Buy Bee-Friendly Plants for a Pollinator-Friendly Garden

Adding bee-friendly plants is one of the simplest ways to make your garden more useful to pollinators while adding color, texture, and seasonal interest. Bees rely on flowers for nectar and pollen, and gardens with a variety of bloom times can provide food across more of the growing season.

At Garden Crossings, you can buy bee-friendly plants across annuals, perennials, and native selections chosen for strong garden performance and pollinator appeal. Look for nectar-rich flowers, long bloom windows, and a mix of shapes and colors to create a planting that is attractive to both gardeners and visiting bees.

A close-up of a bee collecting nectar on a cluster of vibrant orange flowers, with a blurred green background.
A garden featuring dense green ornamental grasses, a large Phenomenal® Lavender (Lavandula) with cold-hardy blooms, and a cluster of light pink heather in front, all set against mulch and lush background greenery - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A garden features blooming Phenomenal® Lavender (Lavandula) in the foreground, surrounded by colorful flowers and greenery, with a gazebo and brick building in the background beneath a partly cloudy sky - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Phenomenal® Lavender (Lavandula)

$18.99
$18.99

Close-up of the soft violet-blue petals of a Blue My Mind® Dwarf Morning Glory (Evolvulus) bloom - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA bouquet of vibrant blue Blue My Mind® Dwarf Morning Glory (Evolvulus) flowers with green leaves in a tall, ornate, off-white vase with a decorative emblem on the front - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. Decorative pot not included.

Blue My Mind® Dwarf Morning Glory (Evolvulus)

$10.99
$10.99

Luminary® 'Backlight' Tall Garden Phlox features abundant small white blooms atop tall green stems, flourishing outdoors amid lush greenery with blurred garden plants in the background - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.Clusters of Luminary® 'Backlight' Tall Garden Phlox display vibrant, powdery mildew-resistant white blooms atop green stems and leaves, with a blurred background emphasizing the delicate petals and lush appearance - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Luminary® 'Backlight' Tall Garden Phlox

$19.99
$19.99

Close-up of Double Play® Candy Corn® Spiraea, a deer resistant shrub with dense, vibrant yellow, orange, and red serrated leaves that shine in sunlight for striking garden appeal. - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClusters of small, bright pink flowers bloom on the Double Play® Candy Corn® Spiraea, a shrub with yellow-green and red-tinted foliage that adds vibrant contrast to any outdoor space. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Double Play® Candy Corn® Spiraea

$22.99
$22.99

Close-up of a vibrant Suncredible® Saturn™ Sunflower (Helianthus) with a dark brown center and reddish-orange ring blooms outdoors among green leaves and everblooming sunflowers beneath a blue sky - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.A patch of Suncredible® Saturn™ Sunflower (Helianthus), prized for drought tolerance, blooms brightly in front of tall ornamental grasses and colorful plants on a sunny day, with a blurred car and trees in the distant background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Suncredible® Saturn™ Sunflower (Helianthus)

$11.99
$11.99

Close-up of Wedding Party® 'Whirlwind Romance' Lenten Rose (Helleborus) with double purple and white flowers, yellow stamens, and green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.A close-up of Wedding Party® 'Whirlwind Romance' Lenten Rose (Helleborus), a deer and rabbit-resistant perennial featuring double-layered purple and white blooms with yellow stamens and striking dark purple-edged petals - Photo Courtesy of Walters Gardens, Inc.

Wedding Party® 'Whirlwind Romance' Lenten Rose (Helleborus)

$20.99
$20.99

Close-up of a vibrant pink Summerific® 'Berry Awesome' Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) flower with a deep red center, surrounded by green leaves and buds in natural light - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Two large, vibrant pink Summerific® 'Berry Awesome' Rose Mallow (Hibiscus) blooms with deep red centers stand out among lush green leaves and several unopened buds, highlighting this beautiful perennial variety - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Summerific® 'Berry Awesome' Rose Mallow (Hibiscus)

$21.99
$21.99

A dense cluster of Meant To Bee® 'Royal Raspberry' Hummingbird Mint (Agastache) shows tall, spiky pink flowers and green leaves. Bright yellow blooms and extra foliage are softly blurred in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Meant To Bee® 'Royal Raspberry' Hummingbird Mint (Agastache) displays tall spikes of fragrant purple-pink blooms. A bumble bee hovers near the flowers - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Meant To Bee® 'Royal Raspberry' Hummingbird Mint (Agastache)

