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35 Best Flowers That Attract Bees

Flowers that attract bees

Do you want to create a bee-friendly garden in your backyard using flowers that attract bees?

These industrious pollinators have a specific color preference for flowers.

So, if you want to magnetize them to your garden, choose the right blooms that can provide delicious nectar and pollen.

But what are the best flowers to attract bees?

In this article, we’ll discuss 35 gorgeous flowering plants that can help you create a bee-friendly habitat. In particular, you’ll discover the following:

  • Light-colored bee-friendly flowers that their photoreceptors can read
  • Visually striking flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
  • Herb plants for bees that won’t just provide good nectar but can also add flavor and aroma to your fave dishes

So, before pressing the purchase button, let us first discuss how to choose flowering plants that attract bees.

How to Choose Flowers That Attract Bees?

If you’re looking to add bee-friendly flowers to your garden to attract this kind of pollinator, you must consider the kind of bee you want to attract and its preferences. 

Here are some tips to help you find the best flowers to attract bees.

Consider the bee and its tongue length

Bees with long tongues usually don’t struggle to access nectar in tubular-shaped flowers like penstemon, honeysuckle, and columbine.

But those with short tongues prefer daisies, asters, sunflowers, and other small florets or composite flowers. 

On the other hand, bumblebees’ and carpenters’ favorites are large flowers. 

So, if you want to attract various bee species, make your garden more diverse by planting flowers of different shapes, sizes, and colors.

Choose the right flower color

Bees can’t see red because they don’t have a photoreceptor for that color.

However, they can see the light spectrum’s ultraviolet end.

And they can visualize blue, green, and ultraviolet and create combinations. 

That’s why bees find purple, yellow, blue, and white more visually appealing.

So, if you want to bring swarms of bees into your garden, pick the colors they like the most.

Avoid double-flowering varieties

This flower type typically has less pollen and more petals, making it extra challenging for the bees to access the pollen.

So, we recommend going for the original flower form rather than the fancy ones to make it easy for the pollinators. 

Choose native plants

Pollinators like bees prefer native plants over non-natives and “nativars” or fancy forms of native plants.

So, you can never go wrong with classics because their pollen and nectars are easier-to-access. 

Now that you know what flowers bees prefer, let’s skip to the exciting part.

We will unveil 35 of bees’ favorite flowers, and we’re telling you, their photos alone are mesmerizing!

But we’ll also give you more insight into why they’re the flowers that bees like and simp for and how to care for these wonders of nature!

So, what are the best flowers to attract bees?

35 Best Flowers That Attract Bees - Infographics 1

Best Flowers That Attract Bees

In this section, we’ll categorize the flowers that attract bees into purple, white, blue, and yellow.

But to spice it up, we included 8 more honorable mentions that deserve a spot for cottage and wildflower gardens.

Let’s start off with the purple flowering plants that magnetize bees of different species.

Purple Flowers That Attract Bees

Catmint flowers that attract bees

1. Catmint

We’re kicking off this list with the catmint, a flower prized by gardeners and bees for its aromatic foliage and pretty spikes of purple flowers that bloom in early summer.

Catmint is one of the perennial powerhouses that are easy to pair with other perennial and annual plants without clashing, thanks to its soft blue/purple theme.

It’s tolerant of heat, drought, and poor soil and grows in various soil types. So, it should not be difficult to grow catmint.

  • Botanical Name: Nepeta x faassenii
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
  • Soil Type: Clay, loam, sandy, rocky
  • Soil pH: Acidic, neutral, alkaline
  • Bloom Time: Early to Late Summer
  • Lifespan: 20 years or more

Lavender plants that attract bees

2. Lavender

Who would forget this much-buzzed plant that stole bees’ and gardeners’ hearts?

The lavender flower is a cottage garden favorite, thanks to its bountiful nectar and striking blooms that are pure eye candy! 

What makes it even more interesting is that you can dry and use it in aromatic sheets and add it to lemonade or shortbread cookies for extra aroma.

