Russian sage is a bumblebee favorite

Lots of insect activity on Buddleia

Here are three key points in planning your pollination garden. To attract U.S. native bumblebees:

First, add both early(*), mid-summer, and late(**) flowers in the mix for a three seasons long garden.

Second, mass together many of the same kinds of flowers, not just one or two plants, so that bees will spot them easier and to visit the planting frequently.

Lastly, keep pesticide applications away from areas where trees, shrubs, perennials, biennials, and annuals are blooming. In particular, do not use systemic pesticides containing Neonicotinoids which are reportedly toxic to bees.

• Agastache (Agastache spp.)
• Ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum)
• Bachelor buttons (Centaurea)
• Beebalm (Monarda spp.)
• Betony (Stachys officinalis)
• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia spp.) **
• Borage (Borago officinalis)
• Buddleia (Buddleia spp.) **
• Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
• Calendulas (Calendula) *
• Catmint (Nepeta x faassenii)
• Clovers (Trifolium spp.)
• Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
• Coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) **
• Cosmos (Cosmos spp.) **
• Crocus (Crocus spp.) *
• Cranesbill (Geranium spp.)
• Culvers root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
• Curry plant (Helichrysum)
• Forget-me-not (Myosotis) *
• Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
• Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) **
• Giant thistle (Cirsium rivulare)
• Hollyhock (Alcea)
• Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)
• Heath (Erica carnea) *
• Heather (Calluna vulgarus) *
• Lavender Lavandula angustifolia
• Lenten roses (Helleborus spp.) *
• Liatris (Liatris spicata)
• Marigolds (Tagetes spp.)
• Marjoram (Origanum vulgare)
• Mints (Mentha spp.)
• Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)
• Mullein (Verbascum)
• Nasturium (Tropaeolum majus)
• Ornamental onions and chives (Allium spp.)
• Peruvian verbena (Verbena bonariensis)
• Pincushion flower (Scabiosa)
• Poppies (Papaver)
• Primroses and cowslips (Primula spp.) *
• Pussy willow (Salix)
• Red Valerian (Centranthus rubra)
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
• Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
• Sage (Salvia officinalis)
• Sea thrift (Armeria) *
• Sedum (Sedum spectabile) **
• Snapdragon (Antirrhinum) *
• Sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
• Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus) *
• Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) **
• Thistles (Echinops)
• Thyme (Thymus spp.)
• Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)
• Wallflower (Erysimum cheiri) *