Plants especially good for Honeybees, Bumblebees, and other Pollinators.
Bees need nectar and pollen from flowers. Nectar is converted to honey for food for the bees and pollen is the protein used to feed the larvae. Not all flowers produce both and some produce none (mainly double flowers and blousy overly bred annuals), so the lists below are intended to help you include some of the best plants for bees in your garden.
Try to plant more older varieties of plants that have not been too highly bred, and also pick a selection of plants that will give flower throughout the season, from early spring to late summer/autumn
Bumblebees have longer tongues than Honeybees and are able to access nectar/pollen from flowers that the honeybee cannot. Plants in the lists with ‘BUMBLE’ next to them indicates they aren’t suitable for honeybees.
Also be aware that bees see flowers very differently from us and are more guided by ultra violet light, so those flowers with petals that in UV light guide the bees to the important parts will be more attractive to bees.