Busy Bee Plants: A Guide to Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden

The Importance of Pollinators in Our Ecosystem

Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds play a crucial role in our ecosystem. They help fertilize flowers and crops, ensuring that they produce seeds and fruit. Without pollinators, many of our favorite foods wouldn't exist, and our environment would suffer.

Unfortunately, pollinator populations have been declining in recent years due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and other factors. That's why it's more important than ever to create a welcoming environment for these essential creatures in our own backyards.

One way to do this is by planting busy bee plants. These are plants that attract a lot of bees and other pollinators with their blooms, providing them with the nectar and pollen they need to survive. In this article, we'll take a closer look at some of the best busy bee plants to add to your garden.

Top 15 Busy Bee Plants to Attract Pollinators to Your Garden

1. Lavender

Lavender is a fragrant herb that produces beautiful purple flowers. Bees love lavender because it produces a lot of nectar, which they use to make honey. Plant lavender in full sun and well-drained soil for best results.

How to Care for Lavender Plants:

- Water lavender plants deeply once a week
- Prune back old stems in the spring to encourage new growth
- Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer in the spring and summer

2. Sunflowers

Sunflowers are a classic summer flower that bees can't resist. They produce large, showy blooms that are filled with nectar and pollen. Plant sunflowers in full sun and well-drained soil for the best results.

How to Care for Sunflower Plants:

- Water sunflowers regularly, especially during hot, dry weather
- Provide support for tall varieties by staking or using a trellis
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms

3. Bee Balm

Bee balm, also known as monarda, is a hardy perennial that produces vibrant pink, red, or purple flowers. It's called bee balm because it was traditionally used to treat bee stings. Bees love it because it produces lots of nectar.

How to Care for Bee Balm Plants:

- Plant bee balm in full sun or partial shade
- Water deeply once a week
- Cut back stems after blooming to encourage new growth

4. Echinacea

Echinacea, also known as coneflower, is a popular garden plant that produces large, daisy-like flowers. Bees love echinacea because it produces lots of pollen and nectar.

How to Care for Echinacea Plants:

- Plant echinacea in full sun or partial shade
- Water deeply once a week
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms

5. Salvia

Salvia is a genus of plants that includes many different species. They all produce flowers in shades of blue, purple, or red, and they're all great for attracting bees. Salvia produces a lot of nectar, which bees use to make honey.

How to Care for Salvia Plants:

- Plant salvia in full sun or partial shade
- Water deeply once a week
- Prune back old stems in the spring to encourage new growth

6. Black-eyed Susan

Black-eyed Susan is a popular garden plant that produces bright yellow flowers with dark centers. Bees love black-eyed Susan because it produces a lot of nectar and pollen.

How to Care for Black-eyed Susan Plants:

- Plant black-eyed Susan in full sun or partial shade
- Water deeply once a week
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms

7. Butterfly Bush

Butterfly bush, also known as buddleia, is a shrub that produces long spikes of flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white. It's called butterfly bush because it attracts lots of butterflies, but bees love it too.

How to Care for Butterfly Bush Plants:

- Plant butterfly bush in full sun and well-drained soil
- Water deeply once a week
- Prune back old stems in the spring to encourage new growth

8. Zinnia

Zinnias are easy-to-grow annual flowers that produce bright, cheerful blooms in a variety of colors. Bees love zinnias because they produce lots of nectar and pollen.

How to Care for Zinnia Plants:

- Plant zinnias in full sun and well-drained soil
- Water regularly, especially during hot, dry weather
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms

9. Marigold

Marigolds are another easy-to-grow annual flower that bees love. They produce bright orange or yellow blooms that are filled with nectar.

How to Care for Marigold Plants:

- Plant marigolds in full sun and well-drained soil
- Water regularly, but don't overwater
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms

10. Catmint

Catmint, also known as nepeta, is a hardy perennial that produces spikes of lavender-blue flowers. Bees love catmint because it produces lots of nectar.

How to Care for Catmint Plants:

- Plant catmint in full sun or partial shade
- Water deeply once a week
- Prune back stems after blooming to encourage new growth

11. Penstemon

Penstemon, also known as beardtongue, is a hardy perennial that produces tubular flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white. Bees love penstemon because it produces lots of nectar.

How to Care for Penstemon Plants:

- Plant penstemon in full sun or partial shade
- Water deeply once a week
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms

12. Cosmos

Cosmos are easy-to-grow annual flowers that produce delicate, daisy-like blooms in shades of pink, purple, or white. Bees love cosmos because they produce lots of nectar and pollen.

How to Care for Cosmos Plants:

- Plant cosmos in full sun and well-drained soil
- Water regularly, but don't overwater
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms

13. Lantana

Lantana is a tropical shrub that produces clusters of small, brightly colored flowers. Bees love lantana because it produces lots of nectar and pollen.

How to Care for Lantana Plants:

- Plant lantana in full sun and well-drained soil
- Water regularly, but don't overwater
- Prune back old stems in the spring to encourage new growth

14. Verbena

Verbena is a hardy perennial that produces clusters of small, brightly colored flowers. Bees love verbena because it produces lots of nectar.

How to Care for Verbena Plants:

- Plant verbena in full sun or partial shade
- Water deeply once a week
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms

15. Phlox

Phlox is a hardy perennial that produces clusters of fragrant, star-shaped flowers in shades of pink, purple, or white. Bees love phlox because it produces lots of nectar.

How to Care for Phlox Plants:

- Plant phlox in full sun or partial shade
- Water deeply once a week
- Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms

FAQs About Busy Bee Plants

1. What are busy bee plants?

Busy bee plants are plants that attract a lot of bees and other pollinators with their blooms, providing them with the nectar and pollen they need to survive.

2. Why are pollinators important?

Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds play a crucial role in our ecosystem. They help fertilize flowers and crops, ensuring that they produce seeds and fruit. Without pollinators, many of our favorite foods wouldn't exist, and our environment would suffer.

3. How can I create a welcoming environment for pollinators in my garden?

You can create a welcoming environment for pollinators by planting busy bee plants, providing a source of water, and avoiding the use of pesticides.

4. What other benefits do busy bee plants provide?

Busy bee plants provide many benefits beyond attracting pollinators. They can improve soil health, reduce erosion, and add beauty to your garden.

5. What should I do if I see a bee swarm in my garden?

If you see a bee swarm in your garden, stay calm and keep your distance. Bees are usually not aggressive unless they feel threatened. Contact a local beekeeper or pest control professional for assistance in safely removing the swarm.