stabby_cicadanever forget the insect apocalypse
Yes! Native plants that have co-evolved with your local insects and birds are the ideal.
I get a little frustrated with No Mow May that runs in Canada. People get obsessed with the idea that dandelions are a bee’s first food and we must leave them. I suppose they are better than pesticide-laden grass, but dandelions are a European import. What bees really need is native early bloomers - in my area, that’s serviceberry, spicebush, pasque flower, violets, etc.
For Canada and the US, the Xerces society has these lovely native plant guides to help with ideal plant choices for your region
Pollinator-Friendly Native Plant Lists
We've prepared the following lists of recommended native plants that are highly attractive to pollinators such as native bees, honey bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds, and are well-suited for small-scale plantings in gardens, on business and school campuses, in urban greenspaces, and in farm field borders.