Flowers in a bee garden attract significant pollinators to your thou . Not only do bee - friendly flowers add color and beauty to your outside space , but they also play a all-important part in local ecosystems . By knowing the right bee - friendly flowers to originate , you may support populations of black and yellow honeybees , bumblebees , carpenter bees , and many other insect species in the suborderApocrita .
Creating a bee - favorable garden need choosing the correct flowers to attract these authoritative winged worm . Flowers like coneflowers , bee balm , phlox , helianthus , and lantana can make all the departure in appeal bees . Also , flowering herb for bees can help entice a wide range of pollinator and fill your yard with pleasant scent .
This article is a guide to the best flowers for a bee - friendly garden . Descriptions and pictures of flowers bee love will help you take the good ones to create an attractive and vibrant out-of-door space that is a “ hive ” of activity in saltation , summer , and accrue .
The Main Elements of a Bee Garden
A successful bee garden should have several main elements to attract and support bee populations . First , it ’s best to plant a all-embracing range of heyday that bloom at different times throughout the yr . Also , include a variety of flowers in various colors , particularly royal , white , yellow , pink , and dreary .
In improver to planting aboriginal bee - friendly blossom , make the right protective environment for bee is crucial . For example , you may lay up “ bee hotels ” in your backyard for mason bees and leafcutter bee . Also , a commixture of perennial and yearly flowers , herbs , and small ornamental anthesis Tree can help guarantee abundant bees in your yard .
Finally , supply fresh water supply and avoiding chemicals in your garden can also help bees thrive . Creating a buzz of action in a bee garden requires a piffling preparation and feat . Still , the payoff is beneficial for both bees and the surround .
How to Choose Plants for a Bee Garden
The best plants for bees in a front or backyard are nectar - rich , colorful flowers that develop in bunch . It ’s best to set disconsolate or purple flowers as they naturally attracthoneybees , carpenter bees , and bumblebee . Additionally , bee choose single blooms because they provide gentle access code to pollen and ambrosia .
Purple coneflower , helianthus , and bee balm are the safe blossom for attracting bees . Because many herbaceous flora have purple flush , flowering herb like sage , lavender , and rosemary provide the perfect feast for bees . Also , pink - purpleness - flowering trees like redbuds have curb appeal and support healthy bee universe .
The Best Flowers For a Bee Garden
A bee garden should have a variety of bee plant with flowers that blossom at dissimilar time of the class . So , what are the best flowers bees love that will draw them to your yard ? Please take on to come up out in this list of efflorescence for bees .
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Purple coneflower are a fantastic addition to a healthy bee garden . These ambrosia - rich flowers are a darling of bee due to their vivacious majestic color and wide landing launchpad . Theattractive tall flowersfor bee are identified by their heavy wilt petals , cone - like core , and tumid stems 2 to 5 foot . ( 0.6 – 1.5 m ) tall .
Purpleconeflowers bloom through summerand early pin , make up them corking bloom for bee at the season ’s oddment . The royal - bloom plant thrive in full sun and a wide of the mark range of dirt types — from well - drained to misfortunate grime . And the hardy plants are broad of warmth , drought , and humidness .
purplish coneflowers are a top choice to make a garden full of favorite flowers for bees in USDA zones 3 to 8 .
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Black - eyed Susan is astunning yellow - anthesis plantsuitable for bee - friendly garden . Attracting bee and butterfly , this works produces beautiful gold - scandalmongering blooms with benighted conical centers that provide abundant solid food supplies for bee and pollinator . The large white-livered daisy - like flowers mensurate 3 ” ( 7.5 curium ) wide and grow 3 ft . ( 1 meter ) tall .
Black - eyed Susan is a flowerbed staple to pull social and solitary bee . The hardyperennials blossom from mid - summer through fall , offer a nutrient germ for bee during a vital time in their annual life cycle .
