So would you be shocked and horrified if I told you that many nurseries are selling plants that are aimed at attracting bees, that have been treated with systemic Neonicotinoid pesticides that have been proven to be harmful to bees?
This link will take you to the source of a study that, unfortunately, found that to be true:
To sum it up, in August of 2013, results of a study were published where plants from large chain "big box" stores such as Lowes, Home Depot, Target, and others, in various cities in the U.S., were tested for pesticides. Neonicotinoid pesticides ("neonics") were found on many of the flowering plants, and bees are attracted to those plants. The study published which kinds of plants were tested, and where the pesticide residue was found (leaves vs. flowers; flowers being more relevant to bees). A larger study was then done and the results were published in June of this year- you can read the whole thing here (this will open a PDF):
That's a long article, but in it is sort of some good news for us here in West Alexandria:
Plants were tested from a Home Depot in D.C., which gets their plants from Bell Nursery.
The plants tested from that store had very little or in some cases no pesticide residues on the flowers of plants. Yay! (A very easy-to-read chart can be viewed on page 29 of the PDF file linked above, with the locations [VA should be the same as DC] and flowers tested, and results.) While sadly that isn't consistent with all Home Depots across the country, it does mean that at all of the Home Depots in Virginia (and most of the Mid Atlantic) the plants should be (relatively...) safe for bees.
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| Little Megachile on coreopsis at Home Depot in Alexandria |
Another thing that we can be happy about is that Home Depot has promised to label all nursery plants that have been treated with neonics by the end of this year, and they've also promised to stop selling the chemicals on their shelves soon, too.
So where can you get plants for bees and butterflies that you know are safe and pesticide free?
Behnke Nurseries in Maryland, which is a little far away, but if you find yourself near one, it's worth a visit! Here's why. (They never apply neonics to plants and no longer sell products containing neonics in the store.)
You can also shop at the local native plant sales in the Spring and Fall. I'll post about them when they're coming up, as they are all done for this year.
For now, Home Depot (and BJ's) now seem like a safe bet as well, as the plants that have been treated will be labeled. That is great, since they have some really good deals on plants and their garden center is always buzzing with many different bees!
But what about the other nurseries?
I wish I had an answer.
I've written to both Greenstreet Gardens and Merrifield nurseries. Merrifield eventually did respond to my emails, Greenstreet did not.
EDIT- On November 19, I received an email from Merrifield stating that the use of neonic pesticides depends on the individual supplier of the plants. If you're shopping there, inquire about the individual plants- or, perhaps, an employee can tell you the supplier names who don't use neonics and how to find them at the nursery.
I received a similar response from Greenstreet in the Spring, when I asked in person. I was told that the plants with the Greenstreet containers would not have neonics applied, but that plants from other suppliers "might."
I was also told that in general, perennial plants do not usually have a need for a neonic pesticide (but obviously the study linked above found neonics on perennials), and that the main type of plant you need to be careful of are shrubs. I'm guessing that's because perennials, for the most part, die back every winter, but shrubs don't.
Systemics persist in the plant, which is why they're so dangerous. They can last for YEARS. I think the time on perennials is cut much shorter when they die back each year.
Food (for bees) for thought!
EDIT- On November 19, I received an email from Merrifield stating that the use of neonic pesticides depends on the individual supplier of the plants. If you're shopping there, inquire about the individual plants- or, perhaps, an employee can tell you the supplier names who don't use neonics and how to find them at the nursery.
I received a similar response from Greenstreet in the Spring, when I asked in person. I was told that the plants with the Greenstreet containers would not have neonics applied, but that plants from other suppliers "might."
I was also told that in general, perennial plants do not usually have a need for a neonic pesticide (but obviously the study linked above found neonics on perennials), and that the main type of plant you need to be careful of are shrubs. I'm guessing that's because perennials, for the most part, die back every winter, but shrubs don't.
Systemics persist in the plant, which is why they're so dangerous. They can last for YEARS. I think the time on perennials is cut much shorter when they die back each year.
Food (for bees) for thought!
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