Gardening for Bees - Seasonal Recommended Plant Lists:

The following lists are based on several years of evaluation and survey work done in Northern and Southern California by our UC research group. Plants are presented seasonally, and in alphabetical order, based on the same scheme used in Sunset Magazine's Western Garden Book (2007), edited by Brenzel. Some information on California native plants is also found in Plants of the San Francisco Bay Region by Beidleman and Kosloff (University of California Press, 2003) and in Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains by McAuley (Canyon Publications Co. CA, 1996).

Below you will find seperate lists for Spring plants and Summer plants, as well as a key to the shorthand used for bee groups/species in the tables. If you have trouble printing this page, or if your browser is having trouble displaying it properly, there is an unstyled set of lists available. Finally, if you would like to have a portable copy of the lists, or perhaps send them to a friend, we have a nicely formatted PDF version available for download (Latest revision: January 2010). For more information, see the additional text at the bottom of this page.



Spring Plants 
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Family		 Origin Annual or
Perennial		 Pollen or Nectar Main Bee
Visitors		 Notes
Arctostaphylos spp. Manzanita Eric. CA Per N B, Ant Visitation by bumble bees is low but consistent.
Achillea millefolium Common Yarrow Aster. CA Per P H
Berberis spp. Barberry Berber. CA Per N Ant, Osm
Borago officinalis Borage Borag. Exotic Ann N Hb, B
Calendula spp. Pot Marigold Aster. Exotic Per P/N H, Meg Visitation is variable.
Carpenteria californica Bush Anemone Philad. CA Per P B, H, Osm, Meg
Ceanothus 'Julia Phelps' Wild lilac Rham. CA Per P/N B, sb, H
Ceanothus 'Ray Hartman' Wild lilac Rham. CA Per P/N B, Hb, H Bumble bees adore this plant.
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus Lilac, Blue Blossom Rham. CA Per P/N B, H, Ant, sb  
Cercis occidentalis West. Redbud Fabac. CA Per N X, Osm Excellent nectar source, but short lived.
Clarkia unguiculata Elegant Clarkia Onagr. CA Ann N B, Osm, Hb Plant in 1-2 meter diameter patches for best attraction.
Collinsia heterophylla Chinese Houses Scroph. CA Ann N B Plant in shade or partial shade.
Echium candicans Pride of Madeira Borag. Exotic Per P/N Hb, B, Ant, Osm An attractive Spring nectar plant.
Echium plantagiuneum Salvation Jane Borag. Exotic Per P/N B, Hb, Ant No summer water.
Encelia californica Bush Sunflower Aster. CA Per P/N Mel, H, Meg, Hb
Erigeron glaucus "Wayne Roderick" Seaside Daisy Aster. CA Per P/N H, Cer Dead-head flowers. Other cultivars less attractive.
Eschscholzia californica California Poppy Papaver. CA Ann P B, H, Hb Mainstay pollen source for many bee species.
Gilia achilleifolia California Gilia Polem. CA Ann P/N B, Hb, And
Gilia capitata Globe Gilia Polem. CA Ann P/N B, Hb, And
Helenium puberulum Sneezeweed Aster. CA Per P/N Meg, Mel Mel. males sleep on flower heads.
Lavandula spp. Lavender Lamiac. Exotic Per N Hb, B, X, Meg  
Layia platyglossa Tidytips Aster. CA Ann P/N Mel, Meg, B, Hb  
Linaria purpurea Toadflax Scroph. Exotic Per N Anthid, B, Hb, Meg, Ant Attracts many bee species.
Marrubium vulgare Horehound Lamiac. Exotic Per N Hb, Meg, B Dead-headand water occasionally.
Mentzelia lindleyi Blazing Star Loas. CA Ann P/N B
Nepeta spp. Catnip Lamiac. Exotic Per N Hb, B, Osm, Ant
Pelargonium graveolens Scented Geranium Geran. Exotic Per N Meg, Hb Relatively low, but consistent, bee visitation.
Penstemon heterophyllus Penstemon Scroph. CA Per N B, Osm Plant in patches greater than one meter in diameter. Likes occasional water.
Penstemon 'midnight' Midnight Penstemon Scroph. Exotic Per N B, Ant
Phacelia californica CA Phacelia Hydro. CA Per P/N And, B, Osm White flowers are small, but very attractive to bumble bees.
Phacelia campanularia CA. Desert Bluebells Hydro. CA Ann P/N B, Hb, Meg
Phacelia grandiflora Large-flower phacelia Hydro. CA Ann P/N B, Hb
Phacelia tanacetifolia Tansy Phacelia Hydro. CA Ann P/N B, And, Osm, Hb, Cer One of the best pollen / nectar sources for several Spring bee species. Pollen is purple!
Phacelia viscida Sticky Phacelia Hydro. CA Ann P/N B, Hb
Rhamnus californica California Coffeeberry Rham. CA Per P/N Hb, Various bee groups (sb) Also attractive to beneficial flies and wasps.
Salvia brandegeei Brandegee Sage Lamiac. CA Per N B, Osm, Hb, Ant
Salvia chamaedryoides Germander Sage Lamiac. Exotic Per N B, Anthid, Hb Likes occasional water.
Salvia greggii Autumn Sage Lamiac. Exotic Per N X, Hb
Salvia 'Indigo Spires' Salvia Indigo Spires Lamiac. Exotic Per N B, X, Hb, Meg, Ant
Salvia mellifera Black Sage Lamiac. CA Per N B, Osm, Hb, Ant
Stachys bullata CA Hedgenettle Lamiac. CA Per N B, Ant Dead-head and water occasionally.
Verbena lasiostachys West. Verbena Verben. CA Per N Hb, Ant, B Dead-head and water regularly to maintain flowering.