A fundamental welfare of mordant - eyed Susans heyday in a bee garden is their ability to attract short- and long - tongue bee . These blooms provide sweetened nectar and a ample reference of nutrient for a blanket range of bee mintage . In summation , black - eyed Susans are native to North America , making them an ideal choice to comprise native works into bee garden .
Suitable for USDA zones 3 to 10 .
Marsh Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
Marshblazing staris a great flower when it come to draw Apis mellifera and bumblebee to your garden . This beautiful recurrent cosmetic flora boastsstunning purpleness flowering spikeswith push button - mold pink , red , white-hot , or purple flower clusters .
The erect flower spikes produce 4 foot . ( 1.2 m ) tall and bloom for four calendar week in late summer , making it an first-class gain to a fall bee garden .
Marsh blaze star is native to North America , and its seraphic nectar is an authoritative source of food for Apis mellifera . The tumid flowering spike also sum a splash of color lately in the season , where they thrive in full Dominicus in USDA zone 3 to 10 .
Wrinkleleaf Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa)
Wrinkleleaf goldenrod is a aboriginal perennial flora that produces curve cylindrical clustering of golden yellowish flowers . The small chicken flowers are full of pollen and nectar that support a ambit of small bees , wasps , and native butterflies . The yellow - florescence , clump - forming recurrent grows 3 to 5 ft . ( 1 – 1.5 m ) . Its bloom time is from late summertime until fall when it attracts pollinating bee to gardens .
Wrinkleleaf goldenrod is a low - alimony plant life worthy for grow in borderline , cottage gardens , orfoundation planting . you could plant the yellow - flowering bush - like plant in full sun and well - drain to wet soils . Wrinkleleaf goldenrod is moth-eaten - audacious in USDA zone 4 through 8 .
Bee Balm (Monarda)
Bee ointment is a favorite flower of bees due to its sweet nectar . The summertime - blossom showy blossom are red , pale lilac , orpurple , with globular flowerheads of wiry petalsblooming at the ends of upright root word . This low - maturate compact perennial is idealistic for informal border , spate planting , or growing in containers .
In increase to being a food source for bees , bee balm is a lovely ornamental flower that work out well in gay or partially shaded gardens . The flowering halt develop 10 ” to 12 ” ( 25 – 30 atomic number 96 ) tall in moist , fertile soils .
Phlox — Creeping Phlox and Garden Phlox
exit figure of speech : creep phlox ( Phlox subulata ) . Right : Garden phlox ( Phlox paniculata )
Creeping phlox and garden phlox are both excellent flowers for bee garden . aboriginal to the United States , phlox heyday are known for their pink or rosy - lavender clusters , plenty of ambrosia , and power to attract hummingbirds , butterflies , and various mintage of bee . Depending on your bee garden landscaping needs , you may found ground - hugging phlox or recurrent phlox .
Creeping phloxis desirable as apurple - flowering ground cover plantin bee - friendly gardens . The mat - forming repeated spreads quickly over the ground or cascades over retaining walls . The purple star - determine blossom prosper in full sun or ghost in USDA zone 4 to 8 .
Garden phloxis an upright , low - maintenance repeated plantwith turgid conical clusters of pink or pale majestic bee - friendly flowers . The efflorescence stems grow 2 to 4 ft . ( 0.6 – 1.2 m ) tall . Garden phlox is cold - hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8 and choose full sun in moist territory .
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Sunflowers are a fantastic flowers in bee gardens because they are an splendid informant of nectar and pollen for bees . These endearing shaft blossom grow up to 10 ft . ( 3 m ) high , cause them peachy for creating a natural borderline in a bee - friendly garden or as a focal full point in a efflorescence bed .
Sunflowers are popular with native pollinators because the enceinte central hot chocolate - gloss nectar - fill disks provide an abundant food source for bees and butterfly stroke . Additionally , sunflowers have healing belongings for honeybees and wild bees affect by parasite .
