10 Best Pollinator Plants for Bees
Disclosure: I was paid by Outsidepride to tell you about them.
Create a buzz-worthy garden with this list of the best pollinator plants for bees!
When you picture pollinator plants for bees, your mind might jump to honeybees. But did you know there are over 4,000 species of native bees in North America alone?
From bumblebees to mason bees to tiny sweat bees, each plays a crucial role in pollinating food crops, wildflowers, and garden favorites. Without them, our gardens and dinner plates would look very different.
The good news is you can help! Adding the right plants that attract bees to your front yard or backyard can create a much-needed buffet for these hard-working pollinators.
But if you’re new to pollinator gardening, it can feel overwhelming to know where to begin. What flowers for bees should you choose? How do you make sure they keep coming back all season long?
This guide is here to help. We’ll start with a few do’s and don’ts of pollinator gardening, then cover some design strategies that make your garden irresistible to bees.
And finally, we’ll dive into a carefully chosen list of some of the best pollinator plants. These ten high-reward options are beautiful, easy to grow, and guaranteed to get your garden buzzing. 🐝
Protecting Bees: The Do’s and Don’ts
A thriving pollinator garden isn’t just about picking the right plants that attract bees.
It’s also about creating a safe, chemical-free habitat where pollinators can thrive. Keep these tips in mind:
🐝 Do give your plants a boost with natural soil amendments like compost and leaf mold.
🚫 Don’t rely on chemical fertilizers or sprays. Even products labeled “organic” can be harmful to pollinators.
🐝 Do read labels carefully, especially on turf fertilizers, to ensure they don’t contain added insecticides.
🚫 Don’t assume fertilizers are just fertilizers. Sometimes insecticides are mixed in, doubling the danger to bees.
🐝 Do talk to your landscaping company about their practices and let them know you prefer non-chemical approaches to weed and pest control.
🚫 Don’t assume they’re avoiding chemicals unless you ask. Many “routine” applications include pesticides.
🐝 Do leave hollow plant stems standing in your garden, along with leaf litter and small piles of branches or logs to provide natural nesting sites and shelter.
🚫 Don’t cut back perennials too early in fall or winter, and don’t over-tidy your yard. You will destroy important overwintering habitat.
🐝 Do be patient! It can take weeks or even months for pollinators to discover your new buffet of bee flowers.
💡 Want to learn more? Check out these helpful resources on bee-friendly gardening:
Don’t use pesticides or herbicides in your yard. Even “organic” sprays can harm bees. Image credit @x sign via Canva.com.
Designing a Pollinator Garden
Beyond plant choice, design matters too when you are creating a bee-friendly yard! Two simple strategies can make all the difference in attracting pollinators and keeping them in your yard.
Tip 1: Plant in Mass
Bees don’t always notice a single plant tucked in a corner, but they will notice a mass of flowers.
Group pollinator attracting plants like perennials in odd-numbered clusters of 3, 5, 7, or more so the display is impossible to miss. Planting in odd-numbered groups creates a more natural, balanced look that’s easier on the eye than even pairings.
For shrubs, plant odd-numbered groupings together or stagger individually throughout the yard. For trees, one is often enough since their flower displays are larger.
Think of it as putting up a neon “All You Can Eat Buffet” sign!
Tip 2: Succession Planting
Bees need food from the first warm days of late winter until frost finally arrives in late fall. That means the most successful pollinator gardens are designed with overlapping bloom times for plants that attract bees.
Start with bulbs like snowdrops in late winter, move into spring-flowering pollinator plants, layer in nectar-rich summer blooms, and then finish strong with fall flowers for bees like goldenrod.
Succession planting takes a bit of planning, but it’s one of the best long-term investments you can make for pollinators.
Don’t feel like you need to do it all at once, though. Adding plants gradually is more realistic for most people.
With a few thoughtful additions each season, in just 3 - 5 years you’ll be amazed at the thriving pollinator habitat you’ve built.
