Pollinator cultivar choice: An assessment of season-long pollinator visitation among coreopsis, aster, and salvia cultivars

Documented pollinator declines have encouraged the installation of plantings in residential, commercial and agricultural settings. Pollinator visitation among cultivars coreopsis, salvia asters was compared on 40 dates a 2-year study resulting 6,911 observations across all plant taxa with bees, butterflies syrphids well-represented. Diversity insect visitors represented differently within broad salvia, coreopsis asters. The most frequent to were small bees over 77% falling into this category. Salvia frequently visited by honey (36.4%) carpenter (24%), although groups represented. Syrphids group commonly observed (58.5%) nearly 40% being bee species. Nectar analysis performed cultivars. However, differential attraction pollinators could not be explained volume nectar produced per plant. Results from our cultivar comparisons provide data-based information assist consumers choice present opportunities for future plant-specific census initiatives broader geographic range.