Gardening f Bees - Seasonal Recommended Lists: The following lists are based on several years of evaluation and survey wk done in Nthern and Southern Califnia by our UC research group. s are presented seasonally, and in alphabetical der, based on the same scheme used in Sunset Magazine's Western Garden Book (2007), edited by Brenzel. Some infmation on Califnia native plants is also found in s of the San Francisco Bay Region by Beidleman and Kosloff (University of Califnia Press, 2003) and in Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains by McAuley (Canyon Publications Co. CA, 1996). Below you will find seperate lists f Spring plants and Summer plants, as well as a key to the shthand used f bee groups/species in the tables. If you have trouble printing this page, if your browser is having trouble displaying it properly, there is an unstyled set of lists available. Finally, if you would like to have a ptable copy of the lists, perhaps send them to a friend, we have a nicely fmatted PDF version available f download (Latest revision: December 2007). F me infmation, see the additional text at the bottom of this page. Spring s Scientific Name SSArctostaphylos spp. Common Name Family Origin Annual Perennial Pollen Nectar Manzanita Eric. CA Per N B, Main Bee Visits Notes Visitation by bumble bees is low but consistent. Achillea millefolium Common Yarrow Aster. CA Per P Berberis spp. Barberry Berber. CA Per N, Bago officinalis Bage Bag. Exotic Ann N, B Calendula spp. Pot Marigold Aster. Exotic Per P/N, Visitation is variable. Carpenteria califnica Anemone Philad. CA Per P B,,, Ceanothus 'Julia Phelps' Ceanothus 'Ray artman' Wild lilac Rham. CA Per P/N B, sb, Wild lilac Rham. CA Per P/N B,, Bumble bees ade this plant. Ceanothus thyrsiflus Lilac, Blue Blossom Rham. CA Per P/N B,,, sb cis occidentalis West. Redbud Fabac. CA Per N X, Excellent nectar source, but sht lived. Clarkia unguiculata Elegant Clarkia Onagr. CA Ann N B,, in 1-2 meter diameter patches f best attraction. Collinsia heterophylla Chinese ouses Scroph. CA Ann N B in shade partial shade. Echium candicans Pride of Madeira Bag. Exotic Per P/N, B,, An attractive Spring nectar plant. Echium plantagiuneum Salvation Jane Bag. Exotic Per P/N B,, No summer water. Encelia califnica Sunflower Mel,,, Erigeron glaucus "Wayne Roderick" Seaside Daisy, Dead-head flowers. Other cultivars less attractive. 1 of 5 1/19/10 11:14 PM
Eschscholzia califnica Califnia Poppy Papaver. CA Ann P B,, Mainstay pollen source f many bee species. Gilia achilleifolia Califnia Gilia Polem. CA Ann P/N B,, And Gilia capitata Globe Gilia Polem. CA Ann P/N B,, And elenium puberulum Sneezeweed, Mel Mel. males sleep on flower heads. Lavandula spp. Lavender Lamiac. Exotic Per N Layia platyglossa Tidytips Aster. CA Ann P/N Linaria purpurea Toadflax Scroph. Exotic Per N, B, X, Mel,, B, hid, B,,, Attracts many bee species. Marrubium vulgare ehound Lamiac. Exotic Per N,, B Dead-headand water occasionally. Mentzelia lindleyi Blazing Star Loas. CA Ann P/N B Nepeta spp. Catnip Lamiac. Exotic Per N, B,, Pelargonium graveolens Scented Geranium Geran. Exotic Per N, Relatively low, but consistent, bee visitation. heterophyllus Scroph. CA Per N B, in patches greater than one meter in diameter. Likes occasional water. 