- Author: Christine Casey
Bee gardeners are good stewards of the environment, which includes making the most of our precious water supplies in the garden. But are you getting the most Bees Per Gallon? We've recently completed a five-year study to evaluate the bee-attractiveness of common northern California landscape plants. Funded by the USDA-NIFA-SCRI, this work was part of a US-wide project to investigate how the horticulture industry can support bees. At UC Davis, we evaluated low- and medium-water plants that do well in northern California.
While all the plants we tested were bee-attractive to varying degrees, here are the ten most-attractive plants with WUCOLS ratings of L or VL in the Central Valley region. These are the plants that will help your garden support the most bees with the least water -- the most Bees Per Gallon!
This list is not intended to be a comprehensive recommendation. There are other great low-water bee plants (here's a list on the Haven's website); the most detailed recommendation for California bee plants of all water needs is in California Bees and Blooms by Heyday Press.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium 'Moonshine' and 'Island Pink')
Full sun
WUCOLS rating for the Central Valley = L
Blooms summer and fall
Grows approximately 2ft h x 2ft w
Sunset zones 1-24
Cape balsam (Bulbine frutescens)
Full sun
WUCOLS rating for the Central Valley = L
Blooms nearly year-round
Grows approximately 2ft h x 3ft w
Sunset zones 8, 9, 12-24
Full sun
WUCOLS rating for the Central Valley = L
Blooms late winter
Grows approximately 1ft h x 4ft w
Sunset zones 5-9,14-24
Full sun
WUCOLS rating for the Central Valley = L
Blooms nearly year-round
Grows approximately 3ft h x 3ft w
Sunset zones 8, 9, 12-24
Full sun
WUCOLS rating for the Central Valley = VL
Blooms summer and fall
Grows approximately 3ft h x 3ft w
Sunset zones 7, 9, 12-24
Full sun
WUCOLS rating for the Central Valley = L
Blooms summer
Grows approximately 2ft h x 2ft w
Sunset zones 2B-24
Full sun
WUCOLS rating for the Central Valley = L
Blooms late summer
Grows approximately 4ft h x 4ft w to 8ft h x 8ft w depending on variety
Sunset zones 7-24
Full sun
WUCOLS rating for the Central Valley = L
Blooms summer and fall
Grows approximately 2ft h x 2ft w
Sunset zones 1-24
Full sun
WUCOLS rating for the Central Valley = L
Blooms summer and fall
Grows approximately 2ft h x 2ft w to 6ft h x 6ft w depending on variety
Sunset zones 2-24
Full sun
WUCOLS rating for the Central Valley = L
Blooms summer
Grows approximately 1ft h x 2ft w
Sunset zones 2-24
- Author: Christine Casey
Conserving water and helping bees are goals shared by many gardeners. Given California's current extreme to exceptional drought status, it's time to re-visit the best low water plants for bees. Haven scientists are nearing the end of a long-term project examining bee preference for commonly used landscape plants. We've focused on low-water plants for northern California, while our San Diego-based colleagues have focused on southern California plants.
One of the consistently most-preferred plants has been Russian sage, Salvia yangii, formerly Perovskia atriplicifolia (read about its reclassification here). It's been either the first, second, or third most attractive plants to honey bees, and second, third, and sixth most attractive plant to native bees over the course of our observations.
Native to central Asia, this plant copes well with hot, dry conditions as well as extreme cold. It blooms from late spring to frost, providing a season-long bee resource. Like most members of the Lamiaceae, it serves only as a nectar source. Pair it with a complimentary colored pollen-providing plant in pink or red, like the coneflowers shown here, for both garden interest and bee nutrition.
![Russian sage 'Little Spire' and calamint Russian sage 'Little Spire' and calamint](http://ucanr.edu/blogs/TheBeeGardener/blogfiles/82346.jpg)
![Russian sage flowers Russian sage flowers](http://ucanr.edu/blogs/TheBeeGardener/blogfiles/82347.jpg)
- Author: Christine Casey
California native vines
These aren't widely available, so you'll likely need to go to a specialist nursery or plant sale to find these. These are listed alphabetically by genus, and I've indicated if it's deciduous or evergreen. These will all grow through a fence or other support and don't need to be tied.
Not a bee plant, but a larval food source for the native California pipevine swallowtail butterfly. The unusual flowers are attractive to flies and appear in early spring before the leaves. Native to riparian areas in northern California and southern Oregon, it will need regular water and part shade in the garden, although it can subsist on less water but will go dormant in the summer. This plant reaches up to 15 feet and can cover a fence or grow up through a tree.
