Hardy Perennial Bee Garden

[Nate Ellis]

So far this is what I've found to be the best honeybee perennials for season long bloom and interest. I live in NY zone 4/5. Lavender and Anise Hyssop top the list. Im also waiting on Yucca and Hibiscus.. Can anyone add to this list I was thinking strictly garden perennial flowers or bulbs..

Hyacinth
Tulips
Oriental Poppy
Lavender
Anise Hyssop
All Coneflower color varieties
All Globe Thistle varieties
Sea Holly-eryngium planum
Pink Cranesbill Geranium
Malva

[Adrian Quiney WI]

New England Aster

[BjornBee]

I love anything from the mint family.

You may want to get a Johnny seed catalog. It is a great reference item. It lists medicinal use, beneficial to insects, etc.

[Hobie]

I second Bjorn. By far the favorite flowers here are the catnip, oregano, and some minty thing that just grows in the yard and I mow around it. It is also covered with butterflies and bumbles.

Liatris ( http://www.bluestoneperennials.com/b/bp/LIKOS.html ) is also a favorite of mine and visited by many insects, but I don't recall seeing the honeybees on it.

[dcross]

Hollyhocks
Cleomes(not perennial, but re-seeds)
Dill(ditto)

Never see too many on the dill, and the cleomes only for a short time of day, but the whole patch hums when they are on them.

[notaclue]

Early here is also Carolina Beauty;
also mints/herbs and white clover (also helps the soil);
what helps here in the hot summer (around trple digit) is trumpet vine, it is invasive though.

[jeff123fish]

I believe they are called salvia also check in on gayfeather, chive, hollyhock, and most of the clovers some of them are actually very nice looking flowers