NRCS – Texas

Technical Note: TX-PM-11-02

United States Department of Agriculture

Natural Resources Conservation Service

Technical Note No: TX-PM-11-02

April 2011

Pollinator Plants for North-Central and West Texas and Southwestern Oklahoma

Plant Materials Technical Note

Pollinators, such as insects, birds, bats, and other animals, are essential to our 

environment. The ecological service they provide accounts for the reproduction of 

nearly 70 percent of the world’s flowering plants, including more than two-thirds of the 

world’s crop species. Pollination by bees and other species contributes an estimated $3 

billion dollars of fruits and vegetables production, and $1.6 billion to $8.3 billion for 

agricultural crops. Crops grown throughout Texas that benefit from pollinators include: 

tomatoes, berries, alfalfa, sunflowers, fruit orchards, and vegetables. Outside of

agriculture, pollinators play a vital role in most terrestrial ecosystems. Fruits and seeds 

derived from insect pollination make up a major part of the diet for many species of 

wildlife.

Background

There is evidence that many pollinator species are on the decline due to disease, 

habitat loss, fragmentation, and deterioration. NRCS can help develop and enhance 

pollinator habitat through technical and financial assistance. Habitat development and 

enhancement can be planned and implemented adjacent to cropland fields and within 

pastureland, and rangeland. Habitat requirements of pollinators should include food, 

shelter and water, space, a place to reproduce, and materials for nesting in order to 

survive and flourish. Native plant materials can provide these needs.

The purpose of this technical note is to provide a list of plants that can be used in NorthCentral and West Texas to encourage and provide pollinator habitat. The list includes 

information on planting dates, soil conditions, MLRA information, flower color, bloom 

times, and pollinators that use particular plant species.

Purpose
NRCS 

– Texas

Technical Note: TX-PM-11-02

Zone1Zone2Zone5

Herbaceous 

Species Variety

Season

Origin

Life Span

Bloom 

Period

Flower Color

Seeding 

Rate (PLS)

Planting 

Date

Pollinator that Use This 

Plant*

70B77A77B77C77D

77E

78B78C77C78B78C78D80B81B81C

82

78C78D80A80B84B84C

85

86A

Alfalfa

CIP

April-

October

Purple 

to Pink 20

8/15-

11/1

Orange and Clouded 

Sulphur, Southern 

Dogface, and Gray 

Hairstreak

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Awnless 

Bush-

sunflower Plateau

WNP

April-

October Yellow 2.6

12/1-

6/1 Bordered Patch Butterfly

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Clover: 

arrowleaf

Meechee, 

Yuchi, 

Amico, 

Apache

CIA March

-May

White 

with 

Pinkish 

Cast 10

8/15-

11/1 Southern Dogface

XXXX

XX

Clover: ball

CIA March

-May White3

8/15-

11/1 Southern Dogface

XXXX

Clover: 

berseem Bigbee

CIA March

-May White 14

8/15-

11/1 Southern Dogface

XXXX

XX

Clover: 

crimson

Dixie, 

Tibbee, 

Chief

CIA March

-May

Scarlet 

or Deep 

Red 20

8/15-

11/1 Southern Dogface

X

X

Clover: 

persian

CIA March

-MayWhite3

8/15-

11/1 Southern Dogface

XX

Clover: red

Kenland, 

Cherokee

CIA March

-May

Red, 

Pink 15

8/15-

11/1 Southern Dogface

XXX

XX

Clover: rose

Overton 

R18

CIA March

-May

Red, 

Pink, 

White 10

8/15-

11/1 Southern Dogface

XXXXXXXXX

XX

Clover: 

subterranean

Karridale, 

Denmark, 

Clare, Nuba

CIA

January-

February White 12

8/15-

11/1 Southern Dogface

XXXXXXX

XX

Cowpea Iron, Clay

WIA

June-

August White 40

3/15-

8/15

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

XX

Dotted 

Gayfeather

WNP

August-

December Purple 10

12/1-

6/1 Butterflies

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Engelmann's 

Daisy Eldorado

WNP

April-

October

Yellow, 

Brown 15

8/15-

11/1 Butterflies

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Herbaceous 

mimosa

Crockett 

Germplasm

WNP May

-August Purple7

12/1-

6/1

X
NRCS 

– Texas

Technical Note: TX-PM-11-02

Zone1Zone2Zone5

Herbaceous 

Species Variety

Season

Origin

Life Span

Bloom 

Period

Flower Color

Seeding 

Rate (PLS)

