Honey Plants

North Carolina Honey  Plants

Coastal Plain

Landscape Planting for Bees

Prepared by:
S. Bambara, Extension Specialist

Increased urbanization of our rural areas has destroyed native forage vegetation in many places. In addition, many of our hobby beekeepers living in the suburbs enjoy watching bees work the flowers. With this in mind and because honey bees are so important for pollinating agricultural, horticultural, and wild plants, there is at least one small thing we can do to support our state insect.

Most houses and yards are landscaped, so by merely making certain choices, nectar or pollen producing plants can be used with little or no additional cost. Though they have only a tiny effect on a single hive, every little bit contributes and the more people use these plants, the more significant will be the total benefit. Below are listed some plant material which can be used around homes, parks or city streets. All are highly attractive to bees except where noted. Attractiveness may vary in different regions. Most of the berry and seed bearing plants also produce good forage for birds.

This list is not complete and all plants may not thrive in all parts of the state. Consult any reference on landscape plants or your Cooperative Extension agent for further information about how to use some of these. You may also want to visit local gardens or plantings for ideas.

Ground Covers

• Ladino clover - blooms late spring-summer
• Crimson clover - blooms late spring
• Ajuga - blooms spring
• Graph Hyacinth - blooms spring
• Strawberry - blooms spring
• Ampelopsis brevipedunculosa - blooms late spring

Shrubs

• Barberry (Berberissp.) - blooms spring: evergreen*
• Vitex - blooms most of summer: deciduous
• Privet (Ligustrum) - blooms late spring: may produce bitter nectar
• Abelia - blooms summer/fall; evergreen; mildly attractive
• Quince (Chaenomeles) - blooms spring
• Blueberry (Vaccinium) - blooms spring
• Silverberry (Eleagnus) - blooms late spring; deciduous; fragrant*
• Nandina - blooms summer; mildly attractive
• Pieris (Pieris japonica - blooms spring; evergreen
• Holly (Ilex) especially I. burfordi, I. cornuta, I. rotunda; blooms spring; almost all species excellent nectar source; may require pruning*
• Euonymous - blooms summer; variable attractiveness among species
• Silverling (Baccharis halimifolia) - blooms fall; native aster shrub in coastal plain and piedmont
• Pepperbush (Clethra alnifolia) - blooms late spring; native coastal plain shrub, survives piedmont; evergreen*

Small Trees

• Red Bud (Cercis) - blooms early spring; native or cultivated varieties
• Apple, Crabapple (Malus) - blooms early spring; usually requires pruning*
• Pussy Willow (Salix) - blooms early spring; most Salix spp. good
• Golden Rain Tree (Koelreuteria paniculata)_ - blooms summer
• Sourwood (Oxydendron arboreum) - blooms midsummer; irregular nectar production
• Sumac (Rhus) - blooms summer/fall; shrub or small tree; deciduous*
• Holly (Ilex) - blooms spring; many species achieve tree status if unpruned*
• Beebee Tree (Evodia danielli) - blooms late summer
• Hercules Club (Aralia spinossa) - blooms late summer

Large Trees

Maple (Acer spp.), especially A. rubrum, A. ginnala - blooms early spring; good nectar production

• Linden , Basswood (Tilia - blooms in spring; excellent nectar production
• Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) - blooms spring; inconsistent nectar production
• Tulip, Yellow Poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) - blooms spring; fast growing; excellent nectar production
• Black Gum, Tupelo (Nyssa) - blooms spring; Tupelo requires moist soil
• Persimmon (Diospyros) - blooms late spring

*Also provides food/cover for birds.

Plant Average bloom date (duration)