When I was young, I used to think of bees as bad insects whenever I saw them entering my mom’s garden. I thought they would eat the crops and destroy all the flowers in there.
Well, turns out I was way off on that one. Bees in the garden weren’t our enemies, they were actually allies.
In today’s article, we’ll go over a long list of flowering shrubs that are perfect for attracting bumblebees to the garden, especially from spring to fall.
Let’s dive right into it, shall we?
Why Bumblebees (Really) Need Blooming Shrubs
Unlike honeybees, bumblebees emerge early in the season and stay active late. Shrubs can help bridge the seasonal gaps.
Some shrubs offer shelter or nesting materials too, supporting the full lifecycle needs of bumblebees.
Once established, many flowering shrubs are resilient and require little input to continue growing at a decent pace.
Just be mindful of what you plant, not all flowers are helpful to pollinators. We recently shared a guide on which flowers to skip in a bee-friendly garden that’s worth checking out as you plan your planting.
14 Shrubs That Keep Bumblebees Coming Back
1: Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana)
Witch hazel is a very early bloomer. It offers yellow spidery flowers and blooms from late winter to early spring.
2: Serviceberry (Amelanchier Spp.)
White spring blossoms from serviceberry plants attract bees and also provide berries for birds to nibble.
3: Redbud (Cercis Canadensis)
Redbuds are native to many regions and offer vibrant pink blooms that coat bare branches in early spring.
4: Fothergilla (Fothergilla Major)
This elegant flowering shrub blooms with fragrant white bottlebrush flowers in the springtime. It offers strikingly attractive fall foliage that draws the attention of pollinators, especially bumblebees.
5: Ninebark (Physocarpus Opulifolius)
Ninebarks offer pink-white blooms in late spring. They’re native flowers with great structure and resilience, which helps them thrive even in poor conditions.
6: Spirea (Spiraea Japonica)
Spireas have a very long bloom time from late spring to summer. They’re super easy to care for and compact in their growth.
7: Summersweet (Clethra Alnifolia)
Summersweet flowers offer fragrant white or pink spikes that appear from mid-to-late summer. They thrive in partial shade and do not appreciate long hours of direct sunlight.
8: Buttonbush (Cephalanthus Occidentalis)
Buttonbush is a very unique flowering shrub that blooms striking globe-like flowers in mid-summer. It’s very much loved by pollinators like bumblebees and butterflies.
9: Bluebeard (Caryopteris x Clandonensis)
Bluebeard is a late summer bloomer with blue flowers that offer a very unique texture in the garden. They’re compact and drought-tolerant, making them perfect for small gardens in drier regions.
10: Beautyberry (Callicarpa Americana)
Beautyberries are an absolute wildlife magnet. These small pale flowers appear in summer, while the vibrant purple berries often grow around fall.
11: St. John’s Wort (Hypericum Spp.)
This unique flowering shrub produces golden flowers in mid-summer. They’re quite compact and tolerant of tough conditions.
12: Rose Of Sharon (Hibiscus Syriacus)
The rose of Sharon is a late bloomer (July-September) and offers large tropical-looking flowers loved by most pollinators, including bumblebees.
13: Hydrangea (Hydrangea Arborescens, Paniculata)
Certain hydrangea varieties (like Hydrangea paniculata) attract bees when their fertile florets are exposed.
14: New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus Americanus)
The New Jersey tea is a low-growing native shrub with frothy white blooms that’s drought-resistant and an excellent attraction for bees.
Easy Tips To Maximize Shrub Blooms For Bumblebees
If you’re looking for even more bee-friendly flower ideas, check out our full list of flowers that attract bees to the garden.
Let’s Conclude
As much as it hurts to say, flowering shrubs are DEFINITELY not for everyone.
Even if you’ve got some experience working with general plants and flowers, shrubs can be a whole different game, especially in terms of their maintenance requirements.
That said, if you have a passion for gardening and want to attract pollinators like bumblebees, planting flowering shrubs is probably one of the best choices you can make. They offer beauty, structure, and a steady source of nectar that bumblebees love.