$17.99
$17.99

Clusters of vibrant Ping Pong Purple Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena) feature rounded, clover-like blooms and green leaves set against a soft, blurred background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulure, Inc.Clusters of vibrant, round magenta Ping Pong Purple Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena) flowers and green leaves grow closely together in sunlight, creating a lively, colorful garden display - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Ping Pong Purple Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena)

$10.99
$10.99

Close-up of Summerlong™ Magenta Hummingbird Mint (Agastache) features vibrant magenta, tubular blooms and green foliage outdoors by a gray building - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Summerlong™ Magenta Hummingbird Mint (Agastache) displays dense clusters of bright pink-purple flowers and green leaves in the garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Summerlong™ Magenta Hummingbird Mint (Agastache)

$17.99
$17.99

Close-up of Luscious® Royale Piña Colada Lantana, featuring clusters of small white and yellow flowers with green buds and leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Close-up of Luscious® Royale Piña Colada Lantana: clusters of small, tubular flowers with white petals and yellow centers stand out against dark green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Luscious® Royale Piña Colada Lantana

$10.99
$10.99
A dense cluster of vibrant Stardiva™ Blue Fan Flower (Scaevola) with green centers blooms in a mulched garden bed, framed by lush green foliage in the background - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCClusters of small, vibrant purple flowers from the Stardiva™ Blue Fan Flower (Scaevola) spread along the ground among green foliage, with dark mulch beneath - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Stardiva® Blue Fan Flower (Scaevola)

$10.99
$10.99

Luscious® Citrus Blend™ Lantana features drought-tolerant, rounded clusters of red, orange, and yellow blooms set against dark green, serrated leaves for a vibrant display amid dense foliage - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Luscious® Citrus Blend™ Lantana features clusters of red, orange, and yellow flowers amid green leaves with unopened pink buds - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Luscious® Citrus Blend™ Lantana

$10.99
$10.99

Close up of dense clusters of green and yellow variegated foliage, 'Golden Feathers' Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium) adds vivid texture and striking color as an eye-catching perennial for shady garden spots - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.Close-up of a group of light purple flowers with yellow centers rise above the variegated foliage of 'Golden Feathers' Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium) - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Golden Feathers' Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium)

$20.99
$20.99

Close-up of vibrant purple 'SuperBlue' Lavender (Lavandula) in bloom, this compact perennial features delicate petals and green stems against a softly blurred background of fragrant lavender plants - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A close-up of dense 'SuperBlue' Lavender (Lavandula) plants, showing vibrant purple flowers and green stems outdoors in natural sunlight - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

'SuperBlue' Lavender (Lavandula)

$17.99
$17.99

A close-up of vibrant Chrysalis™ Cranberry Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) flowers with tiny orange centers and blurred green foliage - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A close-up of Chrysalis™ Cranberry Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) with purple and magenta blooms among green leaves - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Chrysalis™ Cranberry Butterfly Bush (Buddleia)

$18.99
$18.99

Close-up of clusters of vibrant pinkish-red flowers bloom on green stems of the Temple of Bloom® Seven Son Flower (Heptacodium), a striking flowering shrub, set against a blurred outdoor background of grass and foliage. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc. The Temple of Bloom® Seven Son Flower (Heptacodium) is a leafy shrub with shiny green leaves and clusters of small pink flowers, brightening sunny gardens and creating soft shadows on the grass. - Photo Courtesy of Proven Winners, Inc.