10 Best Pollinator Plants for Bees
Ready to get your garden buzzing? Our list of the best pollinator plants for bees has something for everyone.
If you’re just starting out, you’ll find easy, reliable favorites to get your garden humming.
And if you’re a seasoned gardener, you may discover a few fresh additions worth trying in your pollinator patch!
1. Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Zones: 3 - 9
Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: 2 - 3 feet high and wide
Deer Resistant: Yes
Bloom time: Summer
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea). Image courtesy of Outsidepride.
Few pollinator attracting plants are as iconic as the purple coneflower. Native to the eastern and central United States, these upright perennials bloom all summer long with bold, colorful flowers centered around spiky cones that bees can’t resist. And once the blooms fade, the seed heads draw in finches and other birds.
“Echinacea, or coneflower, is a versatile perennial that brightens any garden or landscape, from borders to meadows. Its long-lasting, daisy-like blooms are easy to grow, drought tolerant once established and ideal for cutting, making it both a beautiful and practical choice for gardeners,” says Troy Hake, owner and founder of Outsidepride, a national online seed source.
He highlights how purple coneflower is one of the most versatile and resilient perennials a gardener or flower lover can grow. “With its water-efficient roots, vibrant lavender blooms, and ability to attract pollinators like butterflies and bees, it’s perfect for borders, meadows or xeriscape landscapes. Starting from seed is straightforward, and once established, these plants provide years of low-maintenance, high-impact appeal,” Troy continues.
Purple coneflower isn’t just a bee favorite - butterflies love it too! Image courtesy of Outsidepride.
Purple coneflower is available to buy from Outsidepride. In addition to the straight species, they offer a wide selection of quality Echinacea seeds, including other pollinator favorites like Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida) and Yellow Coneflower (Echinacea paradoxa).
Growing purple coneflower from seed is an easy and budget-friendly way to plant in mass. Seeds are especially helpful if you’re dreaming of creating a pocket prairie, lawn replacement, or pollinator-friendly meadow to support the bees. Outsidepride’s coneflower planting guide is a must-read for helpful tips on starting from seed.
👉 Bee-Friendly Tip: Avoid double-flowered or pom-pom Echinacea hybrids, because bees struggle to access the nectar. Stick to single-flowered varieties like the straight species, the elegant ‘White Swan’ cultivar, or the cheerful, multi-colored ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ variety.
Big color, tiny budget! Seeds turned this urban lot into a sea of purple coneflowers that bees can’t resist.
2. Mountain Mint
Pycnanthemum species
Zones: 3 - 7
Light requirements: Full sun - part shade
Size: 2 - 3 feet high and 1 - 2 feet wide
Deer Resistant: Yes
Bloom time: Summer to early fall
Clustered mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) has tiny white flowers for bees. Image courtesy of Ball Horticultural Company.
Imagine a pollinator attracting plant so engaging to bees that it seems to hum with activity - that’s mountain mint! Its clusters of tiny white blooms atop silvery green bracts are irresistible to pollinators.
Mountain mint is an upright, clump-forming perennial. It’s wonderfully adaptable, thriving in everything from moist to dry soils, and the fragrant leaves naturally keep deer at bay.
Be prepared, though, because this pollinator plant for bees is quite vigorous! It spreads by rhizomes to form dense colonies, which makes it ideal for naturalizing large areas. If you’d like to keep it in check, grow it in dry soil to slow down its expansion.
When it comes to varieties, you’ve got options: Virginia mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) is multi-branched and grows 2 - 3 feet tall, narrowleaf mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium) sports fine, needle-like foliage, and clustered mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) features broader leaves.
No matter which one you choose, this plant is a surefire way to draw bees by the dozen and keep your garden buzzing with life.
Virginia mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum) attracts bees to the garden in summer and early fall. Image courtesy of Ball Horticultural Company.
