A Valentine’s Day He’ll Never Forget

In many urban and suburban areas, there is a shortage of plants for wildlife to utilize. Bees may not have enough plants to find nectar. Some birds may not have the seeds or fruits they need to eat. Planting trees and other plants can help, but if you don't have a place to plant in the soil, you may want to set out some potted plants instead. Here are some particular trees and plants that tend to thrive in pots and are also great for wildlife.

Dwarf Pear Trees

There are several varieties of dwarf pear trees that do well in containers. Conference and Stark Honeysweet are two examples. Both of these pear varieties are also self-pollinating, which means you only need one tree in order to get pears. Potted pear trees are known for throwing plenty of blossoms in the spring, which will give bees something to feed on. And in late summer, when the pears drop to the ground, you can leave them there for squirrels, groundhogs, deer, and other wildlife.

Bee Balm

Bee balm, also known as monarda, is a plant that blossoms with bright, purple flowers. The flowers linger for a while, and as the name suggests, they are very appealing to bees. Hummingbirds are also big fans of bee balm and will come feed on the flowers' nectar. Depending on the region where you live, you might also see some butterflies coming to visit.

Lantana

Lantana is a bush-like plant that has bright yellow and pink flowers. The flowers stay around for months on end, which makes this a great plant to have if you're trying to attract bees. Lantana is also pretty low-maintenance. The plants need plenty of sunshine, but they'll do okay if you forget to water them from time to time. Butterflies and dragonflies also tend to like lantana.

Salvia

Salvia plants are known for their tall, purple flowers. They do great in pots since they tend to grow upwards, and not outwards. Salvia does attract rabbits, deer, and other small mammals, so you'll have to come to terms with the fact that your plants will have nibble marks. They're a great food source for wildlife if that's your goal in planting them.

Add some of these potted plants to your yard, and the wildlife in the area will thank you. Talk to a potted wildlife landscaper to learn more about your options.