Plants That Attract Bees
To attract those beneficial bees, provide an abundance of the right kind of blooms. Different pollinators are active at different times of year, so plant a variety of plants that bloom from early spring through late fall. Choose plants of various heights, including flowering shrubs and perennials with a range of flower shapes and sizes. Bees are especially attracted to blue, purple, and yellow flowers.
The plants listed below will allow you to grow the perfect bee habitat in your California Landscape. Please note that while we carry many if not all the plants listed here, selection may vary by location and may only be available in select seasons. Please contact your local SummerWinds Nursery for selection. Our Trusted Garden Advisors are also great resources for helping you choose the right plants for your garden.
Plants That Attract Bees
Perennials That Attract Bees
| Common Name | Botanical Name |
|---|---|
| Anise Hyssop | Agastache spp. |
Aster
 |
Aster spp. |
| Beard Tongue | Penstemon spp. |
| Black-Eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta |
| Blanket Flower | Gaillardia spp. |
| Broadleaf, Common Plantain | Plantago major |
| Buckwheat | Fagopyrum spp. |
| Calamint | Calamintha spp. |
California Poppy
 |
Eschscholzia californica |
| Cat Mint | Nepeta spp. |
| Coneflower | Echinacea spp. |
| Coreopsis | Coreopsis spp. |
| Cosmos | Cosmos spp. |
Dahlia
 |
Dahlia spp. |
| Fennel | Foeniculum vulgare |
| Germander | Teuchrium spp. |
| Goldenrod | Solidago spp. |
| Tower of Jewels | Polemonium spp. |
| Japanese Bellflower | Echium wildpretii |
Lenten Rose
 |
Helleborus spp. |
| Matilija Poppy | Romneya coulteri |
| Milkweed | Asclepias spp. |
| Mullein | Verbascum spp. |
| Peter's Gold Carpet | Bidens ferulifolia |
Plumbago
 |
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides |
| Pincushion Flower | Scabiosa spp. |
| Phlox, Summer Phlox | Phlox paniculata |
| Santa Barbara Daisy | Erigeron karvinskianus |
Russian Sage
 |
Perovskia atriplicifolia |
| Salvia/Sage | Salvia spp. |
Red Valerian
 |
Centranthus ruber |
| Scented Geranium | Pelargonium graveolens |
| Sea Holly | Eryngium spp. |
| Sea Lavender/Statice | Limonium spp. |
| Seaside Daisy | Erigeron spp. |
| Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ | Sedum x Autumn Joy |
| Shasta Daisy | Leucantheyaum superbum |
| Snow In Summer | Alyssum spp. |
| Speedwell | Veronica spp. |
Thistle
 |
Cirsium, Eryngium |
| Thyme | Thymus spp. |
| Toadflax | Linaria purpurea |
| Torch Lily | Kniphofia spp. |
Jacob's Ladder
 |
Polemonium spp. |
| Verbena | Verbena spp. |
| Vinca | Vinca minor |
| Wall Flower | Erysimum spp. |
| Wild Buckwheat | Eriogonum spp. |
| Wild Radish | Raphanus raphanistrum |
Yarrow
 |
Achillea spp. |
Shrubs That Attract Bees
| Common Name | Botanical Name | |
| Black Locust | Robinia pseudoacacia | |
| Bluebeard – Blue Mist | Caryopteris spp. | |
California Wild Lilac
 |
Ceanothus spp. | |
| Chaste Tree | Vitex agnus-castus | |
| False Heather | Cuphea spp. | |
Lantana
 |
Lantana spp. | |
| Lavender | Lavandula spp. | |
| Mint Bush | Prostanthera spp. | |
| Pride of Madeira | Echium candicans | |
| Privet | Ligustrum | |
Rosemary
 |
Rosmarinus officinalis | |
| Spirea | Spiraea spp. | |
| Strawberry Tree | Arbutus unedo or marina | |
Tree Mallow
 |
Lavatera arborea | |
| Viburnum | Viburnum spp. | |
| Willow | Salix spp. |
Vines That Attract Bees
| Common Name | Botanical Name |
Black-Eyed Susan Vine
 |
Thunbergia alata |
| Wisteria | Wisteria spp. |
Annuals That Attract Bees
| Common Name | Botanical Name |
| Bachelor Buttons | Centaurea cyanus |
Borage
 |
Borago spp. |
Sunflower
 |
Helianthus spp. |
| Snapdragon (pictured) | Antirrhihum spp. |
| Violet | Viola spp. |
| Zinnia (pictured) | Zinnia spp. |
More To Creating A Bee Habitat
Other Pollinators...
| Create A Bird Habitat | Create A Butterfly Habitat | Creating A Hummingbird Habitat |
| Plants to Attract Birds | Plants to Attract Butterflies | Plants To Attract Hummingbirds |
