A bee-friendly garden lets pollinators collect nectar to produce honey. Understanding which plants help bees produce the best honey will help you determine what to include in your garden or apiary. Here is an idea of what to plant in order to get started.
Goldenrod
Goldenrod is the best plant for bees during the transition from summer to fall. A Goldenrod blooms between late summer and fall and provides nectar for pollinators when many other flowers have faded. Its bright yellow clusters attract bees, offering rich nectar. Honey from bee colonies that indulge in goldenrods has a distinctive flavor and a deep golden hue.
Sourwood
Sourwood trees are common in the eastern parts of the US. When bees produce honey after consuming the nectar from these trees, it has an exquisitely tangy-sweet flavor. The trees bloom during mid-summer, making them a valuable resource for bees as flowers from other plants fade.
Lavender
Lavender is a must-have plant in a bee-friendly garden because its delightful fragrance attracts bees in droves. Lavender blooms provide a rich nectar source, ideal for producing flavorful honey. The soothing scent of lavender extends into the honey, offering a unique taste.
Clover
Clover is a favorite among bees for its abundant nectar supply. When bees consume nectar from red and white clovers, the honey they produce is light and mild. Planting clover in your apiary means your colonies will produce subtle, sweet honey.
Wildflowers
Wildflowers are natural magnets for bees, offering varied nectar sources throughout their blooming season. Consider planting a mix of wildflowers to create a colorful garden that keeps bees busy and assists in creating honey with diverse, rich flavors. Here are some wildflowers to consider planting in your apiary or garden:
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
- Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
- Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea)
- California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
Borage
Borage is a star-shaped annual with an excellent source of nectar. The nectar that bees gather from these flowers helps them create delicious honey. Borage supports bees long into the growing season, enhancing honey production.
White Wild Indigo
White wild indigo is an excellent plant for feeding bees and supporting honey production. This plant needs to be on your list of what to plant next year because it blooms between late spring and early summer. During these warm months, bees will create mildly sweet honey after enjoying some white wild indigo.
Linden and Chestnut Trees
Linden and chestnut trees experience late-season blooms, crucial for honey production during cold months. Bees that enjoy nectar from these flowers yield aromatic honey with distinctive flavor profiles.
Crystal’s Produces the Best Honey
Understanding which plants make bees produce the best honey helps gardeners and beekeepers with their garden setups. By incorporating a variety of nectar-rich plants, bees will be able to continue producing liquid gold!
Crystal’s Honey offers natural honey for sale. Explore our selection and sweeten your life with fresh, raw honey. Enhance your recipes or enjoy it straight from the jar! Crystal’s Honey brings the best of nature to your table.