15 Bee-Friendly Flower That’ll Make Your Garden Buzz (Literally)

Buzzing bees on blooming blossoms are not just bliss, they are your garden’s best friends too! But how about if you get the best of both worlds, and you grow varieties that are good for you and your family as well?

In fact, there are many flowering annuals and perennials that unite both species, bees and humans, and if you plant them in your green haven, you will help nature, these little flying pollinators (and others) and you can get use out of them too.

And many of these varieties are very common, easy to grow, and quite decorative to boot! Let’s find out the very best 15. But, first of all…

A Few General Tips on Planting a Bee Garden

Whether you choose to grow all these 15 plant varieties, some of them or add a few more, there are a few key things to keep in mind if you want your garden to buzz with bees. Here they are:

• Do not use pesticides and herbicides, of course, they kill bees too.
• Choose single flower varieties over double ones; this is not always, but in most cases, simple blooms give bees better access to nectar.
• Choose local varieties whenever possible.
• Grow varieties that bloom all through the season, especially in early spring, when nectar is scarce for bees and pollinators. No point in offering them food one month, and starving them the next.
• Provide some water; they drink too, and you don’t need a pond or lake, just a paddle, a plate, but make sure it is safe for them, a bucket with a floating net is ideal.

Finally, don’t be afraid of bumblebees, they are by far the best pollinators in the world, and they hardly ever sting.

And now, let’s start with our first plant to grow in your bee garden!

1: Borage (Borago officinalis)

Borage is really great for bees, because it is an exceptional perennial; in fact, it replenishes its nectar in two minutes! So, our lovely buzzing pollinators can spend a long time on a single plant! What’s more, Borago officinalis offers protection to them because its rough and hairy leaves keep predators away.

Easy to grow and very strong, borage is also edible and it has amazing medicinal properties for us. It is anti-inflammatory, it balances hormones and is destressing, and it’s good for your skin and respiratory system as well.

You will need to pick the young leaves, because when they age, they get rough, if you want to eat it, but as a medicine, all the plant is good. But there’s one that’s really delicious, the flowers! They taste a bit like cucumber – but don’t pick them all; leave some blooms for the bees…

• Hardiness: USDA zone 2 to 11 (self-seeding annual).
• Light conditions: full Sun to partial shade.
• Flowering season: early summer to frost.
• Spacing: 12 to 18 inches (30 to 45 cm).
• Watering: low, it is drought tolerant.
• Soil conditions: well drained, fertile loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

2: Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis)

Lungwort is a good choice to offer bees nectar early in the season, as it blooms at the beginning of spring. It grows wild in many parts of the world, but it has really amazing blossoms; really charming… Why? Because the come in clusters on upright stems and they mix colors; some flowers will be blue, others violet, others bright purple and you will get some magenta pink ones too. Pollinators love them and they can see them from a distance, and so should we gardeners.

And there is an extra bonus for you if you grow lungwort in your garden; as its name suggests, it has medicinal properties, of course, for our respiratory system (you will find capsules on shelves too).

In case it grows wild, instead of considering it a “weed”, be thankful, enjoy it and feed bees in early spring.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 3 to 8 (as perennial, but you can grow it as an annual too).
• Light conditions: partial shade to full shade.
• Flowering season: early spring.
• Spacing: 12 inches (30 cm).
• Watering: moderate, it is drought tolerant.
• Soil conditions: well drained, fertile and organically rich loam, clay or chalk based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

3: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Maybe I don’t need to tell you why rosemary is useful to us… But did you know that bees and other pollinators love it too? And the reason is double; it offers them nectar very early in the season, when they are hungry and they need it most, and it has really generous blooms.

On the other hand, it keeps harmful insects (pests) at arm’s length, so, grow rosemary and you will have lots of bees and butterflies and few mosquitoes and other tiny little nuances.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 7 to 10 (as a perennial, but it can be grown as an annual in colder zones).
• Fight conditions: full Sun.
• Flowering season: late winter to spring.
• Spacing: 24 to 36 inches (60 to 90 cm).
• Watering: low, it is drought tolerant.
• Soil conditions: well drained, poor to moderately fertile loam, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

4: Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Calendula is really pretty with its energetic, yellow and orange daisy-like flowers, and pollinators like bees can see and appreciate these blossoms from a distance. But there is more, it really blooms for a very long time, starting in spring and opening new buds all the way to fall (do behead spent ones though). So, you have a constant source of nectar for them.

