Hedgerows on farms provide an ideal opportunity for increasing the abundance of native plants that support native pollinators in rural areas. Native pollinators are important for wild land native plants, as well as agricultural crops adjacent to the hedgerows.

Many Whatcom County native plants support native pollinators. This project recommends planting of multiple shrubs that provide a continuous supply of pollen and nectar throughout the pollination season and that are hardy enough to survive hedgerow conditions without burdensome maintenance. 

The Conservation Committee is currently working with Bow Hill Blueberry Farm to install a native plant demonstration site adjacent to their organic blueberry bushes. Educational information will be provided at the site. Monitoring in future years will document the attractiveness of the plants to pollinators and potential benefits to the blueberry crop.

Recommended Native Plants for Hedgerows

Scientific Name	Common Name	Height (ft)	Soils	Shade Tol.	BB Pref.
Oemleria cerasiformis	Osoberry	6-8	mesic	Su, PS, Sh	5
Rubus spectabilis	Salmonberry	5-7	wet-mesic	Su, PS, Sh	10
Ribes sanguineum	Red-flowering Currant	4-8	mesic-dry	Su, PS	7
Lonicera involucrata	Black Twinberry	5-7	wet	PS	7
Rubus parviflorus	Thimbleberry	3-5	mesic	Su, PS	7
Rosa nutkana	Nootka Rose	4-6	wet-dry	Su	5
Symphoricarpos albus	Snowberry	3-4	mesic	Su, PS	9
Spiraea douglasii	Hardhack	5-7	wet	Su	6

If you are interested in native plant hedgerows in Whatcom County, contact Jim Davis (jimdaviscpc at comcast dot net) for more information.