If you are looking to attract bees and other pollinators to your yard, we suggest trying some of the following plants!
Perennials
- Yarrow (Achillea milefolium)
- Anise Hyssop (Agastache)
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa
- Onion (Allium spp.)
- Garlic (Allium spp.)
- Chives (Allium spp.)
- Leek (Allium spp.)
- Scallion (Allium spp.)
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias spp.)
- Aster
- Astilbe
- Aster (Berheya purpurea)
- Aster (Berlandiera lyrata)
- Lesser Calamint (Calamintha nepeta)
- Bellflower (Campanula spp.)
- Corn Flower (Centaurea spp.)
- Clematis (Clematis spp.)
- Cone Flower (Echinacea)
- Globe Thistle (Echinops)
- Foxtail Lily (Eremurus stenophyllus)
- Sea Holly (Eryngium spp.)
- Fennel (Foeniculum)
- Blanket Flower (Gaillardia)
- Hardy Geranium (Geranium ibericum x)
- Blue Cranebill (Geranium ibericum x)
- Johnson’s Blue (Geranium himalayense)
- Sneezeweed (Helenium)
- Sunflower (Helianthus)
- Sedum (Hylotelephium)
- Inula (Inula royleana)
- Himalayan elecampane (Inula royleana)
- Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
- Blazing Star (Liatris)
- Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
- Cut-leaf Mallow (Malva alcea)
- Mints (Mentha spp.)
- Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
- Bee Balm (Monarda)
- Catmint (Nepeta)
- Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
- Poppies (Papaver fhoeas)
- Beardtongue (Penstemon)
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia spp.)
- Salvia
- Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa)
- Sedum
- Aster (Symphyotrichum)
- Thyme (Thymus)
- Garden Speedwell (Veronica longifolia)
Annuals
- Spider Plant (Cleome)
- Dahlia
- Heliotrope
- Lantana
- Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia)
- Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Shrubs
- BlackShrubs
- Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
- Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)
- Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
- Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)
- Dogwood – Silky, Gray & Red-Osier (Cornusspp.)
- Cotoneaster
- Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergillia gardenia)
- Common Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
- Holly – common European, Box-leaved,
& Winterberry (Ilex aquifolium, crenata and verticillata) - Privet (Ligustrum vulgare)
- Mockorange (Philadelphus coronarius)
- Eastern Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
- Bush Cinquefoil (Pontentilla fruiticosa)
- Sumac (Rhus spp.)
- Rogosa Rose (Rosa rugosa)
- Raspberry (Rubus spp.)
- Elderberry (Sambucusspp.)
- Spirea (Spiraea)
- European Cranberry Bush (Viburnum opulus)
Trees
- Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)
- Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa)
- Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
- Pagoda Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
- Hawthorn (Crategus spp.)
- Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
- Crabapple (Malus spp.)
Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) - Cherry (Prunus spp.)
- Peach (Prunus spp.)
- Plum (Prunus spp.)
- Almond (Prunus spp.)
- Callery Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
- Bradford Pear (Pyrus calleryana)
- Black Locust (Robinia pseudocacia)
- Willow (Salix spp.)
- Linden, Basswood (Tilia americana)
- Little Leaf Linden (Tilia cordata)
Source: Michigan State University, Feb. 2016
