30 Flowering Plants That Attract Bees & Other Pollinators
Support pollinators with a wide variety of bee-attracting flowers (that look and smell great too)!
Bees and flowers go together like... well, let's just say they're a perfect match. They are literally made for each other. So it shouldn't be surprising that, if you have any kind of a flower garden, you'll get at least a few buzzing around.
Some flowers draw a lot more bees than others, however—and different flowers can attract different kinds of bees. Then there are some flowers—often those with longer, narrow, tubular openings that have evolved more to attract hummingbirds or butterflies, that won't draw as many bees.
A good pollinator-friendly garden, therefore, has flowers that will draw not just one kind of pollinator, but many—including many different types of bees, from honeybees to more native bees such as bumblebees, wood bees, and other non-hive bees.
Why try to attract bees to your yard? Bees are a fantastic and valuable part of any ecosystem. Not only will your flowers be healthier, but if you're growing a vegetable garden, your field or plot is more likely to produce with bees in the area.
But then there are aesthetic reasons to want to encourage bees as well, we think! Aside from a few rare species, most bees are nonaggressive. But sitting out in the garden, listening to the low hum of bees at work, busily collecting nectar and pollinating plants, can be a lovely and relaxing sound. It's a way of remembering that the garden you're growing isn't just for you, and you're not the only one working to keep it vibrant and growing. How lovely is that?
Here's a list of 30 flowers that we found do a better-than-average job of bringing in buzzers. Many are native, with a likely long relationship with native bees. But some are simply more attractive to our little pollinating friends. Plant a variety of these and you're likely to see your whole garden getting healthier.
Read more gardening stories from Country Living:
Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa)
With a name like Bee Balm, it's a no-brainer that this fun flower will bring plenty of buzzing pollinators of all kinds. Also known as wild bergamot, this native wildflower is fragrant as well as pretty. Plant in a sunny spot for spring and summer blooms.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Soil: moist and well-drained
Read More: 30 Best Summer Flowers to Bloom in Your Home Garden
Ice Plant (Delosperma spp.)
These hardy South African natives grow in a wide variety of colors that include bi-color, magenta, orange, pink, purple, scarlet, and yellow.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Sun Exposure: full sun (at least 6 hours)
Soil: sandy or loamy, and well-drained
Read More: How to Care for Ice Plant
Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
These fast-growing flowers usually appear in the spring and includes species that blossom in a number of colors including blue, orange, red, and white.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Sun Exposure: partial shade but some varieties tolerate full sun
Soil: nutrient rich, moist, and well-drained
Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)
The vining version of this gorgeous flowering plant can thrive climbing walls, trellises, and pergolas. Best part: You can pick up these popular climbing vines at your local garden center.
It also comes as a shrub, and can be called European honeysuckle or woodbine. Be aware: a number of exotic species are considered invasive in parts of the country.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Sun Exposure: partial sun
Soil: nutrient rich, moist, and well-drained
Read More: 30 Best Flowering Vines to Add Vertical Color
Red Valerian (Valeriana rubra)
The sweet-smelling tiny crimson flowers of this plant naturally attract pollinators like butterflies and bees. It will bloom throughout the growing season during the summer and it's a wonderful addition to cut flowers gardens.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8
Sun Exposure: full sun to partial shade
Soil: loamy, moist, and well-drained
Sweet Scabious (Scabiosa atropurpurea)
If you want to add some showy flowers to your garden, add these honey scented beauties to the mix. They're also known
as pincushion flowers and mourningbride.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7
Sun Exposure: full sun
Soil: nutrient rich, moist, and well-drained
Read More: 11 Fragrant Night-Blooming Flowers That Will Make Your Evenings So Much Lovelier
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
This North American perennial is loved by pollinators! It works well as ground cover and looks pretty in open garden spaces. Plant them in loamy soil for healthy blossoms.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Sun Exposure: full sun
Soil: nutrient rich and well-drained
Read More: 7 Perennials That Will Bloom Multiple Times This Summer
Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
The short-lived herbaceous perennial emits fragrance that is often compared to licorice, mint, and crushed fennel seeds. It's a wonderful plant that can be used as an ornamental, and it's deer tolerant!
