Honey bee
Apis mellifera
Golden-brown fuzzy bee with distinctive pollen baskets on hind legs. Introduced but vital pollinator of Bay Area gardens; forms large colonies in hives or tree cavities. Essential for fruit and vegetable production.
Plants that support Honey bee
159 plants
Alpine Self-heal
Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata
perennial herb
Summer bloom period primary foraging
Arroyo Willow
Salix lasiolepis
shrub
Early spring catkins provide pollen when few other sources available
Ashy Silk-tassel
Garrya flavescens
shrub
Opportunistic pollen source when available; evergreen catkin production provides winter forage
Bald-hip Rose
Rosa gymnocarpa
shrub
Collects nectar and pollen when flowers available
Bearberry Honeysuckle
Lonicera involucrata var. ledebourii
shrub
Spring nectar forage for wild and managed colonies
Beard-Tongue
Penstemon grinnellii
perennial herb
Primary nectar source during Penstemon bloom period
Big Deervetch
Hosackia crassifolia var. crassifolia
perennial herb
Early season forage source; pollen and nectar collection
Big-leaf Maple
Acer macrophyllum
tree
Spring pollen source Apr-May; brood rearing nutrition
Bigberry Manzanita
Arctostaphylos glauca
shrub
Pollen source during flowering period; important forage plant
Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
shrub
Outstanding honey plant Apr-Jul; produces excellent surplus honey
Blow wives
Achyrachaena mollis
annual
pollen source during bloom period; early spring foraging resource
Bog Lupine
Lupinus polyphyllus
perennial herb
primary nectar and pollen source during bloom
Bottlebrush Squirreltail
Elymus elymoides var. elymoides
grass
Supplemental pollen source when flowers present
Branching Phacelia
Phacelia ramosissima
perennial herb
Spring nectar source for hive provisioning
Bristly Jewelflower
Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. glandulosus
annual
Early season nectar source when plant blooms
Brittleleaf Manzanita
Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. crustacea
shrub
Colony nutrition source during spring bloom period
Broad-leaf Cattail
Typha latifolia
grass
Pollen source when cattails flowering, secondary importance as flowering minimal
Buckbrush
Ceanothus cuneatus var. cuneatus
shrub
important pollen and nectar source during bloom
California Balsamroot
Balsamorhiza macrolepis
perennial herb
Pollen foraging during bloom period
California Bay Laurel
Umbellularia californica
tree
Primary winter nectar source during Dec-Mar flowering; sustains colony brood rearing
California Buckeye
Aesculus californica
tree
Important spring pollen and nectar source for colony buildup, May-Jun
California Buttercup
Ranunculus californicus var. californicus
perennial herb
Early season pollen source for colony buildup
California Chia
Salvia columbariae
annual
Spring nectar and pollen foraging for honey production
California Coffeeberry
Frangula californica
shrub
Spring flowering (Apr-Jun) provides important early season nectar source
California Figwort
Scrophularia californica
perennial herb
Spring-early summer (Apr-Jun); supplemental nectar and pollen source
California Flannel Bush
Fremontodendron californicum
shrub
Abundant pollen and nectar source Apr-Jun
California Hedgenettle
Stachys bullata
perennial herb
Supplementary spring forage for managed and feral colonies
California Lilac (Blue Blossom)
Ceanothus thyrsiflorus
shrub
Peak bloom Mar-Jun provides essential spring forage
California Manroot
Marah fabacea
vine
Foraging resource during spring bloom period
California Saxifrage
Micranthes californica
perennial herb
Spring forager for small delicate flowers
California skullcap
Scutellaria californica
perennial herb
early spring nectar source when available
California sunflower
Helianthus californicus
perennial herb
important pollen and nectar source for managed and feral colonies
Californica Goldenrod
Solidago californica
perennial herb
summer pollen collection for brood rearing
Chamise
Adenostoma fasciculatum
shrub
Important nectar and pollen source; evergreen flowering throughout year
