7 Ways to Attract More Bumblebees to Your Garden

Bumblebees are interesting insects. Although it may seem like smaller, faster bees are more capable of efficient pollination, bumblebees are surprisingly good at it. They have a unique ability to buzz pollinate, which means they vibrate their bodies hard enough to dislodge pollen. This is important for plants with pollen that is more difficult to access. 

Their large, fuzzy bodies are also exceptional at holding onto pollen and spreading it around from one flower to another. Their long tongues are great for reaching nectar in harder-to-reach places, and they have the unique ability to regulate their body temperatures. This means they can work at colder temperatures than other bees, so they set to work earlier in the year.

These stellar characteristics, paired with their adorable appearance, make bumblebees my personal favorite pollinators. Don’t tell my honeybees, but they simply don’t possess the same charm. Here are some ways I attract bumblebees and let them know they’re welcome in my garden. 

Provide Nectar and Pollen Plants

The most effective way to attract bumblebees and pollinators in general is to provide them with food. They rely on both nectar and pollen to sustain themselves and their larvae. 

Nectar is the sweet, sugary liquid that plants produce, usually inside their flowers. This mechanism attracts insects and animals to explore the flower in search of that sweet food. They use it to make honey to feed their young and fuel their own bodies. In exchange, they come in contact with pollen and carry it around with them to other flowers, which is how they pollinate plants. 

Pollen is an important food for them as well. Think of nectar as carbs. It’s fuel that the body needs for energy, while pollen is a source of protein. It is essential to the development of their young and also provides the adults with valuable nutrients. 

Not all plants produce the same volume of these resources. A bee will typically hang out in a space where it can collect the greatest amount of resources while expending the least amount of energy. Plants that produce a lot of flowers and contain a significant amount of nectar and pollen are what they’re looking for. 

Here are some of the plants in my yard that I see bumblebees attracted to the most often:

African Blue Basil

	botanical name Ocimum kilimandscharicum x basilicum
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 10-11

This is the number one favorite in my garden. African blue basil is primarily an ornamental basil, as you plant it for its flowers. Once basil flowers, the leaves lose a significant amount of taste and tenderness. Some gardeners like to make pesto from this variety, but otherwise, it’s not the best type for eating.

As far as bees go, the spikes of fragrant purple florets African blue basil produces are a favorite dish. It’s incredibly easy to grow and produces a ton of flowers for a long season. If you want it to last the winter in zones 9 and north, keep it in a container. It will need to come in for the winter. 

Anise Hyssop

	botanical name Agastacha foeniculum
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height 2’-3’
	hardiness zones 4-8

Anise hyssop is another appealing herb. It’s a member of the mint family and gets its common name from the aromatic quality of its leaves. The flowers are the draw for bumblebees, though. 

This plant produces spikes of tiny lavender flowers, and it keeps going through most of the summer and fall. It’s perennial in zones 4-8, but elsewhere, it will re-seed, so it tends to return the following year in warmer climates. It’s native to a significant portion of North America.

Goldenrod

	botanical name Solidago spp.
	sun requirements Full sun
	height Up to 7’
	hardiness zones 3-10

Goldenrod is a wonderful bumblebee-attracting plant that is native to most of North America. There are many species, and it’s great to plant one that is native to your environment. These will be the easiest plants to care for.

I cannot stress enough how much bumblebees adore goldenrod. This is a fall bloomer, which is important as they are preparing for hibernation. It provides an abundance of pollen and nectar to help them build up fat reserves. My goldenrod is always teeming with bees the entire time it’s in bloom. 

Spanish Needles

	botanical name Bidens alba
	sun requirements Full sun
	height 1’-3’
	hardiness zones 8-11

I have a love-hate relationship with Spanish needles. On one hand, it’s an aggressive spreader, and the seeds stick to everything that brushes against them. They can be difficult to clear away if you need to use the space they inhabit for a garden bed. 

That said, bumblebees are super attracted to this plant. It’s native to the Southeast, and you’ve probably seen it on a roadside somewhere if you’re from this area. Spanish needles aren’t especially showy as an ornamental, but they have a long blooming season, and they’re great for pollinators. 

