Growing Flowers for Bees

Spring and Summer Bulbs

  • Purple flowering onions (Allium spp.)
  • Golden crocus (Crocus x luteus)
  • Bishop Series dahlias* (Dahlia)
  • Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis)
  • Grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum)
  • Siberian squill (Scilla sibirica)
  • Perennials and Biennials
  • Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
  • Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
  • Lesser calamint (Calamintha nepeta)
  • Cornflowers (Centaurea spp.)
  • Gas plant (Dictamnus albus)
  • Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
  • Globe thistles (Echinops spp.)
  • Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium)
  • Blanketflowers (Gaillardia spp.)
  • Cranesbills (Geranium spp.)
  • Fall sedums (Hylotelephiumtelephium)
  • Knautia (Knautia macedonica)
  • Forget-me-not (Myosotis sylvatica)
  • Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
  • Meadow sage (Salvia nemorosa)
  • Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)
  • Fall asters (Symphyotricum spp.)

Annuals

  • Cosmos (Cosmos spp.)
  • California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
  • Sunflower* (Helianthus annuus)
  • Heliotrope (Heliotropium arborescens)
  • Love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena)
  • Breadseed poppy (Papaver somniferum)
  • Portulaca* (Portulaca spp.)
  • Blue anise sage (Salvia guaranitica)
  • Profusion and common zinnias* (Zinnia spp.)
  • Herbs
  • Chives and onions (Allium spp.)
  • Borage (Borago officinalis)
  • Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
  • Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)
  • Mints (Mentha spp.)
  • Catmints (Nepeta spp.)
  • Creganos (Origanum spp.)
  • Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
  • Rue (Ruta graveolens)
  • Sage (Salvia officinalis)
  • Thyme (Thymus spp.)

Shrubs

  • Heather (Calluna vulgaris)
  • Blue mist bush (Caryopteris x clandonensis)
  • Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
  • Winter heath (Erica carnea)
  • Lavenders (Lavandula spp.)
  • Sumacs (Rhus spp.)
  • Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)

Trees

  • Maples (Acer spp.)
  • Alders (Alnus spp.)
  • Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
  • Hazels (Corylus spp.)
  • Tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)
  • Fruit trees, especially apple, plum, and cherry (Malus andPrunus spp.)
  • Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)
  • Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
  • Willows (Salix spp.)
  • Basswood/linden (Tilia spp.)

Weeds

  • Viper’s bugloss (Echium vulgare)
  • Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
  • Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
  • Clovers (Trifolium and Melilotus spp.)