by Leslie Cox; Thursday; March 16, 2017

I have always been surprised when people tell me they do not have any bees in their garden. We always have oodles of pollinators flitting about our yard. Probably the biggest reason is we have lots, and lots of plants! The other reason is we do not use any chemicals in our garden.

So…if you want to attract bees into your garden…first off, stop using chemicals, if you use them. Secondly, check out the following list of some of the plants we have in our garden which attract bees, butterflies, beetles, and other pollinators. It is by no means complete. There are many, many more plants which are good pollinator attractors.

Just remember…buy for scent (which means it will lure insects) and do not use any sprays stronger than a mild solution of soap and water. If you must spray your fruit trees or other plants with horticultural oil for pest infestations, try to do it when there are no pollinators out and about.

Abelia
Acanthus spp. – bear’s breeches
Allium spp.
Anemone nemerosa – wood anemone
Angelica archangelica
Anthriscus sylvestris
Aquilegia spp. – columbine
Arabis spp. – rock cress
Aronia melanocarpa – chokeberry
Asclepias tuberosa – butterfly weed
Asphodeline lutea – king’s spear
Astilbe spp.
Astrantia spp. – masterwort
Baptisia australis
Bellis perinnis
Berberis
Borago officinalis – borage
Brunnera macrophylla – bugloss
Buddleja spp. – butterfly bush
Calendula
Calluna spp. – heather
Calthus palustrus – marsh marigold
Camassia quamash
Campanula spp. – bellflower
Centranthus rubra – red valerian
Ceratostigma plumbaginoides – dwarf plumbago
Cerinthe major – honeywort
Chelone obliqua – turtlehead
Choisya spp. – Mexican mock orange
Clarkia amoena – godetia
Cleome hasselriana – spider flower
Clethra alnifolia
Colchicum autumnale – autumn crocus
Consolida ajacis – hyacinthe
Convallaria majalis – lily of the valley
Cotoneaster spp.
Crocosmia
Crocus
Cyclamen coum
Daphne spp.
Darmera peltata – umbrella plant
Delphinium spp.
Deutzia scabra
Dianthus spp. – pink
Digitalis spp. – foxglove
Dodecatheon meadia
Doronicum orientale – leopard’s bane
Echinacea spp. – coneflower
Enkianthus campanulatus
Epimedium spp. – bishop’s hat
Eranthus hyemalis – winter aconite
Eremurus stenophyllus – foxtail lily
Erica spp. – heather
Erodium – heronsbill
Eryngium spp. – sea holly
Erysimum spp. – wallflower
Erythronium revolutum – fawn lily
Eupatorium spp. – Joe Pye weed
Filipendula spp. – meadowsweet
Foeniculum vulgare – fennel
Forthysia
Fothergilla gardenia
Fragaria – strawberry
Francoa sonchifolia – Chilean maiden’s wreath
Galanthus nivalis – snowdrop
Galega officinalis – French lilac
Galium odoratum – sweet woodruff
Gaura lindheimeri
Gaura spp.
Gentiana spp.
Geranium spp. – hardy geranium
Geum spp. – avens
Helenium
Helianthemum nummularium
Heliopsis helianthoides – false sunflower
Heliotrope
Helleborus spp. – hellebore, Lenten rose
Hemerocallis spp. – daylily
Hepatica nobilis
Hesperis matronalis – dame’s rocket
Heuchera spp. – coral bells
Hibiscus
Hosta spp.
Humulus lupulus – hops
Hypericum perforatum – St. John’s wort
Hyssopsus officinalis – hyssop
Iberis sempervirens – candy tuft
Incarvillea delavayi – hardy gloxinia
Indigofera heterantha – false indigo
Iris spp.
Itea virginica – sweetspire
Kerria japonica – Japanese rose
Kirengeshoma palmate – yellow waxbell
Kniphofia
Kolkwitzia amabilis – beauty bush
Lagerstroemia – crape myrtle
Lathyrus odorata – sweet pea
Lavandula spp. – lavender
Lavatera spp.
Leonurus cardiac – motherwort
Levisticum officinale – lovage
Lewisia cotyledon
Leycesteria formosa – pheasant berry
Liatris spicata – gayfeather
Lilium spp.
Limnanthes – poached egg
Linaria
Lithodora
Lobularia maritima – syn. Alyssum maritima
Lonicera spp. – honeysuckle
Lunaria annua – moneywort
Lupines spp. – lupine
Lychnis chalcedonica – Maltese cross
Lysimachia spp.
Mahonia – Oregon grape
Malva spp.
Melissa officinalis – lemon balm
Mentha spp. – mint
Mertensis virginica – Virginia bluebell
Monarda spp. – bee balm
Muscari latifolium – grape hyacinthe
Myrrhis odorata – sweet cicely
Narcissus spp. – daffodil
Nepeta x faasenii – catmint
Nicotiana alata – white flower variety, not coloured hybrids
Nigella damascene – love-in-a-mist
Oenothera fruticosa – evening primrose
Origanum spp. – oregano & marjoram
Osteospormum jucundum – cape daisy
Paeonia spp. – peony
Papaver spp. – poppy
Penstemon spp.
Perovskia atriplicifolia – Russian sage
Persicaria bistorta – pink bistort
Philadelphus coronatrius – mock orange
Phlomis spp. – Jerusalem sage
Phlox spp.

Phuopsis stylosa – Caucasian crossword
Phygelius x rectus
Physocarpus spp. – ninebark
Pieris spp.
Plectranthus oertendahlii – Swedish ivy
Polemonium spp. – Jacob’s ladder
Polygonatum odoratum – Solomon’s seal
Potentilla
Primula spp.
Prunus x cisterna – sand cherry
Pulmonaria spp. – lungwort
Pyracanth
Ranunculus
Rhododendron spp.
Ribes sanguineum – flowering currant
Rodgersia spp.
Rosa spp. – rose, scented varieties
Rosmarinus officinalis – rosemary
Rudbeckia spp. – black-eyed Susan
Rumex sanguinea – red-veined sorrel
Ruta graveolens – rue
Salvia spp.
Sambucus spp. – elderberry
Sanguisorba – burnet
Satureja – savory
Scabiosa
Scrophularia – water figwort
Sedum spp.
Sempervivum spp.
Silene – catchfly
Skimmia japonica
Smyrnium olusatrum – black Alexander
Solidago spp. – goldenrod
Sorbus – ash
Spiraea
Stachys byzantine – lamb’s ears
Syringa – lilac
Tagetes spp. – marigold
Tanacetum parthenium – feverfew
Thalictrum spp. – meadow rue
Thymus spp. – thyme
Tiarella – foam bells
Tradescantia
Tricyrtis hirtis – toad lily
Tropaeoleum majus – nasturtium
Tulipa – tulip
Vaccinium spp. – blueberry
Valeriana officinalis – valerian
Verbascum – mullein
Verbena
Veronica spp.
Viburnum spp.
Viola spp.
Weigela spp.
Wisteria