Temple of Bloom® Seven Son Flower (Heptacodium)

$23.99
$23.99

Close-up of creamy white and pale yellow African Dasies in bloom, set against leafy green with an unopened yellow bud - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLCA Double Moonglow African Daisy with a yellow center blooms amid vibrant red flowers and lush green foliage in a garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC

Bright Lights™ Double Moonglow African Daisy (Osteospermum)

$10.99
$10.99

‘Cutting Edge’ Foamflower (Tiarella) is a woodland perennial with jagged green leaves and tall stems bearing dense white flower spikes, thriving in garden beds mulched with pine needles - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Top down view of green, jagged-lobed leaves and purple veins, 'Cutting Edge' Foamflower (Tiarella) forms clusters in dark soil - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

'Cutting Edge' Foamflower (Tiarella)

$18.99
$18.99

Close-up of the Sombrero® Fuchsia Fandango Coneflower (Echinacea) from the right side, displays vibrant pink petals and a dark reddish-brown center, set among green leaves with another softly blurred bloom in the background - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.A close-up of a Sombrero® Fuchsia Fandango Coneflower (Echinacea) with vibrant pink petals, a dark brown spiky center, and green leaves, surrounded by other blooms in a lush pollinator garden - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.

Sombrero® Fuchsia Fandango Coneflower (Echinacea)

$18.99
$18.99
Close-up of Tuff Stuff Top Fun® Mountain Hydrangea features vibrant pink lacecap flowers with greenish buds and dark green leaves - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.The Tuff Stuff Top Fun® Mountain Hydrangea features clusters of pink blooms and green leaves, growing in a mulched garden bed surrounded by other lush plants and shrubs - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Tuff Stuff Top Fun® Mountian Hydrangea

$22.99
$22.99

A cluster of Guardian Angel™ Berry Sparkler Summer Snapdragon (Angelonia) displays vibrant pink and purple blooms with dense, rounded petals on tall green stems, set against a blurred backdrop of similar flowers - Photo Courtesy of Ball Horticulture, Inc.Clusters of vibrant pink-purple flowers with yellow centers bloom among green leaves, surrounded by other heat-loving annuals like Guardian Angel™ Berry Sparkler Summer Snapdragon (Angelonia) in a lively garden - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Guardian Angel™ Berry Sparkler Summer Snapdragon (Angelonia)

$10.99
$10.99

A close-up of Sun Parasol® XP Double Pink Blush Mandevilla displays its pink double blooms with darker centers, set against lush green leaves in sunlight—highlighting the beauty of this flowering climbing vine - Photo Courtesy of Sunfire Nursery.A close-up of the Sun Parasol® XP Double Pink Blush Mandevilla, showcasing its trumpet-shaped pink blooms amid glossy green leaves and several unopened buds on a climbing vine - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Sun Parasol® XP Double Pink Blush Mandevilla

$15.99
$15.99
Close-up of a dense cluster of vibrant purple flowers and green leaves appears outdoors in sunlight. Beyond Midnight® Bluebeard (Caryopteris) features closely grouped small blooms - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.Beyond Midnight® Bluebeard (Caryopteris) is a dense shrub with vibrant purple flowers, creating showy fall blooms in a mulched garden bed bordered by grass and greenery - Photo Property of Garden Crossings LLC.

Beyond Midnight® Bluebeard (Caryopteris)

$22.99
$22.99

Purple allium flowers blooming as bee-friendly plants for pollinators

What Are the Best Plants for Bees?

Some of the best plants for bees provide generous nectar or pollen and bloom for an extended period. Catmint, bee balm, lavender, allium, salvia, and other flowering plants are all represented in Garden Crossings’ bee-friendly collections.

For longer-lasting structure, browse our bee-friendly perennials. You can also explore native plants when you want varieties that can support native pollinators and other wildlife.

When choosing bee-loving plants, match them to your garden’s actual conditions. Sun exposure, soil moisture, mature size, and hardiness all matter just as much as flower color.

Pink salvia flowers blooming as bee-friendly plants for pollinators

Create a Garden Bees Can Visit All Season

If you’re wondering what plants attract bees, start by choosing several flowering varieties with overlapping bloom periods. A garden that offers something in spring, summer, and fall is generally more useful than one that flowers all at once.

You don’t need to redesign your entire yard. Even a small grouping of bee-friendly plants in an existing border or container can add valuable forage.

FAQs

Bees are drawn to many nectar- and pollen-rich flowers, including lavender, bee balm, catmint, salvia, and allium. Different bee species have different preferences, so plant diversity is helpful.

Both can be useful. Annuals can provide abundant seasonal color, while perennials return year after year when suited to your growing zone.

Yes. Native plants can be especially valuable because many native pollinators evolved alongside them.