California digger bee
Anthophora californica
Large fuzzy bee with reddish-brown body hair and iridescent wings. Solitary ground-nester, males perch on low plants awaiting females. Powerful pollinator for native wildflowers and early-spring fruits.
Plants that support California digger bee
14 plants
Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
shrub
Spring specialist; uses pollen for larval provisions Apr-May
California Chia
Salvia columbariae
annual
Spring and early summer nectar source during active foraging
Chaparral Currant
Ribes malvaceum
shrub
Nesting and pollen provisioning during fall bloom period
Coast Larkspur
Delphinium hesperium subsp. hesperium
perennial herb
Spring foraging for pollen and nectar to provision nests
Desert Blue Bells
Phacelia campanularia
perennial herb
Specialist pollen forager during Phacelia bloom
Pacific Pea
Lathyrus vestitus var. vestitus
vine
Adult specialist bee forages on legume pollen
Red ribbons
Clarkia concinna
annual
Native bee pollinator utilizing floral resources
Showy Penstemon
Penstemon spectabilis
perennial herb
Spring nesting and pollen provisioning for larvae
Silver bush lupine
Lupinus albifrons
shrub
Spring pollen and nectar provisioning
Southern honeysuckle
Lonicera subspicata
shrub
Early spring nectar source for emerging solitary bees
Western Redbud
Cercis occidentalis
tree
Spring blooms coincide with nesting season March-May
Yerba Santa
Eriodictyon californicum
shrub
Spring-blooming specialist; primary pollen source for nesting females