Perennial Flowers for Bees That Every Garden Needs
Planting flowers for bees and other pollinators is a favorite pastime of bee lovers. Remember, it is not only honey bees that you are helping. Designing a bee friendly garden aids a multitude of bee species in finding food and shelter. This includes our non bee pollinators too! Selecting the best perennial flowers for bees benefits all.
The very best bee habitats will have a mix of different kinds of plants. Annual flowers, perennials, trees, shrubs that bees like – all of these can provide shelter, food and nest materials for hungry pollinators.
How Perennial Flowers are Different
Unlike annual flowers that grow bloom and go to seed in one season, perennials come back year after year.
The plant does not invest all of its energy into producing seed in one short season.
Instead, plant energy produces growth and a bloom cycle but reserves some energy to do it again next year.
This often results in the plant having a bit less nectar or spectacular bloom than an annual plant. However, perennials often bloom over a longer time period.
Bee Friendly Perennials
It is a common misconception that all blooming plants provide food for bees. They do not.
Some plants do not depend on insects for pollination. Therefore they may or may not provide nectar designed to lure pollinators.
When choosing plants for your bee gardens, bee friendly perennials should be part of your design. These anchor plants will return year after year. Most only require minimum maintenance.
Bee gardeners in every section of the country have many choices. Everyone should be able to find suitable plants for their region.
Many perennials have a large growing zone and can do well in different climates.
With any gardening project, you must consider the growing needs of the selected plants. If you place them in an inhospitable environment, they are unlikely to grow well.
Healthy, growing plants will produce the most nectar rich flowers. And pollen, too – let’s not forget that bees need pollen. Some of the best perennial flowers for bees provide nectar and pollen.
The Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea) is the backbone of many pollinator gardens. My plants have been blooming for years.
They provide nectar for my bees during the dry months of Summer and then seed for migrating birds in late Fall.
Performing best in full sun, they can withstand dry conditions once established. A taller plant with heights up to 30”, coneflowers make an impressive background.
Purple Coneflowers (see here on Amazon) are easy to establish and grow. Available as small plants or you can plant seeds (even include them in seed bombs). The clumps of plants will slowly spread but are not difficult to control.
While not as showy as some of the fancier hybrids, they have earned a place in any garden for bees.
Any discussion of bee friendly perennials must include growing Monarda or “bee balm”. When the common name includes the word bee, we know it must be a good choice for feeding bees.
This perennial can be grown easily from seed. In fact, I have some seeds starting in my greenhouse right now.
Although available in many developed cultivars, bee balm is a native plant. It is used in restoration of meadows and prairies.
Lavender flowered wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa – see here on Amazon) and a red flowered variety are the most common types grown in the US. In dry sandy regions, a spotted bee balm can become a top honey plant.
Also praised for herbal or medicinal use, bee balm can be planted for bees. In massed groups, they create beautiful island of color throughout your garden landscape.
Not everyone is a fan of Butterfly Bushes (buddleia). While providing long fronds of beautiful blooms, most varieties do not have a lot to offer pollinators.
However, since they are a popular plant with homeowners, I feel they should be mentioned.
Bees are insects that need diverse food sources. Even a small backyard may have room for a couple of butterfly bushes. These plants can provide some variety to the diet of area pollinators.
They can reach heights of 5’ of more but in some regions will die back to the ground during Winter. Here in South Carolina, I cut mine back each year.
Annise Hyssop (Agastache) how do I love the? A wonderful plant for your bee garden that blooms over a long period of time. The plant grows tall yet doesn’t need staking.
Purple is the most common color flower but new hybrids are being developed. Will they provide as much food for bees? That remains to be seen.
Agastache can be started from seeds indoors and then transplanted outside once frost has passed. You can also direct sow the seed in the Fall.
After Winter is passed the dormant seed will sprout and grow. The plants will self seed but are not difficult to keep under control.
Also called “Bugleweed”, Ajuga is an excellent addition to your garden or landscaped area. This ever green perennial is low growing and makes a great ground cover.
Mine does best in part shade to full shade and is even effective at providing erosion control once established.
A slowly spreading plant, it is deer resistant. And for a few weeks each summer, delightful blooms attract a multitude of bees and other insects.
Many different varieties are available, I have purchased Chocolate Chip Ajuga locally much to my bees’ delight. This is a plant that any homeowner can add to their landscape.
More Plants for Bees
Finding plants that bees like is not a problem at all. The difficulty is in deciding which ones to add to your garden. And always, consider your climate and growing conditions.
Do you have a large space or need 1 large shade tree? Consider choosing one of the many flowering trees for bees.
If you live in a region that is very hot and dry all season, perhaps drought tolerant plants for bees would be a better fit.
Most of your want to help bees and other pollinators by adding these nectar rich flowers to your garden. In this case, diversity is key.
Choose a selection of plants that bloom over a longer period of time and provide the bees with food.