Salvia

	botanical name Salvia spp.
	sun requirements Full sun to partial shade
	height Up to 5’
	hardiness zones 3-10

Salvias are a wide-reaching group with some species native to most of the Central and Eastern United States. It comes in a variety of colors and is another member of the mint family. In fact, it’s the largest genus of that family. 

The brightly colored, tubular flowers are easier for bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to access compared to shorter-tongued bees. They are also an excellent nectar source and draw these pollinators abundantly. 

Plant Native

If you want to go a step further, and I highly recommend it, planting native species is a great way to attract bumblebees. While they can collect nectar and pollen from non-native species, there are certain benefits to those plants adapted to your specific climate. 

Natives have an advantage over non-native plants in that they’re adapted to the specific climate you garden in. This makes them easier to care for. It conserves energy and resources, and it provides a reliable and consistent supply of food for pollinators. 

Some non-native plants may grow excellently in your climate. The problem with these is that they can be invasive. Invasive plants outcompete the plants that are supposed to be there for resources, and this cuts down on diversity, which brings me to my next point. 

Plant for All Seasons

Diversity is incredibly important to pollinators. Each plant has its specific blooming period, and when it’s done, it’s no longer a food source until the following year. If all of your flowers bloom in spring, by mid-summer, the bumblebees and other pollinators will move on. 

By adding a wide variety of plants to your space, you provide food sources that bloom at different times. Try to acquire native perennials that bloom during different seasons. 

Remember that bumblebees tend to forage earlier in the spring and later in the fall than smaller species. If you provide early and late blooming sources, they will show up early, and they will stick around until hibernation time. 

Go Wild

Turf grass lawns may be fashionable, but they’re not good for pollinators. This is especially true if you are a frequent mower. Grass lawns take up a significant amount of real estate for most homes these days, but they do less than nothing to feed the bees. 

If you can, allow a portion of your yard to re-wild. The native flowering plants, or weeds, that grow will attract a shocking number of pollinators. These so-called weeds are great survivors, and they tend to be major bloomers. The flowers may be smaller and less ornamental, but they are full of sweet nectar.

Another option is to go longer between mowings. Many gardeners participate in ‘No Mow March’ or ‘No Mow May.’ Taking this extra time to allow some early native plants to flower does a lot to bring those early bumblebees to the yard. It also preserves their hibernation habitats until they are ready to come out and start back to work in the spring. 

If you have a strict HOA with rules about keeping your front yard tidy, it works just as well to designate a small space in the backyard, out of view. Basically, turf grass lawns are good for preventing erosion and a certain aesthetic, but that’s about it.

Provide Nesting Areas

Bumblebees are nesting insects. They need space for their queen to lay eggs and to rear their young. They tend to make homes out of pre-existing cavities like abandoned nests and hollows in trees. They also make use of leaf piles and areas of thick grass and vegetation. 

In the fall, don’t bag and throw away your fallen leaves. There are much better uses for them. First, they provide a hibernation place for many beneficial insects. Second, they are great, free, natural mulch! Create a leaf pile and try to leave it alone. You’ll end up with a lot of rich leaf compost, and the bees will have more places to nest. 

You can also create handmade nesting boxes for pollinators. Use a shallow wooden box and fill it with different textures of natural materials. A bamboo stalk cut into pieces makes great little nesting spots. Pinecones and other plant and tree materials all work well. Then hang it outdoors, and if you’re successful, you’ll have some residents before too long.  

Go Pesticide Free

This should go without saying, but if you’re a pollinator gardener, you should try your best to avoid pesticides as much as possible. Pesticides don’t discriminate between beneficial and nuisance insects. As much as possible, avoid using forms of insect control that are non-specific and harm beneficial insects.

If you’re a vegetable gardener, this can be tough. However, a healthy ecosystem should include plenty of beneficial, predatory insects to help with pest control. If you must, don’t spray plants while they are in bloom. 

Provide a Water Source

Finally, make sure that the bumblebees and other pollinators can find a water source in your space. Flying and collecting resources is hard work, and our little garden helpers get thirsty. If they have access to water, they will return.

A bird bath with some pebbles for resting places makes a great watering station. There are plenty of ways to provide water for the bumblebees. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. Consistency is more important than style