Planting 

Date

Pollinator that Use This 

Plant*

70B77A77B77C77D

77E

78B78C77C78B78C78D80B81B81C

82

78C78D80A80B84B84C

85

86A

Illinois 

Bundleflower Sabine

WNP

May-

September White 13.6

12/1-

6/1

Northern and Southern 

Cloudywing Skipper 

Butterflies

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Leadplant

WNP June

-July Purple 4.5

12/1-

6/1 Bees and Flies

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lespedeza Kobe

WIA March

-April Pink 20

3/15-

8/15

XXX

Lespedeza Korea

WIA March

-April Pink 25

12/1-

6/1

XXX

Maximilian 

Sunflower Aztec

WNP

July-

October

Yellow, 

Brown3

12/1-

6/1

Silvery Checkerspot and 

Border Patch Butterflies

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Medic Jemalong

CIA March

-May Yellow6

8/15-

11/1

XX

XX

Medic: Black

CIA March

-May Yellow3

8/15/

11/1

XXXXXXX

Medic: Bur Armadillo

CIA March

-May Yellow3

8/15-

11/1

XXXXXXXXXXX

Orange 

zexmenia

Goliad 

Germplasm

WNP

May-

November

Orange, 

Yellow 3.4

12/1-

6/1

Borded Patch, Sierran 

Metalmark, and Lacinia 

Patch Butterfly

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Partridge 

Pea Comanche

WNA

June-

October Yellow 13.4

12/1-

6/1

Lime Sulfur, Cloudless 

Sulfur, and Sleepy Orange 

Sulfur Butterflies, little 

yellow (Eurema lisa) 

Butterflies

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Prairie 

Acacia

Plains 

Germplasm

WNP

June-

November White5

12/1-

6/1

Bee species and 

Butterflies

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Purple Prairie 

Clover

Cuero 

Germplasm

WNP

June-

September Purple3

12/1-

6/1

Southern Dogface 

Butterfly

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Showy 

Menodora

WNP

March-

October Yellow5-8

12/1-

6/1

Nectar moths and 

hummingbirds

XXXXXXXXXX

Singletary 

pea

CIA March

-May

Red to 

Blue 35

8/15-

11/1

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sunflower, 

common

WNA

July-

October Yellow5

12/1-

6/1

Bordered Patch, Gorgone 

Checkerspot, Silvery 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
NRCS – Texas

Technical Note: TX-PM-11-02

Z

o

n

e

1

Z

o

n

e

2

Z

o

n

e

5

Herbaceous 

Species Variety

Season

Origin

Life Span

Bloom 

Period

Flower Color

Seeding 

Rate (PLS)

Planting 

Date

Pollinator that Use This 

Plant*

70B77A77B77C77D

77E

78B78C77C78B78C78D80B81B81C

82

78C78D80A80B84B84C

85

86A

Checkerspot

Sunflower Perodovic W I A

JuneSeptember Yellow 1512/1-

6/1

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Sweetclover: 

White Hubam C I A March-May White 3.4

8/15-

11/15

Orange and Clouded 

Sulphur, Gray Hairstreak, 

and Reakirt's Blue

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Sweetclover: 

Yellow Madrid C I A March-May Yellow 3.4

8/15-

11/15

Orange Sulphur and 

Eastern Tailed-Blue

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Texas 

SwampmallowKerr 

Germplasm W N P

AprilNovemberPink, 

Yellow 7

12/1-

6/1 Bees and Butterflies

X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Velvet 

Bundleflower

Hondo 

Germplasm W N P April-June White 4.5

12/1-

6/1 Bees and Butterflies X X X X X X

Vetch: Hairy C I A

JanuaryFebruary Purple 208/15-

11-1

Orange Sulphur, Gray 

Hairstreak, and Eastern 

Tailed-Blue

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

White Prairie 

Clover W N P

MaySeptember White 212/1-

6/1 Nectar for Butterflies

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Witner Pea, 

Austrian C I A

White to 

Pink 35

8/15-

11/1 X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Clover: white

LA S-1, 

Osceola, 

Regal C I P White 5

8/15-

11/1

Orange and Clouded 

Sulphur, Eastern TailedBlue, , and Gray 

Hairstreak

X X X X

Clover: 

button C I A March-May Yellow 10

8/15-

11/1

X X X X
NRCS 

– Texas

Technical Note: TX-PM-11-02

Zone1Zone2Zone5

Woody 

Species 

(Variety)

