Create a bee-friendly environment by planting these Best Plants that Attract Bees and add beauty to your garden.
Bees are vital pollinators that are essential to our ecosystem and food supply. If you want them in your yard, then join us on a journey to discover the Best Plants that Attract Bees and bring your backyard to life with the hum of these buzzing little creatures.
Find How to Attract Bees to Your Garden here
What Colors Attract the Bees Most
Bees are attracted to bright, saturated colors such as blue, yellow, and purple. They are also attracted to white and pale yellow flowers.
Best Plants that Attract Bees
1. Marjoram
Botanical Name: Origanum majorana
USDA Zones: 9-10
This fragrant herb with pink-white blooms attracts honeybees, bumblebees, furrow bees, leafcutters, and other pollinators, making it one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
Follow This Ultimate Guide to Grow Marjoram in Pots here
2. Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula angustifolia
USDA Zones: 5-8
The blooms of this fragrant plant tempt bees, but rabbits and deer leave it alone. You can grow lavender in pots – find details here.
Here’s all you need to know about growing Lavender
3. Fennel
Botanical Name: Foeniculum vulgare
USDA Zones: 4-9
Fennel produces bright yellow flowerheads that are loaded with nectar and pollen that attracts many pollinating insects. It is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
Learn How To Grow Fennel in a Pot here
4. Pussy Willow
Botanical Name: Salix discolor
USDA Zones: 4-8
This plant feeds queen bumblebees when they hunt for new colonies during early spring. The leaves also host native butterfly caterpillars. It is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
5. Heliotrope
Botanical Name: Heliotropium arborescens
USDA Zones: 10-11, annual elsewhere
The scented purple, violet or white flowers tempt bees; you can grow this annual in the garden or in a pot that gets full sun in well-draining, moist soil.
Check out our article on the best pink flowers here
6. Crocus
Botanical Name: Crocus
USDA Zones: 3-8
Crocus brings a splash of color in spring in the garden and nectar for the bees. Grow it in full sun or partial shade. It is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
7. Aster
Botanical Name: Aster
USDA Zones: 4 to 9
This late-bloomer fall plant is essential for pre-hibernation bumblebees; the pink, lavender, or white blossoms look beautiful as ground cover, near borders, or in pots. It is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
8. Abelia (Bee Bush)
Botanical Name: Abelia x grandiflora
USDA Zones: 6-9
The dainty white blooms appear from spring through fall and tempt both bumblebees and honeybees.
Check out Abelia and other Best Low Maintenance Hedge Plants here
9. Lilac
Botanical Name: Syringa vulgaris
USDA Zones: 3-8
Lilac offers pollen, nectar, and blooms for bee pollinators. The blooms appear from spring to summer and lure bees. It is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
Learn How to Grow Miss Kim Lilac here
10. Chives
Botanical Name: Allium schoenoprasum
USDA Zones: 3-9
To attract bees, this easy-to-grow and maintain herb needs to bloom. The edible purple flowers are added to salads.
Learn Growing Chives Indoors Year-Round here
11. Goldenrod
Botanical Name: Solidago
USDA Zones: 3-10
The feathery yellow blooms provide fodder for bumblebees, honeybees, butterflies, soldier beetles, and beneficial wasps. It is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
12. Bee Balm
Botanical Name: Monarda
USDA Zones: 4-9
As the name sounds, bee balm is loved by bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. The leaves of this plant can be steeped to make tea.
Learn How to Grow Bee Balm here
13. Calendula
Botanical Name: Calendula officinalis
USDA Zone: 9-11
This edible flower with yellow, white, and orange petals is used for flavoring soups and stews. Calendula reseeds and provides nectar for bees in the garden for years.
14. Sedum
Botanical Name: Sedum
USDA Zones: 3-10
To attract bees to your garden, plant both summer and fall-blooming varieties of this heat-resistant plant. You can grow the ‘Autumn Joy’ sedum as its flowers tempt bees and flies.
