Keystone Species
What is a keystone native plant?
The term “keystone” plant, popularized by noted entomologist Douglas W. Tallamy, refers to the critical piece of a stone arch that holds it together. Without it, the arch collapses.
Keystone plants are native plant species that play an outsized role in supporting the local food web. Although all native plants can contribute to biodiversity, a comparatively small number host especially large numbers of native insects—particularly moth and butterfly caterpillars. Those insects turn plant leaves into food for spiders, amphibians, reptiles, and birds, including many songbirds that rely on caterpillars to feed their young. In this way, keystone plants help move energy from the sun and vegetation into the broader community of wildlife.
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| Scientific Name | Common Name(s) | Supports Pollinators | Number of Lepidotera Species Genus Supports Sort ascending | Number of Pollen Specialist Bees that Rely on this Genus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helianthus divaricatus | Woodland sunflower | Bees, Butterfiles | 73 | 50 |
| Viola lanceolata | Lance-leaved violet, Narrow-leaved violet | Bees, Butterfiles | 29 | |
| Viola sororia | Common blue violet, Confederate violet | Bees, Butterfiles | 29 | |
| Geranium maculatum | Wild geranium | Bees, Butterfiles | 23 | |
| Rudbeckia hirta | Gloriosa daisy, Black eyed susan, Black-eyed susan | Bees, Butterfiles, Monarchs | 17 | 29 |
| Rudbeckia laciniata | Cut-leaved coneflower, Tall coneflower, Green-headed coneflower, Wild goldenglow, Cutleaf coneflower | Bees, Hummingbirds | 17 | 29 |
| Oenothera biennis | Common evening-primrose | Bees, Butterfiles | 16 | 7 |
| Asclepias variegata | White milkweed | Bees, Butterfiles, Monarchs | 12 | |
| Asclepias verticillata | Whorled milkweed | Bees, Butterfiles, Monarchs | 12 | |
| Asclepias syriaca | Common milkweed | Bees, Butterfiles, Hummingbirds, Monarchs | 12 | |
| Verbena hastata | Blue vervain, Common vervain, Swamp verbena, Swamp vervain , Simpler’s joy | Bees, Butterfiles | 11 | |
| Phlox divaricata | Wild blue phlox, Woodland phlox | Bees, Butterfiles, Hummingbirds | 8 | |
| Monarda fistulosa | Wild bergamot | Bees, Butterfiles, Hummingbirds, Monarchs | 7 | |
| Monarda punctata var. punctata | Horse-mint, Horsemint, Spotted bee-balm | Bees, Butterfiles, Hummingbirds, Monarchs | 7 | |
| Asimina triloba | Common pawpaw, Paw paw, Paw-paw, Pawpaw | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Micranthes virginiensis | Early saxifrage | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Vernonia glauca | Upland ironweed, Broad-leaf ironweed | Bees, Butterfiles, Hummingbirds | ||
| Eryngium yuccifolium | Beargrass, Rattlesnake-master, Northern rattlesnake-master, Button eryngo | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Philadelphus inodorus | Scentless mock orange | Bees | ||
| Rhus typhina | Staghorn sumac | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Liatris pilosa | Grass-leaf blazing star, Grass-leaf gayfeather | Bees, Butterfiles, Monarchs | ||
| Goodyera pubescens | Downy rattlesnake plantain, Downy rattlesnake-plantain | Bees | ||
| Rhus aromatica | Fragrant sumac | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Apocynum cannabinum | Indian hemp, Hemp dogbane | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Iris virginica | Virginia blue flag, Southern blue flag, Southern blue flag iris | Bees, Butterfiles, Hummingbirds |