Bees – especially honeybees – find flowers by their color, not their smell, notes David Salman. He is founder of High Country Gardens, a gardening supply company. In general, annual herbs are more important for butterflies, especially swallowtails, Salman said. Honeybees, for some reason, are also attracted to tiny flowers of which many herbs have in abundance. Many floweringherbs fall into these categories for attracting bees. So, what are some herbs that attract bees? Herb gardens are an excellent resource forbees because they flower over a long period of time, and herbs grow fairly large and produce lots of flowers. The perennials and herbs listed below can be purchased from nurseries and garden centers in the North Central United States. Most people can accommodate at least a few of these flowers to attract bees and butterflies into their gardens, even if only in pots dotted around the yard. At the bottom of this page you'll also find links to further lists of plants forbees, shrubs, herbs, and more. Best Plants forBees and Other Pollinators. Flowers usually come to mind when we think about food forbees. However, flowering trees are the biggest food source for pollinators. Comfrey is an unusual herb to add to your bee garden but can be very useful to make into a salve used to treat cuts and scrapes. The purple bell-shaped flowers are a treat forbees who savour its sweet nectar. It blooms during late spring and early summer. No products found. Floweringherbs might also repel insect pests, deer, and rabbits in the garden. Try oregano, lavender, thyme, chamomile, basil, mint, marjoram, and dill if you enjoy kitchen herbs. Bees and bumblebees fairly buzz about catmint and bee balm. These pretty bee-friendly herbs are recognized by the big star flower it produces. But we love it because it may help regulate our hormones. The seeds in the flower contains an oil rich in Omega Fatty Acids, which we know are very healthy fats. When the bees start flying I can’t wait to get out there and dig in the hives and the dirt. There’s a huge variety of herbs that are not just great for cooking and medicinal purposes, they’re great for the bees. Planting herbs that attract honey bees is something that anyone can do. When creating a bee friendly herb garden, select sun-loving floweringherbsforbees. Luckily, there are quite a few herbs that attract bees to choose from. Perennials will give you more value, but you can also include some annuals like sweet basil or cilantro. Herbs are very beneficial for honey bees in the homestead apiary! Learn which flowering and medicinal herbsforbees you should grow in your garden. The buzzing of pollinators in a garden—it’s a sound every gardener loves to hear in the spring. Bee balm herb in bloom . Another summer blooming perennial, Monarda blooms from mid-summer until Fall. This herb grows in clumps with showy flower heads. Easy to grow, they can have problems with Powdery Mildew so good air circulation is important. Bedding flowers are commonly found in garden centres up and down the country. They’re often planted to add colour to gardens and attract a host of the UK’s pollinating insects. Bedding flowers are often seasonal and can be bought as seeds, seedlings or fully-grown specimens. Discover the power of natural bee repellents with these herbs to keep bees away. Whether you're looking forbee balm, lemon balm or anise hyssop, these plants are more than just beautiful additions to your garden – they also serve as effective ways to repel bees and other unwanted pests.