Season

Origin

Life Span

Bloom Period

Flower Color

Pollinator 

that Use 

This 

Plant*

Preferred Soil 

Type 

A

Soil Texture A

Soil pH 

Range A

70A77A77B77C

77E

78B78C

42

77C78A78B78C80B81A81B81C81D82A83A83B78A78C80A80B84B84C

85

86A

YauponWNP

April-

May White

Henry's 

Elfin 

Butterfly

Moist soils, 

especially along 

coasts and in 

valleys, 

occasionally in 

sandhills

Medium -

Coarse

4.5 -

7.0

XX

Willow: 

BlackWNP

April-

May Yellow

Acadian 

Hairstreak, 

Mourning 

Cloak, and 

Viceroy 

Butterflies

Wet soils of 

banks of 

streams and 

lakes, 

especially flood 

plains

Fine -

Coarse

4.8 -

8.0

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Desert 

Willow

WNP

April-

Sept

Pink, 

Purple

Hummingb

irds and 

Butterflies. 

Larval host 

for white-

winged 

moth

Well drained 

limestone soils; 

ravines, 

streams, river 

banks, arroyos; 

Fine -

Coarse

6.0 - 9.0

XXXX

Hickory/

Pecan: 

Black

WNP Mar Red

Luna, 

Funeral 

dagger, 

Giant 

regal, and 

Banded 

Hairstreak

Dry rocky and 

sandy uplands, 

usually with 

oaks

Medium -

Coarse

4.0 -

7.4

XXX

Hickory/

Pecan: 

Bitter pecan

WNP April Yellow

Gray 

Hairstreak

Almost always 

occurs in 

wetlands

Fine -

Coarse

4.8 -

7.5

XXXXX

Hickory/

Pecan: 

Sweet 

pecanWNP May Yellow

Gray 

Hairstreak

Moist well 

drained loamy 

soils of river 

flood plains and 

valleys; in 

mixed 

Fine -

Coarse

5.0 -

7.3

XXXXX
NRCS 

– Texas

Technical Note: TX-PM-11-02

Zone1Zone2Zone5

Woody 

Species 

(Variety)

Season

Origin

Life Span

Bloom Period

Flower Color

Pollinator 

that Use 

This 

Plant*

Preferred Soil 

Type 

A

Soil Texture A

Soil pH 

Range A

70A77A77B77C

77E

78B78C

42

77C78A78B78C80B81A81B81C81D82A83A83B78A78C80A80B84B84C

85

86A

hardwood 

forests

Hickory/

Pecan: 

Black 

WalnutWNP

April-

May

Yellow

, 

Green, 

Brown

Luna and 

Regal 

Moth

Moist well 

drained soils, 

especially along 

streams; 

scattered in 

mixed forests

Medium

5.5 -

8.0

X

Hickory/

Pecan: 

Little walnutWNP

Mar-

April

White, 

Green

Banded 

Hairstreak 

Butterfly

Moist soils 

along streams 

in plains and 

foothills, and 

grasslands, and 

deserts

Fine -

Medium

5.5 -

6.9

XXXX

Littleleaf 

lead tree

(Yellowpuff 

Germplasm)WNP

April-

Oct Yellow Butterflies

Well drained, 

dry, rocky 

limestone 

based soils

Fine -

Coarse

5.0 -

8.7

XXX

Locust: 

BlackWNP

April-

June White

Hummingb

irds and 

Butterflies

Adapted to a 

wide variety of 

soil types; 

grows best on 

deep, well 

drained soils 

derived from 

limestone

Fine -

Coarse

4.6 -

8.2

XXXXXXXXX

Locust: 

HoneyWNP

April-

June White

Silver-

spotted 

Skipper, 

Bicolored 

honey 

locust 

moth, and 

Bisected 

honey 

Moist soils of 

river flood 

plains in mixed 

forests; 

occasionally on 

dry upland 

limestone hills

Medium

6.0 -

8.0

X
NRCS 

– Texas

Technical Note: TX-PM-11-02

Zone1Zone2Zone5

Woody 

Species 

(Variety)