This Mediterranean herb can tolerate heat but not humidity and thrives in well-drained, sandy soil.

Similar to catmint, it’s best planted in large swaths.

  • Botanical Name: Lavandula spp.
  • Sun Exposure: Full Sun
  • Soil Type: Well-drained soil, sandy
  • Soil pH: Neutral
  • Bloom Time: Summer
  • Lifespan: 15 years

Coneflower plants for bees

3. Coneflower

This summer staple flower that attracts bees features nectar-rich orange centers or cones that honeybees can indulge with.

Furthermore, its seed heads attract songbirds like goldfinches.

It’s a hardy flower that blooms mid-summer and can add a pop of color to your garden and bouquets.

Coneflowers can grow up to 36″ tall and 24″ wide.

They’re fast-growing flowers that attract bees and are perfect for traditional or wildflower meadows.

  • Botanical Name: Echinacea purpurea
  • Sun Exposure: Full Sun to partial shade
  • Soil Type: Well-drained clay, loam, or sand
  • Soil pH: Acidic, neutral
  • Bloom Time: Mid-summer through fall
  • Lifespan: 2 to 3 years

Chive Flowers that attract bees

4. Chive Flowers

In case you don’t know, this herbal flower attracts bees with its pom-pom-like flowers.

So before chopping off the leaves, why not wait for it to produce lavender-pink flowers first? 

It’s an excellent addition to a cottage garden, and bees love them!

Chive flowers are early bloomers, so they’re among the first nectar-producing flowers bees can visit after winter.

On top of that, you can use these chive flowers and leaves in soups, salads, butter, and potatoes. 

  • Botanical Name: Allium schoenoprasum
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun, light shade
  • Soil Type: Rich, well-drained
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic, neutral
  • Bloom Time: Early to mid-spring

Bee balm flowers that attract bees

5. Bee Balm

As its name suggests, this is one of the flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

And we can’t blame them because the aromatic foliage of this plant is addictive. 

When planted in large quantities, this pollinator attractor makes a striking impression.

Plus, you can soak the leaves of this native North American plant to produce tea.

  • Botanical Name: Monarda didyma
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
  • Soil Type: Moist, well-drained clay
  • Soil pH: Acid, neutral
  • Bloom Time: Summer
  • Lifespan: 15 years

Liatris flower plants for bees

6. Liatris

The long-blooming perennial wildflower known as Liatris, commonly called blazing star or gayfeather, has exceedingly unique flower heads with small star-shaped blooms clustered around a long, erect bottle-brush spire. 

It has grassy foliage and is fuzzy, but it can still attract swarms of bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Liatris can add a curb appeal to your garden, but you must wait for the summer blooms to show after planting in the spring.

  • Botanical Name: Liatris
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Type: Well-drained soil
  • Soil pH: Acidic to neutral
  • Bloom Time: Mid to late summer
  • Lifespan: 10 years

Mint plants that attract bees

7. Mint

This fragrant perennial herb deserves a spot in this list of flowers that attract bees because they’re also irresistible for pollinators. 

Aside from being a staple in cocktails, main dishes, and desserts, mint is also a garden staple.

Its lavender blooms may not be the most attractive flower on this list, but it’s delightful. 

We recommend planting it in pots because it’s a quick-spreader and can easily choke out the nearby plants.

  • Botanical Name: Mentha spp.
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial sun
  • Soil Type: Fertile, moist
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic, neutral
  • Bloom Time: Midsummer
  • Lifespan: 5 to 10 years

Pansy: bee friendly flowers

8. Pansy

These fancy tiny flowers may be ideal if you’re a fan of low-growing beauties.

It usually comes in white petals with purple coloration on the edges, but you can find many variations of these wonders.

It makes a fabulous pot or border plant and can provide flowers almost yearly.

But bees only visit during summer or warmer months.

