The best wildflowers for bees
Meadow and grassland plants, and the specialist bees that ordinary garden planting never reaches. The soil matters more than the seed mix.
101 plants · 62 bee relationships
The rule behind this list
Plants the catalogue records as suited to a meadow or wildflower area.
Why this group is worth having
A substantial minority of bee species are specialists that will only collect pollen from one plant family or genus, and most of those specialisms attach to wild rather than garden plants. Knapweed, field scabious, devil's-bit scabious, bird's-foot trefoil and viper's bugloss between them support solitary bees that a border of cultivars will never feed. Meadow planting is also the only approach that gets the ground layer right, which matters because the majority of bee species nest in soil.
What it will not do on its own
Wildflower meadows fail on fertile soil. Grasses out-compete the flowers wherever nutrients are high, which is why the standard advice is to strip topsoil or to sow yellow rattle first — and why scattering a seed packet on an existing lawn almost always disappoints.
Wildflowers in the catalogue
- ThymeThymusMay to August. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Major honey crop
- White cloverTrifolium repensMay to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- BrambleRubus fruticosusJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- FoxgloveDigitalis purpureaJune to July. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Not a honey source
- Wildflower meadowMixed native floraApril to September. Nectar very high, pollen very high.Major honey crop
- BuckwheatFagopyrum esculentumJuly to September. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Major honey crop
- AlfalfaMedicago sativaJune to September. Nectar high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- BorageBorago officinalisJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- PhaceliaPhacelia tanacetifoliaJune to October. Nectar very high, pollen very high.Minor honey crop
- DandelionTaraxacum officinaleMarch to October. Nectar high, pollen very high.Minor honey crop
- Rosebay willowherbChamaenerion angustifoliumJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- Goat willowSalix capreaFebruary to April. Nectar high, pollen very high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- Viper's buglossEchium vulgareJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- Michaelmas daisySymphyotrichum novi-belgiiAugust to October. Nectar high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- SageSalviaMay to October. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Major honey crop
- MarjoramOriganum vulgareJuly to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- ComfreySymphytum officinaleMay to September. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- VerbenaVerbena bonariensisJune to November. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- CosmosCosmos bipinnatusJuly to October. Nectar high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- CalendulaCalendula officinalisMay to December. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- CrocusCrocusJanuary to April. Nectar moderate, pollen very high.Not a honey source
- GoldenrodSolidagoAugust to October. Nectar very high, pollen very high.Major honey crop
- Red cloverTrifolium pratenseMay to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- Bird's-foot trefoilLotus corniculatusMay to September. Nectar high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- KnapweedCentaurea nigraJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- Field scabiousKnautia arvensisJuly to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- TeaselDipsacus fullonumJuly to August. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- YarrowAchillea millefoliumJune to October. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- CornflowerCentaurea cyanusJune to September. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- Common poppyPapaver rhoeasMay to August. Nectar none, pollen very high.Not a honey source
- BlackthornPrunus spinosaMarch to April. Nectar high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- RowanSorbus aucupariaMay to June. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- Hardy geraniumGeraniumMay to October. Nectar high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- EchinaceaEchinacea purpureaJuly to September. Nectar high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- AlliumAlliumApril to August. Nectar high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- AsphodelAsphodelus ramosusMarch to May. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- Sweet cloverMelilotus officinalisJune to August. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- Chinese milk vetchAstragalus sinicusMarch to May. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- ThistleGalactites tomentosaMay to July. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- PrimrosePrimula vulgarisFebruary to May. Nectar moderate, pollen moderate.Not a honey source
- HazelCorylus avellanaJanuary to March. Nectar none, pollen very high.Not a honey source
- Dead-nettleLamiumJanuary to December. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- Forget-me-notMyosotis sylvaticaApril to June. Nectar moderate, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- CowslipPrimula verisApril to May. Nectar moderate, pollen moderate.Not a honey source
- Grape hyacinthMuscari armeniacumMarch to May. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- GorseUlex europaeusJanuary to December. Nectar none, pollen very high.Not a honey source