Now, its scientific name is Calendula officinalis, and “officinalis” means medicinal in Latin; so, it has more than amazing flowers to offer you. In teas, it is antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, and you will find it in wound healing creams. And you can add the petals to your salads or use them to garnish food.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 11 (self-seeding annual).
• Light conditions: full Sun to partial shade.
• Flowering season: spring to fall.
• Spacing: 12 inches (30 cm).
• Watering: moderate.
• Soil conditions: well drained, poor to moderately fertile loam, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

5: English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Another plant that needs no introduction is English lavender – to us, and to bees. Just look at a shrub, and you will see that it is literally buzzing with pollinators when it is in bloom. It looks like they love its amazing fragrance, but, unlike us, they also know that each little flower is a major source of pollen.

The English variety is best (Lavandula angustifolia), it is by far the most fragrant and, the good news is, it is also the hardiest and easiest to grow. So, grow lavender, attract lots of bees and pollinators, and relax… By the way, it also repels pests and it is deer and rabbit resistant – only welcome guests allowed!

• Hardiness: USDA zones 5 to 9.
• Light conditions: full Sun.
• Flowering season: early to mid-summer.
• Spacing: 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 cm).
• Watering: low, it is drought tolerant.
• Soil requirements: well drained, poor to average fertile loam, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to neutral

6: Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Thyme is yet another herb we all love in our food, full of great properties for our health, and another magnet for bees and other pollinators. It is also very easy to grow, strong and it takes up very little space, so it is ideal for small gardens.

You can grow it in containers, rock gardens in “crannies” in your garden, and it will still give your dishes flavor and a different one to bees, that of its nectar. By the way, thyme essential oil is stronger than tea tree oil!

• Hardiness: USDA zones 5 to 9 (perennial).
• Light conditions: full Sun.
• Flowering season: early summer.
• Spacing: 12 inches (30 cm).
• Watering: low, it is drought tolerant.
• Soil conditions: well drained, average fertile loam, chalk or sand based soil with pH from neutral to mildly alkaline.

7: Mint (Mentha spp.)

We all know mint – fresh and fragrant, it’s one of the world’s favorite herbs. But maybe you didn’t know that bees love it too? Which is strange, because other insects hate it – but only the “baddies” (especially mosquitoes).

So, mint has many more benefits for us than most people think, and it’s good for little bees as well. However, it tends to spread fast and wide – it is invasive, so, if you don’t want to cut it back all the time, you may wish to grow it in containers.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 3 to 8 (perennial).
• Light conditions: full Sun to partial shade.
• Flowering season: mid-summer.
• Spacing: 18 inches (45 cm).
• Watering: high.
• Soil requirements: well drained, fertile and organically rich loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

8: Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

Here’s another famous perennial for your bee garden: coneflower, also known with its scientific name, Echinacea. Why do pollinators like it? To start with, its flowers are very visible; but imagine being a little buzzing being… You get a flat “landing pad” with the petals, and dome shaped feeder in the middle – it’s like a restaurant to them.

And to us? Well, the most potent part are the roots, but all the plant has immune boosting properties; and it is edible too. Finally, its showy flowers won’t pass unnoticed in your garden into the late season.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 3 to 9 (USDA zones 2 to 11 as an annual).
• Light conditions: full Sun.
• Flowering season: summer to fall.
• Spacing: 18 inches (45 cm).
• Watering: low, it is drought tolerant.
• Soil requirements: well drained, average fertile loam, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

9: Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)

I think the name is a giveaway; bee balm’s tubular flowers in fact evolved for our buzzy and striped pollinators (and butterflies love them too). And they show it; because honeybees and bumblebees really come to the call of their nectar rich lures with their bright, jewel-toned red, pink, purple, and even white blossoms when they bloom in mid summer.

But did you know that the flowers and leaves of bee balm are edible and sweet? You can use them fresh or dried, in salads, to add flavor to cooked dishes, or for drinks and teas. Just leave some blossoms for bees, butterflies and – if there are any around – hummingbirds as well!

• Hardiness: USDA zones 4 to 9 (USDA zones 2 to 11 as an annual).
• Light conditions: full Sun to partial shade.
• Flowering season: mid-summer.
• Spacing: 18 inches (45 cm).
• Watering: moderate.
• Soil requirements: well drained, moderately fertile to fertile loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

10: Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)

Anise hyssop is yet another magnet for pollinators and bees; its flowers bloom in upright spikes of vibrant colored purple, violet, bluish and even white shades, and they stand out from the rich foliage below, so flying insects can see them from afar and find out that your garden is a rich sort of nectar.