Season

Origin

Life Span

Bloom Period

Flower Color

Pollinator 

that Use 

This 

Plant*

Preferred Soil 

Type 

A

Soil Texture A

Soil pH 

Range A

70A77A77B77C

77E

78B78C

42

77C78A78B78C80B81A81B81C81D82A83A83B78A78C80A80B84B84C

85

86A

locust 

moth

Leucaena (Popinac, 

Tepequaje)WNP

Mar-

July White

Gray 

Ministreak

Grows on a 

wide variety of 

soils but is well 

adapted to clay 

soils. Does best 

in deep, well 

drained, neutral 

to calcareous 

soils

Fine -

Coarse

5.0 -

7.5

XXXX

Dogwood: 

FloweringWNP

Mar-

July Pink

Spring 

Azure

Both moist and 

dry soils of 

valleys and 

uplands in 

understory of 

hardwood 

forests; found 

also in old fields 

and along 

roadsides

Medium

5.0 -

7.0

Dogwood: 

Roughleaf

WNP

April-

June White Butterflies

Wide range of 

sites from moist 

stream banks to 

wooded bluffs, 

and limestone 

outcrops

Fine -

Coarse

5.9 -

7.5

XXXX

Plum: 

Chickasaw

(Rainbow 

Germplasm)WNP

Feb-

May White

Bees and 

Butterflies

Moist sandy 

soils

Medium -

Coarse

5.0 -

7.5

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Plum: 

CreekWNP Mar White

Bees and 

Butterflies

Limestone 

based 

> 

7.2

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
NRCS 

– Texas

Technical Note: TX-PM-11-02

Zone1Zone2Zone5

Woody 

Species 

(Variety)

Season

Origin

Life Span

Bloom Period

Flower Color

Pollinator 

that Use 

This 

Plant*

Preferred Soil 

Type 

A

Soil Texture A

Soil pH 

Range A

70A77A77B77C

77E

78B78C

42

77C78A78B78C80B81A81B81C81D82A83A83B78A78C80A80B84B84C

85

86A

woodland soils, 

creeksides, and 

canyons

Plum: 

MexicanWNP

Feb-

April

White, 

Pink

Tiger 

Swallowtail

, Cecropia 

Moth, 

Bees

Moist soils of

valleys and dry 

uplands, 

praries, open 

areas, and oak 

forests

Fine -

Coarse

6.0 -

8.0

XXXXX

Plum: 

Oklahoma

WNP

Mar-

April White

Bees and 

Butterflies

Dry, well 

drained 

woodland sands

Coarse

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

PawpawWNP

April-

May

White, 

Yellow

, Red, 

Purple

Zebra 

Swallowtail 

and 

Pawpaw 

sphinx

Moist soils, 

especially flood 

plains; in 

understory of 

hardwood 

forests

Medium -

Coarse

5.2 -

7.2

Sumac: 

Evergreen

WNP

July-

Aug

White, 

Yellow Butterflies

Dry rocky 

hillsides, gullies, 

slopes and 

bluffs

Fine -

Coarse

5.5 -

8.0

XXXXXXXXXX

Sumac: 

Fragrant

(Konza)

WNP

July-

Aug

Yellow

, 

Green 

Dry, rocky soils Fine 

-

Coarse

6.8 -

7.2

XXXXXXXX

Sumac: 

Flameleaf 

1

WNP

July-

Aug

Green, 

Yellow

Banded 

Hairstreak 

and Red-

banded 

Hairstreak

Fallow fields; 

Dry, sandy 

slopes and 

ridges; Rarely in 

wet 

bottomlands; 

Typical of sites 

with poorer soils

Fine -

Coarse

5.3 -

7.5

XXXXXX

Sumac: 

SkunkbushWNP

Mar-

April

White, 

Yellow

Dry to mesic 

slopes, 

canyons, and 

stream banks; 

Medium -

Coarse

5.5 -

8.0

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
NRCS 

– Texas

Technical Note: TX-PM-11-02

Zone1Zone2Zone5

Woody 

Species 

(Variety)

Season

Origin

Life Span

Bloom Period

Flower Color

Pollinator 

that Use 

This 

Plant*

Preferred Soil 

Type 

A

Soil Texture A

Soil pH 

Range A

70A77A77B77C

77E

78B78C

42

77C78A78B78C80B81A81B81C81D82A83A83B78A78C80A80B84B84C

85

86A

Other well 

drained soils

Sumac: 