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Sun Exposure: full to partial sun
Soil: fertile and well-drained
Read More: 38 Deer-Resistant Plants to Protect Your Garden From Bambi and Friends
Goldenrod
Often confused with the allergy-inducing ragweed, goldenrod's pollen is actually too heavy to be airborne.
It blooms late into the season, when hungry bees flock to its blooms.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 8
Sun Exposure: partial to full sun
Soil: dry to moist and well-drained
Keep Reading: 25 Yellow Flowers for the Happiest Garden
Black-Eyed Susan
Related to the sunflowers, these yellow flowering plants are a native wildflower. Sun-loving and drought tolerant, these flowers bloom starting in the summer and into the fall months.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Sun Exposure: full sun
Soil: medium moisture and well-drained
Read More: 15 Easiest Flowers to Grow for Blooms All Year
Borage (Borago officinalis)
Also known as starflower, this annual is an herb, meaning you can snack on borage alongside the bees. The flowers, leaves, and stems are all edible with a faint cucumber taste.
USDA Hardiness Zones: annual
Sun Exposure: light shade, full sun
Soil: nutrient rich and well-drained
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Bees love the cup-shaped flowers of this native wildflower. Look for their orange, yellow, pink, or white blooms in the spring months.
USDA Hardiness Zones: Annual or short lived perennial in 8 to 10
Sun Exposure: full sun
Soil: sandy and well-drained
Read More: 10 Ideas for Growing a Wildflower Garden Wherever You Live
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Violet pom-pom-shaped flowers pop up in chive patches in the early spring months. Plant chives in a pot versus directly in the ground, as they are fast growers and can easily overtake a garden.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Sun Exposure: full sun
Soil: nutrient rich, moist, and well-drained
Read More: Everything You Should Know Before Starting an Herb Garden
Lupine (Lupinus spp.)
The tall, spiky flowers of lupine start blooming in late spring. Plant in a sunny spot—while lupine can tolerate some shade, it won't bloom as well. Make sure you've got well-draining soil and water regularly.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 9
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Soil: acidic, well-drained
Annual Honesty (Lunaria annua)
Add this drought-resistant European native to your garden. It will make your outdoor space smell sweet and attract pollinators to your yard.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Sun Exposure: partial sun
Soil: nutrient rich, moist, and well-drained
Read More: How to Attract Mason Bees to Your Garden—and Why
Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)
Bees will swarm to the bottle-brush shaped flowers of a liatris plant. Plant in the spring and wait for those summer blooms to appear. These tall blooms make them useful for bouquets!
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Sun Exposure: full sun
Soil: sandy or dry/medium moisture, well-drained
Read More: 52 Easy DIY Flower Arrangement Ideas
Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
While marigolds are beneficial to plant around food-producing plants to ward off any number of pests, honey bees will flock to their bright orange, red, and yellow blooms.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11
Sun Exposure: full sun
Soil: evenly moist, well-drained
Mint (Mentha spp.)
A delightful garden herb, the lavender flowers of a mint plant will appear sometime between June and September. Like chives, mint should be planted in a pot, as it's a quick spreader and will choke out nearby plants.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 11
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Soil: moist, well-drained
Read More: Everything You Should Know Before Starting an Herb Garden
Nasturtium
All parts of this easy-to-grow annual are edible. Toss the lily pad-like leaves and brightly hued flowers in salads or use to garnish grilled fish.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
Sun Exposure: full sun (6+ hours a day)
Soil: slightly acidic, moist, well-drained
Read More: How to Grow Nasturtiums Indoors or Out
Pansy (Viola × wittrockiana)
Pansies love cool weather, so plant them in the early spring and fall. They are great as a pot or border plant, and with proper care, can flower almost all year long, although bees may only visit in the warmer months.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 11
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Soil: evenly moist, well-drained
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