Chaparral Clarkia
Clarkia affinis
annual
Spring nectar and pollen source for hive nutrition
Chaparral Currant
Ribes malvaceum
shrub
Important winter pollen and nectar source for hive stores
Chaparral Sunflower
Helianthella californica
perennial herb
foraging for nectar and pollen during blooming period
Checker Bloom
Sidalcea malviflora
perennial herb
Spring bloom provides early nectar sources for hive establishment
Cliff Maids
Lewisia cotyledon
perennial herb
Early spring foraging when cliff maids bloom in rocky habitats
Coast Larkspur
Delphinium decorum subsp. decorum
annual
Secondary forage source when abundant
Coast Live Oak
Quercus agrifolia
tree
Pollen source from catkins and understory flowers during oak bloom Feb-Apr
Coast Wallflower
Erysimum capitatum
perennial herb
Early nectar and pollen source when other resources limited
Coastal Tidy-tips
Layia platyglossa
annual
Early spring nectar and pollen source for hive establishment
Common Meadow foam
Limnanthes douglasii
annual
Early spring nectar and pollen source when meadow foam blooms
Common Pearlyeverlasting
Anaphalis margaritacea
perennial herb
Peak foraging Jul-Aug when abundant flowers present
Common Snowberry
Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus
shrub
Early spring nectar source when flowers bloom
Cotton Batting Plant
Pseudognaphalium beneolens
perennial herb
Spring foraging resource as plant produces pollen early in growing season
Coyote Brush
Baccharis pilularis
shrub
Essential fall forage Sep-Dec when few other resources available
Coyote Willow
Salix exigua var. hindsiana
tree
Early catkin pollen source in spring when few other resources available
Creeping Oregon Grape
Berberis aquifolium var. repens
shrub
Spring nectar and pollen foraging for colony nutrition
Creeping Snowberry
Symphoricarpos mollis
shrub
spring pollen source for hive provisioning
Daisy Fleabane
Erigeron philadelphicus var. philadelphicus
perennial herb
Early season pollen source when plant blooms
Deerweed
Acmispon glaber
shrub
Consistent year-round bloom provides reliable nectar flow
Deerweed*
Acmispon brachycarpus
annual
Early nectar and pollen source during annual flowering
Desert Blue Bells
Phacelia campanularia
perennial herb
Early spring nectar source during desert bloom period
Desert Monkeyflower*
Diplacus rattanii
annual
Visits flowers during active blooming season
Dotted Smartweed
Persicaria punctata
perennial herb
Summer nectar source when available
Douglas Iris
Iris douglasiana
perennial herb
Spring nectar source Mar-May during early colony build-up
Douglas' Drymocallis
Drymocallis glandulosa
perennial herb
Early season foraging and colony nutrition
Douglas's False Willow
Baccharis glutinosa
perennial herb
pollen and nectar foraging during blooming period
Eastwood's Manzanita
Arctostaphylos glandulosa subsp. glandulosa
shrub
Evergreen manzanita provides year-round pollen source in Mediterranean climate
Fairy Fans
Clarkia breweri
annual
spring bloom pollinator, pollen collection during flowering
Fendler's Meadow-rue
Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum
perennial herb
supplemental pollen during early bloom period
Flat-bud Prickly Poppy
Argemone munita
annual
Spring bloom period pollen source for honey production
Fool's-onion
Triteleia hyacinthina
geophyte
Early season nectar for honey production and colony food stores
Foothill Penstemon
Penstemon heterophyllus
perennial herb
Forages on nectar and pollen throughout bloom season
Fragrant sumac
Rhus aromatica
shrub
Floral visitor for nectar and pollen collection
Fremon's Bushmallow
Malacothamnus fremontii
shrub
pollen source during blooming period
Golden Eardrops
Ehrendorferia chrysantha
perennial herb
spring foraging for colony stores
Golden yarrow
Eriophyllum confertiflorum
shrub
Early season nectar source for colony buildup
Graceful Clarkia
Clarkia gracilis ssp. tracyi
perennial herb
Primary nectar source during peak bloom Mar-May
Grayleaf Skullcap
Scutellaria siphocampyloides
perennial herb
Early spring nectar source when flowers available
Great Valley Phacelia