'midnight' Midnight Scroph. Exotic Per N B, Phacelia califnica CA Phacelia ydro. CA Per P/N And, B, White flowers are small, but very attractive to bumble bees. Phacelia campanularia Phacelia grandifla CA. Desert Bluebells Large-flower phacelia ydro. CA Ann P/N B,, ydro. CA Ann P/N B, Phacelia tanacetifolia Tansy Phacelia ydro. CA Ann P/N B, And,,, One of the best pollen / nectar sources f several Spring bee species. Pollen is purple! Phacelia viscida Sticky Phacelia ydro. CA Ann P/N B, Rhamnus califnica Califnia Coffeeberry Rham. CA Per P/N, Various bee groups (sb) Also attractive to beneficial flies and wasps. Salvia brandegeei Brandegee Lamiac. CA Per N B,,, Salvia chamaedryoides Lamiac. Exotic Per N B, hid, Likes occasional water. Salvia greggii Autumn Lamiac. Exotic Per N X, Salvia 'Indigo Spires' Salvia Indigo Spires Lamiac. Exotic Per N B, X,,, Salvia mellifera Black Lamiac. CA Per N B,,, Stachys bullata CA edgenettle Lamiac. CA Per N B, Dead-head and water occasionally. Verbena lasiostachys West. Verbena Verben. CA Per N,, B Dead-head and water regularly to maintain flowering. 2 of 5 1/19/10 11:14 PM
Summer s Scientific Name Agastache spp. Common Name Mint, Agastache Family Origin Annual Perennial Pollen Nectar Lamiac. Exotic Per N B, Main Bee Visits Notes Aster chilensis Purple aze Aster. CA Per p/n,, Mel Aster x frikartii Monch Aster. Exotic Per P/N, Mel, Dead-head Bidens ferulifolia Bidens Aster. Exotic Per P/N Mel, Flowers all year, but mostly attractive in Summer. Likes modest water. Calamintha spp. Calamint Lamiac Exotic Per N, B Attracts many bee species. Caryopteris incana Bluebeard Verb. Exotic Per P/N,, Likes modest water. Caryopteris x clandonensis Blue Mist Verb. Exotic Per P/N,, Likes modest water. Centaurea cineraria Dusty Miller Aster. Exotic Per P/N, Ceopsis grandifla cultivars Tickseed Aster. Exotic Per P/N, Mel,, Best cultivars: "Flying Saucers," "Sunny Day," and "Tequilla Sunrise" Cosmos bipinnatus & Cosmos sulphureus Cosmos Aster. Exotic Ann P/N Mel,,, Dead-head; likes modest water. Cucurbitaceae Pumpkin, Squash, Zucchini Cucrbit. CA Ann P/N, P Duranta erecta Skyflower Verb. Exotic Per N B,, 's also use leaves to build nests. Echinacea purpurea Purple Coneflower Aster. Exotic Per P/N Mel,, Large patches attract best. Encelia califnia Sunflower, Mel,, Erigeron glaucus "Wayne Roderick" Seaside Daisy,,, Eriogonum fasciculatum CA buckwheat Polygon. CA Per N, Many other beneficial insects also visit these flowers. Eriogonum grande rubescens Eriogonum latifolium Red Buckwheat Coast Buckwheat Polygon. CA Per N, Polygon. CA Per N B, Eriogonum nudum Buckwheat Polygon. CA Per N, B Eryngium spp. Sea olly Apiac. Exotic Per N, B, Gaillardia x grandifla Gaillardia Aster. Exotic Per P/N,, Mel ighly attractive plants f bees, especially achilids. Numerous cultivars exist; most are attractive. Gaillardia "Oranges & Lemons" Oranges & Lemons Aster. Exotic Per P/N, Mel,, Grindelia hirsutula airy Gum, Mel,, Dead-head and water f continuous flowering. Grindelia stricta Gum elianthus annuus Sunflower Aster. CA Ann P/N, Mel,,, B, Mel,, B Dead-head 3 of 5 1/19/10 11:14 PM
elianthus 'Lemon Queen' Lemon Queen Aster. Exotic Per P/N Several species ighly attractive plant f bees. Dies back in Winter. elianthus 'Mardi Gras' Mardi Gras Aster. Exotic Per P/N, Mel, kelia marinensis Pt. Reyes kelia Rosac. CA Per P/N B, Small plant; big attract f achilids. Lavandula spp Lavender Lamiac. Exotic Per N Linaria purpurea Toadflax Scroph. Exotic Per N, B, X,, hid, B,,, Some lavender species are me attractive than others. Attracts many bee species. Lotus cniculatus Bird's Foot Trefoil Fabac. Exotic Ann N A pretty weed, and small achilid bees love it. Lotus scoparius Deerweed Fabac. CA Per N, B, Great nectar source and does well in po soils. Madia elegans densifla Elegant Madia Aster. CA Ann P/N Mel, Flowers close early in warm weather. Marrubium vulgare ehound Lamiac. Exotic