There’s a soft hum in the garden that tells you everything’s alive. It’s not just the wind shifting leaves or birds calling from fence posts, it’s the sound of bees at work, stitching together the fabric of life as they’ve done for millions of years. But that sound is fading.
In the past few decades, we’ve lost over 40% of global bee populations, with some native species plummeting by as much as 90%. Pesticides, shrinking habitats, and climate stress are all taking a toll.
And yet, despite how small they are, bees pollinate about one in every three bites of food you eat. They need us now, more than ever.
The good news is that you don’t need a farm or a fortune to help. Just a patch of soil, a sunny balcony, or even a few pots near your door can become a lifeline. Below are ten of the best plants you can grow to support and feed our buzzing friends.
#1. Lavender
- Botanical name: Lavandula spp.
- Bloom time: Early summer to fall
- Plant type: Perennial herb
- USDA zones: 5-9
Lavender is more than just fragrant, it’s a five-star nectar bar for bees. Each purple bloom is loaded with pollen, and the long flowering season means you’ll see visitors from late spring all the way through fall. Bumblebees especially love the tubular flowers, often buzzing so hard it vibrates the whole stem.
You should plant lavender in well-drained soil with lots of sunshine. Once established, it thrives on neglect, perfect for busy gardeners.
Plus, its drought resistance makes it both bee- and climate-friendly. Just remember not to overwater. Too much love spoils the lavender.
#2. Borage
- Botanical name: Borago officinalis
- Bloom time: Late spring to fall
- Plant type: Annual herb
- USDA zones: 2–11
Borage might be the most underrated bee plant around. With its vivid blue, star-shaped flowers, it offers high-quality nectar that bees can’t resist. In fact, studies show borage produces more nectar per flower than almost any other plant.
You can scatter seeds directly into the soil after frost. It grows quickly, often self-seeding, so once you grow it, it tends to stick around.
The leaves are edible (you can think cucumber flavor), and the flowers can be tossed into summer salads for a colorful, edible garnish.
#3. Bee Balm
- Botanical name: Monarda spp.
- Bloom time: Mid to late summer
- Plant type: Perennial
- USDA zones: 4–9
As the name promises, bee balm brings all the bees to the yard. It also attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, making it a multitasking pollinator magnet. With bright, shaggy flowers in reds, purples, and pinks, it’s as beautiful as it is beneficial.
Bee balm prefers moist, well-drained soil and partial to full sun. It can get a bit mildewy if crowded, so give it breathing room. Bonus, the leaves make a soothing herbal tea that was a colonial cure-all.
#4. Thyme
- Botanical name: Thymus vulgaris
- Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
- Plant type: Perennial herb
- USDA zones: 5–9
Let some of your thyme flower and you’ll be rewarded with a surprising number of tiny bees buzzing low to the ground. The small pink or purple blossoms may not look like much, but they’re packed with rich nectar.
Thyme is ideal for borders, rock gardens, or containers. It likes dry, sandy soil and lots of sunshine. It’s also deer-resistant and edible, which means you get both flavor and pollinator power from one plant.
#5. Coneflower
- Botanical name: Echinacea purpurea
- Bloom time: Summer to early fall
- Plant type: Perennial
- USDA zones: 3-9
Coneflowers are the soul of the summer garden. Their daisy-like petals and sturdy centers are bee favorites, and as the season shifts, their seed heads feed finches and other birds. Even solitary native bees, like mason and leafcutter bees, love to visit.
These prairie natives thrive in poor soil, are drought-resistant, and bloom reliably year after year. Plant them in full sun and give them time to establish. They’ll repay you with years of blooms and a front-row seat to nature at work.
#6. Sunflower
- Botanical name: Helianthus annuus
- Bloom time: Summer
- Plant type: Annual
- USDA zones: 2–11
Few plants make bees and kids as happy as a sunflower. With their wide landing pads and pollen-rich centers, these cheerful giants are a bee’s paradise. You’ll often see several different pollinators on a single head.
Sow seeds in full sun after the danger of frost has passed. They need very little care, just sunshine and water. When the flowers fade, leave the heads up, the seeds feed birds and squirrels well into fall.
#7. Goldenrod
- Botanical name: Solidago spp.
- Bloom time: Late summer to fall
- Plant type: Perennial
- USDA zones: 3-9
Goldenrod gets a bad rap because it blooms around the same time as ragweed, but it’s not the plant causing your sneezes. Instead, it’s one of the last major nectar sources before winter. Bees depend on it to bulk up before hibernation.
It grows easily in meadows, along fences, or at the back of borders. It tolerates drought and poor soil and spreads steadily so give it space or choose a clumping variety.
#8. Clover
- Botanical name: Trifolium spp.
- Bloom time: Spring to early fall
- Plant type: Perennial (some are annual or biennial)
- USDA zones: 3-10
If you’ve ever seen bees in a lawn, chances are they were visiting clover. Red and white clover are among bees’ favorite blooms, offering steady nectar throughout the warm months.
Clover fixes nitrogen into the soil, meaning it actually improves fertility while feeding pollinators. Let part of your lawn go wild with it, or scatter it as a cover crop between veggie rows.
#9. Zinnia
- Botanical name: Zinnia elegans
- Bloom time: Summer to frost
- Plant type: Annual
- USDA zones: 3-10
Zinnias are like open invitations for pollinators. The big, colorful blooms are easy for bees to land on and packed with pollen. They’re especially helpful for native solitary bees that prefer open-petal flowers.
Plant zinnias after frost, and deadhead regularly to keep the blooms coming. They love full sun and don’t mind heat. As a bonus, they make fantastic cut flowers so you can feed the bees and fill a vase.
#10. Blueberry
- Botanical name: Vaccinium spp.
- Bloom time: Spring
- Plant type: Perennial shrub
- USDA zones: 3-7
Blueberries don’t just give you fruit, they offer one of the earliest floral food sources for springtime bees. Bumblebees and mason bees especially adore them, shaking the blossoms with a buzz to release pollen.
They thrive in acidic soil (pH 4.5-5.5) and prefer full sun. If you plant more than one variety, you’ll get better pollination and bigger harvests. In return, you get buckets of berries and a front-row show of nature in motion.
