Post Box 98
Santa Rosa, CA 95402-0098
Post Box 98 Santa Rosa, CA 95402-0098 |
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This is a partial list of reliable garden plants useful to Sonoma County Beekeepers. The original, undated and uncredited list was found in the SCBA archives. If you are aware of other plants which are beneficial to bees (as sources of pollen or nectar), which are either California Natives, or particularly suited to the Sonoma County climate, or if you have corrections to this list as published, please contact the SCBA webmaster.
You will note that some of the scientific name of the plants are links to entries in the USDA Plants Database. As opportunity presents itself, the remaining entries will be looked up and similarly linked.
If you read Sunset publications (which pretty much defined the climate zones here in the west), you know that much of Sonoma County is in the 14 & 15 climate zones (most of the 101 corridor is 14, coastal areas are 17. We're in a moist region, rather than a dry one.
According to the USDA, which uses a much more vague system, the inland areas of Sonoma county (including 101 corridor communities) are in Climate Zone 9B (average annual minimum temperature 25-30'F).
Some plants listed here appear in the Global Invasive Species Database. Bees might like them, but perhaps you shouldn't. The California Department of Food and Agriculture publishes a Quarantine Policy for such weeds.
Bee Plants for Human and Animal Health is a list of various plants listing the common name, genus (scientific name), useful parts (as they apply to apitherapy), and expected honey crop yeild per hectare (2.471 acres).
Dr. Eric Mussen of UC Davis published a short paper titled Impact of Honey Bees on the California Environment. In there, you'll find 121 California Native plants which honey bees are known to visit.
Trees | ||
| Alnus P. | Alder | Deciduous trees yielding pollen early in year. |
| Catalpa speciosa | Catalpa | Deciduous tree yielding nectar from flower and extra floral cups May-July. |
| Cercis L. | Redbud | Deciduous tree yielding nectar from pink flowers in April-May |
| Citrus L. | Orange, Lemon | Evergreen trees and shrubs Yield nectar from white flowers througout the year |
| Cornus L. | Dogwood | Deciduous trees yield nectar in spring. CA NATIVE. |
| Crataegus L. | Hawthorn | Small Deciduous trees with white flowers in Spring. Related to apple but flower a few weeks later. Yield good nectar. |
| Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. | Loquat | Evergreen tree flowers Nov-Jan yielding excellent nectar |
| Eucalyptus L. | Eucalyptus | Evergreen trees yielding nectar and pollen E. maculata, E. sideroxylon, E. viminalis and E. leucoxylon and E globulus all excellent. |
| Eucalyptus globulus Labill. | Blue Gum Eucalyptus | Evergreen trees yielding nectar and pollen. This species is the predominant of the Eucalyptus in the San Francisco bay area. Leaves are the source of Eucalyptol. [sean: blooms in early January, and is prolific in this region, making it an early and abundant nectar source] |
| Fraxinus L. | Ash | Deciduous trees flowering Feb-Mar yield pollen and propolis |
| Gymnocladus dioicus | Kentucky Coffee Tree | Nectar in summer |
| Koelreuteria paniculata Laxm. | Goldenrain Tree | Deciduous tree, heavy nectar flow in April-may |
| Melaleuca styphelioides Sm. | Pickly-Leaf Teatree | Related to Myrtle. |
| Leptospermum laevigatum | Australian Teatree | Small evergreen trees native to Australia take drought and poor soil, yield nectar spring and summer [sean: source of "Tea Tree" oil, which is a good natural solvent]. Relative to the Myrtle. |
| Nyssa sylvatica | Blackgum Tupelo | Deciduous tree. Excellent fall colour yields nectar April-May |
| Paulownia tomentosa | Princess Tree | Deciduous tree. Sometimes called Empress Tree. Large leaves, pink-to-purple flowers in april yields nectar. The fastest growing tree in North America! |
| Robinia pseudoacacia | Locust | Deciduous tree. White or pink flowers in april-may. Short season but excellent nectar. One of the best trees. Excellent nectar. [sean: the young plants of the Black Locust are covered with vicious thorns] |
| Salix discolor | Pussy Willow | Deciduous tree or large shrub. One of the earliest flowers yielding nectar and pollen in jan-feb. |
| Triadica sebifera | Tallow Tree | Deciduous tree yielding pollen and nectar in summer. Varying opinion on honey flavor. |
| Sophora japonica | Pagoda Tree | Deciduous tree yeilds nectar from May-June blooms. |
| Sorbus acuparia | Mountain Ash | Deciduous tree yields nectar from summer bloom. Excellent fall colour. |
| Tilia cordata | Linden | Deciduous tree. nectar from May-June flowers, excellent honey but unreliable quantity some years. |
| Umbellularia californica | California Lauel (Bay) | Evergreen tree native to Sonoma County. Flowers Feb-April yielding nectar. |
| Acacia baileyana F. | Bailey Acacia / Cootamundra Wattle | Abundant wintertime yellow flowers, primarily in January and February. Major source of pollen, found all over the San Francisco bay region. Major source of allergens. |
