Skip to Content

22 Gorgeous Flowering Plants that Will Attract Bees

Create a buzz with these blooming beauties.

By
orange and red lantana flowers for beespinterest
skibreck//Getty Images

Country Living editors select each product featured. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Why Trust Us?

It's that time of the year when you're prepping, planning, and eventually planting your flower beds. It's likely you'll spend much of this time focused on what flowers want to have in your garden, the easiest flowers to grow, and the color palette of the best annuals that will compliment your home’s exterior house paint color. Another important topic to consider is how to create a space that attracts bees and other garden-friendly pollinators. After all, not only are they crucial to the health of the planet and survival of mankind, but bees pollinate plants, including fruit trees, vegetables, and other ornamental plants. In fact, it’s estimated that honeybees pollinate 75 to 85 percent of all food crops. (There’s a term “busy bee” for a reason!)

Overall, it’s in our best interest to create bee haven and destinations around our homes with plenty of flowering plants and healthy nectar for them to eat. Bees are particularly attracted to bee balm, echinacea, snapdragon, and hostas, as well as a number of other wildflowers like California poppies and evening primrose. Fun fact: Did you know that bees have excellent color vision? For this reason, they flock to yellow, purple, blue, and white flowers. It’s best to avoid eucalyptus, ferns, and lemongrass, and skip toxic pesticides and herbicides that can be harmful to bees. Instead, choose bee-friendly organic fertilizers for your garden spaces.

Check out this list of 22 flowers that attract bees for a pretty, healthy, and bee-friendly garden.

Take a look at a few more helpful links to get your garden tools, potted plants, garden beds, and vegetable options organized for the next gardening season!

Editors' Picks: Our Backyard and Garden Must-Haves
20 Favorite Container Plants and Ideas for Your Potted Garden Oasis
15 Best Raised Garden Beds of 2023 for Any Outdoor Space
11 Things Beginners Should Know Before Starting a Vegetable Garden

1

Goldenrod

flowering goldenrod flowers for bees
Brian Hagiwara//Getty Images

Often confused with the allergy-inducing ragweed, goldenrod is actually believed to have many health benefits, including pain and inflammation reduction. Bees flock to its golden blooms.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 8
Sun Exposure: average to full sun
Soil: dry to moist, well-drained

SHOP NOW

2

Bee Balm

bee balm flower flowers for bees
By Eve Livesey//Getty Images

The fragrant foliage of bee balm (also know as wild bergamot) will attract pollinators to your garden. Plant in a sunny spot for spring and summer blooms.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Sun Exposure:
partial shade to full sun
Soil: moist, well-drained

SHOP NOW

3

Black Eyed Susan

flowering black eyes susan flowers for bees
Ghiringhelli Ausrey / EyeEm//Getty Images

Related to sunflowers, this yellow flowering plant in a native wildflower. Sun-loving and drought tolerant, these flowers bloom starting in the summer and into the fall months.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Sun Exposure:
full sun
Soil: medium moisture, well-drained

SHOP NOW

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
4

Borage

borage flower flowers for bees
Wolfgang Werner//Getty Images

You can snack on borage alongside the bees. The flowers, leaves, and stems are all edible with a faint cucumber taste.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 6 to 10
Sun Exposure:
light shade, full sun
Soil: fertile, well-drained


SHOP NOW

5

California Poppies

california poppies flowers for bees
Kelly Lane//Getty Images

Bees love the cup-shaped flowers of this native wildflower. Look for their orange, yellow, pink, or white blooms in the spring months.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 10
Sun Exposure:
full sun
Soil: sandy or low fertility, well-drained


SHOP NOW

6

Chive Flowers

flowering chives flowers for bees
DebraLee Wiseberg//Getty Images

Violet pom-pom-shaped flowers pop up in chive patches in the early spring months. Plant chives in a pot versus directly in the ground, as they are fast growers and can easily overtake a garden.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Sun Exposure:
full sun
Soil: fertile and moist, well-drained

SHOP NOW

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7

Lupine

yellow lupine flowers for bees
Andrei Stanescu//Getty Images

The tall, spiky flowers of lupine start blooming in late spring. Plant in a sunny spot—while lupine can tolerate some shade, it won't bloom as well. Make sure you've got well-draining soil and water regularly.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9
Sun Exposure:
partial shade to full sun
Soil: acidic, well-drained

SHOP NOW

8

Liatris

liatris flower with bee flowers for bees
Terri Ham / EyeEm//Getty Images

Bees will swarm to the bottle-brush shaped flowers of a liatris plant. Plant in the spring and wait for those summer blooms to appear.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Sun Exposure:
full sun
Soil: sandy and dry/medium moisture, well-drained