  • Botanical Name: Viola x wittrockiana
  • Sun Exposure: Full, partial
  • Soil Type: Well-drained
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • Bloom Time: Spring, summer
  • Lifespan: 2 years

Foxglove flowers that attract bees

9. Foxglove

If you want to add vertical interest to your garden, try planting these unique bell-shaped flowers that attract bees and other pollinators. 

The large foxglove spires look interesting due to the pretty speckles inside the bell-shaped petals that create a beautiful contrast.

It’s available in white, apricot, and purple varieties and is attractive, especially for long-tongued bees. 

It’s a classic flower that makes an excellent addition to wildlife-friendly gardens.

  • Botanical Name: Digitalis purpurea
  • Sun Exposure: Full, partial
  • Soil Type: Well-draining, loamy soil
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • Bloom Time: Early summer (to late spring in warmer areas)
  • Lifespan: 3 to 5 years

aster - bees favorite flowers

10. Asters

If you love daisy-like flowers, these perennial flowers that attract bees and butterflies may be the one for you.

Their tasty seed heads also fascinate seed eaters such as finches, chickadees, cardinals, nuthatches, and others.

There are over 600 aster species, but the most common are New England and New York aster.

They come in various striking colors, including blue, pink, purple, and white.

And we mean it when we say planting aster in masses can give you a glimpse of paradise when it blooms.

  • Botanical Name: Aster, Eurybia, Symphyotrichum spp.
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
  • Soil Type: Moist, well-drained
  • Soil pH: Varies
  • Bloom Time: Late summer and early fall
  • Lifespan: 2 years or more

Creeping thyme flowers that attract bees

11. Creeping Thyme

The Creeping thyme, also known as the Mother of Thyme, is a perennial plant from the mint family that offers a pleasant smell.

You can also use it in cooking to add aroma and flavor to your dishes.

This plant is low-growing and vine-like, and it features lavender/purple flowers with fine, pointed blue-green leaves that spread to the ground like a blanket.

It’s also available in pink and white varieties.

This flower blooms in late spring to early summer and thrives in a moderate climate with full sun exposure.

  • Botanical Name: Thymus spp.
  • Sun Exposure: Full
  • Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy
  • Soil pH: Neutral, alkaline
  • Bloom Time: Summer
  • Lifespan: 3 to 5 years

Perennial Salvia plants for bees

12. Perennial Salvia

Salvia is part of the mint family; no wonder it provides a soothing minty scent loved by bees and butterflies.

This plant features a colorful spike of densely-packed flowers in a tubular shape.

This beauty is drought-tolerant and can self-propagate.

It’s a popular piece in midsummer gardens and can make an excellent ornamental addition to your landscape. 

  • Botanical Name: Salvia spp.
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Type: Well-drained soil
  • Soil pH: Slightly Acidic to Neutral
  • Bloom Time: Spring, Summer, Fall
  • Lifespan: Every few years

Larkspur flowers that attract bees

13. Larkspur

Another quintessential cottage garden flower worth mentioning in this list of flowers that attract bees is Larkspur. 

This hardy perennial plant blooms in early spring to summer, providing nectar to pollinators with its pretty flowers.

Its tightly sewn flowers in a tubular shape come in various shades of blue, purple, and pink. 

  • Botanical Name: Delphinium
  • Sun Exposure: Full Sun
  • Soil Type: Shallow, well-drained soils
  • Soil pH: slightly alkaline
  • Bloom Time: Spring through early summer

35 Best Flowers That Attract Bees - Infographics 2

Blue Flowers That Attract Bees

Borage: bee-friendly flowers

14. Borage

It may not be the most striking plant on this list for flowers that attract bees, but this blue star-shaped beauty set on a hairy stem is charming for pollinators. 

Its seed oil is effective in treating skin disorders like eczema and neurodermatitis. And it’s also edible!

In fact, both its cucumber-flavored leaves and flowers are edible.

You can use it as a garnish for salads, dishes, or drinks.

