Rainfall from the roof on this house is routed to a perennial garden containing, among other plants, goldenrod, milkweed, and purple coneflower, all of which are considered pollinator-friendly plants.
It is clear that pollinators, both vertebrates and invertebrates, are in decline (see [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]). Vegetated stormwater BMPs can be designed to be pollinator-friendly. The following sections provide numerous links to information that can be used in designing and implementing pollinator-friendly stormwater BMPs.
Caution: Although the following links provide information on pollinator friendly practices, it is important to remember the primary function of a stormwater BMP is to manage stormwater. In particular, it is important to ensure that plants selected as being pollinator friendly must also function well within the stormwater practice. See
Design criteria for bioretention and
Minnesota plant lists for more information.
Pollinator friendly plants
Pollinator friendly practices
Although much of the information on these pages is general, many of the practices can be incorporated into vegetated stormwater BMPs.
Case studies
Other links