3. Bluebeard
Caryopteris x clandonensis
Zones: 5 - 9
Light requirements: Full sun
Size: 2 - 3 feet tall and wide
Bloom time: Late summer to early fall
Bluebeard, also called Caryopteris or blue mist spirea, is a late-summer showstopper that pollinators can’t resist.
Belonging to the mint family, it bursts into airy clusters of fragrant blue blooms just when many other plants are fading. Bees flock to it in droves, and butterflies love it too - making it a true garden magnet for winged visitors.
Beekeeper® Bluebeard, a pollinator attracting plant. Image courtesy of Bloomin’ Easy - Van Belle Nursery via NGB.
This fine-textured shrub is as tough as it is beautiful. Bluebeard is naturally disease-resistant, deer-resistant, and even tolerates short dry spells, as long as it has good drainage.
It’s a compact, carefree pollinator plant for bees, with most varieties growing in the 2 - 3 foot range. It’s easy to tuck into pollinator beds, mixed borders, or even smaller gardens.
As far as varieties, there are plenty to choose from on the market. Beekeeper® is a newer introduction with eye-catching chartreuse foliage that makes its bright blue flowers pop.
‘Longwood Blue’ is a classic choice, pairing silvery-green leaves with sky-blue blooms. And if you’re after richer tones, Beyond Midnight® delivers with dark green foliage and deep, velvety blue flowers.
No matter which one you plant, Bluebeard is a pollinator attracting plant that is sure to keep your garden buzzing with life and color well in late summer and early fall.
Beyond Midnight® bluebeard has deep blue flowers for bees. Image courtesy of Proven Winners, provenwinners.com.
4. Snowdrops
Galanthus species
Zones: 3 - 8
Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: 4-10 inches tall and wide (differs by variety)
Deer Resistant: Yes
Bloom time: Late winter - early spring
Snowdrops: a vital late-winter pollinator plant for bees.
Including a winter-flowering bulb on a list of pollinator plants might seem unexpected, but snowdrops earn their spot for a very important reason.
Bees desperately need nectar and pollen in late winter and early spring, when they first begin to forage on warmer days. At that time, very little else is in bloom, and snowdrops can be a literal lifesaver!
Snowdrops are as easy to grow as they are valuable. Plant the bulbs in fall, and they’ll reward you with delicate white flowers the following spring, and every year after.
Over time, they multiply on their own, and you can speed up the process by digging and dividing the clumps every few years.
You’ll find many snowdrop varieties available, but Galanthus nivalis is the most popular and one of the easiest to track down in garden centers starting in late summer for fall planting.
To make the most of this pollinator plant for bees, scatter bulbs throughout your garden beds. By the time summer perennials start showing off, the snowdrops will be long finished, and their fading foliage will be neatly hidden by the plants that follow.
Unexpected? Yes. Essential for hungry early-season pollinators? Absolutely!
5. Catmint
Nepeta species
Zones: 3 - 8
Light: Full sun
Size: 1 - 3 feet high and wide (differs by variety)
Deer Resistant: Yes
Bloom time: Spring through summer
Cat’s Meow catmint is a popular plant that attracts bees to the garden. Image courtesy of Proven Winners, provenwinners.com.
If you’re looking for a perennial that blooms for months, attracts pollinators, and thrives with minimal care, catmint is your go-to! A member of the mint family, it’s known for its resilience and versatility in the garden.
From spring through late summer, catmint produces waves of soft purple flowers that are irresistible to bees and other pollinators.
Its aromatic, silvery-green foliage remains attractive even when the plant is not in bloom, providing texture and interest in garden beds from spring through fall.
Catmint is as hardy as it is beautiful. It tolerates drought, clay soil, and is resistant to both deer and rabbits, making it a low-maintenance option for almost any landscape.
There are many different cultivars to choose from. Among the most popular: ‘Walker’s Low’ is a landscaper favorite, growing up to 30 inches tall with a loose, airy habit; ‘Cat’s Meow’ is compact and dense, producing masses of purple-blue flowers; ‘Lemon Perfection’ adds visual interest with golden-yellow foliage paired with lavender blooms; and ‘Cat’s Pajamas’ is an early-blooming selection with rosy purple flowers.