  • Botanical Name: Borago officinalis
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun or partial shade
  • Soil Type: Moderately moist, well-drained soil
  • Soil pH: Neutral, alkaline
  • Bloom Time: Summer

Globe Thistle flowers for bees

15. Globe Thistle

This fast-growing plant that attracts bees boasts a contemporary look with its spherical blue blooms, adding a pop of color to your garden.

It has spiny and spiky foliage but can provide nectar to bees and butterflies. 

You can add it to your fresh and dried flower arrangements.

However, you must be wary when touching the gray-green leaves of this flower because it can cut deeply. 

  • Botanical Name: Echinops bannaticus
  • Sun Exposure: Full
  • Soil Type: Well-drained
  • Soil pH: Acidic
  • Bloom Time: Summer

Baby Blue Eyes Flowers

16. Baby Blue Eyes

This blue flower that attracts bees is a shrub-like plant with succulent stems and six curved blue petals that transition to white at the center.

Its romantic and soft hue helps it blend well with other pastel flowers.

Baby Blue Eyes is an excellent plant for rockeries, containers, and borders.

  • Botanical Name: Nemophila
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Type: Loose, organically rich, and well-drained soil
  • Soil pH: Acidic
  • Bloom Time: Spring
  • Lifespan: 1 year

 

Yellow Flowers That Attract Bees

Yarrow

17. Achillea/ Yarrow

This perennial plant boasts flat, clustered flower heads that are a large landing pad for pollinators like bees.

It has ferny, medicinal-smelling foliage and is available in yellow, white, or magenta. 

Achillea is a hardy, drought-resistant plant that doesn’t mind the hot, muggy summers. 

Furthermore, this flowering perennial has anti-inflammatory effects, which help in healing wounds and digestive disorders.

And dried yarrows make a wonderful addition to fall flower arrangements too! So, you’ll never go wrong with this bright beauty.

  • Botanical Name: Achillea spp.
  • Sun Exposure: Full Sun
  • Soil Type: Well-drained sand
  • Soil pH: Mildly acidic to mildly alkaline
  • Blooms Time: Mid-spring through Fall Season

Coreopsis

18. Coreopsis

The Coreopsis is also one of the flowers that attract bees and butterflies, and its seed heads are head-turners for birds like goldfinches.

It’s part of the Sunflower family, but it has a gorgeous two-toned effect on its petals that Sunflowers don’t possess. 

This easy-to-grow plant is heat, humidity, and drought-tolerant. It’s available in warm yellow, orange, and red tones, grow up to 18″ to 24″ tall, and creates a striking visual effect when planted in masses.

  • Botanical Name: Coreopsis
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun or light shade
  • Soil Type: Well-drained, fertile soil
  • Soil pH: Neutral
  • Blooms Time: Early Summer 
  • Lifespan: 3 to 4 years

Goldenrod flowers that attract bees

19. Goldenrod

The feathery golden blooms of this flower are a magnet for honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies, soldier beetles, and beneficial wasps. 

Please don’t confuse it with the allergy-inducing ragweed flower because goldenrod benefits our health.

Aside from attracting pollinators to your garden, it also relieves pain and inflammation.

So, adding this beauty to your bee-friendly flower collection is like hitting two birds with one stone.

  • Botanical Name: Solidago
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Type: Well-drained soil
  • Soil pH: Acidic
  • Bloom Time: Late summer through fall

Sunflower that attract bees

20. Sunflower

This gigantic flower’s bright and warm yellow tone is also a magnet for bees and people.

It’s hard not to fall in love with its astonishing blooms since it’s a sight to behold, especially when planted in masses. 

It can grow up to 16 feet tall and contains a large circular disc surrounded by short, yellow petals.

It’s the favorite flower of many bee species because it’s an excellent nectar source and a large pollen playground for bees and other pollinators.

  • Botanical Name: Helianthus annuus
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Type: Well-drained
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline
  • Bloom Time: Summer

Black-eyed Susan

21. Black-Eyed Susan

Similar to its close relative, the sunflower, this plant provides nectar that attracts bees and other pollinators.

