Native Plants for Native Bees (Pollinators)

The best thing you can do for Bees and pollinators is not use any systemic pesticides or fungicides.

Any item sold to last all season, weed n feed, rose fungicides, any long term protectant is going to effect your bees!!

Don't buy any plants that are raised with them.

 A bit harder because nurseries are rarely organic. 

If it looks perfect it has pesticides on it.

Buy Local. Ask questions.

Native plants should be your first choice to help our native bees. Listed below are some plants that are good sources of nectar or pollen for bees. This list is not exhaustive; there are many other plants good for bees. Individual species have not been included. They do represent plants that will grow in a variety of environments. Call us for individual variety suggestions and availability

Aster
Agastache -Anise Hyssop
Black-eyed Susan - Rudbeckia
Clethra- Summer Sweet
Currant - Ribes
Echinacea
Elderberry- Sambucus sp.

Goldenrod- Solidago
Helianthus sp.
Huckleberry- Vaccinium
Hypericum sp.
Joe-pye weed - Eupatorium
Phlox paniculata- garden phlox
Penstemon - Penstemon
Purple coneflower - Echinacea
Rhododendron -Rhododendron
Sage - Salvia
Sedum sp.
Scorpion-weed- Phacelia
Snowberry - Symphoricarpos
Stonecrop - Sedum
Sunflower - Helianthus
Wild buckwheat - Erigonum
Wild-lilac - Ceanothus
Willow- Salix
Yarrow

Pollinators A Regional Guide for Farmers, Land Managers, and Gardeners In the and NAPPC Central Appalachian Broadleaf Forest Coniferous Forest Meadow

For National Pollinator Week. I thought I'd suggest this excellent 24 page guide to plants for pollinators. It's a great resource for farmers, gardeners and students alike. The regional guide offers nice illustrations, plant lists, seasonal charts to encourage you to have blooms throughout the season and descriptions of the various pollinators in our region.

http://www.pollinator.org/PDFs/CentralAppalachian.rx4.pdf

Below I've listed the plants we sell that are noted as good plants for our struggling pollinators.

Trees and Shrubs
▪ Clethra acuminata 'Vanilla Spice'
▪ Hydrangea arborescens 'Incrediball'
▪ Hydrangea arborescens 'Incrediball Spirit'
▪ Rubus odoratus - Flowering Raspberry
Perennials:
▪ Chelone lyoni - Turtlehead
▪ Geranium macutatum - Wild Geraniium
▪ Helianthus sp.
▪ Liatris spicata - Blazing Star
▪ Lobelia syphilitic - Great Blue Lobelia
▪ Monarda didyma - Bee Balm
▪ Penstemon small - Blue ridge Beards Tongue
▪ Thermopsis sp. 'Sophia'
▪ Vernonia noveboracensis - Ironweed
Vines:
▪ Aristolochia macrophylla - Dutchman's Pipe
▪ Parthenocissis quinquefolia - Va. Creeper
▪ Flower Habitat for Bees:
▪ Catnip - available some years
▪ Irises
▪ Lavender - great for bumblebees
▪ Penstemon
▪ Rugosa Roses
Garden Crops:
▪ Blueberries
▪ Eggplant
▪ Gooseberries
▪ Squash
▪ Tomatoes