SHOP NOW

9

Marigold

yellow marigold blooming flowers for bees
Siriwan Yothmontre / EyeEm//Getty Images

While marigolds are beneficial to plant around food-producing plants to ward off any number of pests, honey bees will flock to their bright orange, red, and yellow blooms.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11
Sun Exposure:
full sun
Soil: evenly moist, well-drained

SHOP NOW

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
10

Mint

flowering peppermint flowers for bees
Westend61//Getty Images

A delightful garden herb, the lavender flowers of a mint plant will appear sometime between June and September. Like chives, mint should be planted in a pot, as it's a quick spreader and will choke out nearby plants.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 11
Sun Exposure:
partial shade to full sun
Soil: moist, well-drained

SHOP NOW

11

Nasturtium

 nasturtium flowers and leaves flowers for bees
Laura Buttafoco / EyeEm//Getty Images

All parts of this easy-to-grow annual are edible. Toss the lily pad-like leaves and brightly hued flowers in salads or use to garnish grilled fish.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 11
Sun Exposure:
full sun (6+ hours a day)
Soil: slightly acidic, moist, well-drained

SHOP NOW

12

Pansy

pansy flowers in a hanging basket flowers for bees
Susan Gary//Getty Images

Pansies love cool weather, so plant them in the early spring and fall. They are great as a pot or border plant, and with proper care, can flower almost all year long, although bees may only visit in the warmer months.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 11
Sun Exposure: partial shade to full sun
Soil: evenly moist, well-drained

SHOP NOW

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13

Peony

peony blooms flowers for bees
Anastasi Skackova / EyeEm//Getty Images

A late spring bloomer, a peony's large fluffy flowers come in a range of colors, sizes, and shapes. Plant bare-root specimens in a sunny spot in the fall for spring blooms.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Sun Exposure: full sun (6-8+ hours a day)
Soil: slightly moist, well-drained

SHOP NOW

14

Lantana

lantana flowers for bees
Maria Dattola Photography//Getty Images

These easy to grow flowers thrive in spaces with plenty of sunlight. Colorful lantana blossoms all through summer and attract bees and even hummingbirds. They also work well in landscape beds and box containers.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 12
Sun Exposure: full sun (6+ hours a day)
Soil: slightly acidic, well-drained

SHOP NOW

15

Snowdrops

snowdrop flowers for bees
Mint Images//Getty Images

An early spring bloomer, these flowers serve as a fresh nectar source for bees. Often appearing when there is still snow on the ground, these bulbs are low maintenance.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 7 to 12
Sun Exposure: full sun (6+ hours a day)
Soil: slightly acidic, well-drained

SHOP NOW

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
16

Phlox

pink phlox flowers for bees
Petra Hasselbusch / EyeEm//Getty Images

There are many varieties of phlox, which can range from low-growing ground cover to tall breeds that can add height to the backs of your flower beds. Bees will flock to the highly fragrant flowers.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8
Sun Exposure: partial sun, full sun
Soil: evenly moist, well-drained

SHOP NOW

17

Sunflower

field of sunflower flowers for bees
Matthew Fabilenia//Getty Images

Plant sunflower seeds in the spring for spectacular blooms in late summer months. Plant tall varieties in the back of a garden or intersperse shorter bloomers throughout your garden bed.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11
Sun Exposure: full sun (6 to 8 hours of full sun)
Soil: lightly acidic to alkaline soil soil, well-drained

SHOP NOW

18

Flowering Thyme

blossoming thyme flowers for bees
Luca Vittone / EyeEm//Getty Images

A perfect addition to an herb garden, thyme will flower in the middle of the spring to mid-summer. Not only will bees buzz around these fragrant blossoms, you can pick and use them in salads, as a garnish, or sprinkled on avocado toast.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9
Sun Exposure: full sun (6 hours of full sun)
Soil: neutral to alkaline soil soil, well-drained

SHOP NOW

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19

Zinnia

red zinnia flowers for bees
Jacky Parker Photography//Getty Images

Heavy bloomers, zinnias are easy to start from seed after the last frost. While these full-sun lovers are annuals, they effortlessly reseed from year to year.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11
Sun Exposure: partial shade, full sun
Soil: fertile, well-drained

SHOP NOW

20

Lavender

blooming lavender flowers for bees
Yin Jiang//Getty Images

Bees will make a, well, beeline to this beauty with silvery leaves and pretty purple flowers. It's a great choice for garden borders. Added bonus: The fragrant flowers can be dried and used in aromatic sachets or cooked into shortbread cookies.

USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 10
Sun Exposure: full sun
Soil: well-drained

SHOP NOW

Lettermark
Charlyne Mattox
Food and Crafts Director
Charlyne Mattox is Food and Crafts Director for Country Living.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Guide to Spring Gardening

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below