Question
Give me 50 of the best plants that produce during June-October with the most flowers, nectar, and good tasting honey for honeybees that can grow in zone 7-8.
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
Sure! Here’s a list of 50 plants that produce flowers during June to October, are great for attracting honeybees, and can thrive in USDA hardiness zones 7-8:
### Perennials
1. **Bee Balm (Monarda spp.)** - Attracts bees with its bright flowers and has a long blooming season.
2. **Echinacea (Coneflower)** - Produces large, daisy-like blooms providing nectar.
3. **Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan)** - Easy to grow, these flowers are great for bees.
4. **Aster (New England Aster)** - Offers late-season blooms that are vital for bees.
5. **Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)** - An invaluable late summer-to-fall source of nectar.
6. **Agastache (Hyssop)** - Aromatic flowers that are a magnet for honeybees.
7. **Sedum (Stonecrop)** - Late-blooming and resistant to drought, attracts pollinators.
8. **Catmint (Nepeta)** - Extensively blooms and is fragrant, attracting various pollinators.
9. **Salvia (Sage)** - Blooms throughout summer and into fall, offering nectar.
10. **Phlox (Garden Phlox)** - Provides vibrant flowers, great for honey production.
11. **Hydrangea** - Some varieties provide nectar during the late summer months.
12. **Lavender (Lavandula)** - Blooms from early summer through fall, attracting bees.
13. **Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)** - Perfect for bees, with a long flowering period.
14. **Liatris (Blazing Star)** - Attracts bees and has stunning flowering spikes.
15. **Monarda didyma (Bee Balm)** - A heavy nectar producer thriving in late summer.
16. **Campanula (Bellflower)** - Various types bloom into late summer, perfect for bees.
17. **Fall Aster (Aster novae-angliae)** - Essential for late-fall food sources for bees.
18. **Delphinium** - While typically earlier blooming, some varieties extend late.
19. **Coreopsis (Tickseed)** - A long-blooming perennial attracting various pollinators.
20. **Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)** - A tall plant with broad flower clusters.
### Annuals
21. **Zinnia** - Offers bright colors and long-lasting blooms that attract bees.
22. **Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)** - Known for their large blooms that are irresistible to bees.
23. **Cosmos** - Produces abundant flowers that attract a variety of pollinators.
24. **Marigold** - Easy to grow; while not as productive for honey, they are colorful and bee-friendly.
25. **Nasturtium** - Edible flowers that attract bees with their vibrant colors.
26. **Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)** - Blooms late into the summer providing nectar.
27. **Calendula (Pot Marigold)** - Encourages pollinators with vibrant orange and yellow petals.
28. **Borage (Borago officinalis)** - Attracts bees and produces edible flowers.
29. **Dahlia** - With numerous varieties, they can bloom throughout the summer and into the fall.
30. **Cleome (Spider Flower)** - Unique blooms that draw in honeybees.
### Shrubs
31. **Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)** - Blooms in late spring and early summer, bees love the blossoms.
32. **Blackberry (Rubus spp.)** - Provides flowers in the summer leading to sweet fruit.
33. **Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)** - Late blooms that provide bees with nectar.
34. **Butterfly Bush (Buddleja)** - Attracts bees and butterflies with its fragrant blooms.
35. **Barberry (Berberis spp.)** - The flowers attract bees, and they bear fruits.
36. **Mock Orange (Philadelphus spp.)** - Produces fragrant flowers attractive to bees.
37. **Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)** - Offers early spring blooms and delicious berries.
38. **Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles)** - Early spring nectar source, continues to attract bees.
39. **Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)** - Some varieties bloom into late summer and are rich in nectar.
40. **Currant (Ribes)** - Produces flowers that attract bees in spring and summer.
### Ground Covers
41. **Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)** - Flowers in summer; great for bees and culinary uses.
42. **Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)** - Early flowering; ideal for ground cover and attracting pollinators.
43. **Ajuga (Bugleweed)** - Offers flowers in spring and summer while attracting bees.
### Vines
44. **Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)** - Attracts bees and provides cover.
45. **Passionflower (Passiflora spp.)** - Beautiful flowers that attract pollinators.
46. **Climbing Rose (Rosa spp.)** - Late bloomers provide some nectar for honeybees.
### Trees
47. **Red Maple (Acer rubrum)** - Early spring nectar sources; provides habitat.
48. **Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)** - Offers ample flower resources for bees.
49. **Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)** - Sweet-smelling flowers that attract pollinators.
### Herbs
50. **Basil (Ocimum basilicum)** - Flowering basil is also attractive to bees and beneficial for the kitchen.