Its centerpiece is smaller than sunflowers. But the beautiful contrast of black center and yellow petals can make up for it.

Others call it orange coneflower since it resembles it.

Black Eyed Susan is sun-loving and drought-tolerant.

So it’s easy to grow and maintain, and it starts blooming in summer through fall.  

  • Botanical Name: Rudbeckia hirta, R. fulgida
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial sun
  • Soil Type: Well-drained, average, loam, sand, clay
  • Soil pH: Acidic, neutral, alkaline
  • Bloom Time: Summer

California Poppies

22. California Poppies

Unlike the previous plants in this list of flowers that attract bees, the California Poppies boast cup-shaped flowers with beautiful and warm yellow tones. 

But it’s also available in shades of pink and white blooms during spring the season.

  • Botanical Name: Eschscholzia californica
  • Sun Exposure: Full
  • Soil Type: Sandy, well-drained
  • Soil pH: Acidic, neutral
  • Bloom Time: Summer
  • Lifespan: 2 years

Cosmos flowers that attract bees

23. Cosmos

Despite not having a pleasing scent, the cosmos are among the flowers that attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to gardens.

This flower resembles daisies, but the petals come in various shapes depending on the type. 

It’s available in various colors, including white, pink, orange, yellow, magenta, red, and golden yellow.

However, it’s invasive in the Southeast United States, so it’s best to plant it in pots in this area. 

  • Botanical Name: Cosmos sulphureus, Cosmos bipinnatus 
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Type: Well-draining soil
  • Soil pH: Acidic
  • Bloom Time: Summer through fall

White Flowers That Attract Bees

Snowdrop

24. Snowdrops

This bulb-like flower that hangs from its tiny stem is one of the first spring flowers to bloom.

So, it offers one of the first and freshest nectars for bees, delicately scented with a little honey and creamy almond smell.

It usually appears in February or March, when the snow still blankets the ground, hence the name snowdrop. 

However, it’s worth noting that snowdrop flowers that attract bees are toxic to animals and humans.

So, you must avoid it if you have pets or kids who love to wander around your garden.

  • Botanical Name: Galanthus nivalis
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Type: Loamy, sandy, humusy, well-drained
  • Soil pH: Acidic, neutral, alkaline
  • Bloom Time: Early spring

White phlox flowers for bees

25. Phlox

This star-shaped flower is one of the classic plants that attract bees with its highly-fragrant scent and colorful flowers.

It comes in a low-growing or creeping version, which works great as ground cover, and a tall variety that creates a colorful backdrop. 

Furthermore, phlox plants for bees are versatile and low-maintenance.

  • Botanical Name: Phlox
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Type: Well-drained soil
  • Soil pH: Moderately acid to slightly alkaline
  • Bloom Time: Mid-summer
  • Lifespan: 15 years

Sweet Alyssum

26. Sweet Alyssum

As its name suggests, this flowering plant that attracts bees offers a sweet aroma like honey.

This low-growing flowering is native to Europe and can cover the ground like a carpet of tiny flowers. 

Sweet Alyssum’s leaves are hairy, narrow, and lance-shaped with a gray-green color scheme.

It comes in white, purple, and pink shades and can drape beautifully from hanging baskets and windows. 

However, this flower is on California’s invasive species list and can grow aggressively in Hawaii and other US states.

  • Botanical Name: Lobularia maritima
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun or partial
  • Soil Type: Moist but well-drained
  • Soil pH: Neutral to acidic
  • Bloom Time: Early Spring, Fall

Garlic chives

27. Garlic Chives

Like the onion chives, this perennial plant is a useful herb for kitchens. You can add its leaves to your favorite dishes to add a mild garlic flavor.

But some may not realize that its flower attracts bees, making it ideal as perennial edging or border plants. 

For weeks, you can witness garlic chive flowers bloom in late summer, so take a look at them before snipping off the leaves.