Want to dig deeper into how to grow and enjoy this versatile pollinator plant for bees? Check out our full article on catmint.
A bee pays a visit to the flowers of Walker’s Low catmint.
6. Temple of Bloom® Seven-Son Flower
Heptacodium miconioides 'SMNHMRF'
Zones: 5 - 9
Light requirements: Full sun to partial shade
Size: 15-20 feet high and 6-10 feet wide
Deer resistant: Yes
Bloom time: Summer through fall
Seven-Son flower is a small tree with white flowers for bees. Image courtesy of Spring Meadow Nursery via Proven Winners, provenwinners.com.
The Temple of Bloom® Seven-Son Flower is a stunning small tree that’s surprisingly underused in many landscapes, despite being an absolute magnet for bees.
Its multi-season appeal makes it a standout choice for gardeners looking to support pollinators while adding year-round interest to their yard.
In late summer, the tree produces fragrant flowers that attract swarms of bees, making it a true pollinator hotspot. As the season shifts to fall, blooms give way to vibrant red sepals that provide striking color when many other plants are fading.
In winter, its textured bark adds sculptural interest, and come spring, lush green foliage creates a fresh, inviting backdrop for the garden.
Compact and low-maintenance, the Seven-Son Flower is ideal for smaller yards or tight spaces where a full-sized tree might be overwhelming. It’s a must-have on any list of pollinator attracting plants for small yards.
Its combination of visual beauty, multi-season interest, and pollinator appeal makes it a valuable addition to any garden seeking to support bees throughout the year.
Vibrant red sepals keep this pollinator favorite plant looking great well into the fall season. Image courtesy of Spring Meadow Nursery via Proven Winners, provenwinners.com.
7. Summersweet
Clethra alnifolia
Zones: 3 - 9
Light requirements: Full sun to partial shade
Size: 3 - 6 feet high and wide (differs by variety)
Deer resistant: Yes
Bloom time: Mid-summer to late summer
Ruby Spice summersweet has bright pink flowers for bees.
If you want a garden that truly buzzes with life, summersweet, also known as sweet pepperbush, is a must-have pollinator-attracting plant.
In summer, its fragrant, panicle-shaped flowers and glossy dark green leaves become a hotspot for bees, butterflies, moths, and other pollinators.
This adaptable, low-maintenance shrub thrives in various soil types, resists pests and diseases, and puts on a golden yellow show in fall.
Plus, its dried seed pods provide a much-needed food source for birds as the seasons change.
The straight species of this Eastern U.S. native can grow up to 10 feet tall, while cultivated varieties provide a range of sizes and colors to suit any garden.
Vanilla Spice summersweet has fragrant, extra-large flower for bees. Image courtesy of Proven Winners, provenwinners.com.
‘Hummingbird’ and ‘Sugartina Crystalina’ have white flowers and grow 3 - 4 feet tall, making them perfect for smaller gardens. ‘Sixteen Candles’ has an upright habit, ideal for narrow spaces, while ‘Ruby Spice’ boasts bright pink flowers and grows 3 - 5 feet tall and wide. For bold fragrance, ‘Vanilla Spice’ produces extra-large blooms.
Summersweet thrives in both sun and shade, making it a reliable choice for tricky garden spots. Planting this pollinator plant for bees in shaded spots allows you to turn every corner of your yard into a buzzing pollinator haven!
Learn more in our full article on summersweet.
8. Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa
Zones: 3 - 8
Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: 2 - 4 feet high and 2 - 3 feet wide
Deer Resistant: Yes
Wild bergamot (Monarda didyma), a pollinator plant for bees. Image courtesy of Ball Horticultural Company.
Wild bergamot is a true superstar among pollinator plants for bees, and it deserves a spot in every garden designed to attract pollinators.
