Things to Consider

Before deciding what plants to include in a pollinator garden, consider which bees or other pollinators are already living in or visiting the area already, and then think about the pollinators that you may want to attract. Not all plants, sites and soils may be suitable for all bees, especially those that require specific nesting sites or materials plus seasonal bloom times.

Plant for the longest bloom periods having flowers available from early spring through fall. Native and non-native plants that will provide nectar and pollen at different times of the year should be incorporated to ensure the greatest number of species can find food, both for themselves and for their offspring. Native plants have bloom periods that coincide with the seasonal periods of activity of the different species of native bees, so including native trees, shrubs and perennials will complement non-native plants.

Many native bees nest in the ground, in holes bored in wood or inside pithy plant stems. Leaving small areas of bare soil in the lawn, along wood lines or near the bases of shrubs will help certain ground nesting bees to find a suitable place to create underground nests for egg laying.

See if a few weeds can be tolerated in lawns, especially weeds that flower early- dandelions, dead nettle, ground ivy and violets. Both native and honey bees use these plants as food sources.

Insecticides and some other pesticides may be toxic to bees. If you must use a pesticide, apply at night, if possible, Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides on plants in flower. Never spray flowers. Choose products that are not harmful to bees.

Tips on Choosing Flowering Plants for New England

Choose plants that flower in early spring for bumblebee queens, honey bees and native bees that are out very early in the year. Native willows, dandelions, ground ivy and dead nettle are important nectar and pollen sources for many bees. Also, red maples bloom very early and although wind pollinated, many bees will still use their flowers as food sources. For late fall, witch hazels may bloom from October through late November and are a source of food for bees that are still active in the colder weather.

Plant in drifts, using three or more plants of the same genus in a small group, rather than just using one type of plant but in several spots. An example would be to plant three purple coneflowers together rather than using three coneflowers but separately in the garden. Bees will find easier access to favorite flowers when they are located near each other.

Shrubs and Trees for Attracting Bees

Common name	Latin Name	Bloom time
Azalea	Rhododendron	Spring
Basswood, Linden	Tilia americana	Summer
Blackhaw, Viburnum	Viburnum	Summer
Blueberry	Vaccinium	Spring
Butterfly bush	Buddleia	Summer
Catalpa	Catalpa	Spring
Cherry (native, ornamental)	Prunus	Spring
Chokeberry	Aronia	Spring
Crabapple	Malus	Spring
Currant	Ribes	Spring
Dogwoods	Cornus	Spring
Dogwoods (shrub)	Cornus	Summer
Elderberry	Sambucus	Spring
Fothergilla	Fothergilla	Spring
Hawthorn	Crataegus	Spring
Honeysuckle (native)	Lonicera	Spring
Hydrangea (tree)	Hydrangea paniculatum	Summer
Ninebark	Physocarpus	Summer
Red maple	Acer rubrum	Spring
Redbud	Cercis	Spring
Rhododendron	Rhododendron	Summer
Rose-of-Sharon	Hibiscus	Summer
Shadbush	Amalanchier	Spring
Virginia sweetspire	Itea virginica	Summer
Willow (native)	Salix	Spring
Winterberry	Ilex verticillata	Spring
Witch-hazel (native)	Hamamelis	Fall

Annuals and Perennials for Attracting Bees

Common name	Latin Name	Bloom time	Annual/Perennial
Allium	Allium	Spring/Summer	Perennial
Alyssum	Alyssum	Summer	Annual
Anise hyssop	Agastache foeniculum	Summer	Perennial
Aster	Aster	Fall	Perennial
Black-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia	Summer	Perennial
Blazing star	Liatris	Summer	Perennial
Bluebeard	Caryopteris	Summer	Perennial
Bloodroot	Sanguinaria	Spring	Perennial
Boneset	Eupatorium perfoliatum	Summer/Fall	Perennial
Borage	Borago	Summer	Annual
Bugbane	Cimicifuga	Fall	Perennial
Clover	Trifolium	Spring/Summer	Annual
Comfrey	Symphytum	Summer	Perennial
Coneflower	Echinacea purpura	Summer	Perennial
Cosmos	Cosmos	Summer	Perennial
Dandelion	Taraxacum	Summer	Perennial
Goldenrod	Solidago	Summer	Perennial
Herbs (assorted)		Summer	Perennial
Heliotrope	Heliotropium	Summer	Annual
Joe-pye weed	Eupatorium	Summer	Perennial
Lantana	Lantana	Summer	Annual
Maximilian sunflower	Helianthus	Fall	Annual
Mexican sunflower	Tithonia	Summer/Fall	Annual
Milkweeds	Asclepias	Summer	Perennial
Mints	Mentha	Summer	Perennial
Montauk daisy	Nipponanthemum	Fall	Perennial
Mountain mints	Pycnanthemum	Summer	Perennial
Obedient plant	Physostegia	Summer	Perennial
Peppers	Capsicum	Summer	Perennial
Raspberries	Rubus	Spring/Summer	Perennial
Russian sage	Perovskia	Summer	Perennial
Salvia	Salvia	Summer	Perennial
Sedum/Stonecrop	Sedum	Summer	Perennial
Snakeroot	Actaea	Fall	Perennial
Spurge	Euphorbia	Summer	Annual
Sunflowers	Helianthus	Summer	Annual
Verbena	Verbena	Summer	Annual
Veronica	Veronica	Summer	Perennial
Violets	Viola	Spring	Perennial
Zinnia	Zinnia	Summer	Annual

Additional information on pollinator plants suitable for the Northeast:

Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden Using Native Plants

Pollinator Plants: Northeast Region

Trees and Shrubs Suggested Native Species for Pollinators

Leave small areas of bare ground for ground-nesting bees, especially where soils are sandy. Do not mulch directly up the base of shrubs as some bees, like Andrena ssp., make nesting chambers in the ground under shrubs and they need access to some exposed soil. Provide a water source- a shallow dish with pebbles is a good choice, or a birdbath with a stone for bees to keep dry while sipping water.

Do not prune any plants with pithy or hollow stems until spring. These stems are used by some bees for nesting sites. Adults will emerge the following spring. If pruning is necessary, then tie stems together and hang from a branch until the following spring rather than composting or discarding them.  If nesting boxes are used, place them far away from each other to discourage parasitic insects from finding larvae.

Despite good cultural practices, pests and diseases at times may appear. Chemical control should be used only after all other methods have failed.

For pesticide information or other questions please call toll free: 877-486-6271.  
UConn Home and Garden Education Center, 2019