 2023
Asclepias angustifolia (Arizona Milkweed)
Baileya multiradiata (Desert Marigold)
Conoclinium greggii (Gregg's Mistflower)
Penstemon etonii (Firecracker Penstemon)
Tagetes lemmonii (Mt. Lemmon Marigold)
(This garden also has a large, existing stand of Lantana that has overwintered well because of the reflected heat, and is a great pollinator plant)
The Arivaca Dancehall gardens: a mostly-sunny courtyard, and a full sun area with reflected heat from the building's south wall, half planted in 2021 and half planted in 2024
For the full list of plants growing throughout the in-ground gardens at the dancehall, including the beautiful Salvia leucanthea 'Santa Barbara' (Mexican Bush Sage) pictured above, visit the ArivacaDancehall.com website and click on the Pollinator Pathway Gardens menu tab.
The Arivaca Schoolhouse garden: a full-sun location, planted in August 2024
Asclepias verticillata (Horsetail Milkweed)
Melampodium leucanthum (Blackfoot Daisy)
Penstemon paryii (Parry's Penstemon)
Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage)
Conoclinium greggii (Gregg's Mistflower)
Thymophylla acerosa (Prickly Leaf Dogweed)
The Arivaca Human Resource garden: a mostly sunny location, planted in October 2024
Asclepias angustifolia (Arizona Milkweed)
Penstemon paryii (Parry's Penstemon)
Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage)
Conoclinium greggii (Gregg's Mistflower)
Glandularia gooddingii (Gooding's Verbena)
The Marian's Market garden: a mostly-sunny location, planted in October 2024
Asclepias angustifolia (Arizona Milkweed)
Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage)
Conoclinium greggii (Gregg's Mistflower)
Achillea (Yarrow)
Coneflower (Echinacea)
The Arivaca Community Center garden: a location with mostly-sun and some part-shade areas, planted in May 2024
Asclepias angustifolia (Arizona Milkweed)
Conoclinium greggii (Gregg's Mistflower)
Golden Echinacea (Coneflower)
Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage)
Erythrostemon gilliesii (Arizona Bird-of-Paradise)
Aloysia gratissima (Bee Brush)
Oenothera speciosa (Mexican primrose)
The Arivaca Early Learning Center garden (at the Action Center): a full sun location with reflected heat, planted in October 2024
Asclepias angustifolia (Arizona Milkweed)
Conoclinium greggii (Gregg's Mistflower)
Echinacea (Coneflower)
Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage)
Gaillardia (Blanket Flower)
Achillea (Yarrow)
The Arivaca Library garden: a tree-filled location with mostly-shade and some part-sun areas, planted in the early 2000's and enhanced in 2023
Agastache
Agave americana (Century Plant)
Aloysia gratissima (Bee Brush)
Asclepias angustifolia (Arizona Milkweed)
Bearded Iris
Cercis canadensis (Eastern Redbud)
Chilopsis linereus (Desert willow)
Conoclinium greggii (Gregg's Mistflower)
Dasylirion wheeleri (Desert Spoon)
Erigeron divergens (Spreading Fleabane)
Melissa officianalis (Lemon Balm)
Mentha (Mint)
Oenothera speciosa (Mexican Evening Primrose)
Penstemon parryi (Parry's penstemon)
Perovskia atriplicifolia (Russian Sage)
Platycodon grandiflorus (Chinese Bellflower)
Prosopis velutina (Velvet Mesquite)
Ratibida columnifera (Mexican Hat)
Rhaphiolepsis indica (Indian Hawthorne)
Rhus aromatica (Fragrant Sumac)
Rivinia humilis (Bloodberry)
Rosemarinus officianalis (Rosemary)
Salvia greggii (Autumn Sage)
Sophora secundiflora (Texas Mountain Laurel)
Verbena tenuisecta (Moss verbena)
Vitex Agnes-castes (Chaste Tree)
If you are planning a brand new pollinator-friendly garden, or want to enhance your existing garden, here are some tips from DCNatives.org that apply to all climates (with notes from the Arivaca Pollinator Pathway Project coordinator in parenthesis)
Location
Light: Gardens need at least six hours of sun per day (Dappled sun is A-OK here in the desert)
Water: A water source is absolutely necessary. Your hose (or drip irrigation system) should easily reach your garden. Watering cans may be enough for container gardens.:
Surface: Gardens can go in-ground, in a raised bed or in pots or containers. (Pots or containers should be 1ft or more in diameter for best water rentention here in the desert)
Traffic: A little distance from active play areas and pet spaces will keep your corner of beauty safe. (Protect from wildlife herbivores such as deer, rabbits, and javelina too)
Design:
Design:
Rule of 3: Plant for 3 seasons: spring, summer, and fall; aim to have 3 different species in bloom each season; and plant in groups, at least 3 of each variety. (If you have the space)
Color: Pick what you love. Some plants come in a variety of colors, so read labels carefully. Different colors attract different pollinators.
Height: Plants can range from 6″-6′ Consider the size of your space. For example: Tall plants can look great against a wall or fence; Walkways can look beautiful lined with knee-high blooms.
Season of Blooms: Nature offers plants that bloom early spring through late fall. Pair early flowers with later bloomers to have color all season.
Host and Nectar Plants: Host plants support pollinators throughout their life cycle as homes and as food. Some species need specific plants. Monarch butterflies, for example, require Asclepias (Milkweed) species for their survival as they are the only plants on which the caterpillars can feed. Other plants are beautiful and good nectar sources. With a mixture of larval host plants and nectar sources, you can attract pollinators throughout their life cycles.
Native and Non-Native Plants: While native plants are essential host and nectar plants, some non-native plants are good nectar sources. Limit the use of non-native species to 15% or less of your pollinator garden. Also, it is more beneficial for the pollinators to use straight species as often as possible rather than hybrids that are often developed for commercial sale. (All the Arivaca Pollinator Pathway Project gardens have been created with native perennial and shrub plants)
Generalist and Specialist Pollinators: Some pollinators are “generalists” and supported by many types of plants; some plants are “specialists” and provide the only source for specific pollinators. Plant for the specialists since their plants also serve generalists.
Don’t Forget the Annuals: Annual flowers need to be replanted every Spring. Perennials return year after year. Both have value to the pollinators. Some recommended annuals include zinnias, cosmos, and sunflowers. Pollinators also love herbs when they flower: Dill, Parsley, and Cilantro are common favorites.
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