Opened on February 26, 2021. Last updated by The POOG on March 02, 2021.

Apart from sources that give general advice[2][3][6], specific plants are listed below. Since there is such a wide range of flowers available, take time to research them and find varieties that please you while giving coverage from early spring into the fall.

Garden and Wild Plants

Spring Blooming

  • Bluebell[2]:
  • Bugle[2]:
  • Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii)[5]: spring and summer.
  • Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)[5]: spring and summer.
  • Forget-me-not[2]:
  • Crocus[2]:
  • Foxglove[2]:
  • Heather
  • Heliotrope
  • Primrose[2]:
  • Pulmonaria[2]:
  • Rosemary[2]:

Summer Blooming

  • Allium[2]:
  • Alstroemeria[5]:
  • Aster x frikartii[5]: early summer to fall.
  • Bee balm (Monarda)[5]: also attract hummingbirds.
  • Black scabiosa (Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black’)[5]:
  • Borage (Borago officinalis)[5]:
  • Blanket flower[5]:
  • Campanula[2]: early S.
  • Catnip
  • Cape Fuchsia[5]: draws bees and hummingbirds.
  • Chives
  • Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)[4]: June to July.
  • Delphinium[2]: early S.
  • Fennel[5]:
  • Hollyhoc[2]: early S.k
  • Honesty[2]: early S.
  • Honeysuckle[2]:
  • Horsemint (Monarda punctata, perennial)[4]:
  • Blue Giant Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum, perennial)[4]:
  • Lantana[5]: all year.
  • Lion’s tail (Leonotis leonurus)[5]: summer and fall.
  • Oregano[5]: draws bees and hummingbirds.
  • Potentilla[2]: early S.
  • Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia)[5]: draws bees and hummingbirds.
  • Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp., annual or perennia)[4]:
  • Salvia[5]: hummingbirds like it. Summer of fall depending on variety.
  • Snapdragon[2]:
  • Stachys[2]: early S.
  • Sunflower (Helianthus annuus, annual):[4][5]: choose pollen-bearing varieties.
  • Sweet alyssum[5]:
  • Teasel[2]: early S.
  • Thyme[2]: early S.
  • Verbascum[2]: early S.
  • Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)[4][5]: spring to fall.

Late Summer to Fall Blooming

  • Asters (Symphotrichum spp., perennial)[2]:
  • Buddleja[2]:
  • Cardoon[2]:
  • Fennel[5]:
  • Coneflower (Echinacea)[4][5]:
  • Cornflower[2]:
  • Cosmos
  • Dahlia[2]:
  • Eryngium[2]:
  • Globe thistle[2]:
  • Goldenrod (Solidago spp., perennial)[4]:
  • Heather[2]:
  • Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp., perennial)[4]:
  • Lavender (Lavandula)[2][5]:
  • Penstemon[2]:
  • Pumpkin
  • Scabious[2]:
  • Sedum[2]:
  • Squash
  • Verbena bonariensis[2]:

Shrubs and Bushes

  • Blueberry
  • Cranberry
  • Raspberry
  • Rhododendron

Trees

  • Crabapple
  • Hazelnut
  • Willow

References

  1. 25 Plants For Bees In Your Garden. Bee Friendly.
  2. Best plants for bees. Gardeners’ World. July 06, 2018.
  3. Deeley A. Planting A Bee Friendly Garden. Beverley Bees.
  4. 10 Terrific Flowers for Honey Bees. Fafard. May 14, 2014.
  5. Silver J. Plant a Pollinator Garden to Get Bees, Hummingbirds, and Butterflies Buzzing. Sunset. January 30, 2012.
  6. How to create a pollinator-friendly garden. David Suzuki Foundation.