It’s February in Pennsylvania—the perfect time to plan your garden and dream about the warm days ahead.

This year, I’m thinking about the wildlife I want to attract and how that shapes my plant choices. Instead of flipping through seed catalogs in search of the brightest colors or the latest “deer-resistant” plants, I’m asking myself: What will bring the most diversity? What host plants can I grow to support Lepidoptera? How can I create a habitat for birds?

If you want to see more butterflies, moths, solitary bees, wasps, beetles, and other pollinators in your garden, start by choosing native plants that support them—minimize ornamentals, eliminate invasives, and turn barren areas of land into native meadows. Ornamental plants and trees like Japanese pines, crape myrtles, and boxwoods offer zero ecological value in our area. Learn to spot Bradford pears and encourage anyone you know who has one to remove it. And most importantly, educate those still spraying pesticides and wasting water to maintain their ecological dead zone—the lawn.

Native Plants to Grow This Year

Check out these incredible plants which I’m excited to be growing this year. Each one is a native plant and a host plant for a moth or butterfly that I’d love to see in my garden.

  • American hazelnut (Corylus americana) – Host plant for the Luna moth
  • Blue sage (Salvia azurea) – Host plant for the Hermit Sphinx moth
  • Sweet goldenrod (Solidago odora) – Host plant for dozens of different species, including gall-forming flies and moths
  • Lead plant (Amorpha canescens) – Host plant for Whitney’s Underwing moth
  • New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) – Host plant for dozens of moths including the Wavy-lined emerald moth
  • New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) – Host plant for the Spring Azure butterfly

By focusing on the wildlife you want to support, you’ll create a garden that’s ecologically diverse and valuable. I believe there’s a strong ripple effect in this type of gardening, extending far beyond our neighborhoods. So plant native, and watch what happens.