While Anise hyssop provides food for bees throughout its long blooming season, the flowers and leaves are also edible to us, and, guess what? They have a nice licorice flavor that’s great for desserts, bakes and teas or for that extra touch to savory meals.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 4 to 9.
• Light conditions: full Sun.
• Flowering season: summer to fall.
• Spacing: 12 inches (30 cm).
• Watering: low.
• Soil requirements: well drained, average fertile, loam, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

11: Clover (Trifolium repens)

Clover is a very underrated plant by amateur gardeners. But bees are wise, and they know that their long lasting and abundant flowers are packed with nectar! And they keep coming from spring to fall, so, once pollinators find them, they will keep coming back to your garden.

“But what is there for me,” you may wonder? Well, we all know that it’s a major nitrogen fixer, so it makes your garden’s soil fertile – but did you know that its flowers are edible as well? Add them to your salads, every now and then; there will be plenty for bees anyway!

• Hardiness: zones 3 to 10 (as a perennial, 2 to 11 as an annual).
• Light conditions: full Sun to partial shade.
• Flowering season: spring to fall.
• Spacing: n/a (ground cover).
• Watering: low, it is drought tolerant.
• Soil requirements: well drained, poor to average fertile loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

12: Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

However, if you really want to show bees that your garden is “an open restaurant”, you must put big signs – and what’s better than a massive and towering sunflower to attract them from very far away?  You can imagine how much nectar a single head has for them.

And, of course, we all know that sunflower seeds are very delicious and very nutritious too. Just wait till they ripen, and the actual little blooms are spent, so bees don’t need them, but not too long – or birds will come to your garden restaurant and eat them all up!

• Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 11 (annual).
• Light conditions: full Sun.
• Flowering season: summer to fall.
• Spacing: 24 inches (60 cm).
• Watering: moderate.
• Soil requirements: well drained, fertile loam, clay, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

13: Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Nasturtium is a perennial in warm climates, but it gives you so much in a year that most people grow this creeper as an annual.  With a long flowering season, rich in nectar and brightly colored, bees are really attracted to them, as are we, for other, decorative reasons.

But I will give you another reason why you should be growing nasturtium in your garden – its fresh, round leaves, and yellow and orange flowers are fully edible and very easy to grow; it is basically a ready-made salad…

• Hardiness: USDA zones 2 to 11 (as an annual).
• Light conditions: full Sun.
• Flowering season: summer to frost.
• Spacing: 12 inches (30 cm).
• Watering: moderate.
• Soil requirements: well drained, poor to fertile loam, chalk or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

14: Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Here’s another favorite in the kitchen – sage! Great for roasts and in many other dishes, it is also a magnet for bees. But, unlike us, they are attracted by their bright purple flowers, not their aromatic and fuzzy leaves.

So, there will be no competition between you and bees if you grow sage in your garden…

• Hardiness: USDA zones 5 to 9.
• Light conditions: full Sun.
• Flowering season: early summer.
• Spacing: 24 inches (60 cm).
• Watering: low, it is drought tolerant.
• Soil requirements: well drained, average fertile loam, clay or chalk based soil with pH from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline.

15: Violet (Viola odorata)

And we close with a flowering perennial that we all love. If I say “violet”, we all go “aw!!!” Like with babies. Maybe bees do too, but they also go, “yummy!” because these delicate-looking flowers open early in spring, and, as you know, pollinators are very hungry in that season.

But maybe we should go “yummy” too? Yes, because the flowers of violets are edible, and they add flavors and colors to your salads and used in sweets as well (ever tried a candied violet? It’s a delicacy!) There are many varieties, so, take your pick – bees love all of them and they will be grateful.

• Hardiness: USDA zones 3, 4 or 5 to 9 (as a perennial, 2 to 11 as an annual).
• Light conditions: partial Sun to full shade.
• Flowering season: from early spring onwards, depending on the variety.
• Spacing: 6 inches (15 cm).
• Watering: moderate.
• Soil requirements: well drained, fertile and humus rich loam, clay or sand based soil with pH from mildly acidic to neutral.

Get Your Garden Buzzing with Bees!

Here we go, now you know how to attract bees to your garden, keep them coming and how to do it with 15 varieties that are good for you too. And if you start planting them, Mother Nature will be very thankful indeed!