Researchers have identified that perennial flowers tend to be far more attractive to bees than annuals. Many different types of perennials are good for bees, from showy flowers to herbs. Herb gardens are an excellent resource for bees because they flower over a long period of time, and herbs grow fairly large and produce lots of flowers. Consider adding pollinator plants in the garden that bloom at different times of the the year to provide pollen for the bees during most of the season. Herbaceous perennials attractive to bees available at Creek Side Gardens.
Common name Genus species (scientific name)
Anise hyssop Agastache foeniculum
Aster Aster novae-angliae – ‘Purple Dome’
Astilbe, false spirea Astilbe spp.
Bee balm Monarda spp.
Bellflower Campanula spp.
Black-eyed Susan, coneflower Rudbeckia spp.
Blanket flower Gaillardia
Blazing star Liatris spicata
Butterfly bush Buddleja or Buddleia spp.
Butterfly weed Asclepias tuberosa
Catmint Nepeta spp.
Chrysanthemum (open types) Chrysanthemum
Chocolate flower Berlandiera lyrata
Clematis Clematis spp.
Common poppy, red poppy Papaver rhoeas
Common yarrow Achillea millefolium
Coral bells Heuchera spp.
Cornflower Centaurea spp.
Foxglove or beardtongues Penstemon spp.
Garden speedwell Veronica longifolia
Hardy geranium, blue cranesbill Geranium ibericum x (Geranium himalayense)
Hosta Hosta spp. Hyssop (naturalized in North America)
Lavender Lavandula
Lupine Lupinus spp.
Mints Mentha spp.
New England aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Peony Paeonia spp.
Pincushion flower Scabiosa caucasica
Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea
Russian sage Perovskia atriplicifolia
Salvia Salvia ‘Victoria blue’,
Sedum Sedum spp.
Sedum, stonecrop Hylotelephium spectabile and telephium and cvs.
Sneezeweed Helenium
Sunflower Helianthus
