bee-friendly plant guide

Consider these California native perennials for bee-friendly plantings in the Mendocino coastal region (bloom times are primary time; in this climate many will bloom far longer). A few of these plants are large shrubs or trees; size is noted in each entry. All these plants were native to coastal or northern California, or their range included northern California prior to European settlement.

 
 

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Featured
Yarrow
flowers, attracts beneficials, sun/part shade, dry soil
Yarrow
flowers, attracts beneficials, sun/part shade, dry soil
flowers, attracts beneficials, sun/part shade, dry soil
Pacific Madrone
evergreen, sun/part shade, attracts bees, attracts hummingbirds
Pacific Madrone
evergreen, sun/part shade, attracts bees, attracts hummingbirds
evergreen, sun/part shade, attracts bees, attracts hummingbirds
Sea Pink
salt-tolerant, flowers, part shade, deer resistant, gopher resistant
Sea Pink
salt-tolerant, flowers, part shade, deer resistant, gopher resistant
salt-tolerant, flowers, part shade, deer resistant, gopher resistant
California Lilacs
perennial, blue flowers, provides pollen, tolerates clay, attracts bombus, attracts honeybees, attracts mining bees, attracts sweat bees, blooms spring to summer
California Lilacs
perennial, blue flowers, provides pollen, tolerates clay, attracts bombus, attracts honeybees, attracts mining bees, attracts sweat bees, blooms spring to summer
perennial, blue flowers, provides pollen, tolerates clay, attracts bombus, attracts honeybees, attracts mining bees, attracts sweat bees, blooms spring to summer
California Fuchsia
evergreen, tolerates heavy soil, attracts butterflies, attracts native bees
California Fuchsia
evergreen, tolerates heavy soil, attracts butterflies, attracts native bees
evergreen, tolerates heavy soil, attracts butterflies, attracts native bees
Seaside Daisy
perennial, blooms spring to early fall, attracts leafcutters, attracts sweat bees
Seaside Daisy
perennial, blooms spring to early fall, attracts leafcutters, attracts sweat bees
perennial, blooms spring to early fall, attracts leafcutters, attracts sweat bees
Penstemon
attracts native bees, attracts honeybees, tolerates heavy soil, part shade
Penstemon
attracts native bees, attracts honeybees, tolerates heavy soil, part shade
attracts native bees, attracts honeybees, tolerates heavy soil, part shade
Scorpionweed
evergreen, perennial
Scorpionweed
evergreen, perennial
evergreen, perennial
California Aster
sun/part shade, perennial, drought-tolerant, purple flowers, blue flowers, attracts bombus, attracts honeybees, attracts mason bees, attracts mining bees, attracts sweat bees, provides nectar and pollen, blooms summer to early fall
California Aster
sun/part shade, perennial, drought-tolerant, purple flowers, blue flowers, attracts bombus, attracts honeybees, attracts mason bees, attracts mining bees, attracts sweat bees, provides nectar and pollen, blooms summer to early fall
sun/part shade, perennial, drought-tolerant, purple flowers, blue flowers, attracts bombus, attracts honeybees, attracts mason bees, attracts mining bees, attracts sweat bees, provides nectar and pollen, blooms summer to early fall
Hummingbird Sage
attracts butterflies, attracts native bees, attracts hummingbirds, part shade
Hummingbird Sage
attracts butterflies, attracts native bees, attracts hummingbirds, part shade
attracts butterflies, attracts native bees, attracts hummingbirds, part shade
Pincushion Flower
attracts honeybees, attracts native bees, attracts butterflies
Pincushion Flower
attracts honeybees, attracts native bees, attracts butterflies
attracts honeybees, attracts native bees, attracts butterflies
Goldenrod
perennial, blooms summer to early fall, yellow flowers, provides nectar and pollen, attracts honeybees, attracts sweat bees, attracts mining bees, attracts mason bees
Goldenrod
perennial, blooms summer to early fall, yellow flowers, provides nectar and pollen, attracts honeybees, attracts sweat bees, attracts mining bees, attracts mason bees
perennial, blooms summer to early fall, yellow flowers, provides nectar and pollen, attracts honeybees, attracts sweat bees, attracts mining bees, attracts mason bees
Sticky Monkey Flower
tolerates clay, full sun, perennial, attracts hummingbirds, deer resistant
Sticky Monkey Flower
tolerates clay, full sun, perennial, attracts hummingbirds, deer resistant
tolerates clay, full sun, perennial, attracts hummingbirds, deer resistant
Foothill Penstemon
perennial, blooms spring to summer, blue flowers, pink flowers, lavender flowers, provides nectar and pollen, attracts bombus, attracts mason bees
Foothill Penstemon
perennial, blooms spring to summer, blue flowers, pink flowers, lavender flowers, provides nectar and pollen, attracts bombus, attracts mason bees
perennial, blooms spring to summer, blue flowers, pink flowers, lavender flowers, provides nectar and pollen, attracts bombus, attracts mason bees
Coyote Mint
perennial, drought-tolerant, well-drained soil, poor to rich soil, provides nectar, attracts bombus, blooms late spring to summer
Coyote Mint
