Plants for Pollinators

Choose native plant varieties whenever possible, as they will be better suited to local growing conditions, soil and climate.

Diversify plantings (even non-natives) to provide abundant blooms year round, so bees have a continuous source of pollen and nectar in the same area.

Bees are most attracted to flowers that have purple, blue, yellow, white or ultra-violet blooms. Bees can not see red. Read HERE for a list of all pollinator color preferences.

Groups of flowering plants rather than single sporadically placed plants, help bees find them more easily, and enables them to collect pollen and nectar more efficiently.

Do not use pesticides and herbicides. Read HERE for advice on bee friendly natural pesticides.

Grow companion herb plants that help repel pests. Read HERE

The Natural Gardener has created an extensive pdf of plants native bees and honey bees are attracted to: HERE

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower center database search: HERE

Williamson County Area Beekeeping Association Texas Honey flow calendar + plant list: HERE

Pollen Identification Color Chart: HERE

Erin Benzakein of Floret Farms created a beautiful pollinator-friendly garden that's low maintenance, drought tolerant, and provides a food and nectar source for pollinators and songbirds throughout as much of the growing season as possible. Visit Floret HERE for more details, on why and how!

(Image source: Floret)

Texas Lilac

Deciduous large shrub or small tree with profuse spikes of lavender flowers, blooming heavily in the early summer, and then sporadically throughout the summer and fall, which is great for bees. Vitex is heat, drought and pest tolerant.

More Info HERE

texas bluebonnet

The state flower of Texas is low maintenance, a winter annual boasting up to 50 fragrant pea-like flowers. Bees are extremely attracted to the bright upper portion and can collect a large quantity of high-quality pollen from the florets. Blooms March to May.

More info HERE

lavender

An attractive, edible, perennial plant that blooms in early summer, is fragrant, needs little maintenance, little water, full sun and is at home in an herb garden. Blooms May to July.

More Info HERE

purple coneflower

Purple Coneflower attracts bees and butterflies and its seed in the dried flower heads feeds fall and winter birds. Can be planted in full sun. Blooms April through September.

More info HERE

texas sage (senizo)

Texas sage responds to different signals that tell them it's time to bloom; High humidity or sudden soil moisture before and after rainfall will push plants to bloom; seemingly overnight. This makes for a perfect year round food source for bees. Blooms January through December.

More info HERE

salvia Farinacea

Salvia, Mealy blue sage, is a perennial native plant of South and Central Texas, known for low maintenance, heat, drought, and humidity tolerant. Bees are very attracted to Salvia. Blooms March through November.

More Info HERE

wisteria

Bees flock to the wisteria vine as an early and bountiful food source making it a great addition to any pollinator garden. Blooms April through June.

More info HERE

beebalm

Beebalm (Bergamot) are a favorite of all pollinators. Leaves and flowers make a variety of medicinal salves and drinks. Its foliage has a strong mint aroma and is sometimes used in herbal teas, salads, and as garnishes. The flowers are also edible. Blooms March through October.

More info HERE

chives

Chive flowers present early, when few other plants are blossoming, so they serve as a kind of hors d'oeuvre for pollinators. Chives deter pests such as aphids and Japanese beetles. Blooms April through June

More info HERE

borage

Borage is an easy, fast-growing, historic medicinal annual herb. It attracts pollinators, is a beneficial companion plant, has nutritious edible leaves and flowers, is virtually pest free, and, as a bonus, it is a prolific self-seeder. Blooms April through October.

More info HERE

prairie verbena

Prairie Verbena has a long flowering season; Blooms March through October, with the heaviest blooms in the spring. Its flowers are borne in clusters with each flower having five petals. It readily re-seeds.

More info HERE

rosemary

Rosemary, an evergreen herb, has many culinary and ornamental uses, and bees are very attracted to the flowers, which offer much needed pollen and nectar in the winter months. Depending on variety, and conditions, blooms November through February, and April through June.

More Info HERE

CALENDULA

Bees love the plant’s flat, easy landing pads and profusion of pollen and nectar rich flowers. Blooms from June through November, and even more so when picked and deadheaded regularly. In herbal medicine, calendula has been used to heal rashes, burns, and wounds, and the flower itself is edible.

More Info HERE

sunflower

The flowering season for sunflowers in Texas typically runs from April through late October.

Sunflowers have been linked to reduced Varroa mite infestations in Honey Bees.

More info HERE

black eyed susan

The eye of the flower head holds 250 to 500 individual flowers, and to pollinators, each one of these is a shallow nectar cup. There's a dark central bullseye caused by an ultraviolet pigment that bees can see, which forms a strong visual cue leading them to the nectar and pollen at the flower’s center. Blooms June through October.

More info HERE

mustard

Mustard is a great resource for honey bees, and mustard can help manage soil-borne pathogens and pests like fungi and nematodes thanks to its high levels of glucosinolates. As a natural bloom it can be an important early component of nutrition for spring buildup and is often among the last available pollen prior to winter.

More info HERE

winter + summer honeysuckle

Honeysuckle provides a lot of pollen, but nectar is harder to access because it's deep within the flower. Bees are able to access small amounts of nectar that coat the inside of each flower near the opening, and if determined, they may tear a hole in the base of the flower to get to the nectar. Depending on variety, Blooms March through October + December through February.

More info HERE

golden rod

Goldenrod is a key protein source for honey bees in the fall. In general, goldenrod species require very little maintenance and will grow well in any sunny location. They rarely have pest or disease problems. Blooms August through October.

More info HERE

mexican plum

Mexican Plum is a heavily fragrant Texas-tough ornamental tree, which has exfoliating bark and edible fruit. It blooms heavily before the leaves appear in spring, and blooms again before the leaves drop in winter.

More info HERE

magnolia

The nourishing pollen and sweet nectar of magnolia trees supports pollinators throughout the year. They can bloom in early spring before leaves develop, or they may flower in summer until frost when in full foliage.

More info HERE

white dogwood

The flowers on white dogwood are the small, greenish-yellow florets in the middle of what we think of as the flower. The large, white petals aren’t petals at all, instead they are modified leaves called bracts. Blooms in late winter/early spring before leaves appear or later in spring after leaves emerge.

More info HERE

Lacecap hydrangea

The Lacecap species are less bloom showy, but are long blooming and loaded with pollen and nectar, making an ideal addition to the pollinator garden. Creamy white flowers bloom early in the summer and persist to frost, changing colors from white to pink as they age.

More info HERE

yarrow

Historically, Yarrow, a perennial aromatic herb, has been used to treat wounds and infections. Its drought and pest resistant. Blooms April through July in the South, and July to September in the North.

More info HERE

snow drops

An easy to grow bulbous perennial, Snowdrops provide both a nectar and pollen source for bees and native pollinators in late winter and early spring when other food may still be very hard to find. Blooms February through March in Texas.

More info HERE

Back to Education