This diverse selection includes a mix of flowering perennials, annuals, shrubs, and vines that will provide a continuous source of nectar and pollen from June to October. Happy planting!
### Perennials
1. **Bee Balm (Monarda spp.)** - Attracts bees with its bright flowers and has a long blooming season.
2. **Echinacea (Coneflower)** - Produces large, daisy-like blooms providing nectar.
3. **Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan)** - Easy to grow, these flowers are great for bees.
4. **Aster (New England Aster)** - Offers late-season blooms that are vital for bees.
5. **Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)** - An invaluable late summer-to-fall source of nectar.
6. **Agastache (Hyssop)** - Aromatic flowers that are a magnet for honeybees.
7. **Sedum (Stonecrop)** - Late-blooming and resistant to drought, attracts pollinators.
8. **Catmint (Nepeta)** - Extensively blooms and is fragrant, attracting various pollinators.
9. **Salvia (Sage)** - Blooms throughout summer and into fall, offering nectar.
10. **Phlox (Garden Phlox)** - Provides vibrant flowers, great for honey production.
11. **Hydrangea** - Some varieties provide nectar during the late summer months.
12. **Lavender (Lavandula)** - Blooms from early summer through fall, attracting bees.
13. **Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)** - Perfect for bees, with a long flowering period.
14. **Liatris (Blazing Star)** - Attracts bees and has stunning flowering spikes.
15. **Monarda didyma (Bee Balm)** - A heavy nectar producer thriving in late summer.
16. **Campanula (Bellflower)** - Various types bloom into late summer, perfect for bees.
17. **Fall Aster (Aster novae-angliae)** - Essential for late-fall food sources for bees.
18. **Delphinium** - While typically earlier blooming, some varieties extend late.
19. **Coreopsis (Tickseed)** - A long-blooming perennial attracting various pollinators.
20. **Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)** - A tall plant with broad flower clusters.
### Annuals
21. **Zinnia** - Offers bright colors and long-lasting blooms that attract bees.
22. **Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)** - Known for their large blooms that are irresistible to bees.
23. **Cosmos** - Produces abundant flowers that attract a variety of pollinators.
24. **Marigold** - Easy to grow; while not as productive for honey, they are colorful and bee-friendly.
25. **Nasturtium** - Edible flowers that attract bees with their vibrant colors.
26. **Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)** - Blooms late into the summer providing nectar.
27. **Calendula (Pot Marigold)** - Encourages pollinators with vibrant orange and yellow petals.
28. **Borage (Borago officinalis)** - Attracts bees and produces edible flowers.
29. **Dahlia** - With numerous varieties, they can bloom throughout the summer and into the fall.
30. **Cleome (Spider Flower)** - Unique blooms that draw in honeybees.
### Shrubs
31. **Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)** - Blooms in late spring and early summer, bees love the blossoms.
32. **Blackberry (Rubus spp.)** - Provides flowers in the summer leading to sweet fruit.
33. **Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)** - Late blooms that provide bees with nectar.
34. **Butterfly Bush (Buddleja)** - Attracts bees and butterflies with its fragrant blooms.
35. **Barberry (Berberis spp.)** - The flowers attract bees, and they bear fruits.
36. **Mock Orange (Philadelphus spp.)** - Produces fragrant flowers attractive to bees.
37. **Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.)** - Offers early spring blooms and delicious berries.
38. **Flowering Quince (Chaenomeles)** - Early spring nectar source, continues to attract bees.
39. **Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)** - Some varieties bloom into late summer and are rich in nectar.
40. **Currant (Ribes)** - Produces flowers that attract bees in spring and summer.
### Ground Covers
41. **Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)** - Flowers in summer; great for bees and culinary uses.
42. **Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata)** - Early flowering; ideal for ground cover and attracting pollinators.
43. **Ajuga (Bugleweed)** - Offers flowers in spring and summer while attracting bees.
### Vines
44. **Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)** - Attracts bees and provides cover.
45. **Passionflower (Passiflora spp.)** - Beautiful flowers that attract pollinators.
46. **Climbing Rose (Rosa spp.)** - Late bloomers provide some nectar for honeybees.
### Trees
47. **Red Maple (Acer rubrum)** - Early spring nectar sources; provides habitat.
48. **Tulip Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)** - Offers ample flower resources for bees.
49. **Honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos)** - Sweet-smelling flowers that attract pollinators.
### Herbs
50. **Basil (Ocimum basilicum)** - Flowering basil is also attractive to bees and beneficial for the kitchen.
This diverse selection includes a mix of flowering perennials, annuals, shrubs, and vines that will provide a continuous source of nectar and pollen from June to October. Happy planting!