Here are the most beautiful sedums you must check out
15. Catmint
Botanical Name: Nepeta x faassenii
USDA Zones: 3-8
This drought-tolerant plant is not only loved by cats, but bees also find blue flowers appealing, making it one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
16. Borage
Botanical Name: Borago officinalis
USDA Zones: 2-11
The clear star-shaped blue blossoms entice bees. Its cucumber-flavored edible leaves can be steamed and sauteed. Once reaching maturity, the plant is drought-tolerant.
17. Foxglove
Botanical Name: Digitalis purpurea
USDA Zones: 4 to 9
Foxglove features large bell-shaped blooms in late spring or early summer gardens. It is a great option for shady areas and moist soils. This biennial reseeds and stays in the garden for years.
Here are the Best Bell Shaped Flowers
18. Anise Hyssop
Botanical Name: Agastache foeniculum
USDA Zones: 4 to 8
Native to North America, this plant with spikes of blue blooms lures bees.. The plant also attracts butterflies and is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
19. Joe Pye Weed
Botanical Name: Eupatorium purpureum
USDA Zones: 3 to 9
Also known as a butterfly plant, this perennial flower allures bees with its scented pink-purple flowers. It favors moist soil and grows up to 9 feet tall. It is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
Have a look at the Best Weeds with White Flowers here
20. Sunflower
Botanical Name: Helianthus
USDA Zones: 4-9
This easy-to-establish plant withstands many types of soils and can be planted anywhere. The bright-hued petals attract bees, birds, and other wildlife.
Find How To Grow Sunflowers On The Balcony here
21. Coneflower
Botanical Name: Echinacea purpurea
USDA Zones: 3-8
This easy-to-grow wildflower offers masses of tall purple flowers. Coneflowers tempt bees, birds, and butterflies. It is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
Check out Types of Coneflower Varieties here
22. Phlox
Botanical Name: Paniculata
USDA Zones: 3-9
This hardy perennial produces aromatic pink-blue flowers that are loved by bees and other pollinators in mid to late summer.
23. Black Eyed Susan
Botanical Name: Rudbeckia
USDA Zones: 3-10
The bright yellow flowers with dark brown centers display a cheerful spot in the garden. These blooms charm bees and other beneficial insects. It is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
24. Rosemary
Botanical Name: Salvia rosmarinus
USDA Zones: 7-10
This drought-tolerant herb has a long flowering season; it produces blue-purple flowers that lure flower bees, mason bees, bumble bees, and honey bees.
Learn Growing Rosemary In Pots here
25. Sage
Botanical Name: Salvia officinalis
USDA Zones: 5-8
Sage offers purple spikes of tubular blooms on both ornamental and edible are famous with leafcutter bees and bumblebees, making it one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
Check out 5 Herbs that Grow Best from Cuttings here
26. Lemon Balm
Botanical Name: Melissa officinalis
USDA Zones: 3-7
The small leaves of lemon balm release a delicious scent when crushed between fingers. This plant was named in honor of honeybees; Melissa means bee in Greek.
Here are Herbs that Grow from One Cutting and a Glass of Water
27. Thyme
Botanical Name: Thymus vulgaris
USDA Zones: 5-9
Plant thyme in paving, near the pathway, or grow in pots; it will not only fill the surroundings with fragrance but also invite bumblebees, honeybees, leafcutter bees, and mason bees.
Here are the Best Thyme Growing Tips
28. Sweet Alyssum
Botanical Name: Lobularia maritima
This low-growing annual is loved by pollinators; the flowers open in pink, white, and purple shades from early spring to hard freeze.
29. Snapdragon
Botanical Name: Antirrhinum majus
USDA Zones: 7-11
During cool months, the sweet-scented snapdragons provide food to bees. The yellow and blue colors of this plant charm bees as they can’t see red. It is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
30. Cosmos
Botanical Name: Cosmos bipinnatus
USDA Zones: 2-11
This bright annual showcases daisy-like flowers and textured leaves that bees love in the garden. It can tolerate all soil types and is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
31. Helenium
Botanical Name: Helenium autumnale
USDA Zones: 3-9
Helenium’s bright yellow, orange, and red flowers produce abundant nectar and pollen, making it a magnet for bees and other pollinators.
