“The keeping of bees is like the direction of sunbeams.” - Henry David Thoreau
September is National Honey Month, and it's the perfect time to highlight the best plants for honeybees and backyard beekeepers!
From classic honey plants like Linden Trees and Tupelo Trees to bee-friendly shrubs and perennials like Russian Sage, Catmint, and Lavender, NatureHills.com offers gardeners and beekeepers a wide variety of nectar sources. Planting these pollinator favorites ensures strong colonies, heavy supers filled with golden honey, and unique floral notes in every harvest.
Planting these pollinator favorites ensures steady food for your hive, healthier bees, and delicious golden honey with unique floral notes!
- What Is Honey?
- How Bees Make Honey
- Benefits of Honey
- Top 10 Plants Bees Love For Honey
- Care & Maintenance
- Sweet Finish!
What Is Honey?
Technically, honey is a supersaturated sugar solution made by honeybees from flower nectar. It contains mainly fructose and glucose, along with trace enzymes, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, all preserved within wax-sealed comb cells.
How Bees Make Honey
Honey production starts when forager bees collect nectar, then pass it along to house bees inside the hive, where it's transformed into honey and stored in capped comb.
Honeybees collect nectar from flowers using their long tongues and store it in a special "honey stomach". Back at the hive, the nectar is passed between worker bees, reducing moisture and mixing with enzymes.
The bees then deposit it into honeycomb cells, where they fan it with their wings until it thickens. Finally, they seal each cell with wax to keep the honey fresh.
Benefits of Honey
- Natural sweetener packed with antioxidants
- Supports immune health
- May help those with allergies
- Provides quick energy
- Has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties
- Soothes sore throats and coughs
- Used in skincare for healing and hydration
Top 10 Plants Bees Love For Honey
Bees need their honey stores for food, helping them get through lean times and winters when flowers are not available. A healthy apiary depends on a steady nectar flow from reliable plants throughout the season!
1. Native Linden Species (Tilia americana)
Both American Linden (Basswood) and Littleleaf Linden are celebrated honey plants. Their fragrant flowers produce nectar that results in a light, floral honey prized by beekeepers. American Linden is native to North America, while Littleleaf Linden, a European species, is widely planted in U.S. cities and landscapes.
- Reliable nectar source in summer
- Highly attractive to bees and pollinators
- Produces mild, floral-flavored honey
- Known for producing prized Basswood honey
2. Tupelo Tree (Nyssa ogeche)
Famous in the Southeast, especially along Florida's rivers, Tupelo Trees (also known as Black Gum) provide nectar that produces one of the most sought-after honeys in the world. Tupelo honey never crystallizes and has a rich, buttery flavor.
- Thrives in moist soils
- Beloved for premium Tupelo honey
- Nectar flows during spring
3. Black Locust Tree (Robinia pseudoacacia)
Black Locust and other Locust Tree blossoms are highly fragrant and irresistible to bees. The honey is pale, clear, and slow to crystallize - a beekeeper's favorite.
- Rapid-growing shade tree
- Blooms in late spring with clusters of white flowers
- Known for high nectar production
4. Sourwood Tree (Oxydendrum arboreum)
Sourwood honey is a delicacy in the Appalachian region. The midsummer flowers yield nectar that produces honey with a buttery, caramel-like flavor.
- Native ornamental tree
- White, drooping flower clusters
- Blooming later in the season helps extend nectar flow
5. Wildflowers
Mixed wildflower plantings provide bees with a buffet of nectar sources across the growing season. Diverse blooms create multi-floral honeys with complex flavors that change year to year depending on what's in bloom.
- Supports biodiversity and pollinator health
- Provides a continuous nectar supply from spring to fall
- Produces richly flavored, unique honey blends
Common wildflowers for honey production include Sunflowers, Goldenrod, Asters, Coneflowers, and Black-Eyed Susans, plus the many annual wildflowers, all excellent nectar and pollen sources for bees!
6. Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
While not a tree, this perennial shrub is a powerhouse for bees. Long-blooming, drought-tolerant, and nectar-rich, it keeps hives supplied all summer.
- Aromatic silvery foliage
- Violet-blue flowers attract pollinators nonstop
- Perfect for sunny borders
7. Catmint (Nepeta)
Catmint is adored by pollinators for its long bloom season and abundant nectar. It produces honey with a minty, herbal character.
- Compact perennial
- Bloom late spring through summer
- Hardy and deer-resistant
8. Lavender (Lavandula)
Lavender honey is famously fragrant with subtle floral notes. The purple blooms attract bees in droves.
- Aromatic perennial
- Blooms in summer
- Creates honey with a light, herbal sweetness
9. Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
This native shrub features spherical white flower clusters that bees can't resist. Nectar produces distinctive honey with a hint of spice.
- Thrives near water
- Summer blooms extend the nectar season
- Provides wildlife habitat
10. Perennial Legumes for Honey Production
Legumes are famous nectar plants, producing mild, sweet honey. While Clover is the classic, other legumes also yield excellent honey crops. Consider planting:
- White Clover (Trifolium repens) - the most famous honey plant in the U.S.
- Alsike Clover (Trifolium hybridum) - hardy, long-blooming, and nectar-rich
- Purple/Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) - bees forage heavily when flowers are accessible
- Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) - produces light-colored, mild honey
- Vetch (Vicia villosa) - excellent early nectar source in spring
- Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) - highly attractive to bees, produces aromatic honey
Clover honey is the most well-known honey in the U.S., but gardeners can plant perennial clover groundcovers and nectar-rich legume perennials that provide the same sweet, mild honey flavor.
Getting The Most Out Of Honey Plants
- Plant in full sun for maximum nectar flow
- Provide consistent water during establishment
- Use organic fertilizer to encourage bloom production
- Avoid pesticide use to keep hives safe. Even organic pesticides can be troublesome
- Plant a mix of trees, shrubs, and perennials to stagger bloom times for a continuous nectar supply
Sweet Finish!
Ma Nature gives us honey as one of her sweetest gifts, and gardeners can give back by planting nectar-rich trees, shrubs, and perennials. From Linden and Tupelo to Lavender and Catmint, these plants create a honeybee buffet that keeps hives thriving and honey jars full. Plant some of these beauties this fall - and let the buzz begin!
Happy Planting!
