When you create a pollinator garden in your home or community, you're not only building a gorgeous sanctuary for humans -– you’re doing your part to help honey bees and other pollinators! Pollinator gardens planted without pesticides or fungicides increase the health of surrounding beehives and ensure all bees have a healthy food source year-round.

Planet Bee spent hours poring over the best pollinator plants native to the Bay Area. We were excited to discover that some have medicinal uses, have been used by Native American tribes, and play host to various butterfly species! 

Pollinator Plants for Every Garden

Below, we've listed some bee-loved plants that attract bees and thrive in many environments.

• Lavender – Lavandula spp.

• Rosemary – Rosemarinus officinalis

• Sage – Salvia spp.

• Coneflower – Echinacea spp.

• Sunflower – Helianthus spp.

• Redbud – Cercis spp.

• Catnip – Nepeta spp.

• Penstemon – Penstemon spp.

• Lamb’s Ear – Stachys spp.

• Verbena – Verbena spp.

• Bells of Phacelia – Phacelia spp.

• Black-eyed Susan – Rudbeckia spp.

• Oregano – Origanum spp.

• Yarrow – Achilliea millefolium

• Honeywort - Cerinthe major

Remember, many plants that are food for pollinators are also food for humans! For instance, rosemary, verbena, and oregano are not just commonly used in cooking, but also make a fantastic addition to an herb garden. By supporting pollinators, we're not just helping them, but also ourselves –- and the result is a garden that's not just beneficial but also bee-autiful.

Want a longer list of plants pollinated by bees? Enter your postal code into this fantastic tool for pollinator-preferred plants specific to your region. Need a resource for organic seeds? Visit Organic Seed Finder. Do you want to garden without pesticides? We have info on that.  And, of course, we have "the 101s" of becoming a backyard beekeeper.