Pollinator preference for Joe Pye cultivars

last year

Just an observation -- the bees are flocking to my "Gateway" Joe Pyes, so much so on one of them you can almost see the plant moving, while for the most part they're completely ignoring the "Phantom" I have. Anecdotal yes, but in my mind reinforces my line of reasoning that pollinators prefer the old stand-bys over the newer fancy-schmancy cultivars.

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Comments (5)

rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
last year
I planted "Baby Joe" PW because it is shorter than "Gateway" and bees love it just fine. (Do you consider BJ a fancy schmancy cultivar?)
porkchop_z5b_MI
Original Author
last year
"Do you consider BJ a fancy schmancy cultivar?"

My definition of fancy-schmancy is anything relatively new. LOL! I've also noticed pollinator preference for older varieties of sedum, too.
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sah_upstate4 (zone 5b - NY)
last year
last modified: last year
'Phantom' is also a hybrid according to the patent, and had some white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima) genetics involved in its development as well, whereas 'Gateway', 'Little Joe' and 'Baby Joe' are all single species cultivars. I wonder if the hybridization process reduced the amount of nectar/pollen available in 'Phantom' or at least rendered it less attractive to pollinators in some other way.
rouge21_gw (CDN Z5b/6a)
last year
'Little Joe' and 'Baby Joe'

I have always thought of this as a bit dopey as I have had BJ grow taller than LJ or maybe "Little" means shorter than "Baby"??
porkchop_z5b_MI
Original Author
last year
Ok, well over the last couple days I noticed more bees on the "Phantom". Maybe they finally discovered it or the florets opened more fully, IDK but good to see they're making use of it. But man they go gaga over the Gateway!