Why Plant for Bees?
While your bees will find forage on their own, strategic planting helps in several ways:
- Fill the gaps. Late summer and early fall are often "dearth" periods with little natural forage. Planting late-blooming flowers keeps bees fed when they need it most.
- Early spring boost. Colonies need pollen to raise brood in early spring. Early bloomers help colonies build up faster.
- Reduce foraging distance. Nearby flowers mean bees spend less energy flying and more time gathering.
- Better honey. In some cases, you can influence honey flavor by providing abundant forage of specific flowers.
💡 Think Like a Bee
Bees prefer to work one flower type at a time (called "flower constancy"). A mass planting of one species is more useful than scattered individual plants. Plant in groups of at least 3-5 plants, or better yet, whole drifts.
Spring Bloomers (March – May)
Early spring forage helps colonies build up after winter. Pollen is especially critical for raising new brood.
Top Spring Choices
- Crocus — One of the first flowers to bloom, providing early pollen when little else is available. Plant hundreds of bulbs for impact.
- Dandelion — Yes, the "weed." Dandelions are one of the most important early spring flowers for bees. Consider leaving a patch unmowed.
- Fruit trees — Apple, cherry, pear, and plum provide abundant nectar and pollen during their brief bloom period.
- Willow — Among the earliest trees to bloom. Excellent pollen source. Pussy willows are popular ornamentals.
- Maple — Red and sugar maples bloom early, providing critical forage before most flowers appear.
- Redbud — Beautiful ornamental tree with pink flowers that bees love.
- Dutch white clover — Begins blooming in late spring, continues through summer. One of the most important honey plants.
Other Good Spring Options
Hyacinth, grape hyacinth, flowering quince, Oregon grape, lungwort, hellebore, wild plum, serviceberry, blueberry.
Summer Bloomers (June – August)
Summer is typically when nectar flow peaks. Most honey is made from summer flowers.
Top Summer Choices
- Lavender — Extremely attractive to bees, long bloom period, drought tolerant. A must-have for bee gardens.
- Catmint (Nepeta) — Blooms for months, drought tolerant, low maintenance. Bees go crazy for it.
- Bee balm (Monarda) — Native plant with tubular flowers in red, pink, or purple. Attracts hummingbirds too.
- Coneflower (Echinacea) — Native prairie plant, long bloom period, drought tolerant. Purple coneflower is the classic choice.
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) — Cheerful yellow native flower that blooms prolifically. Self-seeds.
- Sunflowers — Easy to grow, produce abundant pollen (nectar varies by variety). Choose pollen-producing varieties.
- Clover — White clover, crimson clover, and sweet clover are all excellent. Major honey sources in many areas.
- Basswood/Linden — Trees produce exceptional nectar. Basswood honey is prized for its flavor.
Other Good Summer Options
Russian sage, anise hyssop, oregano, thyme, mint, borage, phacelia, buckwheat, cosmos, zinnia, salvia, globe thistle, milkweed.
Herb Garden = Bee Garden
Fall Bloomers (September – October)
Fall forage is critical — bees need to build winter stores and raise healthy "winter bees." In many areas, fall is a dearth period with little blooming.
Top Fall Choices
- Goldenrod — THE fall bee plant in much of North America. Produces strong-flavored honey. Some people are allergic (to the pollen, not the honey).
- Aster — Native asters bloom into October, providing late-season nectar. Many species available.
- Sedum (Stonecrop) — 'Autumn Joy' and similar varieties bloom in fall. Extremely drought tolerant, easy to grow.
- Japanese anemone — Late bloomer with elegant flowers. Partial shade tolerant.
- Fall-blooming crocus — Yes, there are fall-blooming species. Plant for late-season pollen.
Other Good Fall Options
Joe Pye weed, sneezeweed (Helenium), boneset, fall-blooming sunflowers, chrysanthemums (single-flowered types), autumn sage.
Trees and Shrubs
Trees are often overlooked, but a single large tree in bloom can produce more nectar than an entire flower garden. If you have space, trees are the most impactful long-term investment for bees.
Best Trees for Bees
- Basswood/Linden (Tilia) — Among the best honey trees. Blooms in early summer.
- Black locust — Produces exceptional nectar, though bloom is brief. Highly valued honey.
- Tulip poplar — Major honey tree in the eastern US. Large tree needs space.
- Sourwood — Produces prized honey in Appalachia. Beautiful fall color too.
- Maple — Early spring bloom. Sugar and red maples are best.
- Willow — Very early bloom provides critical spring forage.
- Fruit trees — Apple, cherry, pear, plum. Spring bloom plus fruit for you.
- Catalpa — Showy flowers in late spring. Good nectar producer.
Best Shrubs for Bees
- Butterfly bush (Buddleia) — Long summer bloom, very attractive to bees (and butterflies).
- Blueberry — Spring bloom plus fruit. Bees love them.
- Pussy willow — Early spring pollen source. Can be cut for arrangements.
- Caryopteris (Blue Mist shrub) — Late summer bloom when little else is flowering.
- Vitex (Chaste tree) — Summer bloomer with spikes of blue flowers.
- Native viburnums — Spring flowers, fall berries for birds.
- Rosemary — Evergreen herb that blooms in winter/early spring in mild climates.
What to Avoid
Double Flowers
Many ornamental varieties have been bred with "double" flowers — extra petals where the reproductive parts should be. These look pretty but offer little or no pollen and nectar. Choose single-flowered varieties instead.
Pesticides
Avoid systemic pesticides (neonicotinoids in particular) which persist in pollen and nectar. Many nursery plants have been treated with systemics — ask before you buy, or source from organic nurseries.
Sterile Cultivars
Some cultivars have been bred sterile (seedless fruits, for example). These may produce less pollen. When possible, choose species plants or traditional varieties over highly bred cultivars.