Flowering Persistence and Pollinator Attraction of Early-spring Bulbs in Warm-season Lawns

Abstract

<jats:p>Early-spring flowering bulbs can increase biodiversity while adding color to lawns and other grassy areas. However, few studies have investigated whether bulbs can flower and persist in warm-season lawns or provide feeding habitat for pollinating insects. Thirty early-spring flowering bulbs, including species of <jats:italic>Anemone</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Chionodoxa</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Crocus</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Eranthis</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Hyacinthus</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Ipheion</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Iris, Leucojum</jats:italic>, <jats:italic>Muscari</jats:italic>, and <jats:italic>Narcissus</jats:italic>, were established in bermudagrass (<jats:italic>Cynodon dactylon</jats:italic> L. Pers) and buffalograss [<jats:italic>Buchloe dactyloides</jats:italic> (Nutt.) J.T. Columbus] lawns in late autumn 2015 in Fayetteville AR. Bulbs were assessed over three growing seasons for flowering characteristics, persistence, and their ability to attract pollinating insects. A growing degree day model was also developed to predict peak flowering times in our region. Numerous bulb entries produced abundant flowers in bermudagrass and buffalograss lawns in the first year after planting, but persistence and flower production were reduced in both the second and third years of the trial. Five bulbs persisted for multiple years in both turfgrass species and continued to produce flowers, including <jats:italic>Crocus flavus</jats:italic> Weston ‘Golden Yellow’ (crocus), <jats:italic>Leucojum aestivum</jats:italic> L. (spring snowflake), <jats:italic>Narcissus</jats:italic> (daffodil) ‘Baby Moon’, <jats:italic>Narcissus</jats:italic> ‘Rip Van Winkle’, and <jats:italic>Narcissus</jats:italic> ‘Tete-a-Tete’. Several bulbs, primarily crocuses and <jats:italic>Muscari</jats:italic> spp. (grape hyacinth), were also observed to attract pollinating insects, principally honey bees (<jats:italic>Apis mellifera</jats:italic>). These results demonstrate that some early-spring bulbs can persist in competitive warm-season turfgrasses, while providing pollinator forage, but species and cultivar selection is critical for long-term success.</jats:p>

Flower-visiting and pollen-carrying arthropods of Leucojum aestivum L. (Amaryllidaceae) in wild, reintroduced and ex situ populations

“…L. aestivum has very similar flowers to L. vernum, thus it can be hypothesised a similar pollination mechanism is used in this species. However, pollinator visitations on L. aestivum are infrequent (Wisdom et al 2019). Possible reasons for this may be reconducted to the early spring flowering period, when pollinator activity is still scarce, to the preference of pollinators for open habitats (Abeli et al 2013;Gargano et al 2017), to the lack of nectar as a reward (Parolo et al 2011) and the lack of a scent.…”

Integrating Narcissus-derived galanthamine production into traditional upland farming systems

“…The presence of N. pseudonarcissus plants and avoidance of the sward immediately adjacent to these will increase sward structural heterogeneity, however, which is known to have benefits for invertebrates. Unfortunately, the flowers of N. pseudonarcissus are of comparatively limited appeal to pollinators 23 . As indicated previously, extremes in growing conditions were experienced across the three growing seasons included in the study.…”

Testing Flowering Perennial Plants in a Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) Lawn

“…and buffalograss [Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) Columbus] have successfully demonstrated ability to support flowering bulbs (Richardson et al, 2015;Wisdom et al, 2019), but other warm-season turfgrass species such as Eremochloa Buese and Stenotaphrum Trin. species might also be evaluated for ability to host forbs for pollinator forage.…”

“…Additionally, research investigating the persistence of clovers and other forbs in bermudagrass and pollinator preference for these flowers is limited. White clover in bermudagrass lawns has been identified as an important source of pollinator forage (Larson et al, 2014), and Wisdom et al (2019) identified several bulbs, primarily Crocus and Muscari spp., that persist in bermudagrass lawns and provide early spring pollinator forage.…”