Check out 32 Splendid Perennial Flowers that Bloom for Decades here
32. Larkspur
Botanical Name: Consolida ajacis
USDA Zones: 3-9
Larkspur’s tall spikes of vivid blue, pink, and purple flowers have a sweet fragrance, and abundant nectar. It is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
33. Pansy
Botanical Name: Viola tricolor
USDA Zones: 4-8
One of the Best Plants that Attract Bees, Pansies produce a high amount of nectar and are a popular food source for bees, especially in the early spring.
Are Pansies edible? Click here to find out
34. Coreopsis
Botanical Name: Coreopsis grandiflora
USDA Zones: 3-9
Coreopsis is a long-blooming perennial with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers that provide nectar and pollen for bees throughout the growing season.
Look at some Smiling Flowers here
35. Globe Thistle
Botanical Name: Echinops ritro
USDA Zones: 3-8
The Globe Thistle is an excellent bee attractor for the garden, with unique, spiky blue flowers that produce plenty of nectar, attracting various bee species. It is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
Here are Native Weeds with Thistles
36. Zinnia
Botanical Name: Zinnia elegans
USDA Zones: 3-10
Another of the Best Plants that Attract Bees is Zinnia, with its brightly colored, daisy-like blooms, which provide both nectar and pollen for bees.
37. Snowdrop
Botanical Name: Galanthus nivalis
USDA Zones: 3-7
Snowdrops are one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring, providing an early source of nectar for hungry bees.
Take a look at the Best Pink and White Flowers to Grow here
38. Creeping Thyme
Botanical Name: Thymus serpyllum
USDA Zones: 4-8
Creeping Thyme’s fragrant, purple flowers produce nectar and pollen, making it a popular choice for bees and other pollinators. It is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
Learn about Problems with Salvias and How to Solve Them here
39. Yarrow 
Botanical Name: Achillea millefolium
USDA Zones: 3-9
The Yarrow has flat-topped clusters of small flowers that provide nectar and pollen for bees, and its feathery leaves are a host plant for some butterfly species.
Find out some Fantastic Plants that Look Like Cattail Plant here
40. California Poppy
Botanical Name: Eschscholzia californica
USDA Zones: 6-10
California Poppy’s bright orange blooms are a favorite of many bee species, providing a good source of nectar and pollen, making it one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
Check out these Flowers that Grow Quickly from Seeds
41. Baby Blue Eyes
Botanical Name: Nemophila menziesii
USDA Zones: 3-9
Baby Blue Eyes’ delicate, sky-blue flowers are rich in nectar and provide an early-season food source for bees and other pollinators. It is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
Find the Best Japanese Plants for Your Garden here
42. Marigold
Botanical Name: Tagetes erecta
USDA Zones: 2-11
Marigolds produce a lot of nectar and pollen, making them a valuable source of food for bees and other pollinators throughout the growing season.
Learn How to Grow Unlimited Marigold Plants from Just Petals here
43. Blanketflower
Botanical Name: Gaillardia pulchella
USDA Zones: 3-10
Another of the Best Plants that Attract Bees is the blanket flower, with bright red and yellow flowers that produce a lot of nectar, attracting many bee species.
Look at the Best Types of Cut Flowers here
44. Moringa
Moringa blooms are also the favorite of bees, and they simply love to buzz around its flowers. As long as you have a bright spot, this plant will continue to thrive.
45. Citrus Flowers
The sweet-smelling citrus flowers are also the favorite of bees, and you also get the advantage of getting them pollinated in no time! It is one of the Best Plants that Attract Bees.
Learn about Growing Horny Goat Weed Plant here
46. Wild Rose
Roses top the list when it comes to being the favorite of the bees! They get attracted to their color and fragrance, and you will see them buzzing around them non stop!
