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Attracting bees is not as difficult as you might think

The following guide includes edible and inedible flowering plants, herbs (including those used in healing essential oils used in skincare as well as herbal therapy ), shrubs and trees that will begin attracting bees and other pollinators of the flying and pollinating sort. Click on the photos for enlargements. First, a few tips for attracting bees.

• Blues, purples, yellows and white make for especially attractive flowers
• Avoid plants that have been "tampered with". Hybridized (see more information here)and double varieties of flowers are examples. When humans mess with plant genetics, you often end up with a sterile plants.
• Look for plants that are high nectar and/or pollen sources. These two things are essential to attracting bees.
• Avoid chemicals, insecticides, etc like the plague. They are the plague. Garden bees and butterflies ingest many of the poisons present in their environment. Further, if you can get organic and heirloom seeds, all the better.

Herbs (click photos for enlargements)
Basil	Ocymum basilicum: annual Native to: tropical Asia Grows in: well-drained soil, sunny Flowers: small white to lilac Blooming: all summer
Bee Balm	Monarda didyma: perennial Native to: eastern North America Grows in: dry, alkaline or heavy clay soil Flowers: red, pink or purple Blooming: June-August
Borage	Borago officinalis: annual Native to: Mediterranean Europe and Africa Grows in: light, dry soils, waste places, hillsides Flowers: blue, pink or white, five-petalled Blooming: late spring-early fall (good companion for tomatoes)
Catnip	Nepeta Cataria: perennial Native to: ancient Etruria (Italy) Grows in: dry, waste places Flowers: white, pink-spotted Blooming: mid-summer to early-fall
Coriander	Coriandrum sativum: annual Native to: possibly southern Europe and/or China Grows in: light, warm, friable soil Flowers: small, off-white Blooming: mid-summer on
Lavender	Lavandula officinalis: perennial Native to: southern Europe Grows in: light, limy or chalky soil Flowers: short spike covered in small violet-blue flowers Blooming: mid-summer to early fall
Marjoram	Origanum majorana:annual and perennial Native to: Europe (esp. Greece) Grows in: well-drained soil, sun, but tolerant Flowers: pale lilac or pink (perennial), annual are whiter Blooming: late spring-early fall
Mint	Mentha:hardy perennial Native to: Mediterranean Grows in: moist, rich loam and partial shade Flowers: small pink or lilac Blooming: mid-summer to mid-fall
Rosemary	Rosmarinus officinalis: half-hardy evergreen Native to: Mediterranean coast Grows in: poor light, limy soil Flowers: clustered pale blue flowers Blooming: mid-summer on
Sage	Salvia officinalis: perennial Native to: southern Europe, northern Africa Grows in: well-drained, moderately fertile soil Flowers: bluish-lilac, sometimes pink or white Blooming: late spring onwards
Thyme	Thymus Vulgaris: perennial Native to: Mediterranean coast Grows in: dry, moderately fertile, light soil Flowers: small pink or lilac Blooming: mid-summer on

Flowering Plants (click photos for enlargements)
Aster	Aster: most species perennial Native to: North America, Russia, Europe Grows in: varied conditions, sunny or light shade Flowers: purple, blue, white ray flowers Blooming: late summer
Black-eyed Susan	Rudbeckia hirta: perennial Native to: North America Grows in: well- to poorly-drained soil Flowers: yellow ray flowers and dark brown centres Blooming: long bloom season
Goldenrod	Solidago: perennial Native to: North America Grows in: medium rich, well-drained soil, sun Flowers: bright yellow, smaller than asters Blooming: fall
Zinnia	Zinnia: annual and perennial Native to: US Southwest, Mexico, parts of South America Grows in: rich, well-drained soil; sun Flowers: bright white, yellow, orange, red, purple Blooming: summer

Shrubs (click on photos for enlargements)
Azalea	Rhododendron tribe Native to: China, North America Grows in: well-drained sandy peat/loam, shady Flowers: large white, orange, purple, or variegated Blooming: most early- (Feb/Mar) to mid-spring Zone: wide zone range
Cotoneaster	Cotoneaster Native to: temperate regions of Europe, Asia and northern Africa Grows in: average soil, average sun Flowers: range from white to almost red Blooming: spring
Elderberry	Sambucus genus: <30 species Native to: widespread temperate/sub-tropical zones Grows in: moist soil, partial sun/shade Flowers: small white/cream Blooming: early- to mid-summer Zone: 3-11
Snowberry	Symphoricarpos Native to: eastern North America, Pacific Coast Grows in: wide range of moisture and soil conditions Flowers: small greenish-white to pink Blooming: June, July
Hibiscus	Hibiscus genus includes over 200 species of shrubs, annual and perennial flowering plants and trees Native to: international warm to tropical zones Grows in: rich, well-drained soil, lots of sun, indoors okay Flowers: large pink, red, orange, purple, yellow Blooming: late-July to hard frost

Trees (click photos for enlargements)
Linden	Tilia (aka Lime or Basswood), perennial Native to: North America, Europe, Asia Grows in: fine, well-drained soil, slightly acidic Flowers: clusters of small yellowish flowers Blooming: late spring/early summer Zone: 3-8
Tupelo	Nyssa (aka black gum or pepperidge), perennial Native to: Eastern US & Canada, Mexico, E & SE Asia Grows in: rich, moist, well-drained, acidic soil Flowers: clusters of small greenish white flowers Blooming: May-June
Willow	Salix Native to: Northern Hemisphere; cool-temperate areas Grows in: moist soil Flowers: catkins, many different colours Blooming: early spring

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