We’re buzzing over these beautiful blooms.
Contrary to popular belief, bees aren’t just a summertime inconvenience.
I mean, what would we Southerners do withoutsticky-sweet honeydrizzled over fluffy biscuits?
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And lots of garden blooms offer both sources for bees throughout the growing season.
The following 25sun-loving plantsattract the bees and provide forage during spring, summer, and fall.
Allium
Alliums are ornamental onions with pollinator-friendly flowers that range from demure clusters to enormous pom-poms.
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Many are planted as bulbs in fall in rich, well-drained soil.
The “onion” bulbs are not edible, so leave the feasting to the bees.
The bees don’t care and will visit them all.
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There are also woodland species that thrive in partial shade.
Penstemons from the southeast tend to appreciate more moisture.
hirtais a short-lived plant that easily reseeds itself, usually with bright-yellow rays.R.
Credit: Robbie Caponetto
fulgida, also called orange coneflower, is a perennial with golden rays.
Both are tough prarie flowers that deserve a place in every garden.
Strong, upright spikes of flowers last for months with occasional deadheading.
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Critters don’t like to eat the scented leaves.
Catmint
Catmint has becomebeloved by gardenersand bees alike for its aromatic foliage and copious purple flowers.
Plus, shearing the plants will encourage them to rebloom.
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The grass-like leaves produce charming lavender-pink flowers, which you might shear off after they begin to fade.
Chives appreciate more moisture and will tolerate more shade than many alliums.
Goldenrod
,Goldenrod is positively abuzz with beesin fall, from tiny sweat bees to hugecarpenter bees.
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A healthy clump of goldenrod will spread quickly, but that means more to share with friends and neighbors.
Joe-Pye Weed
This “weed” is a valuable addition in any butterfly garden.
Choose lavenders that willthrive in the South, like PhenomenalTM Lavender from the Southern Living Plant Collection.
Both onion and garlic chives are used in the garden as perennial edging or border plants, or as herbs in the kitchen – both the leaves and the fuzzy, colorful globe flowers are flavorful. Chives alsogrow well in containers(even the pockets of a strawberry jar), either alone or in combination with other long-lived herbs such as rosemary.Credit: Max Ryazanov/Getty Images
Mix in compost when planting and check that the soil drains well.
Pentas come in a wide range of colors (the red ones will attract hummingbirds, too).
And while these plants welcome pollinators of all kinds, deer don’t like to dine on them.
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Corn poppies and breadseed poppies are recommended for warmer climates.
These tough natives can adapt to many soils and grow in full and part sun.
Leave a few “cones” behind for birds to snack on in winter.
Credit: Ralph Anderson
Phlox
From creeping phlox to tall garden phlox, these flowers are known for their panache.
The colors of these cottagey flowers range from brilliant magentas to cotton-candy pinks to fluffy whites.
Phlox is very tolerant but performs best in well-drained, fertile, moist soil.
Credit: Steve Bender
Snapdragon
Provide food for bees in the cooler months, too, with sweet-scented snapdragons.
Fun fact: Bees can’t see red.
Bumblebees push bring up the lipped flowers for easy access to its sweetness.
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The starry flowers on this succulent perennial provide nectar that is easy to reach for short-tongued honey bees.
‘Autumn Joy’ is a longtime favorite, but there are many others to be found.
Sunflowers
You cangrow sunflowersthat are anywhere from a few feet tall to the 16-foot-tall ‘Sunzilla.’
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We recommend growing less invasive,native wisteriaslike’Amethyst Falls’from the Southern Living Plant Collection.
This drought-resistant plant doesn’t mind hot, humid summers as long as you plant it in well-drained soil.
Yarrow also makes a great dried flower for yourfall flower arrangements.
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Zinnia
,Add a big pop of color to your summer garden with multi-colored zinnias.
Once established, zinnias are very low maintenance.Deadhead spent blooms to keep the flower show goinguntil frost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bees choose flowers based on thetaste of pollen.
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Bees choose flowers with easily accessible nectar.
Bees are attracted to flowers in theviolet-blue range, including purple.
Additionally, these flowers produce large amounts of nectar.
‘Stars and Stripes’ pentas flower like crazy in the spring, bringing butterflies and hummingbirds into your garden. The scarlet flowers with pink centers are irresistible to them. Variegated foliage contrasts nicely with other plantings. Chart.Credit: Photo: Ralph Anderson
Honeybees typically visit only one pop in of flower during a foraging trip, a practice known asflower constancy.
This practice helps produce viable seeds through pollen distribution.
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