Smooth

2

WNP

May-

Aug

White, 

Yellow

, 

Green, 

Brown

Hairstreak 

Butterfly

Sandy soils in 

open 

woodlands, 

prairies, dry 

rocky hillsides, 

and in canyons

Medium -

Coarse

5.3 -

7.5

XX

BoxelderWNP

Mar-

April

Yellow

, 

Green, 

Brown

Cecropia 

silkmoth

Moist soils of streams and 

rocky 

riverbanks

Fine -

Coarse

4.4 -

7.9

XXXXXXXXX

Elderberry 

3

WNP

May-

June White

Rich, wet soils 

along 

riverbanks and 

fores edges

Medium

5.0 -

7.0

XXX

Elderberry: 

BlackWNP

Mar-

May White

Moist rich, rocky 

soils found 

along stream 

banks

Medium -

Coarse

5.5 -

6.5

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Redbud: 

EasternWNP

Mar-

May Pink

Bees, 

nectar for 

Butterflies 

and Moths, 

Larval host 

for Henry's 

Elfin 

Butterfly

Rich, moist soils 

near streams, 

fertile bottoms, 

slopes, open 

woods

Medium -

Coarse

4.5 -

7.5

XXXXX

Redbud: 

TexasWNP

Mar-

April

Pink, 

Purple

Bees, 

nectar for 

Butterflies 

and Moths, 

Larval host 

for Henry's 

Elfin 

Butterfly

Well drained 

alkaline soils, 

usually 

limestone 

based

Fine -

Coarse

> 

7.2

XXXXXXXXXXXXX
NRCS 

– Texas

Technical Note: TX-PM-11-02

Zone1Zone2Zone5

Woody 

Species 

(Variety)

Season

Origin

Life Span

Bloom Period

Flower Color

Pollinator 

that Use 

This 

Plant*

Preferred Soil 

Type 

A

Soil Texture A

Soil pH 

Range A

70A77A77B77C

77E

78B78C

42

77C78A78B78C80B81A81B81C81D82A83A83B78A78C80A80B84B84C

85

86A

AnaquaWNP April White

Well drained 

alkaline soils

Fine -

Medium

4.8 -

6.8

XX

Green AshWNP

April-

June

Green, 

Purple

, 

Brown

Larval host 

for Eastern 

Tiger 

Swallowtail

, Two-

tailed Tiger 

Swallowtail

, Tiger 

Swallowtail

, Orange 

Sulphur, 

Cloudless 

Giant 

Sulphur, 

Mourning 

Cloak

Moist alluvial 

soils along 

streams in 

floodplain 

forests; can be 

found on dry 

and severe 

upland sites

Fine -

Coarse

5.0 -

8.0

XXXX

Texas 

Persimmon

WNP

Mar-

April

Green, 

White

Larval 

Host for 

Gray 

Hairstreak 

and 

Henry's 

Elfin 

Butterfly

Well drained, 

limestone loams 

and clay

Fine -

Medium

> 

7.2

XXXXXXXX

Virginia 

CreeperWNP

May-

June

Green, 

White

Larval host 

for Abbotts 

Sphinx 

Moth, 

Pandora 

Sphinx 

Moth, 

Virginia 

Creeper 

Sphinx 

Dry sandy soils 

to moist loamy 

soils

Medium -

Coarse

5.1 -

7.5

XX
NRCS 

– Texas

Technical Note: TX-PM-11-02

Zone1Zone2Zone5

Woody 

Species 

(Variety)

Season

Origin

Life Span

Bloom Period

Flower Color

Pollinator 

that Use 

This 

Plant*

Preferred Soil 

Type 

A

Soil Texture A

Soil pH 

Range A

70A77A77B77C

77E

78B78C

42

77C78A78B78C80B81A81B81C81D82A83A83B78A78C80A80B84B84C

85

86A

Moth, and 

White-lined 

Sphinx 

Moth

American 

Beautyberry

WNP

April-

June

Purple

, White

Attracts 

Butterflies

Dry, open 

woods, moist 

woods, thickets 

and hammocks; 

occurs as 

understory 

species in 

upland pine 

forests; adapted 

to climates with 

hot, humid 

summers and 

moderate 

winters

Fine -

Coarse

4.8 -

7.0

XXX

Rusty 

BlackhawWNP

Feb-

June White

Nectar 

source for 

Bees and 

Butterflies

Well drained 

soils in the 

understory of 

upland mixed 

hardwood 

forests

Fine -

Coarse

7.0 -

7.5

XXXX

Mexican 

BuckeyeWNP

Mar-

June

Bright 

Pink

Nectar 

source for 

Bees and 

Butterflies. 

