To attract and support bats in Northern California, focus on planting native species that attract night-flying insects like moths and beetles, or provide roosting and foraging habitat.
Trees & Shrubs
- Arroyo Willow (Salix lasiolepis): Supports a high diversity of native insects that insectivorous bats feed on.
- Black Elderberry (Sambucus nigra): Provides dense foliage for cover and attracts numerous pollinating and-dwelling insects.
- Ceanothus / California Lilac (Ceanothus spp.): Essential native shrubs that support local moths and beneficial insect populations.
- California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum): Thrives in local dry conditions while drawing in an array of nocturnal and diurnal pollinators. [1, 2]
Perennials & Night-Blooming Plants
- Hairy Evening Primrose (Oenothera elata ssp. hirsutissima): Opens fragrant, light-colored flowers at dusk that invite nocturnal moths.
- California Goldenrod (Solidago velutina ssp. californica): Highly attractive to native bees, small wasps, and nocturnal insects.
- Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): A resilient perennial that hosts a wide variety of beneficial predatory and flying insects.
- California Four O’ Clock (Mirabilis laevis var. crassifolia): Features blooms that open late in the day, specifically targeting evening pollinators. [2, 3, 4, 5]
Tips for a Bat-Friendly Yard
- Provide a water source: Bats drink while flying by skimming over open water like ponds, pools, or large birdbaths.
- Reduce outdoor lighting: Bright exterior lights pull insects away from your garden and disorient foraging bats.
- Add a bat house: Install a wooden bat box 12 to 20 feet high on a sunny, south-facing wall or pole near vegetation. [3, 6]