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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dicentra cucullaria | Dutchman's breeches | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Dicentra eximia | Wild bleeding heart | Bees, Butterfiles, Hummingbirds | ||
| Penstemon hirsutus | Hairy beard-tongue | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Helenium autumnale | Common sneezeweed, Autumnale sneezeweed | Bees, Butterfiles, Hummingbirds | 5 | |
| Geum canadense | White avens | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Rhododendron periclymenoides | Great rhododendron, White rosebay, Great laurel | Bees, Butterfiles, Hummingbirds | ||
| Aronia melanocarpa | Black chokeberry | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Iris cristata | Dwarf crested iris | Bees, Butterfiles, Hummingbirds | ||
| Solidago bicolor | Silverrod, White goldenrod | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Erigeron pulchellus var. pulchellus | Robin's plantain | Bees, Butterfiles | 12 | |
| Aruncus dioicus var. dioicus | Goat's-beard, Goatsbeard | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Malus coronaria | Southern crabapple | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Menispermum canadense | Canada moonseed, Common moonseed | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Verbesina occidentalis | Yellow crownbeard | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Fragaria virginiana | Wild strawberry, Virginia strawberry | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Eryngium aquaticum | Rattlesnake-master, Marsh eryngo | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Persicaria virginiana | Virginia knotweed, Jumpseed | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Gillenia trifoliata | Bowman's-root, Bowman’s root, Mountain indian-physic | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Rhododendron viscosum var. viscosum | Swamp azalea, Clammy azalea | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Iris versicolor | Northern blue flag, Larger blue flag | Bees, Butterfiles, Hummingbirds | ||
| Solidago nemoralis var. nemoralis | Gray goldenrod | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Rhexia virginica | Virginia meadow beauty | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Asclepias viridiflora | Green milkweed | Bees, Butterfiles, Monarchs |