Spring is Springing! The Top 5 Flowers To Attract & Support Bees

Aster - a great flower to support bees

Aster - (Daisy Family)

Asters make a wonderful addition to any flower garden - and are great for supporting and attracting bees! Dozens of colorful blooms grow on a single plant. Asters look like daisies and are available in many colors.. from white to pink to purple to blue… there are tons of options. They are also perennial so will come back year after year.  

USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-10 - Life Cycle: Perennial - Approximate Mature Size: 1-8’ tall, 1-4’ wide

Bloom Time: July, August, September - Light Requirements: Sun, but will tolerate some high canopy shade.

Black Eyed Susan - (Sunflower Family)

The Black Eyed Susan is a North American flowering plant in the Sunflower family. With its bright yellow flowers with deep brown centers, the black eyed susan cheers up any flower bed. They are a particular favorite of honeybees… as they enjoy sucking up the nectar. The black eyed susan is also a perennial which comes back year after year in your flower garden - which makes them enormously cost effective to plant and maintain!

USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-9 - Life Cycle: Perennial - Approximate Mature Size: 1-3’ tall, up to 1.5’ wide

Bloom Time: June, July, August, September - Light Requirements: Sun or partial shade

Ecinacea (also known as cone flower) is a wonderful flower to attract and support bees-

Ecinacea (Daisy Family… also known as cone flower)

Ecinacea is another wonderful flower from the daisy family. These interesting flowers have a unique cone shape. They bloom in mid-summer and are quite drought tolerant. They are also deer-resistant and can be left standing throughout the winter months for the birds to eat seeds from the plant. This great flower supports the birds AND the bees! They come in a wide variety of colors such as red, yellow, white, and bright pink. 

USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9 - Life Cycle: Perennial - Approximate Mature Size: 2-3’ tall, 2’ wide

Bloom Time: June, July, August, September, October - Light Requirements: Sun

Lemon Balm (Mint Herb Family)

Lemon Balm is a member of the mint family and is a perennial herb. Like all mint plants.. lemon balm produces long stems and tends to ramble. The bushy leaves emit a pleasant lemon scent and adorable small white flowers. If you’ve ever entertained the idea of a cute cottage garden containing cabbage roses & hollyhocks… lemon balm is a great addition! It also happens to be a favorite among honey bees!

Lemon balm is one of those plants that make herb keeping worthwhile. If you've ever entertained the notion of a cottage garden complete with cabbage roses, hollyhocks and even a sedate stand of English ivy, there's no doubt lemon balm would have a place somewhere in that idyllic landscape.

Additionally, lemon balm is an antiviral, an astringent and is high in antioxidants.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 3-9 - Life Cycle: Perennial - Approximate Mature Size: 2-3’ tall, 2’ wide

Bloom Time: May, June, July, August, September, October - Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade

Snapdragons are tall and lively.. and bees love them!

SNAPDRAGONS

Snapdragons produce bright blooms and are wonderfully colorful throughout cool weather. Snapdragons are available in nearly every color of the rainbow! They stand out beautifully in the Spring and Fall. They tend to stop blooming in the hot part of the summer but if you keep them watered they’ll begin blooming again in the fall. These are fantastic flowers to attract and support bees.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 8-9 - Life Cycle:  Annual - Approximate Mature Size: 6” - 48”

Bloom Time: Spring and Fall - Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade