22 Flowering Plants to Attract Bees

Goldenrod

Often confused with the allergy-inducing ragweed, goldenrod is actually believed to have many health benefits, including pain and inflammation reduction. Bees flock to its golden blooms.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 8
Sun Exposure: average to full sun
Soil: dry to moist, well-drained

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Bee Balm

The fragrant foliage of bee balm (also know as wild bergamot) will attract pollinators to your garden. 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, well-drained

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Black Eyed Susan

Related to sunflowers, this yellow flowering plant in 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, well-drained

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Borage

You can snack on borage alongside the bees. The flowers, leaves, and stems are all edible with a faint cucumber taste.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 10
Sun Exposure: light shade, full sun
Soil: fertile, well-drained

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California Poppies

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: 3 to 10
Sun Exposure: full sun
Soil: sandy or low fertility, well-drained

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Chive Flowers

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: fertile and moist, well-drained

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Lupine

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: 3 to 9
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Soil: acidic, well-drained

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Liatris

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.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Sun Exposure: full sun
Soil: sandy and dry/medium moisture, well-drained

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Marigold

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

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Mint

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

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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

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Pansy

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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Peony

A late spring bloomer, a peony's large fluffy flowers come in a range of colors, sizes, and shapes. Plant bare-root specimens in a sunny spot in the fall for spring blooms.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Sun Exposure: full sun (6-8+ hours a day)
Soil: slightly moist, well-drained

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Lantana

These easy to grow flowers thrive in spaces with plenty of sunlight. Colorful lantana blossoms all through summer and attract bees and even hummingbirds. They also work well in landscape beds and box containers.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 12
Sun Exposure: full sun (6+ hours a day)
Soil: slightly acidic, well-drained

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Snowdrops

An early spring bloomer, these flowers serve as a fresh nectar source for bees. Often appearing when there is still snow on the ground, these bulbs are low maintenance.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 12
Sun Exposure: full sun (6+ hours a day)
Soil: slightly acidic, well-drained

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Phlox

There are many varieties of phlox, which can range from low-growing ground cover to tall breeds that can add height to the backs of your flower beds. Bees will flock to the highly fragrant flowers.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Sun Exposure: partial sun, full sun
Soil: evenly moist, well-drained

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Sunflower

Plant sunflower seeds in the spring for spectacular blooms in late summer months. Plant tall varieties in the back of a garden or intersperse shorter bloomers throughout your garden bed.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11
Sun Exposure: full sun (6 to 8 hours of full sun)
Soil: lightly acidic to alkaline soil soil, well-drained

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Flowering Thyme

A perfect addition to an herb garden, thyme will flower in the middle of the spring to mid-summer. Not only will bees buzz around these fragrant blossoms, you can pick and use them in salads, as a garnish, or sprinkled on avocado toast.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Sun Exposure: full sun (6 hours of full sun)
Soil: neutral to alkaline soil soil, well-drained

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Zinnia

Heavy bloomers, zinnias are easy to start from seed after the last frost. While these full-sun lovers are annuals, they effortlessly reseed from year to year.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11
Sun Exposure: partial shade, full sun
Soil: fertile, well-drained

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Lavender

Bees will make a, well, beeline to this beauty with silvery leaves and pretty purple flowers. It's a great choice for garden borders. Added bonus: The fragrant flowers can be dried and used in aromatic sachets or cooked into shortbread cookies.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 10
Sun Exposure: full sun
Soil: well-drained

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Charlyne Mattox is Food and Crafts Director for Country Living.

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