Planting for Pollinators

The following information is great for people who love gardening and want to help boost pollinator habitat. Following these guidelines will provide blooms and forage throughout the year.

It will be broken down into two lists, one for smaller garden plots and another for larger acreage.

The following plants are recommended for improving "bee pasture" of hobby beekeepers with 1-3 colonies and around 1/4 acre of garden.

For Bloom In Species Zone Number
Feb: Corylus americana (Hazelnut), shrub 4-8 1
Galanthus nivalis (Snow-Drop), bulb 3-7 100
Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite), bulb 3-7 100
March: Salix caprea (Pussy Willow), shrub 4-9 1
Lonicera fragrantissima (Honeysuckle), shrub 4-8 1
Crocus spp. (Crocus), bulb 3-8 100
April: Chaenomeles japonica (Japanese Quince), shrub 4-8 1
Cotoneaster horizontalis (Cotoneaster), shrub 5-7 2
Enkianthus perulatus (Enkianthus), shrub 5-7 1
May: Hydrangea quercifolia (Oak-Leaved Hydrangea), shrub 5-9 1
Rosa nevada (Nevada Rose), shrub 5-9 1
June: Rhamnus frangula (Alder Buckthorn), shrub 2-7 1
Ilex verticillata (Winterberry), shrub 3-9 2
Leonurus cardiaca (Motherwort), perennial 4-8 6
Alcea rosea (Hollyhock), biennial 3-8 12
July: Ilex glabra (Inkberry), shrub 4-9 2
Oxydendrum arboreum (Sour-Wood), shrub 5-9 1
Clethra barbinervis (Clethra), shrub 3-9 1
August: Vitex agnus castus (Chaste Tree), shrub 6-9 1
Abelia floribunda (Mexican Abelia), shrub (nonstop bloom through November) 9-11 1
Sept: Hydrangea paniculata (Hydrangea Pigi), shrub 3-8 1
Heptacodium miconioides, (Seven-Son-Flower), shrub 5-9 1
Sedum 'Autumn Joy' (Stonecrop), perennial 3-9 3
Oct: Lespedeza thunbergii (Lespedeza), Shrub 4-8 2
Aster novae-angliae (Aster), perennial 4-8 2
Crocus speciosus (Crocus), bulb 3-8 100
Nov: Osmanthus fragrans (Fragrant Osmanthus), Evergreen Tree 9-10 1
Chrysanthemum rubellum (Chrysanthemum), perennial 3-9 3

For hobby beekeepers or enthusiasts with 3-6 bee colonies and about 1/2 acre or larger garden

For Bloom In Species Zone Number
Feb: Corylus americana (Hazelnut), shrub 4-8 1
Galanthus nivalis (Snow-Drop), bulb 3-7 100
Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite), bulb 3-7 100
Acer saccharinum (Silver Maple), tree 3-9 1
March: Salix caprea (Pussy Willow), shrub 4-9 1
Lonicera fragrantissima (Honeysuckle), shrub 4-8 1
Crocus spp. (Crocus), bulb 3-8 100
Acer rubrum (Red Maple), tree 3-9 1
April: Chaenomeles japonica (Japanese Quince), shrub 4-8 1
Cotoneaster horizontalis (Cotoneaster), shrub 5-7 2
Enkianthus perulatus (Enkianthus), shrub 5-7 1
Alnus glutinosa (Alder), tree 3-7 1
Prunus Okame (Ornamental Cherry), tree 6-8 1
May: Hydrangea quercifolia (Oak-Leaved Hydrangea), shrub 5-9 1
Rosa nevada (Nevada Rose), shrub 5-9 1
Malus floribunda (Crabapple), tree 4-8 1
Ilex opaca (American Holly), male tree 5-9 1
Robinia pseudoacacia (Black Locust), tree 3-8 1
Crataegus phaenopyrum (Washington Hawthorn), tree 3-8 1
June: Rhamnus frangula (Alder Buckthorn), shrub 2-7 1
Ilex verticillata (Winterberry), shrub 3-9 2
Leonurus cardiaca (Motherwort), perennial 4-8 6
Alcea rosea (Hollyhock), biennial 3-8 12
Lonicera tatarica (Honeysuckle), shrub 3-8 1
Tilia cordata (Little-Leaf Linden), tree 3-7 1
July: Ilex glabra (Inkberry), shrub 4-9 2
Oxydendrum arboreum (Sour-Wood), shrub 5-9 1
Clethra barbinervis (Clethra), shrub 3-9 1
Veronica spicata (Speedwell), perennial 3-8 6
Evodia daniellii (Bee-Bee Tree), tree 4-8 1
Koelreuteria paniculata (Golden Rain Tree), tree 5-9 1
August: Vitex agnus castus (Chaste Tree), shrub 6-9 1
Abelia floribunda (Mexican Abelia), shrub (nonstop bloom through November) 9-11 1
Helianthus annuus (Sunflower), annual 2-11 24
Perovskia abrotanoides (Russian Sage), perennial 5-9 6
Symphoricarpos albus (Snowberry), shrub 3-7 2
Actinomeris alternifolia (Golden Honey Plant), perennial 5-8 6
Aralia elata Variegata (Japanese Angelica Tree), tree 4-9 1
Caryopteris Clandonensis (Bluebead), shrub 5-8 2
Rhus copallina (Shining Sumac), shrub 4-9 1
Sophora japonica (Japanese Pagoda Tree), tree 4-8 1
Sept: Hydrangea paniculata (Hydrangea Pigi), shrub 3-8 1
Heptacodium miconioides, (Seven-Son-Flower), shrub 5-9 1
Sedum 'Autumn Joy' (Stonecrop), perennial 3-9 3
Maackia amurensis (Maackia), tree 3-7 1
Oct: Lespedeza thunbergii (Lespedeza), Shrub 4-8 2
Aster novae-angliae (Aster), perennial 4-8 2
Crocus speciosus (Crocus), bulb 3-8 100
Elaeagnus pungens (Thorny Elaeagnus), tree 7-9 1
Helianthus maximiliani (Sunflower) 4-9 2
Salvia guarantica (Sage), perennial 8-10 12
Solidago rugosa (Goldenrod), perennial 4-9 12
Nov: Osmanthus fragrans (Fragrant Osmanthus), Evergreen Tree 9-10 1
Chrysanthemum rubellum (Chrysanthemum), perennial 3-9 3