Bees love plants that provide plenty of nectar and pollen, especially those with open, easily accessible flowers. Here’s a list of the best plants for bees, grouped by category and growing season, to help support their health and activity:

🌼 Top Plants Bees Love (All-Time Favorites):

Lavender – Long-blooming, fragrant, rich in nectar. A bee favorite.
Sunflowers – Provide both nectar and pollen. Bright and easy to spot.
Borage (Starflower) – Replenishes nectar rapidly. Constant bee activity.
Bee Balm (Monarda) – Attracts all pollinators with vibrant, tube-shaped flowers.
Clover (White, Red, Crimson) – Excellent nectar source. Great ground cover.
Thyme, Oregano, Mint, and Basil (Herbs) – When allowed to flower, these become bee magnets.

🌸 Spring-Blooming Plants:

Crocus – One of the earliest pollen sources after winter.
Snowdrops – Delicate, early bloomers that help feed emerging bees.
Willow Trees – Important early-season pollen source, especially for native bees.
Dandelions – Often underrated but vital early nectar and pollen providers.

🌺 Summer-Blooming Plants:

Coneflower (Echinacea) – Long-lasting blooms, easy for bees to land on.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) – Bright, native, and rich in nectar.
Linden Tree (Basswood) – Flowers are irresistible to bees.
Zinnias – Colorful and great for bees and butterflies alike.
Phacelia – Produces abundant nectar. A super-pollinator plant.

🌻 Fall-Blooming Plants:

Goldenrod – Late-season bloom that helps bees build winter stores.
Asters – Essential nectar source when other flowers are fading.
Sedum (Autumn Joy) – A sturdy, drought-tolerant plant full of nectar.

🪴 Bee-Friendly Trees and Shrubs:

Hawthorn
Hazel
Maple
Fruit trees (Apple, Cherry, Plum, etc.)
Rosemary (evergreen in mild climates)

🌱 Tips for Growing a Bee Garden:

Avoid pesticides, especially neonicotinoids.
Choose native plants when possible—they support local bee species best.
Aim for continuous blooming—have something flowering from early spring to late fall.
Plant in clusters—bees like to forage from several of the same flower in one visit.
Leave some bare or messy patches—solitary bees need spots to nest.

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