Phacelia ciliata
perennial herb
early spring bloom provides forage during colony establishment
Hansen's Larkspur
Delphinium hansenii
perennial herb
Early season nectar and pollen resource for colony buildup
Harvest Brodiaea
Brodiaea elegans
geophyte
Primary nectar source May-July during bloom
Hillside Gooseberry
Ribes californicum var. californicum
shrub
Forages on flowers during blooming period; important pollinator
Hind's Black Walnut
Juglans hindsii
tree
Early spring pollen source during catkin emergence
Hollyleaf Buckthorn
Rhamnus crocea
shrub
Pollen and nectar source during bloom period
Indian Warrior
Pedicularis densiflora
perennial herb
Spring foraging for nectar and pollen when colony expands
June Centaury
Zeltnera muehlenbergii
annual
spring foraging resource for hive nutrition and brood-rearing
Lippia
Phyla nodiflora
perennial herb
Primary nectar and pollen source during Apr-Oct bloom season
Madrone
Arbutus menziesii
tree
Early spring nectar and pollen source Mar-May
Meadow Larkspur*
Delphinium patens subsp. patens
perennial herb
Early spring nectar source
Mexicali Onion
Allium peninsulare var. peninsulare
geophyte
Spring bloom period for pollen collection
Mount Diablo Manzanita
Arctostaphylos auriculata
shrub
Early spring pollen and nectar forage for hive food stores
Mountain Coyote Mint
Monardella odoratissima
perennial herb
Summer foraging for colony provisioning; important pollen source
Mt. Diablo Helianthella
Helianthella castanea
perennial herb
Nectar and pollen collection during flowering
Mt. Tamalpais Manzanita
Arctostaphylos montana ssp. montana
perennial herb
Early season pollen source
Mugwort
Artemisia douglasiana
perennial herb
Secondary pollen source; less attractive than flowering plants but utilized when available
Napa False Indigo
Amorpha californica var. napensis
perennial herb
generalist forager on available flowers
Ninebark
Physocarpus capitatus
shrub
Spring forager on ninebark flowers for nectar and pollen
Nootka Rose
Rosa nutkana
perennial herb
Spring bloom period primary forage source
Oak Gooseberry
Ribes quercetorum
shrub
Spring foraging season when flowers bloom
Oakland Mariposa Lily
Calochortus umbellatus
geophyte
Pollen collection during flowering period
Pacific Black-snakeroot
Sanicula crassicaulis
perennial herb
Early season pollen resource during spring foraging
Pacific Poison Oak
Toxicodendron diversilobum
shrub
Spring blooms provide early-season forage
Pacific stonecrop
Sedum spathulifolium
perennial herb
Spring nectar and pollen source during early foraging season
Pink Honeysuckle
Lonicera hispidula
vine
Primary honey and nectar source during Apr-Jul bloom
Point Reyes Ceanothus
Ceanothus gloriosus
shrub
Primary nectar source during flowering season; supports feral and managed colonies
Pt. Reyes Checkerbloom
Sidalcea calycosa ssp. rhizomata
perennial herb
foragers collect nectar and pollen during bloom period for hive provisioning
Puget Balsamroot
Balsamorhiza deltoidea
perennial herb
Early spring forage when native flowers emerge
Purple Black-snakeroot
Sanicula bipinnatifida
perennial herb
Early spring foraging resource
Red Alder
Alnus rubra
tree
Pollen from catkins provides early season protein source
Red elderberry
Sambucus racemosa
shrub
Spring bloom period; flowers provide early-season nectar
Red-Osier Dogwood*
Cornus sericea subsp. sericea
shrub
Early spring pollen and nectar provisioning for colony expansion
Red-Spot Clarkia
Clarkia speciosa
perennial herb
Spring forage for pollen and nectar
Red-flowering buckwheat
Eriogonum grande var. rubescens
perennial herb
Spring foraging during active colony season
Rough Hedgenettle
Stachys rigida var. quercetorum
perennial herb
Early season nectar source for hive provisioning
Royal Larkspur
Delphinium variegatum subsp. variegatum
perennial herb
Important early-season nectar source for hive development
Rubber Rabbitbrush
Ericameria nauseosa
perennial herb
Generalist forager; exploits flower resources when available
Ruby Chalice Clarkia
Clarkia rubicunda
annual
Spring nectar and pollen source for hive foragers