# Biology Technical Note 01 - Habitat Development for Beneficial Insects/Appendix 2

​APPENDIX 2 - Recommended Plants for Beneficial Insect Habitat
The following list includes species which are commercially available, not known to be invasive, likely adapted to cropland settings, and that have geographic occurrences within the state. The species selected should be based on the actual site conditions, the purpose, and the plant species known establishment and growth requirements. Use the USDA PLANTS database (http://plants.usda.gov/) to further refine the selection.
CAUTION: If you select other species, use caution to ensure that they are not invasive. Many references for creating beneficial insect habitat include garden variety species that are not appropriate for farm settings.
| | | | | | Bloom Period | Bloom Period | Bloom Period |
| Plant Name | Scientific Name | Native Status1] | Duration | Flower Color | Early | Mid | Late |
| Carrot Family (Apiaceae) ||||||||
| Biscuitroot, fernleafTop Pick! | Lomatium dissectum | N | perennial | yellow | | | |
| Dill Top Pick! | Anethum graveolens | I | annual | yellow-green | | | |
| Fennel, sweet | Foeniculum vulgare | I | biennial/perennial | yellow-green | | | |
| Parsley | Petroselinum crispum | I | annual/biennial | yellow-green | | | |
| Figwort Family (Scrophulariaceae) ||||||||
| Penstemon, narrowleaf Top Pick! | Penstemon augustfolius | N | perennial | blue-purple | | | |
| Beardtongue, bluestem Top Pick! | Penstemon cyanocaulis | N | perennial | blue-purple | | | |
| Penstemon, Rocky Mountain (Bandera) Top Pick! | Penstemon strictus | N | perennial | reddish purple | | | |
| Penstemon, Rydberg's | Penstemon rydbergii | N | perennial | blue-purple | | | |
| Beardtongue, Large-flowered | Penstemon grandiflorus | N | perennial | blue-purple | | | |
| Mint Family (Lamiaceae) ||||||||
| Mint, wild Top Pick! | Mentha arvensis | N | perennial | Pink-white | | | |
| Bergamot, wild Top Pick! | Monarda fistulosa | N | perennial | Lavender-ink | | | |
| Basil, sweet | Ocimum basilicum | I | annual/perennial | white | | | |
| Catnip Top Pick! | Nepeta cataria | I | perennial | pink | | | |
| Sage, Azure Blue | Salvia azurea | N | perennial | blue | | | |
| Balm, common (lemon) | Melissa officinalis | I | perennial | white-lavendar | | | |
| Milkweed Family (Asclepiadaceae) ||||||||
| Butterfly milkweed Top Pick! | Asclepias tuberosa | N | perennial | orange | | | |
| Milkweed, showy | Asclepias speciosa | N | perennial | pink | | | |
| Legume Family (Fabaceae) ||||||||
| Leadplant Top Pick! | Amorpha canescens | N | perennial | purple-silver | | | |
| Prarie clover, white Top Pick! | Dalea candida | N | perennial | white | | | |
| Prarie clover, violet Top Pick! | Dalea purpurea | N | perennial | purple-pink | | | |
| Prarie clover, silky Top Pick! | Dalea villosa | N | perennial | white-purple | | | |
| Thermopsis, prarie | Thermopsis rhombifolia | N | perennial | yellow | | | |
| Alfalfa | Medicago sativa | I | perennial | purple | | | |
| Trefoil, bird's-foot | Lotus corniculatus | I | perennial | yellow | | | |
| Sweetclover | Melilotus officinalis | I | annual | white | | | |
| Sainfoin Top Pick! | Onobrychis viciifolia | I | perennial | pinkish red | | | |
| Clover, strawberry | Trifolium fragiferum | I | perennial | purple | | | |
| Clover, alsike | Trifolium hybridum | I | annual/perennial | white | | | |
| Clover, red | Trifolium pratense | I | biennial/perennial | pink/red |
| Clover, white | Trifolium repens | I | perennial | white |
| Milkvetch, chickpea (cicer) | Astragalus cicer | I | perennial | yellow |
| Vetch, American | Vicia Americana | N | perennial | purple |
| Daisy/Sunflower Family (Asteraceae) ||||||||
| Tickseed, lanceleaf | Coreopsis pratense | N | perennial | yellow |
| Tickseed, golden | Coreopsis tinctoria | N | annual | yellow/red band |
| Sunflower, maximillian Top Pick! | Helianthus maximiliana | N | perennial | yellow |
| Goldeneye, showy | Heliomeris multiflora | N | perennial | yellow |
| Oxeye, smooth Top Pick! | Heliopsis heliathoides | N | perennial | yellow |
| Balsamroot, arrowleaf | Balsamorhiza sagittata | N | perennial | yellow |
| Gayfeather, dotted Top Pick! | Liatris punctata | N | perennial | purple |
| Coneflower, prarie | Ratibida columnifera | N | perennial | varies: red/yellow |
| Goldenrod, Canada Top Pick! | Solidago canadensis | N | perennial | yellow |
| Goldenrod, gray Top Pick! | Solidago nemoralis | N | perennial | yellow |
| Buckwheat Family (Polygonaceae) NRCS Policy Reminder: Fagopyrum esculentum is not approved for use in any conservation planting (NB 190-16-8) ||||||||
| Buckwheat, sulfur Top Pick! | Eriogonum umbellatum | N | perennial | bright yellow |
| Buckwheat, redroot | Eriogonum racemosum | N | perennial | bright yellow |
| Buckwheat, james' | Eriogonum jamesii | N | perennial | bright yellow |
| Waterleaf Family (Hydrophyllaceae) ||||||||
| Phacelia, silky Top Pick! | Phacelia sericea | N | biennial/perennial | purple |
| Phacelia, lacy Top Pick! | Phacelia tanacetifolia | N | annual | blue |
| Phacelia, gypsum | Phacelia integrifolia | N | annual-perennial | purple |
| Phacelia, varileaf | Phacelia heterophylla | N | biennial/perennial | white |
| Cabbage Family (Brassicaceae) ||||||||
| Princesplume, desert Top Pick! | Stanleya pinnata | N | perennial | yellow |
| Bittercress, heartleaf | Cardamine cordifolia | N | perennial | white |
| Bladderpod, Fendler's | Lesquerella fendleri | N | Biennial, perennial | yellow |
| Wallflower, western | Erysimum asperum | N | Biennial, perennial | orange to yellow |
| Wallflower, Pursh's | Erysimum capitatum | N | Biennial, perennial | orange to yellow |
| Alyssum | Lobularia maritima | I | annual, perennial | white/purple |
| Casper Family (Capparaceae) ||||||||
| Beeplant, rocky mnt. Top Pick! | Cleome serrulata | N | annual | pink to purple |
| Mallow Family (Malvaceae) ||||||||
| Poppymallow, purple | Callirhoe involucrata | N | perennial | redish pink |
| Mallow Family (Malvaceae) ||||||||
| Four-wing saltbrush Top Pick! | Atriplex canescens | N | perennial | yellow |
*Potential cover crops that are good for insectory habitat. 1]I - Introduced, non-native. N - Native