California bumblebee
Bombus californicus
Large bumblebee with golden-yellow body and black tail. Favors open sunny habitats and native wildflower areas. Efficient buzz-pollinator for manzanita, sage, and other native shrubs.
Plants that support California bumblebee
41 plants
Bearberry Honeysuckle
Lonicera involucrata var. ledebourii
shrub
Spring-early summer nectar resource for California populations
Bisbee Peak Rush-rose
Crocanthemum scoparium var. scoparium
perennial herb
Early spring forager during colony establishment and worker emergence
Black Sage
Salvia mellifera
shrub
Apr-Jul bloom period; spring/summer foraging for colony provisioning
Bleeding-heart
Dicentra formosa
perennial herb
Spring pollinator of Dicentra flowers
Bog Lupine
Lupinus polyphyllus
perennial herb
spring and early summer nectar source
Branching Phacelia
Phacelia ramosissima
perennial herb
Early season foraging for queen establishment and colony growth
Bristly Jewelflower
Streptanthus glandulosus subsp. glandulosus
annual
Spring foraging during plant flowering
California skullcap
Scutellaria californica
perennial herb
spring and early summer nectar
Chaparral Mallow
Malacothamnus fasciculatus
shrub
Early spring colony establishment and worker foraging
Checker Bloom
Sidalcea malviflora
perennial herb
Early spring blooms coincide with queen emergence and colony founding
Chinese Houses
Collinsia heterophylla
annual
Spring foraging for colony development
Coast Larkspur
Delphinium decorum subsp. decorum
annual
Critical early summer forage
Coast Wallflower
Erysimum capitatum
perennial herb
Early season pollen source for queen establishment and colony founding
Common Pearlyeverlasting
Anaphalis margaritacea
perennial herb
Primary nectar source during active colony period Jun-Aug
Deerweed
Acmispon glaber
shrub
Extended bloom supports multiple brood cycles throughout year
Dense-flower Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja densiflora subsp. Densiflora
annual
Spring and early summer nectar source
Exserted Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja exserta subsp. exserta
annual
early season nectar source for queen establishment
Facelia
Phacelia tanacetifolia
annual
Primary pollen source during early flowering
Grayleaf Skullcap
Scutellaria siphocampyloides
perennial herb
Spring pollen collection for brood provisioning
Hansen's Larkspur
Delphinium hansenii
perennial herb
Pollen collection for brood development
Ithuriel's Spear
Triteleia laxa
geophyte
Early spring foraging Apr-Jun for colony establishment and worker production
Madrone
Arbutus menziesii
tree
Spring pollinator; queens provision colonies from madrone nectar
Mountain Coyote Mint
Monardella odoratissima
perennial herb
Peak foraging June-August during colony establishment and growth
Nootka Rose
Rosa nutkana
perennial herb
Early spring forager, critical for spring colony establishment
Red-flowering buckwheat
Eriogonum grande var. rubescens
perennial herb
Primary spring foraging resource
Rough Hedgenettle
Stachys rigida var. quercetorum
perennial herb
Early spring forager for queen establishment and colony founding
Ruby Chalice Clarkia
Clarkia rubicunda
annual
Early season nectar source for colony establishment and worker foraging
Shortspike Hedgenettle
Stachys pycnantha
perennial herb
Early season nectar source for queen establishment and colony founding
Showy Penstemon
Penstemon spectabilis
perennial herb
Spring and early summer colony provisioning
Soap Plant
Chlorogalum pomeridianum
geophyte
Diurnal and crepuscular visitor to flower clusters May-July
Southern honeysuckle
Lonicera subspicata
shrub
Queens foraging during colony establishment
Texas Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja foliolosa
perennial herb
Spring and early summer nectar foraging for colony provisioning
Vinegar-weed
Trichostema lanceolatum
annual
Primary foraging during peak bloom period
Western Azalea
Rhododendron occidentale
shrub
Early spring foraging, April-May emergence and colony establishment
Western Columbine
Aquilegia formosa
perennial herb
Spring emergence and colony growth Apr-Jul
Yellow Coastal Bush Lupine
Lupinus arboreus
perennial herb
Visitor during spring bloom period
Yerba Buena
Clinopodium douglasii
perennial herb
Native pollinator utilizing flowers Jul-Sep