This North American native features lavender-purple, tubular flowers that bloom from midsummer through early fall, providing a steady buffet of nectar that attracts bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds.
With its clump-forming habit and upright stems, wild bergamot is easy to combine with other perennial plants that attract bees, making it perfect for borders, meadows, or dedicated pollinator beds.
Closely related to bee balm (Monarda didyma), it offers the same pollinator appeal but is slightly more drought-tolerant and resistant to powdery mildew.
Wild bergamot also doubles as habitat! Many native bees nest in hollow stems, so leaving dead stems cut back to 12-24 inches creates ready-made nesting sites as they naturally break down.
Long-blooming, resilient, and beneficial for both nectar and habitat, wild bergamot is an essential addition to any garden seeking to support pollinators.
The wild bergamot plant attracts bees with its lavender purple flowers.
9. Goldenrod
Solidago species
Zones: 2 - 8
Light: Full sun
Size: 1 - 8 feet tall and 1 - 4 feet wide (differs by variety)
Deer Resistant: Yes
Bloom time: Late summer to fall
Little Lemon goldenrod is a small, compact plant that attracts bees. Image courtesy of Ball Horticultural Company.
Goldenrod often doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Frequently mistaken for ragweed, which causes allergies, this North American native is actually a pollinator hero and one of the best pollinator-attracting plants for your garden.
Its bright yellow, plume-like flowers provide a crucial source of nectar for bees and other pollinators late in the season, when food can be scarce.
Goldenrod is adaptable and easy to grow. It prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil, but once established, it can tolerate short dry spells without issue.
Its size varies widely depending on the variety, giving gardeners plenty of options. Compact types like ‘Little Lemon’ reach just 14 inches tall, making them perfect for small gardens, while showier cultivars such as ‘Fireworks’ grow 2 - 3 feet tall and offer a more refined, upright shape.
With its vibrant color, late-season blooms, and ability to thrive in different conditions, goldenrod is a reliable and valuable addition to any list of pollinator plants for bees.
Goldenrod plants attract bees in autumn with their colorful yellow flowers.
10. Russian Sage
Salvia yangii, formerly Perovskia atriplicifolia
Zones: 5 - 9
Light: Full sun to part shade
Size: 2 - 4 feet tall and wide (differs by variety)
Deer Resistant: Yes
Bloom time: Mid-summer through fall
Denim ‘n Lace Russian sage, a pollinator-attracting plant with deep purple flowers. Image courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.
Russian sage blooms from midsummer through fall, providing a long-lasting nectar source for bees and other pollinators.
Native to parts of Central Asia, this pollinator plant for bees thrives in full sun and dry, poor soils. Good drainage is essential for healthy growth.
Russian sage grows 2 - 4 feet tall and wide, depending on the variety. The straight species has a generous, sprawling habit, while cultivars like ‘Denim ‘n Lace’ and ‘Little Spire’ offer smaller, more upright forms with deeper purple flower spikes.
Russian sage thrives in dry conditions, resists deer and rabbits, and even tolerates clay soil, making it an extremely versatile pollinator-attracting plant.
Long-blooming Russian sage draws pollinators in to its vibrant purple flowers.
In my garden, Russian sage is always buzzing with activity - and I have even seen bumblebees literally sleeping on the flowers overnight!
Its combination of extended bloom time, resilience, and pollinator appeal makes Russian sage a standout addition to any garden, providing abundant flowers for bees.
Not sure how Russian sage differs from catmint (#5 on our list)? Discover the key differences and expert tips in our full guide: Catmint vs. Russian Sage: The Ultimate Gardener’s Comparison.
Wrapping Up
Creating a pollinator-friendly garden is simpler than you might think. Plant in masses, choose a succession of blooms, and skip the pesticides, and your yard can quickly become a buzzing haven.
This list of top pollinator plants is just the start! Adding a few of these favorites will have bees flocking to your garden in no time. Happy gardening! 🌿🐝
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