Selecting pollinator-friendly plants to restore habitat for bees

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This study assessed the pollinator-friendliness of 25 flowering plant species available for restoration in Region One by locating natural populations across the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana and determining the pollinator visitation rate, number of bee species and specialist bee species that visited each species. Using this information – and including plant bloom duration and occurrence – we created score cards for early, middle, and late season flowering plants that land managers can use to select and tailor pollinator-friendly mixes.