And other sources recommend many more flowering plants that can be grown in the Boston area.
Crocus, Snowdrops, Siberian Squill. Bleeding Heart (Dicentra). Dandelions and clover.
Herbs: Just about any herb draws lots of little bees and other beneficial insects once they flower. The beneficial insects give you an extra bonus of pest control.
Mints, Catnip, Basil, Sage, Thyme, Oregano, Lavender, Chives, Verbena, Marjoram, Cilantro/Coriander, Dill.
Berries: Berries feed a variety of native bees — and you!
Fruiting vegetables: Some bees have specialized skills for families of vegetables. Squash Bees only pollinate cucurbits. Bumblebees can shake the flowers of nightshades to buzz-pollinate them, and are strong enough to climb into the flowers of legumes.
Cucurbits: Cucumbers, Summer Squash, Winter Squash, Pumpkins, Melons, Watermelons; Nightshades: Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant; Legumes: Peas, Beans.
Leafy vegetables: If your greens start to bolt in the heat, let some flower. The four-petalled yellow flowers of crucifers will make the bees happy.
Broccoli, Radishes, Turnips, Collards, Bok Choy, Chinese Broccoli.
Annual flowers: Usually have a long flowering season, which helps feed bees all summer. Look for heirloom varieties with single flowers. Organic and untreated seeds and starts are widely available.
Cosmos, Bachelor buttons, Lobelia, Zinnias, Cleome, Fuschia, Heliotrope, Lantana, Tithonia, Morning Glories, Sunflowers, Sweet Alyssum, Snapdragons.
Perennial flowers: Often flower only for a short time, but give generously to bees when they do. Organic and untreated live plants are hard to find. Organic and untreated seed are widely available.
New England Asters, Black-Eyed Susans, Gaillardia, Cup Plants, Goldenrod, Purple Loosestrife, Centaurea, Bee Balm, Shasta Daisy, Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Butterfly Weed (A. tuberosa), Swamp Milkweed (A. incarnata ), Salvia, Phlox, Lupine, Meadowsweet, Sneezeweed (Helenium), Spiderwort (Tradescantia), Turtlehead, Wild indigo (Baptisia), Violets (Viola), Cranesbill (Geranium), Columbines (Aquilegia), Black Cohosh (Actea racemosa), Blazing Star (Liatris spicata).
Shrubs: A good-sized shrub in flower can buzz with bees. Organic and untreated live shrubs are hard to find.
Lilac, Azalea, Spirea, Virginia Sweetspire (Itea Virginica), Beauty Bush, Butterfly Bush (Buddleia), Wisteria, Honeysuckle, Sweet Autumn Clematis, Old-fashioned single Roses, Hydrangea, Azalea, Hawthorn, New Jersey tea (Ceanothus), Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum), Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis ), Dwarf Sumac (Rhus copallium).
Trees: Trees can be an important source of pollen for bees in the spring. Sadly, some flowering varieties have been bred not to shed pollen. Organic and untreated trees are hard to find.
Fruit trees such as Pears, Apple, Peaches, Plums, Cherries; Willow, Maple, Black Locust, Sumac, Basswood, Sassafras, Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis ).
A cool chart of wildflowers for bees from New England Wildflower Society.
Plant list for honeybees from Anita Deeley a beekeeper in Beverly, MA.
Article about planting for bees in Mar/Apr issue of Green News from Green Decade Newton by Anna Zeusler.
Just for fun, I’m also collecting bee plant lists on Pinterest.
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