Why Compound Flowerheads?

Flowers come in many configurations. They’ve adapted to attract local animals for pollination. In Southern California’s ‘elfin forest’ trees and animals are small due to the heat and lack of water. We have hundreds of insects that can be as small as poppy seeds, and they need special flowers to survive. Look closely at compound flower heads such as those on asters, buckwheat, ceanothus, yarrow, milkweed, coyote bush, coyote mint, elderberry and others. You’ll see tiny bees, wasps and flies. Some are predatory wasps that feed on aphids. These flowers offer miniature petals so that a small insect won’t be thrown off by a larger one, a minute sip of nectar that won’t drown its guests and a whole food court close by because tiny wings can’t travel far. In turn, these clustered flowers are much more likely to receive cross-pollination rather than self-pollinate. Genetic variability is increased in the new plants that result from the cross-pollinated flowers, making them better able to adapt to significant changes in their environment. It’s a win-win relationship crucial to the ecology of our drier climate. Check out our post about using insectiary plants in the garden at vegetariat.com.  

Diane and Miranda Kennedy, Finch Frolic Garden Permaculture