Summer Plants 
Scientific Name Common Name Plant
Family		 Origin Annual or
Perennial		 Pollen or Nectar Main Bee
Visitors		 Notes
Agastache spp. Mint, Agastache Lamiac. Exotic Per N B, Hb
Aster chilensis Purple Haze Aster. CA Per p/N Hb, Meg, Mel
Aster x frikartii Monch Aster. Exotic Per P/N Meg, Mel, H Dead-head
Bidens ferulifolia Bidens Aster. Exotic Per P/N Mel, H Flowers all year, but mostly attractive in Summer. Likes modest water.
Calamintha spp. Calamint Lamiac Exotic Per N Hb, B Attracts many bee species.
Caryopteris incana Bluebeard Verb. Exotic Per P/N Hb, Ant, Meg Likes modest water.
Caryopteris x clandonensis Blue Mist Verb. Exotic Per P/N Hb, Ant, Meg Likes modest water.
Centaurea cineraria Dusty Miller Aster. Exotic Per P/N Meg, Hb
Coreopsis grandiflora cultivars Tickseed Aster. Exotic Per P/N Meg, Mel, H, Osm Best cultivars: "Flying Saucers," "Sunny Day," and "Tequilla Sunrise"
Cosmos bipinnatus & Cosmos sulphureus Cosmos Aster. Exotic Ann P/N Mel, Hb, H, Meg Dead-head; likes modest water.
Cucurbitaceae Pumpkin, Squash, Zucchini Cucrbit. CA Ann P/N Hb, P  
Duranta erecta Skyflower Verb. Exotic Per N B, Hb, Ant Meg's also use leaves to build nests.
Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflower Aster. Exotic Per P/N Mel, Meg, H Large patches attract best.
Encelia california Bush Sunflower Aster. CA Per P/N Hb, Mel, Meg, H  
Erigeron glaucus "Wayne Roderick" Seaside Daisy Aster. CA Per P/N H, Meg, Cer, Hb  
Eriogonum fasciculatum CA buckwheat Polygon. CA Per N Hb, Meg Many other beneficial insects also visit these flowers.
Eriogonum grande rubescens Red Buckwheat Polygon. CA Per N Meg, H
Eriogonum latifolium Coast Buckwheat Polygon. CA Per N B, H
Eriogonum nudum Buckwheat Polygon. CA Per N Hb, B
Eryngium spp. Sea Holly Apiac. Exotic Per N Meg, B, Hb Highly attractive plants for bees, especially Megachilids.
Gaillardia x grandiflora Gaillardia Aster. Exotic Per P/N Hb, Meg, Mel Numerous cultivars exist; most are attractive.
Gaillardia "Oranges & Lemons" Oranges & Lemons Aster. Exotic Per P/N Hb, Mel, Meg, H  
Grindelia hirsutula Hairy Gum Plant Aster. CA Per P/N Meg, Mel, Hb, H Dead-head and water for continuous flowering.
Grindelia stricta Gum Plant Aster. CA Per P/N Meg, Mel, Hb, H, B  
Helianthus annuus Sunflower Aster. CA Ann P/N Meg, Mel, Hb, B Dead-head
Helianthus 'Lemon Queen' Lemon Queen Aster. Exotic Per P/N Several species Highly attractive plant for bees. Dies back in Winter.
Helianthus 'Mardi Gras' Mardi Gras Aster. Exotic Per P/N Meg, Mel, Hb  
Horkelia marinensis Pt. Reyes Horkelia Rosac. CA Per P/N B, Meg Small plant; big attractor for Megachilids.
Lavandula spp Lavender Lamiac. Exotic Per N Hb, B, X, Meg, Ant Some lavender species are more attractive than others.
Linaria purpurea Toadflax Scroph. Exotic Per N Anthid, B, Hb, Osm, Ant Attracts many bee species.
Lotus corniculatus Bird's Foot Trefoil Fabac. Exotic Ann N Meg A pretty weed, and small Megachilid bees love it.
Lotus scoparius Deerweed Fabac. CA Per N Hb, B, Meg Great nectar source and does well in poor soils.
Madia elegans densiflora Elegant Madia Aster. CA Ann P/N Mel, Hb Flowers close early in warm weather.
Marrubium vulgare Horehound Lamiac. Exotic Per N Hb, B, Meg Dead-head and water occasionally.
Mentha spicata Spearmint Lamiac. Exotic Per N Various bee groups(sb)
Monardella odoratissima Mountain Monardella Lamiac. CA Per N B, Osm
Nepeta x faassenii Catmint Lamiac. Exotic Per N Hb, B, Mel, Osm, Ant Long flowering.
Origanum spp. Oregano Lamiac. Exotic Per N Hb, Meg
Penstemon heterophyllus Penstemon Scroph. CA Per N B, H, Osm, Ant Likes occasional water.
Perovskia atriplicifolia Russian Sage Lamiac. Exotic Per N Hb, B, Meg Highly attractive bee plant.
Rosmarinus officinalis Rosemary Lamiac. Exotic Per N Hb, H, Meg Low-growing cultivars are more attractive than tall ones.
Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan Aster. Exotic Ann/Per P/N Mel, Meg, H Large-flower varieties attract best.
Rudbeckia laciniata cultivars no common name Aster. Exotic Per P/N Mel Dead-head
Salvia chamaedryoides Germander Sage Lamiac. Exotic Per N B, Hb, Anthid Anthidium male bees patrol this flower and chase away other bees. Likes occasional water.
Salvia uliginosa Bog Sage Lamiac. Exotic Per N X, Hb, Meg, Cer Likes consistent water. Also attracts hummingbirds and Monarch butterflies.
Scabiosa atropurpurea Pincushion flower Dipsac. Exotic Per P/N Mel, Hb
Solidago californica Goldenrod Aster CA Per P/N H, Meg, Hb Attractive bee plant and some cultivars (such as Soladago 'Leraft') are very attractive.
Teucrium x lucidrys Wall Germander Lamiac. Exotic Per N H, Ant, Xylo  
Thymus spp. Thyme Lamiac. Exotic Per N Sb, Meg
Verbena lasiostachys Verbena Verben. CA Per N Hb, Ant Dead-head and water regularly to maintain flowering.
Vitex agnus-castus Chaste Tree Verben. Exotic Per P/N Xylo, B, Meg, Hb


