In late March honeybees are getting actively gathering pollen from many trees and other foliages. Soon, pollen will fill the air and it will be a welcome sight for bees and their beekeepers. There is a wide array of common plants which support honeybees, from annual flowers to popular perennials, fruits, garden vegetables, shrubs and even trees.
Below is a partial list of tried-and-true bee attractors for our Western North Carolina mountain counties. Help beekeepers by planting some of these “bee-friendly” foliages to keep the honeybee pollinating and producing.
NC Natural - view the approximate bloom times for the mountain area.
NCSBA - see bloom schedule for North Carolina mountain plants and trees.
* Perennial -any plant that flowers for 2-3 years; any long-lived plant from the smallest flower to the largest tree that returns year after year, growing in size and stature until it reaches its full maturity. Most perennial plants can be divided in sections to produce new plants, or they can be grown from seeds and cuttings.
* Annual -any plant that only flowers for 1-year; from the seed to blooms, and back to seed. Removing the flowers as they fade prolongs the blooming cycle, but if the pod is left to produce seeds, then many annuals will readily reseed themselves.
* Beinerial -any plant that flowers for 2-years.
Bee Garden References
Here are some sites which can help you choose the best plants and flowers for your area.
