Bees and Flowers
Flowers provide all of the food bees need to survive. Bees obtain protein from pollen and sugar from floral nectar. Therefore, having a diversity of flowers in bloom all spring, summer and autumn is necessary to provide nutrition for bees to feed themselves and their offspring. Below we highlight some flowers that support bees locally.
Generalist pollinators have the ability to pollinate many different kinds of plants whereas specialists will only associate with specific plants, sometimes only one. Bees will visit flowers in search for food, which is pollen and nectar. The pollen and nectar will then stick to their legs and the bee will deposit it unintentionally while visiting other flowers. Therefore, pollination happens without the bees even realizing it! This is known as cross-pollination because the flower is not fertilized by itself, instead it is using the pollen from another flower. Cross-pollination is necessary and beneficial because it increases the yield, resilience and disease resistance of many plant species.
Generalist pollinators have the ability to pollinate many different kinds of plants whereas specialists will only associate with specific plants, sometimes only one. Bees will visit flowers in search for food, which is pollen and nectar. The pollen and nectar will then stick to their legs and the bee will deposit it unintentionally while visiting other flowers. Therefore, pollination happens without the bees even realizing it! This is known as cross-pollination because the flower is not fertilized by itself, instead it is using the pollen from another flower. Cross-pollination is necessary and beneficial because it increases the yield, resilience and disease resistance of many plant species.
Flower Families
Asteraceae: A well known and expansive family of flowering plants. Flowers are composed of a density of disk florets surrounded by ray florets. Some examples are, sunflowers, marigolds, and chrysanthemums.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
Blooms: from June to October
Habitat: fields, prairies, and open woods
Range: throughout North America excluding Nevada, Arizona, and the far north of Canada
Native: North America
Growth pattern: Annual but sometimes biennial or perennial
Blooms: from June to October
Habitat: fields, prairies, and open woods
Range: throughout North America excluding Nevada, Arizona, and the far north of Canada
Native: North America
Growth pattern: Annual but sometimes biennial or perennial
Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Blooms: from June to September
Habitat: old fields and roadsides
Range: found throughout North America
Native: North America, Europe, and Asia
Growth pattern: Perennial herb
Blooms: from June to September
Habitat: old fields and roadsides
Range: found throughout North America
Native: North America, Europe, and Asia
Growth pattern: Perennial herb
Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuuis)
Blooms: from June to October
Native: North and Central America
Growth pattern: Annual but sometimes biennial
Blooms: from June to October
- Habitat: disturbed areas such as roadsides, abandoned fields, and open woodland
- Range: found throughout North America
Native: North and Central America
Growth pattern: Annual but sometimes biennial
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Blooms: from April to May
Habitat: disturbed habitats like roadsides, forest edges, abandoned fields
Range: throughout North America
Native: Europe and Asia
Growth pattern: Herbaceous perennial
Blooms: from April to May
Habitat: disturbed habitats like roadsides, forest edges, abandoned fields
Range: throughout North America
Native: Europe and Asia
Growth pattern: Herbaceous perennial
Goldenrod (Solidago sp.)
- Blooms: from July to October
- Habitat: disturbed sites; roadsides, meadows
- Range: throughout North America excluding arctic Canada
- Native: to North America, invasive in Europe and Asia
- Growth pattern: Perennial herb
Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
Blooms: from June to August
Habitat: meadows, pastures, and roadsides
Range: throughout North America excluding arctic Canada and less abundant in southern regions
Native: to Europe
Additional info: If eaten by cattle, it causes an unpleasant flavor in milk
Growth pattern: Perennial herb
Blooms: from June to August
Habitat: meadows, pastures, and roadsides
Range: throughout North America excluding arctic Canada and less abundant in southern regions
Native: to Europe
Additional info: If eaten by cattle, it causes an unpleasant flavor in milk
Growth pattern: Perennial herb
Ironweed (Veronica gigantea)
Blooms: from July - September
Habitat: prairies and grasslands, roadsides, savannas, woodlands, and overgrazed pastures
Range: throughout eastern North America excluding arctic Canada
Native: eastern North America
Growth pattern: Perennial
Blooms: from July - September
Habitat: prairies and grasslands, roadsides, savannas, woodlands, and overgrazed pastures
Range: throughout eastern North America excluding arctic Canada
Native: eastern North America
Growth pattern: Perennial
Brassicaceae: A family of flowering plants that produce some important agricultural products. Some examples are, wasabi, broccoli, and scalepod.
Common Wintercress (Barbarea vulgaris)
Blooms: from April to August
Habitat: Moist soils in fields, meadows, brooksides, and waste places
Range: Manitoba east to Newfoundland, south to Florida, west to Oklahoma, and north to North Dakota. Also found in much of the western United States.
Native: Eurasia
Uses: Young leaves and flower buds used in salads and cooked as greens
Growth pattern: Biennial herb
Blooms: from April to August
Habitat: Moist soils in fields, meadows, brooksides, and waste places
Range: Manitoba east to Newfoundland, south to Florida, west to Oklahoma, and north to North Dakota. Also found in much of the western United States.
