10 Pollen Plants for Native Bees You Need to Know!

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The native pollen specialist bees, bees that require the pollen of specific groups of plants, are not often thought about when designing pollinator gardens. These bees are diverse, and their pollen needs vary greatly, but there are certain groups of plants that support the most species of these interesting native bees. By incorporating these plants into your pollinator garden, you can help these specialist bees and at the same time, other pollinators. Many of the plants these specialist bees require for pollen are also incredible caterpillar host plants with some hosting up to 100 species of caterpillars.
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Chapters:
0:00 What are Pollen Specialist Native Bees and What Do They Require?
0:43 Genus Cirsium the Thistles Pollen Specialist Bees Supported and Caterpillars Hosted, Wildlife and Bird Use
1:25 Genus Bidens the Beggarticks Pollen Specialist Bees Supported and Caterpillars Hosted, Wildlife and Bird Use
2:03 Genus Verbesina the Wingstems Pollen Specialist Bees Supported and Caterpillars Hosted, Wildlife and Bird Use
2:47 Genus Chrysopsis the Goldenasters Pollen Specialist Bees Supported and Caterpillars Hosted, Wildlife and Bird Use
3:23 Genus Coreopsis the Tickseeds Pollen Specialist Bees Supported and Caterpillars Hosted, Wildlife and Bird Use
3:58 The Pollen Specialist Ground Nesting Mining Bees and Their Nesting Requirements
4:30 Genus Heterotheca the Camphorweeds Pollen Specialist Bees Supported and Caterpillars Hosted, Wildlife and Bird Use
5:02 Genus Rudbeckia the Susans Pollen Specialist Bees Supported and Caterpillars Hosted, Wildlife and Bird Use
6:06 Genus Grindelia the Gumweeds Pollen Specialist Bees Supported and Caterpillars Hosted, Wildlife and Bird Use and a Warning About the Gumweeds
6:54 Genus Symphyotrichum the Fall Asters Pollen Specialist Bees Supported and Caterpillars Hosted, Wildlife and Bird Use
7:45 Doug Tallamy Bringing Nature Home Must Read Book
8:09 Genus Solidago the Goldenrods Pollen Specialist Bees Supported and Caterpillars Hosted, Wildlife and Bird Use
9:15 Backyard Ecology Resources and Products
9:45 Genus Helianthus the Sunflowers Pollen Specialist Bees Supported and Caterpillars Hosted, Wildlife and Bird Use
10:32 Tying It all Together for a Complete Pollinator Garden

[@BackyardEcology]

👉👉👉👉 Links to the book Bringing Nature Home by Doug Tallamy: Print: amzn.to/3uKUZDL Kindle: amzn.to/46LJgBQ Listen to it FREE with an Audible trial: amzn.to/3O9ZgpT 👈👈👈👈 🐝🐝🐝🐝 Link to Backyard Ecology blog about mining bees: www.backyardecology.net/provide-habitat-for-ground-nesting-bees/ 🐝🐝🐝🐝 🌻🌻🌻🌻 Link to video that discusses some of the susans: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nICUpJt_ir6natE 🌻🌻🌻🌻 🌸🌸🌸🌸 Link to video about the fall asters: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bni4k514nNCkl7c 🌸🌸🌸🌸 🌾🌾🌾🌾 Link to video about the goldenrods: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKTUZqx8qKaIY7s 🌾🌾🌾🌾 🌳🌳🌳🌳 Learn about the best host plant trees and shrubs in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJ2liaOkZbufga8 🌳🌳🌳🌳 This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.

[@TheOldMayfieldPlace]

I love sunflowers and plant them in my garden every year. During the summer I see bees all over them and in the fall I leave the flower heads for the birds to eat the seeds. Sunflowers are also the state flower of my home state so I will never be without sunflowers in my garden.

[@BackyardEcology]

They are wonderful flowers!

[@Jean-ey6pm]

Another intelligent, fact filled video with beautiful pictures. Thank you for your high standards, each video a learning experience.

[@BackyardEcology]

Thank you! I am happy you are enjoying the videos.

