Best Plants For Bees

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:

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🌼 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.

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🌸 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.

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🌺 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.

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🌻 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.

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🪴 Bee-Friendly Trees and Shrubs:

• Hawthorn

• Hazel

• Maple

• Fruit trees (Apple, Cherry, Plum, etc.)

• Rosemary (evergreen in mild climates)

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🌱 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.