California morning glory (Calystegia purpurata ssp. purpurata). Deciduous to semi-deciduous. Sunset zones 14-24.
California honeysuckle (Lonicera hispidula). Evergreen. Sunset zones 7-9, 14-24.
This plant is used as either a vine or a groundcover. It differs from the more commonly sold non-native honeysuckles in that the pink and white flowers are more subtle and not fragrant. This spring-bloomer is attractive to many bees -- including honey bees, carpenter bees, and bumble bees -- and is also used by hummingbirds. Grow this low-water plant where the roots will be shaded but the foliage will be in sun. Looks best with a few deep waterings over the summer.
Non-native vines
These are more commonly available than the natives listed above and add additional bloom time and interest to the garden.
Purple lilac vine (Hardenbergia violacea) 'Happy Wanderer'. Evergreen. Sunset zones 8-24.
This Australian native blooms in late winter and early spring. It needs moderate water and full sun, and will need to be tied or otherwise supported as it begins to grow. Thin the stems after blooming to prevent it from becoming too tangled. The small purple flowers are attractive to honey bees.
Passion vine (Passiflora cultivars). Evergreen to semi-deciduous. Sunset zones 5-9, 12-24.
These vigorous South American natives will grow quickly to cover a fence or pergola in one season. Due to this growth habit it has become invasive in Hawaii. While the leaves can look a bit tattered by late summer, the flowers put on a spectacular show. It's the larval food source for the gulf fritillary butterfly, so it brings the colorful non-native adult butterfly to the garden. This vine will need to be tied to a sturdy structure to get it going, but once it starts it will provide fast cover. It needs regular water and full sun to light shade. There are many cultivars available with flowers in varying colors from blue to white. In addition to honey bees, we routinely see carpenter bees using this plant at the Haven.
Wisteria (Wisteria sinensis). Deciduous. Sunset zones 3-24.
Next to star jasmine, this very vigorous grower might be the most commonly used vine in the Sacramento region. Just be prepared to give it a very sturdy structure! This Chinese native needs only moderate water and full sun. We grow the cultivar 'Cooke's Purple' at the Haven, as it re-blooms (although not as spectacularly) in July. It is used by larger bees like carpenter bees and bumble bees.
This plant has become invasive in the southeastern US, where the more restrained native Wisteria frutescens is a better choice.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
To bee or not to bee?
That's a crucial question as the UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day/Month, Honey Bee Haven and the California Master Beekeeper Program scramble for funds between now and Sunday, Feb. 28.
That's when the UC Davis-authorized crowdfunding drive ends. If you'd like to donate--and they really would appreciate it!---here's how to do just that:
- Biodiversity Museum Day/Month: https://crowdfund.ucdavis.edu/project/24310
- Honey Bee Haven: http://crowdfund.ucdavis.edu/
project/24323 - Master Beekeepers: http://crowdfund.ucdavis.edu/
project/24314
As of Friday morning, only 30 donors have contributed $3,625 or 24 percent of the $15,000 goal of the UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day/Month. "The money raised will cover the cost of supplies and student interns who will help us continue science outreach both online and in-person," says Museum Biodiversity Day/Month coordinator Tabatha Yang, education and outreach coordinator for the Bohart Museum of Entomology. Last year our in-person event occurred just before the global pandemic. Together 13 biological collections welcomed 4,000 people to campus. It involved nearly 300 students, staff and faculty committed to science communication and outreach. This February it had to take place virtually with live webinar talks and pre-recorded activities throughout the month, including some content in Spanish.”
"Our goal right now is to get 100 individual donations by Saturday when the crowd fund ends," Yang said.
Those participating in the 2020 Biodiversity Museum Day/Month:
- Anthropology Museum
- Arboretum and Public Garden
- Bohart Museum of Entomology
- Botanical Conservatory
- California Raptor Center
- Center for Plant Diversity
- Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven
- Nematode Collection
- Marine Invertebrate Collection
- Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology
- Paleontology Collection
- Phaff Yeast Culture Collection
About the California Master Beekeeper Program
The program is raising funds for an online, accessible, 'Beekeeper's Apprentice' course that is educational, engaging and entertaining for all ages.