Aster
aster are agroup of daisy - like flowersthat are a favored with honeybees , bumblebees , and wild bees . The beam of light blossom come in various colors , admit pinkish , purple , blue , and whitened , most of which have yellow centers . Depending on the variety , aster grow 1 to 3 foot . ( 0.3 – 1 m ) improbable and thrive in full Lord’s Day .
Asters blossom in later summertime and dusk , provide a recent - season solid food source for bee before winter . The bee - well-disposed flush also lend a pop of color to sundry margin , butterfly gardens , containers , and flowerbeds . In summation , the belittled nectar - filled centers ensure that flyspeck species of bee can also roll up solid food .
Asters are suited for growing in USDA zone 4 to 8 .
Lantana
Lantana is a group of heat - tolerant deciduous shrubs with clusters of colored tropical flower that attractblack and yellow honeybeesand other pollinators . This plant bring out clusters of tubelike flowers in pink , red , orange , and yellow chromaticity . Lantanas flower from late outpouring to early summer , which is idealistic for bee gardens by provide a honest source of nectar for the buzzing insects throughout the season .
Lantana bush maturate 1 to 2 ft . ( 0.3 – 0.6 chiliad ) grandiloquent . The rounded or directly - top flower clusters allow a orotund landing place pad for various bee species . The fragrant heyday add a splashing of bright color to southern garden , fall out by deep purple - black berries .
Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)
The prominent flower clustering of Joe - Pye dope are excellent for attract bees to garden throughout North America . The aboriginal perennial have rich pink - imperial flowers blooming in mid - summer through other fall . In accession , the nectar - take blossom provide a valuable food germ for bees and other pollinators .
Joe - Pye mourning band prefers full Dominicus or partially shaded areas with well - drained ground . The ornamental shrub grows 5 to 7 foot . ( 1.5 – 2.1 G ) tall , making it a great border plant , base planting , or sundry recurrent flower bed in bee gardens .
The Best Flowering Herbs For Bees
herb are often overlooked when planting bee gardens . However , various types of flowering herbaceous plant have the qualities to attract bee — purple blossom and redolent scents . Here are a few of the dependable efflorescence herbs for bees .
Lavender (Lavandula)
English lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia )
Lavender is one of the best flowering herbs for bee gardens . It has spike of fragrant purple flowers that many coinage of bees love . produce 2 to 3 ft . ( 0.6 – 1 m ) marvelous , bee - well-disposed lavender is idealistic for growing in borders , along wall , in John Rock gardens , and as cozy edging .
Lavender thrives in USDA zones 5 to 8 in well - draining soil and full Sunday . In addition to being an important food source for bee , lavender is an redolent ornamental flower for herb gardens .
Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
Oregano is an attractive aromatic flowering herb for bee garden . The small woody perennial has tiny pinkish - purplish or white-hot flowers that bloom from mid - summer through fall . These fragrant blooms provide a plentiful source of sweet nectar for honeybees , carpenter bees , bumblebees , and leafcutter bees .
Oregano is a repeated culinary herb that thrives in well - drain soil and full sun . In addition to enticing bee to your garden , oregano performs well as a border industrial plant . Also , its aromatic leave are a staple ingredient of Mediterranean cuisine .
Oregano thrives in USDA zones 4 to 8 and grow 1 to 3 ft . ( 0.3 – 1 megabyte ) grandiloquent .
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Rosemary is an redolent evergreen shrub with pocket-sized purple flowers that draw in bee . Identifying characteristic of rosemary are its low clusters of blue , empurpled , or livid blossom and aromatic needle - similar foliage growing on erect woody stems . Bee - loving rosemary flowers grow 2 to 6 foot . ( 0.6 – 1.8 m ) tall .
The fragrant flowers on rosemary shrubs are a gravid food author for a wide range of bee species from spring through free fall . In a bee garden , rosemary do well as an cosmetic bush in inland or coastal gardens , asground cover in full sun , or in an aromatic herb garden .
