Bee the Change This World Bee Day!
Every year on May 20, the world celebrates World Bee Day to raise awareness of the vital role bees and other pollinators play in ecosystems and food production. Without bees, many fruits, vegetables, nuts, and wildflowers would vanish from our landscapes and tables. Bees support biodiversity, boost crop yields, and sustain the natural balance that mother nature depends on.
Yet today, bees are sounding the alarm. A growing number of species are in decline, facing threats from pesticide exposure, habitat loss, monoculture farming, climate shifts, and disease.
The good news? You can be a backyard hero!
By planting the right things, skipping the spray, and offering safe spaces, we can all give Bees a better chance.
Meet the Bees: The Pollinators of the United States
When you think of bees, you may picture the familiar fuzzy Honey Bee, but she's just one member of a massive and magnificent family. In fact, the U.S. is home to over 4,000 species of native bees, with most being wild and solitary, not hive-dwellers!
Here's a closer look at the different types of Bees making the rounds across America:
1. Honey Bees (Apis mellifera)
- Origin: Originally from Europe and domesticated worldwide.
- Habits: Social bees live in large hives with a queen, workers, and drones.
- Pollination Role: Famous for honey production and essential agricultural pollination.
- Status: Populations are declining due to Colony Collapse Disorder, pesticides, and mite infestations, but conservation is ongoing.
2. Bumble Bees (Bombus spp.)
- Native: Yes! North America has 49 species of native Bumble Bees.
- Habits: Social colonies, typically underground or in cavities. Queens overwinter solo.
- Importance: Buzzing pollinators, excellent at pollinating tomatoes, blueberries, and native flowers. They go crazy for pollen and can become ‘drunk' on Magnolia flower pollen!
- Status: Several species, like the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, are federally endangered. Others, like the American Bumble Bee, are experiencing rapid population drops.
3. Solitary Bees
These don't live in hives or make honey, but they pollinate 80% of native flowering plants and crops!
- Mason Bees (Osmia spp.): Use mud to seal their nesting chambers in hollow reeds or cracks. Active in spring.
- Leafcutter Bees (Megachile spp.): Cut neat circles from leaves to line their nests. Often found nesting in wood crevices and hollow stems.
- Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa spp.): Nest in soft wood tunnels. Some species resemble Bumble Bees but with shiny abdomens and will fiercely guard their hives, but are not a threat and usually won't sting.
- Sweat Bees (Halictidae family): Small, metallic green or black bees attracted to sweat for salt. Vital pollinators of native plants.
4. Mining & Ground-Nesting Bees
- Mining Bees (Andrena spp.): Nest in sandy soils and are often the first pollinators to emerge in early spring.
- Digger Bees: Excavate small tunnels in undisturbed soil.
Importance: These bees are essential for wildflower reproduction and maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Why Wild Bees Matter
- Many wild bees are more efficient at pollinating native plants than Honey Bees.
- They often specialize in certain flowers, ensuring those plants continue to reproduce. Read more on which flower colors attract bees the most.
- Unlike domesticated hives, solitary bees can be severely affected by even small changes in land use or garden cleanup timing.
Supporting bees means welcoming all their forms, not just the honey-makers, but also the tiny, shiny, and solitary workers, who mother nature depends on to keep her rhythm alive.
Best Bee-Friendly Plants to Grow in Your Garden
Ready to roll out the red carpet for your local pollinators? Choosing the right plants can turn your yard into a buzzing oasis of life. Whether you're working with a city lot, a sunny suburban patch, or a rural meadow, plant diversity is key.
Bees need more than just flowers. They need trees for early blooms, shrubs for structure and seasonal variety, perennials for reliable nectar, and fruiting plants that do double duty, feeding you and the bees alike, while beautifying your world. Below, we've rounded up top picks for every layer of your landscape. These plants are rich in nectar and pollen, and many are native or naturally well-adapted to American gardens.
From spring's earliest stirrings to autumn's last golden glow, here's how to plant with purpose and give pollinators the year-round buffet they deserve. Let's dig into the best trees, shrubs, perennials, and fruiting plants bees love most.
Bee-Favorite Trees
Bees love trees that offer abundant nectar and pollen. These leafy giants often bloom early and sustain hives and wild pollinators alike.
- Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis): Small native tree with early spring pink blooms.
- Tulip Tree/Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera): Large, nectar-rich blooms for Bumble Bees.
- American Basswood (Tilia americana): Also known as Linden trees, these summer-flowering trees are adored by Bees and beekeepers for Basswood honey.
- Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia): Fragrant white flowers and rich nectar.
- Willow Trees (Salix spp.): An early source of pollen for queen bees, Willows are vital bee trees that support hundreds of beneficial insects!
Bee-Friendly Shrubs
These flowering shrubs provide long bloom periods and are great pollen forage.
- Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis): Spherical white blooms loved by many native bees.
- Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia): Mid-summer blooms in shady spots.
- Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.): Fruiting and flowering powerhouse.
- Elderberry (Sambucus spp.): Native shrub buzzing with life in late spring.
- New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus): Compact native shrub with white nectar-rich flowers.
- Wild Roses are also fantastic options! Try the Carolina Rose or Smooth Wild Rosebush.
Pollinator-Loved Perennials: A Bee Buffet All Season Long
Perennials are the steady heartbeat of a bee-friendly garden. Unlike annuals, these long-living plants come back year after year, offering consistent nectar, pollen, and beauty. The trick is to plant a seasonal succession that feeds bees from their earliest wake-up flights in spring to their final foraging runs in late fall.
