30 Best Flowers for Bees: Plants That Attract Bees

If you want to bee the hero for these amazing pollinators and improve the growth of your garden, growing plants that attract bees is one of the best ways to help. From colorful blooms to fragrant favorites, here is a list of 30 standout flowers that are especially effective at drawing bees and enriching your outdoor space.

Bees In The Garden

Not only are bees positively adorable and some of our most important pollinators, but bee populations have also been on the decline in recent years due to pesticides, habitat loss, and other factors. This has direct implications for gardeners everywhere as many of our plants rely on pollinators to grow, bloom, and fruit!

Plants like squash, cucumbers, and many fruit trees rely on insects to pollinate their flowers and they just won’t fruit without them. But aside from these edible crops, many ornamental plants, shrubs, and trees also rely on pollinators to reproduce and to conserve the natural genetic diversity that helps plants adapt to a changing climate, pest invasions, and more. Most of the pollination is carried out by native pollinators—including beetles, butterflies, flies, and moths—but native bees are the unsung heroes. (Note: Honeybees are non-natives and not as important for widespread pollination.)

Today, it’s estimated that there are more honeybees than ever due to the increased interest in backyard beekeeping and the use of honeybees in large-scale agriculture. However, honeybees are not native to North America, and native North American bees are declining fast. This includes carpenter bees, bumble bees, and sweat bees, which are particularly efficient at pollinating plants. In fact, one study found that in a 10-hour day, a single bumblebee can pollinate upwards of 6,000 flowers – pretty impressive for a creature that’s just about the size of a dime!

Attracting bees to your garden with food and sheltering plants that bees love can make all the difference for these pollinators as they face increasing threats from habitat loss, climate change, and other stressors. Focusing your efforts on growing native plants specifically will often give you the biggest bang for your buck. But as you’ll see below, non-native plants can benefit bees too.

Plants that Attract Bees

Ever dealt with the frustration of seeing blossoms fall off your vegetable plants because they have not been pollinated? Attract native bees!

Bees feed on the nectar and pollen of flowering plants, but solitary native bees also use the hollow stems of certain plants for winter shelter and as nesting sites for their young. Including a variety of plants that bloom at different times and that offer both sheltering and food options for bees can make your garden that much more appealing to bees of all sorts. Even if you don’t have much space for a bee garden, adding just a few well-chosen plants to a window box or planter can create an important waystation for hungry bees on the search for food!

Annual Flowers

Annual flowers grow for a single season and then die away when winter hits. These plants often produce the showiest flowers and are commonly kept in planters and pots, but can also be interspersed throughout flower beds or used as companion plants in veggie gardens to attract bees and other pollinators.

Some of the annual plants on the list below can be grown as perennials in warm climates, but are usually kept as annuals in cold climates and replaced each year. Because they grow quickly, annuals are often easy to start from seed — which can be much more affordable than buying pre-started plants from the local nursery!

Perennial Flowers

Perennials offer the highest quality nectar and pollen but there are exceptions. Some bees are specialists, like the squash bee that prefers only squash, pumpkin, and gourd blossoms. Unlike annuals, perennial plants come back year after year, which can make them more affordable in the long run. When selecting perennials for your garden, look for plants native to your region and choose ones with a range of flower colors and bloom shapes. Plants with broad, open flowers serve as excellent “landing pads” for bees and other pollinators, but plants with cup-shaped or wide, tubular flowers can also be ideal for attracting native bees!

Shrubs

When most growers think about plants for bees, they envision small perennial and annual flowers. But larger shrubs, especially native ones, can also provide important food and sheltering resources for native bees, too!

Factors To Consider When Choosing Flowers

While many flowering plants provide some benefits to bees, some plants are especially beneficial to bees and other pollinators. When selecting flowers for your garden, here are a few tips that will help you choose the very best plants for bees!

• Select plants that are rich in nectar and pollen that bees feed on. Plants with hollow or pithy stems will offer shelter to solitary bees, too.
• Choose plants with broad and flat or wide, tubular flowers. Bees love the colors white, blue, yellow, and purple the most!
  Look for plants that bloom at different times throughout the year as well.
• Hybrid plants with double-bloom or pollen-free flowers don’t offer as many benefits to bees as heirloom and native plants.
• Plants that are grown organically or that you start from seed yourself are less likely to have come in contact with harmful pesticides.

Native bees need more than pretty flowers to survive. We need to provide water, shelter, and nesting sites. Banish pesticides and other poisons from your yard. When shopping for plants, look for chemical-free ones. Systemic insecticides can make the whole plant toxic—nectar and pollen included!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Which flowers attract the most bees?

A1: Bright, fragrant blooms like zinnias, sunflowers, and Joe-Pye weed are bee magnets. Think colorful, nectar-rich flowers that are easy for bees to land on.

Q2: Are all bees good for my garden?

A2: Absolutely! While non-native honeybees get most of the attention, native bees, bumblebees, and even sweat bees are the hardest-working pollinators to help your plants thrive. 

Q3: How can I help declining bee populations?

A3: Plant a variety of native flowers, avoid pesticides, provide water, and leave some natural spaces in your garden. Every little buzz counts!

Q4: Can I grow bee-friendly flowers in small spaces or containers?

A4: Yes! Many pollinator favorites like marigolds, lavender, and sunflowers grow beautifully in pots, making small patios or balconies a bee oasis.

Q5: What time of year is best for planting pollinator flowers?

A5: Early spring is perfect for most annuals and perennials to establish before the busy season for bees. Fall is also good for many perennials, bulbs, and native plants, giving roots time to settle for vibrant blooms the following year.