Native: Eurasia
Uses: Young leaves and flower buds used in salads and cooked as greens
Growth pattern: Biennial herb
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Blooms: Early May
Habitat: sunny and full shade environments including undisturbed forest, forest edges, roadsides and along river banks
Range: throughout North America
Native: Europe and Asia; invasive in North America
Growth pattern: Biennial plant
Blooms: Early May
Habitat: sunny and full shade environments including undisturbed forest, forest edges, roadsides and along river banks
Range: throughout North America
Native: Europe and Asia; invasive in North America
Growth pattern: Biennial plant
Cornaceae: A cosmopolitan family of plants containing about 85 different species. Most members are trees or shrubs but a couple are perennial herbs. The most well known temperate members of the family are the dogwoods.
Red-oiser Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
Blooms: May - June
Native: North America
Habitat: riparian zones or wetlands
Range: throughout North America
Growth pattern: Deciduous, perennial shrub
Blooms: May - June
Native: North America
Habitat: riparian zones or wetlands
Range: throughout North America
Growth pattern: Deciduous, perennial shrub
Caprifoliaceae: A small family of plants found in the temperate region of the world. They are often used as ornamentals and can either be an evergreen or deciduous. Some examples are honeysuckle, beauty bush, and valerians.
Fly-Honeysuckle (Lonicera canadensis)
Blooms: Last week in April to fourth week in May and red fruit appears from the first week of June to the first week in August
Native: Northeast North America
Habitat: mostly found in uplands woods in soils ranging from dry to moist
Range: Quebec south to Georgia and west to Wisconsin
Growth pattern: Deciduous, perennial shrub
Blooms: Last week in April to fourth week in May and red fruit appears from the first week of June to the first week in August
Native: Northeast North America
Habitat: mostly found in uplands woods in soils ranging from dry to moist
Range: Quebec south to Georgia and west to Wisconsin
Growth pattern: Deciduous, perennial shrub
Sweetberry Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea)
Blooms: April - June
Habitat: heavy peat soils in or near the wetlands of boreal forests; occasionally found in the mountains, and high-calcium soils
Range: circumpolar in boreal forests and on the northeast coasts of North America and Asia
Native: North America and Asia
Growth pattern: Deciduous Shrub
Blooms: April - June
Habitat: heavy peat soils in or near the wetlands of boreal forests; occasionally found in the mountains, and high-calcium soils
Range: circumpolar in boreal forests and on the northeast coasts of North America and Asia
Native: North America and Asia
Growth pattern: Deciduous Shrub
Caryophyllaceae: Also known as the pink family or carnation family. This family is found in the temperate zone around the world and consists mostly of herbaceous plants. Some examples are babys-breath, carnations, and rose of heaven.
Mouse-eared Chickweed (Cerastium fontanum)
Blooms: from April to October
Habitat: common in grasslands and disturbed sites such as roadsides
Range: throughout North America
Native: Eurasia
Growth pattern: Mat forming perennial, occasionally annual
Blooms: from April to October
Habitat: common in grasslands and disturbed sites such as roadsides
Range: throughout North America
Native: Eurasia
Growth pattern: Mat forming perennial, occasionally annual
White Campion (Silene latifolia)
Blooms: from May to September
Habitat: disturbed areas such as fields, wastelands, and roadsides
Range: throughout North America
Native: Europe, invasive in North America and Canada
Growth pattern: usually herbaceous annual, rarely biennial or short-lived perennial
Blooms: from May to September
Habitat: disturbed areas such as fields, wastelands, and roadsides
Range: throughout North America
Native: Europe, invasive in North America and Canada
Growth pattern: usually herbaceous annual, rarely biennial or short-lived perennial
Elaeagnaceae: Consists of small shrubs and trees. Leaves have small hairs on them and may appear silvery. Fruits are small berries ranging from grey to red. Some examples are russian olive and buffaloberry.
Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Blooms: April - June
Habitat: in fields, grasslands, open woodlands, and other disturbed areas in a variety of soils and moisture conditions. It is drought tolerant
Range: From Maine south to Virginia and West to Wisconsin
Native: non-native to North America; native to East Asia
Growth pattern: Deciduous shrub
Blooms: April - June
Habitat: in fields, grasslands, open woodlands, and other disturbed areas in a variety of soils and moisture conditions. It is drought tolerant
Range: From Maine south to Virginia and West to Wisconsin
Native: non-native to North America; native to East Asia
Growth pattern: Deciduous shrub
Fabaceae: Known commonly as the pea family. Plants can classified by identification of flower parts, banner, keel, and wings. Some examples are red clover, ground plum, and scotch broom.