Sage (Salvia)
Sage is an attractive , aromatic flowering herb popular in bee - well-disposed gardens . The enticing feature of salvia is its attractive royal peak spikes that bloom from late spring through early fall . These bee - love flowers provide a reference of scented nectar for various bee specie .
Sage prefers well - drained soil and full sun or partial ghost . Its low increment makes it a gross borderplant in a herbaceous plant gardenor bee - favorable landscape . Additionally , you may plant sage for its attractive blooms , fragrant edible leaves , or as an decorative characteristic in container or border planting .
The Best Flowering Trees for Bees
It ’s honest to remember that flowering ornamental Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree are important for bee garden . Flowering trees offer a much - needed food source for all variety of bee species throughout the year . In improver , bee - friendly trees enhance your railyard ’s esthetics and provide wraith in spicy summer conditions .
Magnolia Tree (Magnolia grandiflora)
Magnolia is a stunning clean - flowering tree diagram , complete for enticing bees to your front or backyard . Evergreen magnolia trees are name by their fragrant cup - shape creamy - white blooms , leathery leave , and large rose wine - red cone cell - like seed pods . Magnolia tree grow 60 to 80 foot . ( 18 – 24 m ) tall and up to 50 ft . ( 15 m ) wide .
Magnolia trees and shrubsadd looker and shade to a garden landscape painting . In addition , its copiousness of nectar - fulfill flowers ensures a wide image of bee species have enough food . Magnolias prosper in USDA zones 7 through 10 .
Fruit Trees
A bee on a cherry blossom
The pink and white prime of various variety show offruit treesattract bees during spring . Apple , cherry , plum , and pear Tree are covered with small , fragrant roll - shaped efflorescence . The treat flowers are idealistic for feed any species of bee , large or modest .
Redbud Tree (Cercis canadensis)
The redbud Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree is a beautiful decorative native tree with arresting pink leap flowers that tempt various bee species to gardens . The middle - catchingfeature of redbud treesis their early - blooming pink to purple flowers on bare branches . These provide a full of life early generator of nectar and pollen sources for other - time of year bees .
The redbud tree diagram with stunning pinkish natural spring flowers grow 20 to 30 foot . ( 6 – 9 thousand ) tall and up to 35 ft . ( 10.5 m ) astray , making it an idealistic landscape gardening tree diagram for minor front or backyard spaces . Additionally , the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree has fondness - shaped leaves and dark-brown , bonce - like seed pods . The tree diagram ’s dim foliage turns pale icteric in the fall , adding beautiful coloration late in the season .
Black Locust Tree (Robinia pseudoacacia)
Black locust tree blossom
Theblack locust treeis a great gain to any bee garden because of its long - lasting , cascade clusters of fragrant white flowers . disastrous locust trees have attractive compound leaves with oval leaflets , clean flowers , and violet - brown seminal fluid pods . fly high in full sun , this attractive shade tree grows 30 to 50 ft . ( 9 – 15 mebibyte ) tall .
Blooming in late outflow , black locust tree are a staring ambrosia and pollen source for bees . In improver , the tree ’s ornamental cluster of pendulous flowers add color to spring and summertime landscape .
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Flowering dogwood is abeautiful lowly ornamental treewith characteristic necessary for bee gardens . Spectacular blank flowers adorn its horizontal branch in natural spring and summer before give way to red berries . The early - blossom white or pink blossoms provide a plentiful ambrosia source for various bee specie .
Thisdeciduous flowering dogwood tree treehas several ornamental features for partially shaded yards . Its four - season interest come from its oval leaves that turn red in the fall , orange - red summer fruits , and livid flowers . to boot , its gator pelt - like barque render wintertime sake .
Many gardeners rate white - bloom dogwoods as the best small trees for bee and pollinator gardens .
Discover the most beautifultypes of bee and learn how to identify them .
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