Attract and Nourish Bees with Nectar Producing Plants
We often think of bees only in the context of honey and fruit production. But the truth is that our natural and agricultural systems are dependent on insect pollinators. Unfortunately, the numbers of both native and domesticated honey bee populations are declining. They are threatened by habitat loss, disease, and inappropriate use of pesticides. But here is the good news: your property can be a sanctuary. The very act of gardening can provide diverse nectar sources and habitats to keep bee populations stable and knowing which are the best bee-friendly plants for Austin is a good place to start.
Choose Plants that Attract Bees
Fall Aster – Symphyotrichum oblongifolium
Bees love native wildflowers, flowering herbs, berries, flowering fruits and vegetables – and weeds!
The Travis County Master Gardeners have compiled this list of plants that you can consider incorporating into your garden. Most of these are suitable for our Austin area soils but have varying water requirements. Do your research to make sure the plant is appropriate for your site.
Common Name |
Scientific Name |
Category |
Blooming Season |
| Abelia | Abelia x grandiflora | Shrub | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Agarita | Mahonia trifoliolata | Shrub | Feb. ‐ April |
| Anise Hyssop | Agastache foeniculum | Herb | June ‐ Sept. |
| Arugula (flowers) | Brassica eruca | Vegetable | Spring |
| Aster | Symphyotrichum sp. | Flowering plant | Aug. ‐ Oct. |
| Autumn Sage | Salvia greggii | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Baby Blue Eyes | Nemophila menziesii | Flowering plant | Early Spring |
| Basil ‘African Blue’ | Ocimum basilicum | Herb | Late Summer |
| Bee Balm (Horsemint, Bergamot) |
Monarda | Shrub | Spring ‐ Summer |
| Bee Bush | Aloysia gratissima | Shrub | Spring ‐ Summer |
| Black Willow | Salix nigra | Tree | Spring |
| Black‐eyed Susan | Rudbeckia hirta | Flowering plant | June ‐ Aug. |
| Blackfoot Daisy | Melampodium leucanthum | Flowering plant | Early Spring |
| Blue Beard Spirea | Caryopteris | Flowering plant | Summer ‐ Fall |
| Blue Curls | Phacelia congesta | Flowering plant | Spring |
| Bluebonnet | Lupinus texensis | Flowering plant | Spring |
| Blue Mistflower | Conoclinium coelestinum | Flowering plant | Summer ‐ Fall |
| Borage | Borage officinalis | Herb | Summer |
| Bottlebrush | Callistemon rigidus | Shrub | Spring |
| Bulbine | Bulbine frutescens | Flowering plant | Spring |
| Butterfly Bush | Budddelia davidii | Shrub | Spring |
| Catnip | Nepeta cateria | Herb | Summer |
| Cherry Laurel | Prunus caroliniana | Shrub | Spring |
| Clover, All | Trifolium | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Summer |
| Columbine (Golden) | Aquilegia chrysantha | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Summer |
| Coreopsis | Coreopsis lanceolata | Flowering plant | Summer ‐ Fall |
| Cosmos | Cosmos bipinnatus | Flowering plant | Summer ‐ Fall |
| Crape Myrtle | Lagerstroemia indica | Shrub or Tree | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Crossvine. Tangerine | Bignonia caprelota | Vine | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Dandelion | Taraxacum officinale | Herb or Weed | Spring |
| Desert Willow | Chilopsis linearis | Tree | Summer ‐ Fall |
| Engleman’s Sage | Engelmannii salvia | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Summer |
| Erect Dayflower | Commelina erecta | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Esperanza | Tecoma stans | Shrub | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Eve’s Necklace | Sophora affinis | Tree | Spring |
| False Foxglove | Agalinis heterophylla | Flowering plant | Summer |
| False Indigo | Baptista australis | Flowering plant | Summer |
| Flax, Berlandier’s Yellow | Linum berlandieri | Shrub | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Evening Primrose | Oenothera macrocarpa | Flowering plant | Spring |
| Fruit Trees | Any Adapted Trees | Tree | Spring |
| Global Mallow | Sphaeralcea angustifolia | Flowering plant | Summer |
| Golden Groundsel | Packera obovata | Flowering plant | Spring |
| Goldenrod | Solidago sp. | Flowering plant | Summer |
| Grapevines | Any adapted variety | Vine | Spring ‐ Summer |
| Gregg’s Dalea | Dalea greggli | Flowering plant | Spring |
| Gregg’s Mistflower | Conocilinum greggi | Flowering plant | Spring |
| Gulf Coast Pentsamon | Pentstamon tenuis | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Summer |
