According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, cross-pollination from bees and other pollinators assist at least 30 percent of the world’s crops and 90 percent of wild plants. Without bees to pollinate plants, many would perish (food crops included).  If we’d like to keep berries, apples, onion, carrots, avocados, and many other foods, we need to start caring about bees. Bees are magnificent creatures, who not only pollinate food for

Bees are magnificent creatures that not only pollinate food for all but also serve as the main indicator of the state of the environment on whole. Declining populations should be a huge indication that something is unbalanced and wrong. Between humans spraying pesticides on crops to habitat loss and Climate change, bees are at risk. If bees go extinct, so will humans, along with just about every other species on the planet.

Now, more than ever, it is important that we try to be as kind to bees as possible and give them an opportunity to visit our yards. Along with all of the other things you can do to help the bees, planting a garden is a great place to start. Even if you only have enough space for a container garden, you can “plant for the bees” by making it as organic as possible! Try planting these flowers and herbs this spring to not only add beauty to your home but attract our buzzing friends!

1. Borage 

Known as the “starflower” and the “bee bush,” bees love this medicinal herb! Borage is a bright blue, star-shaped flower that will bring beauty to any garden (and the bees along with it). This super plant is sure to have the bees buzzing!

2. Rosemary 

Teresa Design Room/Shutterstock

Rosemary is also a wonderful herb that can be used for culinary and medicinal purposes. Honeybees love this fragrant beauty and its beautiful purple flowers.

3. Catnip

In the spring, catnip grows around to be around two to four feet tall and sports white or lavender colored flowers, attracting cats and bees alike! If you grow this around your garden, it’ll be likely that you will not only attract bees but butterflies and other pollinators.

4. Flowering Currant

These bright pink flowers draw in bees and butterflies. They are not only gorgeous, but their fragrance entices the bees to stay a while and take its pollen. This flower will bloom in early spring, which is perfect to help the bees rejuvenate after the winter months.

5. Crocuses

Maleo/Shutterstock

Crocuses are early bloomers which are perfect for bees that visit your yard! These purple/blue beauties, tend to come up at the end of winter when the weather is still a tad on the colder side. Bulbs for these flowers are usually planted in the fall and the flowers grace us with their presence come March, depending on where you live of course. These flowers are super easy to maintain, so this is a great flower if you don’t necessarily have the green-ist of thumbs yet!

6. Pussy Willows 

Pussy Willows are also great for bees thanks to the fact they are early bloomers and have pollen ready for the bees at the very beginning of spring.

7. Echinacea

These lovely flowers come in all different colors and are known as, “the cone flower,” due to their shape. These flowers are perennials and unfortunately bloom later in the season.

8. Sunflowers

Sunflowers are one of the best flowers to plant for bees. They provide quality pollen and nectar for bees and seeds for birds, squirrels, and other wildlife. After the chance of frost is gone, go ahead and plant these seeds directly into the soil. You can also start the seeds indoors and wait until after the chance of frost is past to plant them outside.

9. Lilacs

fotolotos/Shutterstock

Lilacs are a great treat for bees as they produce both pollen and nectar. Lilacs have bright purple flowers that grow in bunches, making it easier for bees to graze from one blossom to the next. The nectar provides the bee with much-needed energy, while the mixture with the pollen is a necessity for growing larvae back at the hive.

10. Hyacinth 

Hyacinths come in all different colors (i.e. pink, purple, white, etc.) and are especially bright colored and fragrant. These flowers provide nourishing nectar, which is why these flowers are a win for the bees.

Remember, when planting the above plants, stay away from hybrid varieties and keep your garden organic, i.e. don’t spray chemicals. Besides planting a garden, there are actually a ton of different ways to get active for bees! Try setting up a bee hotel, creating a bee bath, and planting wildflowers in your yard rather than grass lawns to keep the bees coming back! Don’t have a yard? Simply try to buy organic and local as much as you can and spread the word about how important bees are to the planet around your community. Education and kind action can change the world, especially for bees.

Looking for more information on how to help save the bees? Check out how the Bumblebee Conservation Trust is changing the world for bees!

For more Life, Animal, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, don’t forget to subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter!

Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please support us!