Native Plants for Bees in Washington

The native flowers that feed honey bees, bumblebees, and the hundreds of solitary native bees most gardeners never notice. Every species here is genuinely native to Washington and the wider flora of the Pacific Northwest and hardy through zones 4–8 — proven performers for Washington's wet maritime west, dry east climate across Puget lowland, Cascades & Columbia Plateau, not a generic list. Local standouts include Western Columbine and California Lilac. Most of our native bees are solitary and unfussy, but they depend on a steady supply of pollen-rich, single (not double) flowers. Open daisy and umbel shapes are easiest for short-tongued bees, while tubular flowers reward the long-tongued bumblebees. Skip pesticides entirely and leave some bare, undisturbed ground and pithy stems where ground- and stem-nesting bees raise their young.

16 native species for Washington

Each one native to your region and hardy in zones 4–8 · see this collection in other states.