attracts mining bees — Drought Tolerant Plants

California Lilacs

Ceanothus spp.

Blooms spring to summer
Perennial groundcover that can grow to 18 ft shrub with voluminous blue flowers. Prefers well-drained soil, though some varieties tolerate clay. Provides pollen. Attracts Bombus, honey, minim, and sweat bees.

NativeTorrey DouglassOctober 22, 2019perennial, blue flowers, provides pollen, tolerates clay, attracts bombus, attracts honeybees, attracts mining bees, attracts sweat bees, blooms spring to summer

California Aster

Aster chilensis

Blooms summer into early fall
A fast-growing perennial that grows 1.3-3.3 ft tall and 3 ft wide with yellow disks, purple or blue ray florets. Grows in poor to moderate rich soil, accepts medium water but tolerates dry conditions. Attracts honey, sweat mining, Bombus, and mason bees.

NativeTorrey DouglassOctober 17, 2019sun/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

Goldenrod

Solidago californica

Blooms summer to early fall
Perennial with upright slender stems to 4 ft high with masses of floral heads. Does well in a variety of soils. Water increases flowering. Provides nectar and pollen. Attracts honey, sweat, mining, Bombus, and mason bees.

NativeTorrey DouglassOctober 14, 2019perennial, blooms summer to early fall, yellow flowers, provides nectar and pollen, attracts honeybees, attracts sweat bees, attracts mining bees, attracts mason bees

Red Buckwheat

Eriogonum grande rubescens

Blooms in summer
Perennial low-mounding subshrub that can grow to 24” high. Likes well drained poor to moderately rich soil. Provides nectar and pollen. Attracts honey, sweat, mining, Bombus, and mason bees.

NativeTorrey DouglassSeptember 29, 2019provides nectar and pollen, well-drained soil, perennial, red flowers, attracts honeybees, attracts sweat bees, attracts mason bees, attracts bombus, attracts mining bees

Sims Globe Gilia

Gilia capitata

Blooms April - May
An annual with numerous blue flowers forming a globe. Glows erect to about 27” high. Likes sun and average to dry soil. Provides nectar and pllen. Attracts honey, sweat, and mining bees.

NativeTorrey DouglassSeptember 27, 2019annual, dry soil, blue flowers, blooms April - May, full sun, provides nectar and pollen, attracts honeybees, attracts sweat bees, attracts mining bees

Common Sunflower

Helianthus annuus

Blooms summer to fall
A tall annual with branched leaves, dark floral disk, heart shaped petals, and varying colors and heights. Tolerates poor soil and needs a little water in summer. Provides nectar and pollen. Attracts honey, sweat, mining, Bombus, and mason bees.

NativeTorrey DouglassSeptember 24, 2019provides nectar and pollen, attracts sweat bees, attracts bombus, yellow flowers, annual, tolerates poor soil, attracts honeybees, attracts mining bees, attracts mason bees, blooms summer to fall