Larval host 

for Henry's 

Elfin 

Butterfly

Moist soils of 

rocky canyons, 

slopes, and 

ridges

Fine -

Coarse

7.9 -

8.5

X
NRCS – Texas

Technical Note: TX-PM-11-02

Z

o

n

e

1

Z

o

n

e

2

Z

o

n

e

5

Woody 

Species 

(Variety)

Season

Origin

Life Span

Bloom Period

Flower Color

Pollinator 

that Use 

This 

Plant*

Preferred Soil 

Type A

Soil Texture A

Soil pH 

Range A

70A77A77B77C

77E

78B78C

42

77C78A78B78C80B81A81B81C81D82A83A83B78A78C80A80B84B84C

85

86A

Texas 

madrone W N P

FebApril White

Bees, 

nectar for 

Butterflies 

and Moths

Well drained 

alkaline soils; 

Canyons and 

rocky slopes of 

mountains, in 

oak woodlands, 

and on rocky 

plains

Fine -

Coarse

< 

7.5

X X

Texas 

mountain 

laurel 4 W N P

FebMarBlue, 

Purple Butterflies

Dry, rocky, well 

drained, 

preferably 

calcareous soils

Fine -

Coarse

4.5 

-

5.5 X X X X X

Seed Planting Date: November- May

Bare Root Stock: Optimum- January- Mid-March

Maximum- December- March

Small Containerized (Plugs, Tubes, and Blocks

October- May

Large Balled or Containerized 

Year Round

1- Also known as Winged Sumac

2- Also known as Common Sumac

3- Also known as American Elder

4- Also known as Mescallbean

A. Information for soil type, texture, and pH range provided by National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Eastern Region and Mississippi Trees

B. Tree Distribution ranges based upon: 1) USGS/USFS digital maps of “Atlas of United States Trees” by Elbert L. Little, Jr, and 2) USDA National Plant Database

Unable to find reliable source for missing data
NRCS – Texas

Technical Note: TX-PM-11-02

Pollinator diversity and abundance is influenced by two main factors: pesticide use and suitable habitat. 

Pollinator species are extremely sensitive to pesticides; therefore, areas with extensive pesticide use 

should be avoided. Nesting and egg-laying sites, flowers for foraging, overwintering cover and refuge 

areas basic habitat needs for native pollinators. Pollinator habitat enhancement begins with knowledge of 

the habitat area followed with protecting and enhancing flowering plants and nest sites to ensure 

maximum plant diversity that flower from spring through fall.

Pollinator Habitat Planning Considerations

Land Use

Pollinator Seedmix by Land Use

% Forb in Seedmix

Conservation 

Practice

Special 

Consideration

Cropland 50%-85% Field Border (386)

Conservation Cover 

(327)

Forb percentage 

determined by 

climatic factors at 

planting site

Rangeland 30% Range Seeding 

(550)

Plant a mixture of at 

least 4 forbs and 5 

native grasses. 

Grazing 

management will be 

planned to ensure 

flowering forbs 

recover from 

grazing pressure.

Wildlife 50%-85% Riparian Forest 

Buffer (391)

Conservation Cover 

(327)

Plant a diversity of 

woody plant species 

to spread blooming 

periods from spring 

through fall.
NRCS – Texas

Technical Note: TX-PM-11-02

The Xerces Society 

References

http://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/ (March 2011)

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, www.wildflower.org/plants/ (March 2011)

The Dallas County Lepidopterists Society, http://www.dallasbutterflies.com (April 2011)

Pollinator Plants for Texas Conservation Practices. USDA-NRCS Technical Note TX-PM-10-02. 

http://www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/pmc/docs/pollinator_pm_tech_note_508.pdf (March 2011)

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on 

the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial 

status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or 

because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all 

prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for 

communication of program information (Braille, Large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's 

Target Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD). 

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence 

Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call 800-795-3272 (voice) or 202- 720-6382 (TDD). 

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.