From the website: "Your donation is a legacy to help ensure the health and longevity of our honey bees. Money raised for our "Beekeepers' Apprentice" course is an investment in science-based knowledge relative to our food security and the health of our environment now and for future generations - let's educate as many people as we can about the plight of our precious honey bees. Together we can bee the change!"
As of Friday at 10:30 a.m., the donations amounted to $16,823 or 67 percent of the $25,000 goal.
About the Honey Bee Haven
From the website: "Our goal is $5000 to purchase plants, irrigation supplies, and tools for the Haven to continue our vital mission of inspiration and education about bees and the plants that support them."
As of Friday at 10:30, the donations amounted to $2345 or 46 percent of the $5000 goal.
For more information, see their websites or the Feb. 1 news story on the Department of Entomology and Nematology website.
![A honey bee foraging on manzanita in the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology's Honey Bee Haven on Bee Biology Road. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) A honey bee foraging on manzanita in the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology's Honey Bee Haven on Bee Biology Road. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/78323.jpg)
![The UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Month showcases 12 museums or collections this year, including the Bohart Museum of Entomology. This image shows butterflies from Belize, part of the Bohart collection. They are (far right) Blue Morpho, Morpho helenor montezuma; (top left), a leaf mimic, Fountainea eurypyle confusa; and a blue hairstreak, Pseudolycaena damo, according to entomologist Jeff Smiths who curates the Lepidoptera section. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) The UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Month showcases 12 museums or collections this year, including the Bohart Museum of Entomology. This image shows butterflies from Belize, part of the Bohart collection. They are (far right) Blue Morpho, Morpho helenor montezuma; (top left), a leaf mimic, Fountainea eurypyle confusa; and a blue hairstreak, Pseudolycaena damo, according to entomologist Jeff Smiths who curates the Lepidoptera section. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/78324.jpg)
![Wendy Mather, program manager of the California Master Beekeeper Program, opens a hive at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) Wendy Mather, program manager of the California Master Beekeeper Program, opens a hive at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/78325.jpg)
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Feb. 28 is the last day to donate to the current crowdfunding efforts of the UC Davis Biodiversity Museum Day/Month, Honey Bee Haven and the California Master Beekeeper Program.
- Biodiversity Museum Day/Month: https://crowdfund.ucdavis.edu/project/24310
- Honey Bee Haven: http://crowdfund.ucdavis.edu/
project/24323 - Master Beekeepers: http://crowdfund.ucdavis.edu/
project/24314
“Last year our in-person event occurred just before the global pandemic. Together 13 biological collections welcomed 4,000 people to campus. It involved nearly 300 students, staff and faculty committed to science communication and outreach. This February it had to take place virtually with live webinar talks and pre-recorded activities throughout the month, including some content in Spanish.”
"Our goal right now is to get 100 individual donations by Saturday when the crowd fund ends," Yang said.
Those participating in the 2021 Biodiversity Museum Day/Month:
- Anthropology Museum
- Arboretum and Public Garden
- Bohart Museum of Entomology
- Botanical Conservatory
- California Raptor Center
- Center for Plant Diversity
- Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven
- Nematode Collection
- Marine Invertebrate Collection
- Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology
- Paleontology Collection
- Phaff Yeast Culture Collection
- Viticulture and Enology Collection
Extension apiculturist Elina Lastro Niño of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology founded and directs the California Master Beekeeper Program. Wendy Mather serves as the program manager.
The program is raising funds for an online, accessible, 'Beekeeper's Apprentice' course that is educational, engaging and entertaining for all ages.
From the website: "Your donation is a legacy to help ensure the health and longevity of our honey bees. Money raised for our "Beekeepers' Apprentice" course is an investment in science-based knowledge relative to our food security and the health of our environment now and for future generations - let's educate as many people as we can about the plight of our precious honey bees. Together we can bee the change!"
As of Friday at 10:30 a.m., the donations amounted to $16,823 or 67 percent of the $25,000 goal.
Elina Lastro Niño serves as the director of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology's Honey Bee Haven, a half-acre garden on Bee Biology Road, next to the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility. Christine Casey manages the garden and is spearheading the crowdfunding project.
From the website: "Our goal is $5000 to purchase plants, irrigation supplies, and tools for the Haven to continue our vital mission of inspiration and education about bees and the plants that support them."
As of Friday at 10:30, the donations amounted to $2345 or 46 percent of the $5000 goal.
For more information, see their websites or the Feb. 1 news story on the Department of Entomology and Nematology website.