Per N, B, Dead-head and water occasionally. Mentha spicata Spearmint Lamiac. Exotic Per N Various bee groups(sb) Monardella odatissima Mountain Monardella Lamiac. CA Per N B, Nepeta x faassenii Catmint Lamiac. Exotic Per N, B, Mel,, Long flowering. Origanum spp. Oregano Lamiac. Exotic Per N, heterophyllus Scroph. CA Per N B,,, Likes occasional water. Perovskia atriplicifolia Russian Lamiac. Exotic Per N, B, ighly attractive bee plant. Rosmarinus officinalis Rosemary Lamiac. Exotic Per N,, Low-growing cultivars are me attractive than tall ones. Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan Aster. Exotic Ann/Per P/N Mel,, Large-flower varieties attract best. Rudbeckia laciniata cultivars no common name Aster. Exotic Per P/N Mel Dead-head Salvia chamaedryoides Lamiac. Exotic Per N B,, hid hidium male bees patrol this flower and chase away other bees. Likes occasional water. Salvia uliginosa Bog Lamiac. Exotic Per N X,,, Likes consistent water. Also attracts hummingbirds and Monarch butterflies. Scabiosa atropurpurea Pincushion flower Dipsac. Exotic Per P/N Mel, Solidago califnica Goldenrod Aster CA Per P/N,, Attractive bee plant and some cultivars (such as Soladago 'Leraft') are very attractive. Teucrium x lucidrys Wall Lamiac. Exotic Per N,, Xylo Thymus spp. Thyme Lamiac. Exotic Per N Sb, Verbena lasiostachys Verbena Verben. CA Per N, Dead-head and water regularly to maintain flowering. 4 of 5 1/19/10 11:14 PM
Vitex agnus-castus Chaste Tree Verben. Exotic Per P/N Xylo, B,, Key To Bee Groups B hid sb X And Mel P Bombus (Bumble Bee) hidium (achilidae) One of the many varieties of small bees. Xylocopa (Carpenter Bee) ia (achilidae) alictid Andrenid achilid (Leaf Cutter and Mason Bees) hophid (Digger Bees) European oney Bee Melissodes (an hophid) atina (Small Carpenter Bee) Peponapsis (Squash Bee) Additional Infmation on the Seasonal Recommended Lists Most infmation used to create these lists (F example; plant fm, flower col, soil and cultivation requirements) can be found in the Sunset Garden Book. Local nurseries can also be helpful with specific infmation. All of the plants listed here will flower within one two years; most during the first year of planting. Other evaluated plants (f example, large shrubs and trees) known to be attractive to bees can be found in our exhaustive Complete List [PDF] (last compiled December, 2003). F best results in bee gardening, we recommend that advanced planning takes place to insure that continual bee flal food will be available f both Spring and Summer seasons. There are distinct groups of bees present in Spring and in Summer; some groups can also be observed year round. In our experimental gardens in the Bay Area we always plant a minimum of 10-15 diverse bee plants each season. igher bee diversity and abundance occurs when gardens have a rich asstment of bee plants. It also appears that bees remain longer in a garden if plant diversity is high. Finally, we find that patch size of about 1 meter in diameter larger is best f keeping faging bees visiting a given plant species cultivar. Smaller patch sizes, of usually attractive plants, will often be igned. Once your bee garden is established, be sure to take time to closely observe the different bee groups/species that will visit your plants. Each bee species behaves slightly differently than all others, which helps in identification. Bee watching can be as enjoyable as bird watching once your eyes get adjusted to their movements. Note also that certain bee groups/species will be predictably found on certain plant types. 5 of 5 1/19/10 11:14 PM