[@salviabuckwheats7434]

Excellent video, thank you. I like the pictures of the wildlife, and in particular thank you for showing and discussing benefits of the seeds also. The presentation is clear, moves along, and has of course great pics of the blooms. You have a professional delivery that is too often lacking out there in videos on native plants and backyard ecology, and above all, thank you for the latin names!!

[@BackyardEcology]

Thank you! I am glad you liked the video and found it educational.

[@alliehamilton-calhoun162]

You are simply amazing. Every time I have a mental 'a ha!' moment regarding my yard and search the good old internet for answers to my question, one of your videos appears. Not kidding.... every time. I wish people weren't so apathetic and had their life priorities in order, you should have a million subscribers. Thank you!

[@BackyardEcology]

Thank you! Glad you are finding the content helpful!

[@GoldenLife-uq2ms]

AGREED!

[@karenholt9744]

I can attest to the goldenrod and fall asters. I have some wild places in my yard and the front walkway became one this year as I let it go until I could design it. The fall asters and goldenrod appeared side by side and bloomed consecutively. A friend of mine wouldn't use the walkway because of the bees. 😂 Well, I won't keep the plants there, but I was impressed enough to make sure I leave more wild areas in my yard. BTW, I was also surprised how many bees are on the American holly flowers. Those flowers have a wonderful scent, too. Thanks for the list!

[@BackyardEcology]

Pollinators love holly flowers! We have several fields with tons of goldenrod and fall asters and when they are blooming you can here the pollinators buzzing on them.

[@dankeener3307]

A couple favorites in our front yard are Ironweed which support the small Ironweed Bumblebee and Evening Primrose supporting the pink Evening Primrose moth. These along with Sunflowers, Clustered Mountain mint, goldenrod and asters keep our garden buzzing with activity. Enjoyed the video!

[@BackyardEcology]

Sounds like a great garden! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@piaonomata9220]

The gorgeous little Augochlora bees LOVE our Wingstem, and the blooms persist pretty late in our yard (VA), which is a plus. Bumblebees love it too. We always look forward to our goldenrod blooming and getting covered with lots of different wasp species and ambush bugs! The plant group I was surprised not to see on the list was mountain mints. Both our narrow-leafed and blunt-toothed mountain mints get mobbed by bees and flies of all sizes, up to and including huge carpenter bees. The Blunt-toothed seems to have a much more extended flowering period, but they're both very popular.

[@BackyardEcology]

Mountain mints are loved by a wide range of pollinators but they didn't make this list because this list was specifically doing a top ten of plants that support pollen specialist bees. Mountain mint is definitely a pollinator garden must have though!

[@dshepherd107]

I’m up in the northeastern part of the country, north of Albany, NY. I dug out a couple old ugly evergreen shrubs, & planted one Golden Standard Coreopsis tripteris 4 years ago. It has densely filled in the whole area of my 4’x10’ side garden, and is about 6’ tall now. I get all kinds of butterflies & bees now, & the smaller birds like it too, especially in winter & early spring, as I leave the brown stalks up for them to have a place to seek shelter. Now, new greenery is coming up, so I’ll break all the dead stalks off. I have a small yard, and decided on this, bc all my neighbors seemed to have earlier flowering plants. I thought I’d get one that flowers later and longer, to help the pollinators and birds when there’s less available. It’s pretty too. Ends up looking like a tall shrub, although it isn’t. No maintenance either really. Loves the sun. Mine is south facing

[@BackyardEcology]

Awesome! It is a super cool native plant. I really need to do a Coreopsis video.

[@dshepherd107]

@@BackyardEcology 🙂 Recently discovered your channel and subscribed. Great stuff!

[@BackyardEcology]

@@dshepherd107 Thanks for the sub!

[@tylerk.7947]

I’ve watched a lot, and I must say I think you are the best KZbin creator that focuses on eastern native plants. Top notch content and quality. Thanks. I will be buying a shirt =]

[@BackyardEcology]

Thank you so much!

[@elainelight9286]

Deeper dive, please. Thanks, Anthony!

[@Calvin.The.Unfindable]

another great video... sorry not said "hi" for a while. hope you are well. happy new year! 😃

[@BackyardEcology]

Thank you! Happy New Year! Things are well here, hope the same for you.