perennial, drought-tolerant, well-drained soil, poor to rich soil, provides nectar, attracts bombus, blooms late spring to summer
perennial, drought-tolerant, well-drained soil, poor to rich soil, provides nectar, attracts bombus, blooms late spring to summer
Yellow Bush Lupine
attracts butterflies, attracts bees, deer resistant
Yellow Bush Lupine
attracts butterflies, attracts bees, deer resistant
attracts butterflies, attracts bees, deer resistant
Chalk Buckwheat
tolerates clay, tolerates sand, full sun, perennial, attracts butterflies, deer resistant
Chalk Buckwheat
tolerates clay, tolerates sand, full sun, perennial, attracts butterflies, deer resistant
tolerates clay, tolerates sand, full sun, perennial, attracts butterflies, deer resistant
Beach Strawberry
good ground cover, perennial, tolerates sand, part shade
Beach Strawberry
good ground cover, perennial, tolerates sand, part shade
good ground cover, perennial, tolerates sand, part shade
Blue-Eyed Grass
perennial, tolerates clay, tolerates sand, full sun, deer resistant
Blue-Eyed Grass
perennial, tolerates clay, tolerates sand, full sun, deer resistant
perennial, tolerates clay, tolerates sand, full sun, deer resistant
Serviceberry
sun/part shade, deciduous shrub
Serviceberry
sun/part shade, deciduous shrub
sun/part shade, deciduous shrub
Pink-Flowered Currant
deciduous shrub, part shade, tolerates clay, tolerates sand
Pink-Flowered Currant
deciduous shrub, part shade, tolerates clay, tolerates sand
deciduous shrub, part shade, tolerates clay, tolerates sand
Agastache
perennial, full sun, well-drained soil, provides nectar, summer blooms, attracts honeybees, attracts bombus
Agastache
perennial, full sun, well-drained soil, provides nectar, summer blooms, attracts honeybees, attracts bombus
perennial, full sun, well-drained soil, provides nectar, summer blooms, attracts honeybees, attracts bombus
Common Woolly Sunflower
perennial, sun/part shade, attracts butterflies
Common Woolly Sunflower
perennial, sun/part shade, attracts butterflies
perennial, sun/part shade, attracts butterflies
Manzanita
full sun, trees, provides nectar, attracts honeybees, attracts bombus, attracts mason bees, attracts Saturnia Mendocino, blooms late winter to early spring
Manzanita
full sun, trees, provides nectar, attracts honeybees, attracts bombus, attracts mason bees, attracts Saturnia Mendocino, blooms late winter to early spring
full sun, trees, provides nectar, attracts honeybees, attracts bombus, attracts mason bees, attracts Saturnia Mendocino, blooms late winter to early spring
Chinese Houses
tolerates sand, part shade, annual, attracts bombus, attracts mason bees, blooms spring to summer, provides nectar and pollen
Chinese Houses
tolerates sand, part shade, annual, attracts bombus, attracts mason bees, blooms spring to summer, provides nectar and pollen
tolerates sand, part shade, annual, attracts bombus, attracts mason bees, blooms spring to summer, provides nectar and pollen
California Sunflower
provides nectar and pollen, tolerates sand, tolerates clay, yellow flowers, attracts native bees, perennial
California Sunflower
provides nectar and pollen, tolerates sand, tolerates clay, yellow flowers, attracts native bees, perennial
provides nectar and pollen, tolerates sand, tolerates clay, yellow flowers, attracts native bees, perennial
Red Buckwheat
provides nectar and pollen, well-drained soil, perennial, red flowers, attracts honeybees, attracts sweat bees, attracts mason bees, attracts bombus, attracts mining bees
Red Buckwheat
provides nectar and pollen, well-drained soil, perennial, red flowers, attracts honeybees, attracts sweat bees, attracts mason bees, attracts bombus, attracts mining bees
provides nectar and pollen, well-drained soil, perennial, red flowers, attracts honeybees, attracts sweat bees, attracts mason bees, attracts bombus, attracts mining bees
California Poppy
annual, orange flowers, sun/part shade, dry soil, drought-tolerant, self-seeding, provides pollen, attracts native bees
California Poppy
annual, orange flowers, sun/part shade, dry soil, drought-tolerant, self-seeding, provides pollen, attracts native bees
annual, orange flowers, sun/part shade, dry soil, drought-tolerant, self-seeding, provides pollen, attracts native bees
Sims Globe Gilia
annual, dry soil, blue flowers, blooms April - May, full sun, provides nectar and pollen, attracts honeybees, attracts sweat bees, attracts mining bees
Sims Globe Gilia
annual, dry soil, blue flowers, blooms April - May, full sun, provides nectar and pollen, attracts honeybees, attracts sweat bees, attracts mining bees
annual, dry soil, blue flowers, blooms April - May, full sun, provides nectar and pollen, attracts honeybees, attracts sweat bees, attracts mining bees
Hairy Gum Plant
full sun, provides nectar and pollen, attracts sweat bees, attracts bombus, perennial, yellow flowers, tolerates clay, loam soil
Hairy Gum Plant
full sun, provides nectar and pollen, attracts sweat bees, attracts bombus, perennial, yellow flowers, tolerates clay, loam soil
full sun, provides nectar and pollen, attracts sweat bees, attracts bombus, perennial, yellow flowers, tolerates clay, loam soil
 

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