Here's a curated guide to perennials bees adore, from the moment mother nature starts to stir:
Early Spring Favorites (March-April)
In addition to early-flowering bulbs and ephemerals, these spring bloomers are vital when bees first emerge hungry from hibernation.
- Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata): This low-growing groundcover produces a carpet of vibrant blooms in early spring, attracting bees with its abundant nectar. It's ideal for borders and rock gardens.
- Hellebore (Helleborus spp.): Known as Lenten Roses, these perennials bloom in late winter to early spring, offering early nectar for bees. Their nodding flowers come in various colors, and they thrive in partial shade.
- Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis): Nodding red and yellow flowers that appeal to small native bees and hummingbirds alike.
- Lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.): Spotted leaves and early blue-pink blooms. A haven for bumble queens on chilly spring mornings.
Early to Mid-Summer Bloomers (May-July)
Peak pollination season, when bees are active, broods are growing, and the buffet is open.
- Bee Balm (Monarda spp.): A magnet for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Spicy-scented foliage and frilly blooms. Offers nectar-rich clusters in red, pink, or purple.
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): A sturdy, prairie-native perennial with large daisy-like blooms. Loved for its nectar and later for its seed heads.
- Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Flat-topped blooms in white, pink, or yellow that offer a perfect landing pad. Also medicinal and drought-tolerant.
- Catmint (Nepeta spp.): Long-blooming and aromatic, with silvery foliage and lavender-blue flowers that bees can't resist.
Late Summer to Early Fall (August-October)
Critical plants for late-season foraging and bee brood development.
- Aster (Symphyotrichum spp.): One of the last floral resources before bees overwinter. Purple, blue, or white blooms loaded with nectar and pollen. A keystone plant for fall survival.
- Showy Goldenrod (Solidago spp.): Often misunderstood, this native does not cause allergies. It provides rich nectar when little else is blooming.
- Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum): Tall and stately, with vanilla-scented mauve-pink flower clusters adored by bees and butterflies.
Together, these perennials create a vibrant, nourishing timeline of blooms from snowmelt to frost, just the way mother nature intended it.
Fruiting Plants for Bees
These tasty plants are good for you and the Bees, plus Bees assist with pollination and larger crops.
- Apple and Crabapples (Malus domestica): Spring flowers feed bees; fruits feed us.
- Raspberry and Blackberry (Rubus spp.): Bees adore these thicket-forming shrubs.
- Strawberry (Fragaria spp.): Low-growing treats and early bee favorites.
- Melons, Pumpkins, and Squash (Cucurbita spp. and Cucumis spp.): Require pollination for fruit, truly teamwork in action! Squash Bees are often mistaken for Honey Bees, but they're slightly larger, with longer antennae and a fuzzier thorax.
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Wild Plum Trees (Prunus spp.):
- Beach Plum (Prunus maritima): Coastal native with fragrant white flowers in spring. Bees adore the early blooms, and the fruit is great for jelly.
- American Plum (Prunus americana): Spreads by root suckers, forming thickets that offer habitat for wildlife. Its early blooms are a magnet for native bees.
- Chickasaw Plum (Prunus angustifolia): A Southeastern native with delicate white spring flowers. Supports early emerging bees and adds edible fruit for jams and pies.
How to Help Bees in Your Backyard
You don't need a prairie to support pollinators, your own backyard can be a buzzing sanctuary! Here are easy, impactful ways to help:
- Plant Native: Native trees, shrubs, and perennials support native bees better than exotic varieties. Find the best natives by State here.
- Bloom All Season: Include plants that flower in early spring, mid-summer, and fall.
- Avoid Pesticides: Especially during bloom. Use organic or integrated pest management.
- Leave Some Wild: Bare soil patches or leaf litter help ground-nesting bees.
- Bee Watering Stations: A shallow dish with pebbles gives bees a safe place to sip. Keep the water clean often.
- Use Arborist Mulch around plants, but leave some open soil for ground-nesting bees.
- Delay Garden Cleanup: Hold off on raking and pruning until daytime temperatures consistently reach 50°F (10°C) or higher. Many solitary bees overwinter inside dead stems, leaf piles, or just below the soil surface, and cleaning up too early can disrupt or destroy them before they emerge.
Create Habitat:
A bee-friendly garden is often a bit wilder, a bit messier, and a whole lot more alive. Let mother nature do her thing, and you'll be rewarded with healthier plants, better pollination, and a front-row seat to nature's wonders.
Hollow Stems & Stick Piles: After perennials die back, leave some hollow stems standing through winter and into spring. These natural tubes house overwintering bee larvae.
Stone & Brick Piles: Stack small rocks, bricks, or old clay pots in sunny, dry corners to give solitary bees cozy crevices to crawl into.
Bee Hotels: Drill holes in untreated wood (4-6 inches deep, 1/8 to 3/8 inch wide) or buy premade bee houses. Mount them on a post or wall in a sunny, rain-sheltered location.
Don't Deadhead Everything: Allow some plants to go to seed and dry out. Hollow and pithy stems often double as nesting tunnels.
Bee Kind, Rewind (the Decline)
By designing with bees in mind, you're giving mother nature a helping hand, and she'll return the favor with better harvests and vibrant blooms.
From wildflower patches to buzzing berry bushes, we can all play a part in reversing the pollinator crisis. Celebrate World Bee Day by planting with purpose and letting mother nature's tiny workers thrive.
Happy Planting!
