Native Pollinators Around Denver

Pollinators are essential to our local ecosystem. 

They help pollinate native plants that are necessary for the production of food and other crops, thereby supporting the local wildlife. Without these vital pollinators, we wouldn’t have any of the fruits, vegetables, and flowers that we get to enjoy every single day.

There are many different types of pollinators around Denver and our luxury Denver apartments, including bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds and bats — each with its own unique role to play in the pollination process.

Native Colorado Flowers 

Before we get into the pollinators, let’s talk about the pollen. 

Pollen, of course, comes from the male part of a flower. It is a fine, powdery substance that contains the plant's male reproductive cells. When pollen reaches the female part of another flower, it fertilizes the female ovule of a flower and allows it to produce seeds — which, in turn, creates fruits and vegetables. 

Colorado is home to a wide range of native plants and flowers that attract pollinators. Here are some of the more popular ones!

• Coneflower: A tall, perennial flower with bright, daisy-like blooms.
• Black-eyed Susan: A wildflower with yellow petals and a black center.
• Aspen sunflower: A large, annual flower with bright yellow petals.
• Yarrow: An umbrella-looking herb with white, yellow, or red flowers.
• Milkweed: A perennial plant with milky sap and colorful, showy flowers.
• Columbine: A purple and white wildflower with showy, brightly colored flowers.
• Coral bells: A perennial plant with reddish bell-shaped flowers.
• Lantana: A shrub with fragrant flowers that come in a variety of colors.
• Penstemon: A perennial herb with tubular flowers.
• Salvia: A perennial herb with showy flowers and sage leaves.

Common pollinators native to Colorado

Bees

Bees are one of the most important pollinators. 

They are attracted to flowers with bright colors and sweet nectar, which they collect to bring back to their hive.. When a bee lands on a flower, it collects pollen on its body, which is then transferred to another flower when the bee visits it.

There are many different types of bees that call Colorado home, but here are some of the most common.

• Honey bees are the most familiar type of bee. They live in colonies and are known for their honey production.
• Bumblebees are larger than honey bees and have a characteristic buzzing sound when they fly.
• Solitary bees do not live in colonies, but they are still important pollinators of wildflowers.

 Some native plants that attract bees include:

• Black-eyed Susans
• Sunflower
• Yarrow
• Milkweed
• Columbine
• Bee balm
• Coneflower
• Penstemon
• Larkspur
• Purple coneflower

Butterflies

Butterflies are also important pollinators. Though they don’t rely on pollen as much as their buzzing counterparts, they do collect it on their tiny bodies as they eat nectar from colorful flowers. 

Some of the most common butterflies found in Colorado include:

• Known for their long-distance migration and their orange and black coloration, Monarch butterflies are one of the most recognizable butterflies in the world.
• Viceroy butterflies are similar in appearance to monarch butterflies, but they are smaller and have more pointed wings. They are named for their resemblance to monarchs, which they mimic in order to deter predators.
• Painted lady butterflies are small, colorful butterflies with orange, black, and white markings. They are known for their long-distance migrations, which can take them from North America to South America.

Some native plants that attract butterflies include:

• Milkweed
• Coneflower
• Black-eyed Susan
• Sunflower
• Yarrow
• Zinnia

Moths

Though we don’t see them as such, moths are also extremely important pollinators.They are attracted to flowers with strong, sweet nectar which are either very pale or white in color. The majority of moths are also active at night, so they are naturally attracted to flowers whose petals open up in the afternoon or in the evening. 

Some of the most common moths include:

• Hawk moths are large, fast-flying moths that are attracted to flowers with strong, sweet nectar.
• Silk moths are medium-sized moths that are attracted to flowers with white or pale-colored flowers.
• The cottonwood leaf roller moth is a small, grayish-brown moth with white spots. It is found in the spring and summer, and its larvae feed on cottonwood leaves.

Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds use their long, thin beaks to reach the nectar stored at the bottom of flowers. As they drink the nectar, they collect pollen on their beaks and transfer it to the next flower they visit.

• Rufous hummingbirds are the most common hummingbird in Colorado. They are a small, brightly colored bird with a green back, rufous (reddish-orange) breast, and bright red throat.
• Broad-tailed hummingbirds are slightly larger than the rufous hummingbird. They have a green back, white throat, and rufous sides.
• Calliope hummingbirds are the smallest hummingbird in Colorado. They have a green back, white throat, and rufous belly.
• Black-chinned hummingbirds are similar in appearance to the broad-tailed hummingbird, but they have a black chin.

Some native plants that attract hummingbirds include:

• Columbine
• Coral bells
• Lantana
• Penstemon
• Salvia

Bats

Bats are not as well-known as pollinators, but they also play an important role in the pollination process. In fact, over 500 species of fruits rely almost completely on bats to pollinate them! Bats are attracted to flowers with white or pale-colored flowers, since they are usually the flowers that are open in the evening and at night.

Here are some of the bats that you’re likely to see around Colorado!

• Big brown bats are the most common bat in North America. They are a medium-sized bat with brown fur and a wingspan of up to 13 inches.
• Little brown bats are another common bat in North America. They are a small bat with brown fur and a wingspan of up to 10 inches.
• Mexican free-tailed bats are a large bat with dark fur and a wingspan of up to 15 inches. They are known for their large colonies, which can number in the millions.
• Western pipistrelle are a small bat with brown fur and a wingspan of up to 8 inches. They are found in western North America, including Colorado.
• Townsend's big-eared bat is a medium-sized bat with brown fur and large ears. They are found in western North America, including Colorado.

How to Help Pollinators

Pollinators are vital to the continued existence of local ecosystems, and especially to the survival of native fauna and flora! If it weren’t for the bees, birds, butterflies, moths and bats that pollinate flowers, we wouldn’t have fruits, vegetables, flowers or nuts, not to mention entire habitats that would go out of whack altogether!

Protecting local pollinators and the flowers that they are attracted to can be done in  many ways. Supporting local parks is one of them, as is supporting conservation groups. Applying leave no trace principles while you’re out in nature keeps the flowers and plants growing where they need to, and keeping chemicals and pesticides out of water and plant sources ensures the pollinators have ample food. 

So, next time you’re out hiking in and around Denver or take a trip up to the scenic Rocky Mountain Arsenal, keep an eye out for these beautiful pollinators flitting around from flower to flower. And, if you have a windowsill or balcony at your luxury Denver apartment, then you can attract these pollinators straight to your home with an apartment garden!

Good luck!

Pin it!

Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/Schwoaze