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 angustifolius | Narrow-leaved sunflower | Bees, Butterfiles, Monarchs | 66 | 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 | 20 | 29 |
| Verbesina occidentalis | Yellow crownbeard | Bees, Butterfiles | 20 | 17 |
| Rudbeckia laciniata | Cut-leaved coneflower, Tall coneflower, Green-headed coneflower, Wild goldenglow, Cutleaf coneflower | Bees, Hummingbirds | 20 | 29 |
| Rudbeckia triloba var. triloba | Three-lobed coneflower, Brown-eyed susan | Bees, Butterfiles | 20 | 29 |
| Verbesina alternifolia | Wingstem | Bees, Butterfiles, Monarchs | 20 | 17 |
| 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, Bee balm | Bees, Butterfiles, Hummingbirds, Monarchs | 7 | |
| Monarda punctata var. punctata | Horse-mint, Horsemint, Spotted bee-balm | Bees, Butterfiles, Hummingbirds, Monarchs | 7 | |
| Coreopsis verticillata | Whorled coreopsis, Thread-leaf coreopsis | Bees, Butterfiles | 7 | 22 |
| Coreopsis tripteris | Tall coreopsis, Tall tickseed | Bees, Butterfiles | 7 | 22 |
| Chrysopsis mariana | Maryland golden-aster, Maryland golden aster | Bees, Butterfiles | 5 | 20 |
| Liatris pilosa | Grass-leaf blazing star, Grass-leaf gayfeather | Bees, Butterfiles, Monarchs | ||
| Gillenia trifoliata | Bowman's-root, Bowman’s root, Mountain indian-physic | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Rhododendron periclymenoides | Pinxter azalea, Pinxterbloom, Pinxter flower | Bees, Butterfiles, Hummingbirds | ||
| Apocynum cannabinum | Indian hemp, Hemp dogbane | Bees, Butterfiles | ||
| Iris versicolor | Northern blue flag, Larger blue flag | Bees, Butterfiles, Hummingbirds |