[@jcescolastico5299]

I love this content. Never know there is a lot beautiful flowers in America. So nice to see them and the amazing pollinators!! Love Bees my favorite insects

[@BackyardEcology]

Thanks!

[@marjorie_rosebud4170]

This was so helpful and informative! I'll be seeking out some of these native plants for my garden.

[@BackyardEcology]

Awesome! Glad you found the video helpful!

[@marjorie_rosebud4170]

I find it so interesting that every single plant on this list was a member of Asteraceae!

[@BackyardEcology]

@@marjorie_rosebud4170 The Asteraceae is a giant family so it isn't a huge surprise, but still cool. I may do a video on the best non-Asteraceae flowers for pollen specialist.

[@eklectiktoni]

I kept waiting for goldenrods to show up (I forgot it was a top ten, least to most type list 😅). I'm planning my future pollinator garden now. I've settled on Solidago odora as my goldenrod of choice because it's not too tall or weedy and reputedly smells good. 😊 EDIT: I didn't know about Chrysopsis though. I've added them to the short list.

[@BackyardEcology]

Sweet goldenrod is a great choice for the garden as it doesn't get huge and doesn't spread fast.

[@brittanymcdonaldbarr1106]

Thank you for this!

[@BackyardEcology]

You're welcome! Glad you liked it!

[@salviabuckwheats7434]

QUESTION PLEASE, if you can answer it - how long should I keep all those asters and goldenrods standing over the winter - when are the seeds done and caterpillars or others no longer needing it? It's looking really ratty now in January but wildlife is more important than looks so I don't care if it is being useful - in fact I'll probably get back to thinking it is lovely if that is the case. Thanks for all you do for all us Earthlings!

[@PowderhornWild]

Personally I find my yard to be much more beautiful in winter with the dead goldenrods and asters than if I had cut them back. I don't find them ratty at all.

[@BackyardEcology]

I tend to leave them up all winter and then cut them back to varying heights so the little stem nesting bees can nest in them. If you need to cut them earlier you can, just set the stalks off to the side somewhere as there are likely insects over wintering in them.

[@souljahaden6184]

I love this channel do you know of any channel similar to yours but for the western half part of the U.S. specifically Colorado

[@BackyardEcology]

Thank you! I don't know of anyone doing anything similar in the western US. I get this question quite a bit.

[@questforbalance]

Ty

[@BackyardEcology]

You are welcome!

[@nascenticity]

i have what i’m almost certain is bidens bipinnata growing all over my garden. i have considered it an annoying weed because of the stickers; but now i’m gonna pay attention to the flowers and see if any pollinators like them. i couldn’t find any conclusive information about whether they’re native or not, but if i have to have them (i can’t seem to get rid of them) they may as well be useful.

[@BackyardEcology]

Bidens bipinnata, Spanish needles, is native to much of the eastern US. The seeds are kind of a pain but the blooms are used by pollinators, the seeds eaten by birds, and if growing in an old field type setting deer will browse the foliage.

[@jeromegagnon8335]

Hi there, thanks for your video. Do you happen to know the asters that bloom the latest. Would love to have asters that bloom into November and maybe even December. Thanks so much

[@BackyardEcology]

Wavy leaf aster (Symphyotrichum undulatum) and aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) both bloom in October and wavy leaf often blooms up until around Thanksgiving. I am planning a video about the later blooming asters so watch for it in the future!

[@jeromegagnon8335]

@@BackyardEcology thanks so much ☺️

[@jeromegagnon8335]

@@BackyardEcology symphiotrichum oblongfolium is a beauty!

[@BackyardEcology]

@@jeromegagnon8335 It is a great aster!

[@kimesch9698]

Where can these be sourced?

[@BackyardEcology]

Most can be found at native plant nurseries. The best way to find sources of native plants local to you is to contact your state's native plant society. They usually have a list of native plant nurseries that are located in the state.

[@PowderhornWild]

Interesting that every single one is in asteraceae...

[@BackyardEcology]

The asteraceae has the most species in North America north of Mexico so it makes sense.