It isn’t difficult to make your yard, garden or even patio space a haven for beautiful beneficial bees. You will be helping these important insects, as well as bringing more nature to your back door.

The greater the plant diversity, the more bees you will attract and support. Always try to choose as many native plants as possible, and consult with nursery staff or other experts to find vegetation that will thrive in your specific conditions.

Here is a partial list of tried- and- true bee attractors:

Annuals: Asters, Marigolds, Sunflowers, Zinnias

Perennials: Clematis, Cosmos, Dahlias, Echinacea, English Ivy, Foxglove, Geraniums, Hollyhocks, Hyacinth, Roses, Sedum, Tansy

Garden Plants: Blackberries, Cantaloupe, Cucumbers, Gourds, Peppers, Pumpkins, Raspberries, Squash, Strawberries, Watermelons, Wild Garlic

Herbs: Bee Balm, Borage, Catnip, Cilantro, Fennel, Lavender, Mints, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme

Shrubs: Blueberry, Butterfly Bush, Honeysuckle, Indigo, Privet

Trees: Alder, American Holly, Basswood, Black Gum, Black Locust, Buckeyes, Catalpo, Eastern Redbud, Fruit Trees (especially Crab Apple), Golden Rain Tree, Hawthorns, Hazels, Linden, Magnolia, Maples, Mountain Ash, Sycamore, Tulip, Poplar, Willows

Excerpt from the website of the Ga. Dept. of Agriculture:
The Georgia Department of Agriculture supports and endorses agricultural activities across the state. Since nearly one-third of our food is the direct result of pollination by insects, honey bees are very important. In fact, more than 100 agricultural crops in the U. S. are pollinated by bees.

Although many people make a living from honey bees, most beekeepers have only a few hives and many reside in urban and suburban areas. The Georgia General Assembly recognizes the importance of honey bees – even in the urban and suburban environment – and has adopted several statutes to protect beekeepers. These statutes are:
O.C.G.A. §1-3-3, apiary products are included in the definition of “agriculture”,
O.C.G.A. §2-1-6, relates to local ordinances and production of agricultural farm products,
O.C.G.A. §2-14-41.1, local governments cannot prohibit beekeeping, and
O.C.G.A. §41-1-7, commonly called the Georgia “Right To Farm Law”.

Read more at http://agr.georgia.gov/honey-bees.aspx

It has never happened before in U.S. history:  7 species of honeybees are now on the endangered species list !  Habitat destruction, invasion of non-native plants and animals, and the use of pesticides have caused dramatic losses in those bee populations, and in pollinator counts around the U.S. altogether. Read the full article at

Seven honeybee species placed on endangered species list as pollinator collapse continues