- BetonyBetonica officinalisJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- AgastacheAgastache foeniculumJuly to October. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- BergamotMonarda didymaJuly to September. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- Globe thistleEchinops ritroJuly to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- Sea hollyEryngiumJuly to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- MeadowsweetFilipendula ulmariaJune to September. Nectar low, pollen high.Not a honey source
- Purple loosestrifeLythrum salicariaJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- Oxeye daisyLeucanthemum vulgareMay to September. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- Wild carrotDaucus carotaJune to September. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- FennelFoeniculum vulgareJuly to September. Nectar high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- Tufted vetchVicia craccaJune to August. Nectar very high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- ChicoryCichorium intybusJuly to October. Nectar high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- RudbeckiaRudbeckia fulgidaAugust to October. Nectar high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- HeleniumHelenium autumnaleJuly to October. Nectar high, pollen high.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
- BroomCytisus scopariusApril to June. Nectar none, pollen very high.Not a honey source
- Alder buckthornFrangula alnusMay to July. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Minor honey crop
- SainfoinOnobrychis viciifoliaMay to July. Nectar very high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- HarebellCampanula rotundifoliaJuly to September. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Not a honey source
- Red bartsiaOdontites vernusJuly to September. Nectar moderate, pollen moderate.Not a honey source
- Yellow rattleRhinanthus minorMay to August. Nectar moderate, pollen moderate.Not a honey source
- CatsearHypochaeris radicataJune to September. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Not a honey source
- Small scabiousScabiosa columbariaJune to October. Nectar high, pollen high.Not a honey source
- Devil's-bit scabiousSuccisa pratensisJuly to October. Nectar very high, pollen high.Not a honey source
- HogweedHeracleum sphondyliumJune to September. Nectar high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- SelfhealPrunella vulgarisJune to September. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Not a honey source
- Common ragwortJacobaea vulgarisJune to October. Nectar high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- ColtsfootTussilago farfaraFebruary to April. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Not a honey source
- OsierSalix viminalisMarch to April. Nectar moderate, pollen very high.Minor honey crop
- Dog roseRosa caninaJune to July. Nectar none, pollen very high.Not a honey source
- Siberian squillScilla sibericaFebruary to April. Nectar high, pollen high.Not a honey source
- Lesser celandineFicaria vernaFebruary to May. Nectar moderate, pollen high.Not a honey source
- BugleAjuga reptansApril to June. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Not a honey source
- Sweet rocketHesperis matronalisMay to July. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Not a honey source
- Wild garlicAllium ursinumApril to June. Nectar high, pollen high.Not a honey source
- ColumbineAquilegia vulgarisMay to June. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Not a honey source
- Hemp agrimonyEupatorium cannabinumJuly to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- Joe Pye weedEutrochium purpureumJuly to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- Culver's rootVeronicastrum virginicumJuly to September. Nectar high, pollen high.Not a honey source
- Blazing starLiatris spicataJuly to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Not a honey source
- Woodland sageSalvia nemorosaJune to September. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Not a honey source
- St John's wortHypericum perforatumJune to September. Nectar none, pollen very high.Not a honey source
- Poached egg plantLimnanthes douglasiiApril to July. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- California poppyEschscholzia californicaMay to September. Nectar none, pollen very high.Not a honey source
- Crimson cloverTrifolium incarnatumMay to July. Nectar high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- Fodder radishRaphanus sativusAugust to November. Nectar high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- AngelicaAngelica archangelicaJune to August. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- Globe artichokeCynara cardunculusJuly to September. Nectar very high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- Common fleabanePulicaria dysentericaJuly to September. Nectar high, pollen high.Not a honey source
- Mexican sunflowerTithonia rotundifoliaAugust to October. Nectar very high, pollen high.Not a honey source
- Greek heathErica manipulifloraSeptember to December. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Minor honey crop
- MotherwortLeonurus cardiacaJune to August. Nectar very high, pollen moderate.Minor honey crop
- Common milkweedAsclepias syriacaJune to August. Nectar very high, pollen low.Minor honey crop
- Spanish needleBidens albaJanuary to December. Nectar high, pollen high.Major honey crop
- SumacRhus speciesJune to July. Nectar high, pollen high.Minor honey crop
- Mountain mintPycnanthemum speciesJuly to September. Nectar high, pollen moderate.Feeds the colony but rarely yields a surplus
What this group covers
12 of 12 months have something in flower. Nectar and pollen are counted separately and a month counts only where at least one plant offers that resource at moderate value or better — a plant in flower is not the same as a plant worth visiting.