| Hairy Vetch | Vicia villosa | Flowering plant | Summer |
| Henbit | Lamium amplexicaule | Weed | Spring |
| Hawthorn, Little Pinkie | Rhaphiolepis indica | Shrub | Spring |
| Hibiscus | Hibiscus | Shrub | Summer ‐ Fall |
| Honey Mesquite | Prosopis glandulosa | Tree | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Huisache Daisy | Amblyolepis setigera | Flowering plant | Spring |
| Indigo Spires Salvia | Salvia longispicata x Salvia farinacea ‘Indigo Spires’ | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Indian Blanket | Gaillardia pulchella | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Summer |
| Kidneywood | Eysenhardtia texana | Shrub | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Lantana, Texas | Lantana sp. | Shrub | Summer ‐ Fall |
| Large Buttercup | Ranunculus macranthus | Flowering plant | Spring |
| Larkspur | Delphenium sp. | Flowering plant | Spring |
| Lyre Leaf Sage | Salvia lyrata | Flowering plant | Spring |
| Mealy Blue Sage | Salvia farinacea | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Mesquite | Prosopis sp. | Tree | Spring |
| Mexican Buckeye | Ungnadia speciosa | Shrub or Tree | Spring |
| Mexican Hat | Ratibida columnifera | Flowering plant | Spring |
| Mexican Honeysuckle | Justica spicigera | Shrub | Year‐round |
| Mexican Plums | Prunus mexicana | Tree | Spring |
| Milkweed | Asclepias sp. | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Summer |
| Mint | Lamiaceae sp. | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Summer |
| Monarch Vine, Climbing Hemp Vine |
Mikania scandens | Vine | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Morning Glory | Convolvulaceae sp. | Vine | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Mountain Laurel | Sophora secundiflora | Shrub or Tree | Spring |
| Mustard | Brassica rapa | Herb | Summer |
| Orchid Tree, Anacacho Orchid | Bauhinia lunarioides | Tree | Spring |
| Oregano | Origanum vulgare | Herb | Summer |
| Partridge Pea | Chamaecrista fasciculata | Flowering plant | Summer ‐ Fall |
| Pepper Grass | Lepidium virginicum | Weed | Summer |
| Persimmon, Texas | Diospyros texana | Tree | Summer |
| Pink Evening Primrose | Oenothera speciosa | Flowering plant | Spring |
| Pistachio Tree | Pistacia mexicana | Shrub or Tree | Spring |
| Prairie Penstemon | Penstemon cobaea | Flowering plant | Summer |
| Prairie Verbena | Glandularia bipinnatifida | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Prickly Pear | Opuntia | Flowering plant | Spring |
| Purple Coneflower | Echinacea purpurea | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Purple Heart | Tradescantia pallida | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Purple Sage | Leucophyllum frutescens | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Pyracantha | Pyracantha coccinea | Shrub | Spring |
| Retama | Parkinsonia aculeata | Tree | Spring ‐ Summer |
| Redbud Tree | Cercis canadensis var. texensis | Tree | Spring |
| Rock Rose | Pavonia lasiopetala | Shrub | Spring ‐Summer |
| Rosemary | Salvia rosmarinus | Shrub | Spring |
| Shrimp Plant | Justicia brandgeeana | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Sky‐Blue Aster | Symphyotrichum oolentangiense | Flowering plant | Summer ‐ Fall |
| Spiderwort | Tradescantia sp. | Flowering plant | Summer ‐ Fall |
| Sumac, Evergreen | Rhus virens | Shrub | Summer ‐ Fall |
| Sumac, Flame Red | Rhus copallinum | Tree | Summer ‐ Fall |
| Sunflower | Helianthus sp. | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Tahoka Daisy, Prairie Aster | Machaeranthera tanacetifolia | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Texas Barberry | Mahonia swaseyi | Shrub | Winter ‐ Spring |
| Texas Betony | Stachys coccinea | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Thistles | Cirsium | Weed | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Wild Onion | Allium canadense | Herb | Summer |
| Wild Plum | Prunus americana | Shrub or Tree | Spring |
| Winecup | Callirhoe digitata | Flowering plant | Spring |
| Wisteria | Wisteria frutescens | Vine | Spring ‐ Summer |
| Yarrow, Common | Achiliea | Flowering plant | Spring ‐ Fall |
| Yellow Bells (Esperanza) | Tecoma stans | Shrub | Spring ‐ Fall |
Additional Resources for Pollinators and Plants
Creating an Insect & Pollinator Friendly Garden
Selecting Plants for Pollinators
Building and Managing Bee Hotels for Wild Bees
Orchard Mason Bees
Bees of Central Texas General Guide
City of Austin Beekeeping Regulations
Annual and Perennial Flowers for Austin
