Question
Give me 25 of the best bushes that produce the most flowers, nectar, and good tasting honey for honeybees that can grow in zone 7-8.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Sure! Here’s a list of 25 flowering shrubs that are great for honeybees and can thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 7-8. These bushes not only produce beautiful flowers but also provide nectar and pollen, making them ideal for beekeeping and supporting pollinators.
### 1. **Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.)**
- Produces abundant blooms in summer with varied colors.
### 2. **Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)**
- White to pink flowers attract bees, and the fruit is delicious.
### 3. **Blackberry (Rubus spp.)**
- Flowers prolific in spring; the berries are also sweet and attractive.
### 4. **Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)**
- Known for its long spikes of flowers that are very attractive to bees.
### 5. **Holly (Ilex spp.)**
- Produces small, inconspicuous flowers that are good for bees.
### 6. **Sumac (Rhus spp.)**
- Flowers in late summer and fall; produces a sweet, fragrant nectar.
### 7. **Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)**
- Early spring flowers provide nourishment to bees, followed by tasty berries.
### 8. **Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)**
- Blossoms attract bees, with delicious fruit that follows.
### 9. **Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)**
- Produces lavender-blue flowers that are highly attractive to bees.
### 10. **Wildflower Honey Bush (Melianthus comosus)**
- Beautiful flowers which attract diverse pollinators.
### 11. **Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora)**
- Offers fragrant, tubular flowers that are adored by bees.
### 12. **Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)**
- Produces white flowers in early spring, excellent for bees.
### 13. **Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)**
- Fragrant white flowers attract bees and other pollinators.
### 14. **Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)**
- Many varieties are great nectar sources, perfect for bees.
### 15. **Salvia (Salvia spp.)**
- Known for its vibrant flower spikes, attracting bees.
### 16. **Quince (Chaenomeles spp.)**
- Early spring blooms are highly attractive to honeybees.
### 17. **Spirea (Spiraea spp.)**
- Small flowers in clusters that are essential for foraging bees.
### 18. **Lilac (Syringa spp.)**
- Sweet-smelling flowers that attract many pollinators.
### 19. **Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)**
- Highly fragrant blooms that attract bees.
### 20. **Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)**
- Produces white flowers in spring, with ornamental berries after.
### 21. **Pink Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum)**
- Lovely pink flowers that provide early spring nectar for bees.
### 22. **Chokeberry (Aronia spp.)**
- Flowers are good for bees, and the berries are edible.
### 23. **Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)**
- Produces unique flowers that attract bees and delicious fruit afterward.
### 24. **St. John’s Wort (Hypericum spp.)**
- Blooms provide a significant nectar source for bees.
### 25. **Wisteria (Wisteria spp.)**
- Beautiful pendulous flowers are highly attractive to honeybees.
When selecting plants, it's always a good idea to consider local variability in climate and soil conditions, as well as the specific needs of your garden ecosystem. Mixing these shrubs with a variety of other plants will help ensure a consistent source of nectar and pollen throughout the growing season. Happy gardening!
### 1. **Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia spp.)**
- Produces abundant blooms in summer with varied colors.
### 2. **Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)**
- White to pink flowers attract bees, and the fruit is delicious.
### 3. **Blackberry (Rubus spp.)**
- Flowers prolific in spring; the berries are also sweet and attractive.
### 4. **Butterfly Bush (Buddleja davidii)**
- Known for its long spikes of flowers that are very attractive to bees.
### 5. **Holly (Ilex spp.)**
- Produces small, inconspicuous flowers that are good for bees.
### 6. **Sumac (Rhus spp.)**
- Flowers in late summer and fall; produces a sweet, fragrant nectar.
### 7. **Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)**
- Early spring flowers provide nourishment to bees, followed by tasty berries.
### 8. **Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)**
- Blossoms attract bees, with delicious fruit that follows.
### 9. **Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)**
- Produces lavender-blue flowers that are highly attractive to bees.
### 10. **Wildflower Honey Bush (Melianthus comosus)**
- Beautiful flowers which attract diverse pollinators.
### 11. **Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora)**
- Offers fragrant, tubular flowers that are adored by bees.
### 12. **Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii)**
- Produces white flowers in early spring, excellent for bees.
### 13. **Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia)**
- Fragrant white flowers attract bees and other pollinators.
### 14. **Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)**
- Many varieties are great nectar sources, perfect for bees.
### 15. **Salvia (Salvia spp.)**
- Known for its vibrant flower spikes, attracting bees.
### 16. **Quince (Chaenomeles spp.)**
- Early spring blooms are highly attractive to honeybees.
### 17. **Spirea (Spiraea spp.)**
- Small flowers in clusters that are essential for foraging bees.
### 18. **Lilac (Syringa spp.)**
- Sweet-smelling flowers that attract many pollinators.
### 19. **Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides)**
- Highly fragrant blooms that attract bees.
### 20. **Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)**
- Produces white flowers in spring, with ornamental berries after.
### 21. **Pink Flowering Currant (Ribes sanguineum)**
- Lovely pink flowers that provide early spring nectar for bees.
### 22. **Chokeberry (Aronia spp.)**
- Flowers are good for bees, and the berries are edible.
### 23. **Pawpaw (Asimina triloba)**
- Produces unique flowers that attract bees and delicious fruit afterward.
### 24. **St. John’s Wort (Hypericum spp.)**
- Blooms provide a significant nectar source for bees.
### 25. **Wisteria (Wisteria spp.)**
- Beautiful pendulous flowers are highly attractive to honeybees.
When selecting plants, it's always a good idea to consider local variability in climate and soil conditions, as well as the specific needs of your garden ecosystem. Mixing these shrubs with a variety of other plants will help ensure a consistent source of nectar and pollen throughout the growing season. Happy gardening!