| Month | In flower | Nectar | Pollen |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5 | Yes | Yes |
| February | 10 | Yes | Yes |
| March | 16 | Yes | Yes |
| April | 23 | Yes | Yes |
| May | 36 | Yes | Yes |
| June | 59 | Yes | Yes |
| July | 76 | Yes | Yes |
| August | 72 | Yes | Yes |
| September | 63 | Yes | Yes |
| October | 23 | Yes | Yes |
| November | 7 | Yes | Yes |
| December | 5 | Yes | Yes |
Check these against your region before planting
17 plants in this group carry an invasiveness or legal restriction note somewhere in the world: Bramble, Viper's bugloss, Goldenrod, Knapweed, Teasel, Thistle, Gorse, Purple loosestrife, Oxeye daisy, Fennel, Tufted vetch, Broom, Common ragwort, Lesser celandine, Sweet rocket, St John's wort, Spanish needle. HoneyHQ does not know where you are and will not guess, so it flags rather than filters.
Bees these plants are recorded with
Taken from the relationships on each plant record. These are the well-attested associations rather than an exhaustive list of visitors, so treat the number as a floor.
Honeys from these plants
- Thyme honeyWarm, herbal and savoury — thyme and dry stone, with a peppery lift and a very long finish.
- Alpine meadow honeyComplex and aromatic, with a herbal lift over warm caramel and a distinctly clean finish — the flavour of a great many plants rather than of any one.
- Hymettus honeyIntensely aromatic and herbal, with a warm thyme character, a resinous maquis edge and a long finish that carries a distinct savoury note.
- Alcarria honeyDelicate and aromatic, with a clean herbal sweetness — the rosemary type is softer and more floral, the lavender type more perfumed and slightly camphoraceous.
- Savory honeyIntensely herbal with a distinct peppery, almost oregano-like bite over a warm sweetness — one of the more assertive Mediterranean aromatics.
- Narbonne rosemary honeyDelicate and clean with a soft herbal floral note and a texture that does much of the work — one of the classic pale European honeys.
- Dittany honeyIntensely aromatic and herbal with a distinct medicinal lift and a warm oregano character — closer to a herbal infusion than to a floral honey.
- Ak balMild, creamy and delicately floral with a faint herbal lift — the texture is much of the appeal, dense and smooth and dissolving rather than sticky.
- Tibetan highland honeyDense and strongly herbal with a resinous depth and a faintly smoky finish — a concentrated honey that reflects both a short intense season and traditional processing.
- Blue curls honeyExtremely delicate with a clean sweetness and a faint herbal lift — one of the mildest honeys there is, and prized for exactly that.
- Central Otago thyme honeyIntensely aromatic and herbal with a warm thyme character and a long savoury finish — closely comparable to a good Greek thyme honey, which surprises most people.
- Clover honeyWarm, mild and rounded — sweet with a faint cinnamon-and-hay note underneath. The taste most English-speaking readers picture when they read the word honey.
Other things to plant
Plan with these
- Flowering calendar
What should I plant so that something is always in flower for bees?
- Bee-friendly garden planner
What should I plant in the space I actually have?
- Plant recommendation tool
Which plant fills this specific gap?