Flowers That Make Your Garden More Bee-Friendly

There are a number of plants with small daisy-like blooms that are referred to as asters, but bees do not discriminate between varieties. They love them all! Some asters, such as New England asters, offer pollen and nectar well into the cooler fall months. This is good because bees are still active even when the weather begins to cool down even after summer, which means they still need food even though it is starting to get chilly out.

Okay so odds are if a plant bears “bee” in its name, bees are undoubtedly going to enjoy it. Enter bee balm blossoms. This striking perennial is related to the mint flower and comes in a variety of shades including pinks, purples, and reds, and it blooms from mid-summer to early fall.

A sunny-flower, Black-Eyed Susans are a hearty and tough prairie plant that can withstand the summer heat making it a staple in every backyard garden. Bees, in particular, love feeding on their nectar and pollen-filled centers. Bonus: Goldfinches will fly to Black-Eyed Susans in the fall to eat and enjoy their seeds. Talk about a flower to enjoy for all seasons!

If you want to plant a flower that not only makes your garden more bee-friendly, but also butterfly-friendly, plant a butterfly bush. These large bushes are fast-growing deciduous shrubs, so they shed their leaves annually, but the lilac and pink flowers are absolutely irresistible to both bees and butterflies alike.

Goldenrod is a perennial that grows back every year, so plant it once, and call it a day. Its bright yellow flowers add a burst of color to a late summer garden making bees go abuzz as we head into the start of early fall. This makes goldenrods yet another valuable food source for bees at the end of the summer season. Plus, they grow just about anywhere with little to no fuss. Not only do goldenrods attract bees, but they also draw in butterflies.

Honeysuckles are incredibly popular garden flowers because they are highly perfumed. Not only does that make them a well-loved option among gardeners, but also among bees. Keep in mind honeysuckle flowers are climbers, so grow them in a place where they can be draped over some sort of support system to really shine and show off their natural beauty.

Lavender and its luscious scent may be well-known for its relaxing properties, but it is also another flower that can make your garden more bee-friendly. This aromatic perennial herb flowers all summer long. Both flowers and foliage are highly aromatic and come in a variety of colors including bluish lavender, deep indigo, lavender, light purple, and sky blue.

Lilacs are lovely and are available in shrubs to small trees depending on what you are looking to plant. They give off a sweet floral fragrance in the spring that keeps both bees and butterflies coming back to your backyard garden for more visits.

These bright crepey flowers come in both annual and perennial versions and are another nectar-rich flower that will attract pollinating insects including bees.

Snapdragons add a bright burst of color to any backyard garden. These sturdy blooms provide food for bees in cooler months and are also sweetly scented for you to enjoy as well.

Sunflowers are cheery flowers that are packed with pollen, which means they provide a pollen playground for pollinators, including bees. Their semi-flat petals provide an easy resting place for bees to take a beat after a long flight. Sunflowers also attract birds and butterflies as well.

Wildflowers and native plants are some of the best flowers and plants for bees. Ideally, every backyard bee garden should have at least a few wildflowers in it as a nice little border.