  • Botanical Name: Allium tuberosum
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Type: Rich, well-draining
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • Bloom Time: Late summer
  • Lifespan: 5 years

Honorable Mentions: Gorgeous Flowers That Attract Bees

Snapdragons

28. Snapdragon

The snapdragon got its name because its flower head resembles a dragon’s snout, and the petals open and close in a snapping motion. 

Honeybees can’t reach the flower’s jaws, so only large bees like bumblebees can pollinate it.

Snapdragon blooms profusely during the cool season and produces saturated colors.

It stands out in every garden and adds a variety of color hues, including white, pink, yellow, red, orange, and purple.

  • Botanical Name: Antirrhinum majus
  • Sun Exposure: Full, partial
  • Soil Type: Moist, well-drained
  • Soil pH: Acidic, neutral
  • Bloom Time: Spring, summer, fall

Zinnia

28. Zinnia

Zinnias are fast-growing beauties with striking, hot color palettes ranging from orange to red and hot pink.

There are over 20 zinnia species in the wild. The classic zinnia elegans grows up to 4 feet tall, but you can also find dwarf zinnias that are just around 6 to 8 inches tall.

Some of the must-try varieties are Thumbelina, state fair, Zahara, dreamland, and orange star zinnia.

  • Botanical Name: Zinnia elegans
  • Sun Exposure: Full
  • Soil Type: Well-draining
  • Soil pH: Neutral
  • Bloom Time: Spring, summer, fall
  • Lifespan: 1 year

Poppy

30. Poppy

This elegant flower with a papery effect is also one of the bee’s favorite flowers. It’s available in annual and perennial versions and blooms during spring through early summer. 

You can also add dried Poppy’s seedpods into your flower arrangements.

  • Botanical Name: Papever spp.
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Type: Well-drained
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline
  • Bloom Time: Spring through early summer

Blanketflower

31. Blanketflower

Similar to coreopsis, this daisy-like flower has a nectar-rich centerpiece with two-toned petals around it.

The blanketflower blooms from spring to the cold season and provides a lovely, striking effect when planted in masses. 

Bees love this flower, and since it can survive even the hottest summer days, the blanketflower makes a great addition to every cottage garden.

  • Botanical Name: Gaillardia 
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Type: Poor, well-draining soil
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic
  • Bloom Time: Spring through frost
  • Lifespan: 2 years

Helenium plants for bees

32. Helenium

If you want an upgraded version of daisy flowers that attract bees, then Helenium might be the one for you!

The lance-shaped foliage of this flower is available in shades of orange, red, gold, and brown.

It’s perfect for cottage and wildflower gardens and best paired with moisture-loving plants like hibiscus and beautyberry.

  • Botanical Name: Helenium autumnale
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil Type: Moist, well-draining
  • Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.0
  • Bloom Time: Late summer, Fall
  • Lifespan: 3 years

Marigold flowers that attract bees

33. Marigold

These warm-colored flower plants for bees can ward off pests.

So, if you’d plant it around your food-producing plants or crops, you can save a considerable amount of money that you could’ve spent on pesticides.

It’s available in bright orange, red and yellow variations.

You’ll enjoy abundant marigold blooms if you plant these low-maintenance flowers that attract bees on evenly moist and well-drained soil.

  • Botanical Name: Tagetes spp.
  • Sun Exposure: Full
  • Soil Type: Evenly moist, well-drained
  • Soil pH: Slightly acidic to neutral
  • Bloom Time: Summer
  • Lifespan: Less than a year

Abelia flowers

34. Abelia

One of our favorite little shrubs, abelia, has arching stems and exquisite white and pink blossoms.

Bees love these deciduous plants, which continue to blossom even after many summer blooms have faded.

Some types also feature vibrantly multicolored leaves. Depending on the cultivar, it grows to a height and width of 1′ to 8′.

