green fly pollinating white flowers
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Fly Gardens

Class: Insecta, Order: Diptera

Flies are the second most important pollinator after bees

a hoverfly, that looks a lot like a bee, eating from a daisy flower

Flies can be distinguished from other insects by their one pair of wings. Other pollinating insects have two pairs. Although some flies are near perfect bee mimics, most do not have specialized pollen-carrying hairs like bees and are therefore generally thought to be less efficient pollinators by comparison. However, their importance as pollinators should not be underestimated. In fact, flies are the second most important pollinator after bees. Flies are especially important in alpine and subarctic environments where there are far fewer bees. Gardeners will be amazed by the diversity of fly species that can be found in their backyard!

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Plants For Flies

False Aster

Boltonia asteroides

Floral Phenology

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Type Biennial

Sun

Partial Sun IconPart Sun
Full Sun IconFull Sun

Water

Moderate Water IconMoist

Size 3'-6' tall, 2'-4' spread

Soil AlkalineNeutralSlightly AcidicAcidic

Tolerances Clay

New Jersey Tea

Ceanothus americanus

Floral Phenology

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Type Deciduous Shrub

Sun

Partial Sun IconPart Sun
Full Sun IconFull Sun

Water

Low Water IconDry
Moderate Water IconMoist

Size 3'-4' tall, 3'-5' spread

Soil NeutralSlightly AcidicAcidic

Tolerances Drought

Virgin’s Bower

Clematis virginiana

Floral Phenology

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Type Perennial Woody Vine

Sun

Partial Sun IconPart Sun
Full Sun IconFull Sun

Water

Moderate Water IconMoist
High Water IconWet

Size 10'-20' tall, 3'-6' spread

Soil AlkalineNeutralSlightly AcidicAcidic

Tolerances Deer

Rattlesnake Master

Eryngium yuccifolium

Floral Phenology

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Type Herbaceous Perennial

Sun

Full Sun IconFull Sun

Water

Low Water IconDry
Moderate Water IconMoist

Size 2'-5' tall, 2'-3' spread

Soil AlkalineNeutralSlightly AcidicAcidic

Tolerances DroughtErosion

Common Cow Parsnip

Heracleum maximum

Artist watercolor of a cow parsnip flower - delicate white blooms

Floral Phenology

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Type Herbaceous Perennial

Sun

Partial Sun IconPart Sun

Water

High Water IconWet

Size 3'-5' tall, 2'-3' spread

Soil AlkalineNeutralAcidic

Tolerances Clay

Black Cherry

Prunus serotina

Floral Phenology

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Type Deciduous Tree

Sun

Partial Sun IconPart Sun
Full Sun IconFull Sun

Water

Moderate Water IconMoist

Size 50'-80' tall, 40' spread

Soil NeutralSlightly AcidicAcidic

Tolerances Shade

Clustered Mountainmint

Pycnanthemum muticum

clustered mountain mint watercolor

Floral Phenology

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Type Biennial

Sun

Partial Sun IconPart Sun
Full Sun IconFull Sun

Water

Low Water IconDry
Moderate Water IconMoist

Size 2'-3' tall, 3'-4' spread

Soil NeutralAcidic

Tolerances DroughtErosion

Smooth Sumac

Rhus glabra

Floral Phenology

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Type Deciduous Shrub

Sun

Partial Sun IconPart Sun
Full Sun IconFull Sun

Water

Low Water IconDry
Moderate Water IconMoist

Size 9'-15' tall, 9'-15' spread

Soil AlkalineNeutralSlightly AcidicAcidic

Tolerances DroughtErosion

Brown Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia triloba

Floral Phenology

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Type Herbaceous Perennial

Sun

Partial Sun IconPart Sun
Full Sun IconFull Sun

Water

Low Water IconDry
Moderate Water IconMoist

Size 1'-5' tall, 1'-2' spread

Soil NeutralSlightly AcidicAcidic

Tolerances Drought

Black Willow

Salix nigra

Floral Phenology

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Type Deciduous Tree

Sun

Partial Sun IconPart Sun
Full Sun IconFull Sun

Water

Moderate Water IconMoist
High Water IconWet

Size 30'-60' tall, 40' spread

Soil NeutralSlightly AcidicAcidic

Tolerances Erosion

Sassafras

Sassafras albidum

Floral Phenology

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Type Deciduous Tree

Sun

Partial Sun IconPart Sun
Full Sun IconFull Sun

Water

Moderate Water IconMoist

Size 30'-50' tall, 30' spread

Soil NeutralSlightly AcidicAcidic

Tolerances DeerDrought

Frost Aster

Symphyotrichum pilosum

Artist watercolor of frost aster flower

Floral Phenology

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Type Herbaceous Perennial

Sun

Full Sun IconFull Sun

Water

Low Water IconDry
Moderate Water IconMoist

Size 3'-5' tall, 2'-4' spread

Soil NeutralAcidic

Tolerances DroughtErosionFrost