What Plants Are Honey Bees Attracted To?

Color

• Honeybees prefer plants with brightly colored flowers. Blue and yellow are generally favored by these insects, but they visit other flowers if the nectar or pollen source is worthwhile. Plants with yellow flowers that honeybees visit include goldenrod, blanket flower, black-eyed Susans and sunflowers. Honeybees also favor the blue flowers of caryopteris, cosmos, giant hyssop and aster species.

Pattern

• Some flowers display lines or targets, known as nectar guides, which direct the bee to the pollen source. These lines are often not visible to the human eye unless seen under ultraviolet light. Flowers with nectar guides only visible to insects include foxglove and geraniums. Targets visible to both the human and insect eye include black-eyed Susans and sunflowers. The dark spot in the center of these flowers indicates the pollen source.

Scent

• A sweet-smelling flower draws in honeybees searching for sugary nectar. Particularly attractive to honeybees are the flowers of the lavender, lilac, jasmine and sweet pea plants. Fruit tree flowers, such as apple, cherry and plum, entice honeybees to visit.

Nectar and Pollen

• Plants produce nectar to attract insects for pollination, the transfer of pollen from the male to the female flower parts. Honeybees feed on nectar and pollen. They also collect both substances for feeding their brood and to manufacturer honey. The bees survive on honey at times when food is scarce, especially during winter. Plants provide a food source for honeybees, and the bees pay for their food with pollination.