  • Botanical Name: Abelia
  • Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
  • Soil Type: Loamy, Moist but well-drained
  • Soil pH: Acidic, Neutral
  • Bloom Time: Summer through late fall
  • Lifespan: 5 years or more

Stonecrop plants that attact bees

35. Stonecrop

We’re wrapping up this list of best flowers for bees and butterflies with none other than the hardy and drought-tolerant succulents, the stonecrops, also known as sedum.

This plant for bees boasts tiny, star-shaped flowers that bloom in clusters. And as you can see, they’re gorgeous, and their photos can prove that.

It’s a low-maintenance flower that works great in arid garden areas.

  • Botanical Name: Sedum spp.
  • Sun Exposure: Full, partial
  • Soil Type: Sandy, loamy, well-drained
  • Soil pH: Acidic, neutral
  • Bloom Time: Summer, fall

Now that we’ve answered the question, “What are flowers that attract bees” you probably have an insight into the symbiotic relationship between plants and pollinators.

But if you’re wondering why bees are so into flowers, here’s WHY.

How Flowers Attract Bees

Bees feed on the nectar and pollen of flowers.

They use the nectar as a food and energy source, while the pollen makes an excellent feed for larvae or baby bees in their hives.

That explains why these pollinators adore and get drawn to flowering plants.

But flowers also depend on bees and other pollinators like butterflies for survival.

In fact, around 75% to 95% of plants in the world rely on pollinators to produce flowers.

Thanks to these flowers and pollinators, plants can produce seeds and fruits. It shows that we can highly benefit from bees’ survival.

Their existence also means food and life to humans.

FAQs About Flowers That Attract Bees

What is the best plant for bees?

If you want to attract bees, the plants you should add to your garden are Marjoram, Abelia, Crocus, Lilac, Foxgloves, Chives, and Pussy Willow. 

What color flower attracts the most honeybees?

Bees are attracted to purple, violet, and blue flowers because they tend to produce lots of nectars.

What flowers do bees not like?

The perennial flowers not appealing to bees are red lilies, red hot poker, yarrow paprika, hummingbird mint, cardinal flower, roses, chrysanthemums, and Maltese cross. 

Do marigolds attract bees?

Yes, pot and corn marigolds attract bees and other pollinators.

They’d make an excellent addition to your bee garden, but you need to provide open centers so they can easily find these yellow flowers.

Do lavender plants attract bees?

Bumblebees and honeybees are attracted to lavender, but it’s more popular among bumblebees. It makes a great addition to your bee garden. 

Do tulips attract bees?

Tulips and other over-wintered bulbs like daffodils also attract pollinators; they need more ground space to accommodate many bees.

Do red roses attract bees?

Red roses are unattractive to bees because they can’t visualize this color.

Instead, they’re more appealing for butterflies because they’re bright and beautiful, and they’re more into romantic red.

Do bees like hydrangeas?

Hydrangeas may seem small and insignificant, but bees heavily frequent them due to their nectar and pollen-rich fertile florets.

They attract many bees and other pollinators.

Final Recap: Flowers That Attract Bees

As you can see, a wide variety of flowers attract bees, so it all comes down to your personal preferences.

If you want purple flowers with vertical shapes, catmint, lavender, and Liatris may be the ones for you.

But if you prefer bright flowers as striking as the sunshine, we recommend planting sunflowers, golden rods, Black-eyed Susan, and California poppies in your cottage garden.

But mixing and matching various flower colors and patterns is also fun and eye-pleasing.

However, it would be easier for pollinators to find these flowers if you planted them in wide swaths of color. So, it’s best to plant them in masses.

But do note that attracting bees to your garden also comes with several risks.

Bee stings can be painful, especially for children.

And it takes lots of time and effort to upkeep these flowers that attract bees.

Nevertheless, planting them can be extremely rewarding because they add a pop of color to your garden and give you a glimpse of paradise.

They also help the pollinators survive as they devote their time to pollinating our gardens and crops.

READ NEXT: Vegetable Gardening for Beginners

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