Bats

Bats play a critical role in the ecosystem; feeding on numerous species of insects, many that we consider pests — such as mosquitoes. Moths make up a large part of bat diets because they are active at night. Moths are attracted to flowers that open through the night or bloom through the evening, are fragrant, and are visible at night. White or yellow flowers are the most visible. Planting a mixture of nectar and host plants will encourage the highest possible diversity of moths and other night flying pollinators that attract bats. Trees are beneficial in so many ways. They don’t close their flowers at night and they are host plants to many kinds of native insects. Tall trees with large diameter trunks and trees with shaggy or sloughing bark, like shagbark hickory, (Carya ovata), provide important roosts for bats. Oak trees especially are a boon because they host hundreds of moth and insect species that bats forage on. 

Displaying 1 - 20 of 20
Plant Form
Light Requirements
Moisture Requirements
Soil Texture:
Bloom Time
Scientific Name Common Name(s) Plant Form(s) Recommended for Tolerates
Acer negundo var. negundo Eastern boxelder Medium Trees Bats, Edible garden, Nighttime Garden, Pollinator garden, Shade Tree, Songbirds, Woodlands and woods edge Wet conditions
Acer rubrum Red maple Large Trees Bats, Butterfly garden, Drought tolerant garden, Erosion control, Fall colors, Nighttime Garden, Rain garden, Shade Tree, Songbirds, Specimen, Streams, ponds, wetlands, Streetside planting, Winter interest, Woodlands and woods edge Air pollution, Allelopathic plants, Dry soils, drought, Fire, Heat, Soil compaction, Urban environments, Wet conditions
Acer saccharinum Silver maple Large Trees Bats, Drought tolerant garden, Fall colors, Nighttime Garden, Pollinator garden, Rain garden, Shade Tree, Songbirds, Streams, ponds, wetlands, Winter interest, Woodlands and woods edge Air pollution, Dry soils, drought, Heat, Poor soil, Soil compaction, Wet conditions
Acer saccharum Sugar maple Large Trees Bats, Fall colors, Nighttime Garden, Pollinator garden, Rain garden, Shade Tree, Songbirds, Specimen, Woodlands and woods edge
Carya ovata Shagbark hickory Large Trees Bats, Butterfly garden, Edible garden, Lawn, Meadows, Nighttime Garden, Pollinator garden, Shade Tree, Songbirds, Winter interest, Woodlands and woods edge Allelopathic plants
Eutrochium fistulosum Hollow joe-pye-weed, Joe pye thoroughwort, Joe-pye weed Herbs Bats, Butterfly garden, Erosion control, Mass planting, Meadows, Pollinator garden, Rain garden, Songbirds, Specimen, Streams, ponds, wetlands, Woodlands and woods edge Fire, Wet conditions
Monarda fistulosa Wild bergamot, Bee balm Herbs Bats, Border, Butterfly garden, Fragrant garden, Garden for the blind, Pollinator garden, Rain garden Allelopathic plants, Dry soils, drought
Oenothera biennis Common evening-primrose Herbs Bats, Container garden, Nighttime Garden
Quercus alba White oak Large Trees Bats, Butterfly garden, Drought tolerant garden, Edible garden, Fall colors, Flowering tree, Nighttime Garden, Pollinator garden, Seeds and nuts, Shade Tree, Songbirds, Specimen, Streetside planting Acidic soils, Allelopathic plants, Dry soils, drought, Salt
Quercus coccinea Scarlet oak Large Trees Bats, Butterfly garden, Fall colors, Meadows, Nighttime Garden, Pollinator garden, Seeds and nuts, Shade Tree, Songbirds, Specimen, Streetside planting Allelopathic plants, Dry soils, drought
Quercus nigra Water oak Large Trees, Medium Trees Bats, Butterfly garden, Nighttime Garden, Pollinator garden, Rain garden, Shade Tree, Songbirds, Streetside planting Air pollution, Dry soils, drought, Fire, Salt, Wet conditions
Quercus palustris Pin oak Medium Trees Bats, Butterfly garden, Fall colors, Meadows, Nighttime Garden, Pollinator garden, Rain garden, Seeds and nuts, Shade Tree, Songbirds, Streams, ponds, wetlands, Streetside planting Acidic soils, Air pollution, Salt, Wet conditions
Quercus phellos Willow oak Large Trees Bats, Butterfly garden, Edible garden, Nighttime Garden, Pollinator garden, Rain garden, Seeds and nuts, Shade Tree, Songbirds, Streams, ponds, wetlands, Streetside planting, Woodlands and woods edge Air pollution, Salt, Soil compaction, Wet conditions
Quercus rubra Northern red oak Large Trees Bats, Butterfly garden, Edible garden, Fall colors, Nighttime Garden, Pollinator garden, Seeds and nuts, Shade Tree, Songbirds, Specimen, Streetside planting Air pollution, Allelopathic plants, Dry soils, drought, Soil compaction
Quercus shumardii Shumard oak Large Trees Bats, Butterfly garden, Nighttime Garden, Pollinator garden, Rain garden, Shade Tree, Songbirds Air pollution, Dry soils, drought, Urban environments, Wet conditions, Wind
Solidago caesia var. caesia Bluestem goldenrod, Blue-stemmed goldenrod, Wreath goldenrod, Axillary goldenrod Herbs Bats, Butterfly garden, Container garden, Meadows, Pollinator garden, Songbirds, Woodlands and woods edge Allelopathic plants, Dry soils, drought, Wet conditions
Solidago juncea Early goldenrod Herbs Bats, Butterfly garden, Drought tolerant garden, Meadows, Pollinator garden, Songbirds Dry soils, drought
Solidago rugosa Rough-stemmed goldenrod, Wrinkle-leaf goldenrod Herbs Bats, Border, Butterfly garden, Container garden, Pollinator garden, Rain garden, Songbirds, Streams, ponds, wetlands Wet conditions
Solidago speciosa Showy goldenrod Herbs Bats, Songbirds
Solidago odora Sweet goldenrod, Anise-scented goldenrod Herbs Bats, Butterfly garden, Meadows, Pollinator garden, Songbirds Dry soils, drought
Subscribe to Bats