Plants for Minnesota Bees

Bee Lab

Bees rely on flowers to supply them with the food they need to survive. Some flowers (e.g. tomatoes) provide only pollen, the main source of protein for bees. Other flowers (e.g. clovers) provide both nectar and pollen, thus providing both protein and carbohydrates.

There are hundreds of different bee species in Minnesota. Different types of bees prefer different flowers. Some of these preferences are due to the physical size or shape of the bees and the flowers. Some flowers have long tubes with nectar at the bottom. Long-tongued bees are the only bees able to reach the nectar. Other preferences are based on nutritional needs. Some bees are only able to raise their young with pollen from particular plants. These bees are called "specialists". Other bees are "generalists" and will collect pollen from a wide range of plants.

There are also seasonal differences in the activity of different bee species. Many bee species forage as adults for only a few weeks out of the year, with different species emerging throughout the spring and summer, into early fall. The rest of the year, the young are developing in nests that are underground or in cavities. Each bee was provided with a pollen ball, a mixture of pollen and nectar, left there by their mother. They will emerge the following season. Many other bee species, including honey bees and bumble bees, are present through the entire spring, summer and early fall.

Providing a diverse array of plants will help ensure that you support a diverse array of bee species. Do your best to provide blooming flowers from April to September.

Information about listing of plants for Minnesota bees

This list is not inclusive of all plants that bees will visit in Minnesota.
These are flowers that are particularly attractive to bees and can be easily integrated into most landscapes.

Early = March to May, Mid=June to July, Late=August to September

Plants for Minnesota Bees

Scientific name

Common name

Habit

Sun

Native

Bloom time

Honey bees

Other bees

 

Scientific name

Common name

Habit

Sun

Native

Bloom time

Honey bees

Other bees

Crataegus crus-galli

Hawthorn

Tree

Full sun

X

Early

X

X

Geranium maculatum

Wild geranium

Herbaceous plant

Shade

X

Early

 

X

Penstemon grandiflorus

Large beardtounge

Herbaceous plant

Full sun

X

Early

 

X

Salix discolor

Pussy willow

Shrub

Full sun, Part-Shade

X

Early

X

X

Coreopsis lanceolata

Lanceleaf coreopsis

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade, Shade

X

Early to Mid

X

X

Hydrophyllum virginianum

Virginia waterleaf

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade, Shade

X

Early to Mid

X

X

Lupinus perennis

Wild lupine

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade

X

Early to Mid

 

X

Zizia aurea

Golden Alexander

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade

X

Early to Mid

 

X

Amorpha fruticosa

False indigo

Shrub

Full sun, Part-Shade

X

Mid

X

X

Aruncus dioecus

Goatsbeard

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade, Shade

X

Mid

X

X

Echinacea angustifolia

Purple coneflower

Herbaceous plant

Full sun

X

Mid

X

X

Lobelia siphilitica

Blue lobelia

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade

X

Mid

 

X

Pycnanthemum tenuifolium

Slender mountain

Herbaceous plant

Full sun

X

Mid

X

X

Agastache foeniculum

Anise hyssop

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade

X

Mid to Late

X

X

Asclepias incarnata

Swamp milkweed

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade

X

Mid to Late

X

X

Borago officinalis

Borage

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade

 

Mid to Late

X

X

Chamaecrista fasciculata

Partridge pea

Herbaceous plant

Full sun

X

Mid to Late

X

X

Cirsium discolor

Bicolor thistle

Herbaceous plant

Full sun

X

Mid to Late

X

X

Dalea purpurea

Purple prairie clover

Herbaceous plant

Full sun

X

Mid to Late

X

X

Eupatorium maculatum

Joe-pye weed

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade

X

Mid to Late

X

X

Helianthus spp.

Sunflowers

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade, Shade

X

Mid to Late

X

X

Hylotelephium telephium

Autumn joy sedum

Herbaceous plant

Part-Shade, Shade

 

Mid to Late

X

X

Liatris aspera

Rough blazingstar

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade

X

Mid to Late

X

X

Monarda fistulosa

Beebalm

Herbaceous plant

Full sun

X

Mid to Late

X

X

Nepeta x faassenii

Catmint

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade

 

Mid to Late

X

X

Origanum vulgare

Oregano

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade

 

Mid to Late

X

X

Ratibida pinnata

Yellow coneflower

Herbaceous plant

Full sun

X

Mid to Late

 

X

Silphium perfoliatum

Cup plant

Herbaceous plant

Full sun

X

Mid to Late

X

X

Trifolium hybridum

Alsike clover

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade

 

Mid to Late

X

X

Vernonia fasiculata

Ironweed

Herbaceous plant

Full sun

X

Mid to Late

X

X

Veronicastrum virginicum

Culver’s root

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade

X

Mid to Late

X

X

Solidago rigida

Stiff goldenrod

Herbaceous plant

Full sun, Part-Shade

X

Late

X

X

Symphyotrichum lateriflorum

Calico aster

Herbaceous plant

Full sun

X

Late

X

X

Provided by the U of MN Extension.

Publication: 

The Drummer and The Wright County Journal Press

PO Box 159
108 Central Ave.
Buffalo MN 55313

www.thedrummer.com

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