Crimson Clover (Trifolium incarnatum)
Blooms: May to August
Found: in old fields, waste places, and roadsides
Native: to Europe
Growth pattern: Annual herb
Uses: Grown for protein-rich forage crop for livestock, esp. cattle
Blooms: May to August
Found: in old fields, waste places, and roadsides
Native: to Europe
Growth pattern: Annual herb
Uses: Grown for protein-rich forage crop for livestock, esp. cattle
Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
Blooms: June-September
Habitat: fields and roadsides
Range: temperate North America excluding far northern Canada and less common in the Southern United States
Native: to Europe
Growth pattern: Perennial herb in the pea family
Blooms: June-September
Habitat: fields and roadsides
Range: temperate North America excluding far northern Canada and less common in the Southern United States
Native: to Europe
Growth pattern: Perennial herb in the pea family
White Clover (Trifolium repens)
Blooms: May-October
Habitat: lawns, roadsides, and fields
Range: throughout North America excluding far north Canada
Native: Europe and Asia
Growth pattern: Perennial
Blooms: May-October
Habitat: lawns, roadsides, and fields
Range: throughout North America excluding far north Canada
Native: Europe and Asia
Growth pattern: Perennial
Geraniaceae: Home of the genus geranium. Most plants are herbs or subshrubs. This family produces five or three small dry fruits. Some examples are meadow cranesbill, white geranium, and stork's bill.
Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum)
Blooms: April - June
Habitat: dry to moist woods
Range: Southern Manitoba and southwestern Quebec south to Alabama and Georgia and west to Oklahoma and South Dakota
Native: to Northeastern North America
Growth pattern: Perennial
Blooms: April - June
Habitat: dry to moist woods
Range: Southern Manitoba and southwestern Quebec south to Alabama and Georgia and west to Oklahoma and South Dakota
Native: to Northeastern North America
Growth pattern: Perennial
Laminacea: Commonly known as the mint or sage family, the laminacea contain over 7,000 species worldwide. Most of the plants are aromatic and many can be used in cooking, such as basil, rosemary, thyme, and sage.
Bee balm (Monarda fistulosa)
Blooms: June - September
Habitat: grows best in rich soils found in thickets, clearings, and dry fields
Range: throughout North America
Native: North America
Growth pattern: Perennial
Blooms: June - September
Habitat: grows best in rich soils found in thickets, clearings, and dry fields
Range: throughout North America
Native: North America
Growth pattern: Perennial
Ocleaceae: A family of flowering plants containing many species that have flower with strong odor properties. Most plants are woody shrubs or trees. Some examples are olive and lilac
Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
Blooms: in May
Habitat: open sunny habitat, as an ornamental, will grow where planted
Range: throughout North America
Native: to Europe
Growth: Deciduous shrub
Blooms: in May
Habitat: open sunny habitat, as an ornamental, will grow where planted
Range: throughout North America
Native: to Europe
Growth: Deciduous shrub
Papaveraceae: A herbaceous and sometimes evergreen family of flowering plants. These plants are have both male and female flower parts. Some examples are scrambled eggs, and fumewort
Swallowwort (Chelidonium majus)
Blooms: from April-September
Habitat: moist soil
Range: Quebec-Iowa and south to Georgia
Native: Europe, western Asia; invasive to North America
Growth pattern: Herbaceous perennial, belonging to the poppy family
Blooms: from April-September
Habitat: moist soil
Range: Quebec-Iowa and south to Georgia
Native: Europe, western Asia; invasive to North America
Growth pattern: Herbaceous perennial, belonging to the poppy family
Bulbous Buttercups (Ranunculus bulbosus)
Blooms: April-July
Habitat: in fields, meadows, and lawns, thriving in soil that is nutrient-poor and well-drained
Range: Eastern and Western North America, Western Europe from 60 degrees North to the Northern Mediterranean coast
Native: to Europe
Growth Pattern: Perennial
Blooms: April-July
Habitat: in fields, meadows, and lawns, thriving in soil that is nutrient-poor and well-drained
Range: Eastern and Western North America, Western Europe from 60 degrees North to the Northern Mediterranean coast
Native: to Europe
Growth Pattern: Perennial
Quaker Ladies (Hedyotis caerulea)
Blooms: April-June
Habitat: moist soil and meadows
Range: Nova Scotia and Quebec south to Georgia and Arkansas and west to Wisconsin
Native: eastern North America
Growth pattern: Perennial
Blooms: April-June
Habitat: moist soil and meadows
Range: Nova Scotia and Quebec south to Georgia and Arkansas and west to Wisconsin
Native: eastern North America
Growth pattern: Perennial
Horse-Chestnut (Aeculus hippocastanum)
Blooms: in May
Habitat: most habitats with moist, well drained soils
Native: Europe
Range: found world-wide throughout temperate zones
Growth pattern: large, deciduous tree
Blooms: in May
Habitat: most habitats with moist, well drained soils
Native: Europe
Range: found world-wide throughout temperate zones
Growth pattern: large, deciduous tree
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Deadly Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara)
Blooms: from May to September
Habitat: thickets and clearings
Range: Throughout North America
Native: Europe
Growth pattern: invasive vine
Blooms: from May to September
Habitat: thickets and clearings
Range: Throughout North America
Native: Europe
Growth pattern: invasive vine