Key To Bee Groups 
B Bombus (Bumble Bee)
Anthid Anthidium (Megachilidae)
sb One of the many varieties of small bees.
X Xylocopa (Carpenter Bee)
Osm Osmia (Megachilidae)
H Halictid
And Andrenid
Meg Megachilid (Leaf Cutter and Mason Bees)
Ant Anthophorid (Digger Bees)
Hb European Honey Bee
Mel Melissodes (an Anthophorid)
Cer Ceratina (Small Carpenter Bee)
P Peponapsis (Squash Bee)

Additional Information on the Seasonal Recommended Plant Lists 

Most information used to create these lists (For example; plant form, flower color, soil and cultivation requirements) can be found in the Sunset Garden Book. Local nurseries can also be helpful with specific information. All of the plants listed here will flower within one or two years; most during the first year of planting. Other evaluated plants (for example, large shrubs and trees) known to be attractive to bees can be found in our exhaustive Complete Plant List [PDF] (last compiled December, 2003).

For best results in bee gardening, we recommend that advanced planning takes place to insure that continual bee floral food will be available for both Spring and Summer seasons. There are distinct groups of bees present in Spring and in Summer; some groups can also be observed year round. In our experimental gardens in the Bay Area we always plant a minimum of 10-15 diverse bee plants each season. Higher bee diversity and abundance occurs when gardens have a rich assortment of bee plants. It also appears that bees remain longer in a garden if plant diversity is high. Finally, we find that patch size of about 1 meter in diameter or larger is best for keeping foraging bees visiting a given plant species or cultivar. Smaller patch sizes, of usually attractive plants, will often be ignored.

Once your bee garden is established, be sure to take time to closely observe the different bee groups/species that will visit your plants. Each bee species behaves slightly differently than all others, which helps in identification. Bee watching can be as enjoyable as bird watching once your eyes get adjusted to their movements. Note also that certain bee groups/species will be predictably found on certain plant types.