| Albizia julibrissin Durazz. | Silktree / Mimosa | Silky stranded white-pink flowers are attractive to bees and other nectar collectors. Flowers in the fall. |
| Liriodendron tulipifera L. | Tuliptree | EACH flower produces about a teaspoon of nectar. |
Shrubs | ||
| Coreopsis maritima | Sea Dahlia | attractive to bees |
| Stachys byzantina | Wooly Hedgenettle / Lamb's Ear | Apparently well suited to sandy soil |
| Abelia grandiflora | Glossy Abelia | Evergreen or deciduous shrubs with white to pink flowers yielding nectar april-june. |
| Allium sp. | Onion, Leek | Striking white to purple flower on long stock yields nectar in summer. |
| Asparagus L. | Asparagus | Deciduous. Yields pollen and nectar in summer. |
| Callistemon sp. | Bottlebrush | Evergreen shrub flowers red in april-may, yields good nectar. |
| Ceanothus L. | California Lilac | Evergreen CA NATIVE shrub or small tree. Blue flowers in Mar-May, Excellent nectar source. Drought tolerant, deer tolerant. |
| Choisya ternata | Mexican Orange | Evergreen shrub with fragrant white flowers yielding nectar in april. |
| Cotoneaster lacteus | Milkflower | Evergreen or deciduous shrubs and groundcovers. White flowers feb-may yield nectar. |
| Cytisus racemosus | Broom | Evergreen Shrub leaves almost non-existant, drought tollerant, very fragrant yellow flowers april-july yielding pollen and nectar. |
| Escallonia sp. | (redclaws) | Evergreen shrubs with pink to white flowers in may-july yield nectar. |
| Feijoa sellowana | Guava | Evergreen shrub flowers june-july. Red flowers yield nectar and pollen. |
| Hydrangea sp. | Hydrangea | Deciduous shrubs with large flowers in summer yield pollen and nectar. |
| Ligustrum sp. | Privit | Evergreen and deciduous shrubs. White flowers in summer yield bitter honey. |
| Philadelphus coranarius | Mock Orange | Deciduous shrub. Huge display of white flowers may-june yielding nectar. |
| Rosmarinus officinalius | Rosemary | Evergreen shrub or ground cover. Blue flowers mar-july. Excellent nectar source. Drought tolerant. |
| Passiflora sp. | Passion Vine | Evergreen vine. Incredible purple, yellow, and white flower in summer. Yields nectar. |
| Pittosporum tibira | Mock Orange | Evergreen shrub small creamy flowers in april-may. Good nectar source. |
| Rubus occidentalis | Black Raspberry | |
| American Red Raspberry | Deciduous vine. White flowers may-july excellent nectar. | |
| Trachelospermen Jas. | Star Jasmine | Evergreen vine or ground cover. Profusion of white fragrant flowers may-july yielding nectar. |
| Vibernum Suspensum | Evergreen shrubs. White flowers yielding nectar Feb-Jun | |
| Wisteria sinensis | Wisteria | Deciduous vine with white-purple flowers yielding nectar in April and May |
| Vitex agnus-castus | Chaste Tree | Deciduous shrub or small tree. Extremely drought tolerant, takes poor soil. Purple-blue flowers in summer. One of the best bee plants. Yields nectar. |
| Vaccinium L. | blueberry | white blossoms in early spring. Favours acidic soil. |
| Guillenia flavescens | Yellow Mustard | mid-feb |
| Rubus ursinus | California Blackberry | |
| Symphyotrichum novi-belgii | New-York Aster | |
| Michaelmas Daisy | (aster family). Hardy. Many forms | |
| Lavandula angustifolia | English Lavender | |
| Lavandula stoechas | (French or Spanish) Lavender | |
| Eucalyptus sideroxylon | Red Iron Bark | (see SCBA newsletter Feb '84) |
| Camellia | Camellia | |
| Gardenia | Gardenia | |
| Acacia P. | Wattle | Nectar. However, this is an invasive species. |
| Nerium oldeander L. | oleander | (also possible mouse repellent?). does well in our climate. |
| Arbutus unedo L. | Strawberry tree | |
| Hylotelephium telephium | Witch's Moneybags | aka Autumn Joy |
Weeds | ||
| Onopordum acanthium | Scotch Thistle | light purple blooms in summer. thorny plants to 6 feet. **INVASIVE** |
| Centaurea solstitialis | Yellow Star Thistle | (see SCBA newsletter Jul '83) **INVASIVE**. Prized honey. |
| Nicotiana x sanderae | Tobacco Plant: Fragrant Cloud | |
| Humulus lupulus L. | Common Hops | [sean: for beermaking] Grows to 30' on trellises. Interestingly, it is in the same family that includes Cannabis. |
Climbers | ||
| Hardenbergia violacea | False Sarsaparilla | |
| Kennedia coccinea | Coral Peas | |
| Antigonon leptopus | Coral Vine | Bright Pink flowers. Deer resistant. |
| Clematis aristata | Old Man's Beard, Traveller's Joy | Masses of white flowers. |
Groundcover | ||
| Fragaria crinita | Pacific Strawberry | |
| Fragaria vesca | California Strawberry | Groundcover. White flowers mar-july, excellent nectar, but said to be intermittent. |
| Mesembryanthemum L. | Ice Plant | Orange and purple flowers in spring. Evergreen ground cover. Yield nectar. |
| Correa Andrews | Australian fuschia | Also sometimes Correa pulchella. Tubular flowers are rich nectar source |
| Trifolium repens L. | White Clover | each flower produces enough nectar to cover 1/20 of a pinhead |
| Borago L. | Borage | |
Wind-pollinated plants which bees will visit just to collect pollen | ||
| Salix L. | Willow | |
| Quercus L. | Oak | |
| Celtis L. | Hackberry | |
| Poa L. | (various species of Grass) | |
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