The Best Plants for North Texas Bees!

Bee Forage in North Texas – Why Nectar and Pollen Both Matter

When we talk about pollinator-friendly gardening in North Texas, honey bees often take center stage—but their needs often go far beyond a few flowering plants. Healthy hives typically require a reliable supply of both nectar and pollen plants year-round. Whether you’re planting in a backyard, creating a small pollinator garden, or restoring acres of habitat, knowing the role of each—and how to provide them—can make the difference between thriving bees and struggling colonies. Check out the extensive list below to choose the best plants for north Texas bees. Bonus: We’ve ONLY included those that are easiest to grow, adapted to our uniquely harsh and unpredictable climate and soils.

Nectar vs. Pollen 

Nectar is a sugary liquid that fuels adult bees with carbohydrates for foraging flights and daily activity. Excess nectar becomes honey, the colony’s long-term energy reserve.
Pollen is the male reproductive dust of flowers, packed with protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. It’s critical for brood rearing, immune health, and building colony strength.

Think of it this way: nectar powers the workers, pollen builds the next generation.

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Seasonal Pollen Highlights – North Texas

A diverse seasonal mix ensures honey bees have high-quality protein sources for brood rearing year-round.

To create a thriving habitat, consider incorporating some of the best plants for north Texas bees into your garden for optimal pollinator support! These plants will not only attract bees but also contribute to a healthier ecosystem. (full list below)

• Winter: Loquat, Elbow bush, Agarita, Henbit, Dandelion, Mustard

• Spring: Mesquite, Mexican plum, Eve’s necklace, Blackberry, Bur oak, Bluebonnet

• Summer: Kidneywood, Vitex, Bee balm, Squash, Sunflowers, Southern peas

• Fall: Goldenrod, Frostweed, White mistflower, Cowpen daisy, Fall aster, Maximilian sunflower

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Seasonal Nectar Highlights – North Texas 

Nectar flow varies with season and weather, but a balanced landscape keeps carbohydrate sources available—even during dearth– the typically hot, dry Summer when not much is blooming.

• Winter: Loquat, Elbow bush, Agarita, Rosemary, Henbit, Dandelion

• Spring: Mesquite, Mexican buckeye, Mexican plum, Blackberry, Buttonbush, Crossvine

• Summer: Kidneywood, Bee-brush, Vitex, Desert willow, Esperanza, Mexican sunflower

• Fall: Goldenrod, Frostweed, White mistflower, Cowpen daisy, Fall aster, Coral honeysuckle

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Critical Drought-Season Forage (mid-July to August)

Without drought-adapted bloomers—or supplemental feeding—colonies can weaken or fail.

• Top nectar plants: Kidneywood, Bee-brush, Vitex, Desert willow, Esperanza, Mexican sunflower, Zinnia, Blanketflower

• Pollen plants: Sunflowers, Cowpeas, Okra, Pumpkin

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Fall Build-Up Forage (September–October)

Late blooms help colonies build winter stores and raise healthy “fat bees” for overwintering.

• Nectar: Goldenrod, Frostweed, White mistflower, Cowpen daisy, Fall aster

• Pollen: Goldenrod, Cowpen daisy, Fall aster, Sunflowers

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Tips for Bee-Friendly Plantings

• Stagger bloom times for year-round forage

• Plant in clusters to draw more bees

• Choose native and well-adapted plants for drought resilience and higher nectar/pollen quality

• Avoid pesticide use during bloom

• Layer trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, and groundcovers

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A List of the Best Plants for North Texas Bees!

Each are native or adapted to our climate and super easy to grow!!

Key: N = nectar • P = pollen • B = both
Seasons: Sp = spring • Su = summer • Fa = fall • W = winter

TREES
Mesquite – B, Sp–Su
Vitex (sterile selections) – N, Su
Desert willow – N, Su–Fa
Texas persimmon – B, Sp–Su
American persimmon – B, Sp
Honey locust – B, Sp
Black willow – B, very early Sp (plant near water)
Mexican plum – B, Sp
Crabapple – B, Sp
Carolina cherry laurel – B, Sp
Chitalpa – N, Su
Texas redbud – B, Sp
Little Gem magnolia – N, Sp–Su
Saucer magnolia – N, Sp
Eve’s Necklace – B, Sp
Mexican buckeye – B, Sp
Eastern cottonwood – P, Sp (plant near water)
American sycamore – P, Sp (plant near water)
Bur oak – P, Sp
Chinkapin oak – P, Sp
Cedar elm – P, Sp

SHRUBS
Buttonbush – B, Su (plant near water)
Bee-brush / Whitebrush – N, Su–Fa
Kidneywood – N, Su–Fa
Texas sage (Leucophyllum) – N, after summer rains
Texas mountain laurel – N, Sp
Almond verbena – N, Su–Fa
Abelia – N, Su–Fa
Chickasaw plum – B, Sp
Yaupon holly – B, Sp
Possumhaw holly – B, Sp
Agarita – B, very early Sp
Roughleaf dogwood – B, Sp–Su
Carolina buckthorn – B, Sp–Su
Fragrant mimosa – B, Sp–Su
Argentine senna – N, Sp–Su
Spirea – B, Sp
American beautyberry – B, Sp–Su
Evergreen sumac – N, Fa
Oakleaf hydrangea – N, late Sp–Su
Elbow bush – B, late W–Sp
Butterfly bush (sterile cultivars) – N, Su–Fa
Coralberry – B, Fa
Rusty blackhaw viburnum – B, Sp
Bush germander – N, Sp–Fa

PERENNIAL FLOWERS
Goldenrod – B, Fa
Gregg’s mist flower – N, Su–Fa
White mistflower – N, Su–Fa
Agastache – N, Su–Fa
Mountain mint – N, Su–Fa
Joe-Pye weed – B, late Su–Fa
Liatris – N, Su–Fa
Catmint – N, Sp–Fa
Anise hyssop – N, Su–Fa
Millenium allium – N, Su–Fa
Showy stonecrop (Autumn Joy sedum) – N, Su–Fa
Pitcher sage – B, Fa
Maximilian sunflower – B, Su–Fa
Texas star hibiscus – B, Su–Fa
Fall aster – B, Fa
Autumn sage – N, Sp–Fa
Mealy blue sage – N, Sp–Fa
Blackfoot daisy – B, Sp–Fa
Four-nerve daisy – B, Sp–Fa
Texas rock rose – B, Su–Fa
Rattlesnake master – B, Su
Trailing dalea – B, Sp–Su
Gulf Coast penstemon – N, Sp
Prairie penstemon – N, Sp
Lyreleaf sage – B, Sp–Su
Purple coneflower – B, Sp–Su
Gaillardia (blanketflower) – B, Sp–Fa
Coreopsis – B, Sp–Su
Yarrow – B, Sp–Su
Spiderwort – B, Sp–Su
Phlox – B, Sp–Su
Pink skullcap – N, Sp–Fa
Wall germander – N, Sp–Su
Globe mallow – B, Su–Fa
Pink evening primrose – B, Sp–Su
Winecup – N, Sp
Barbara’s buttons – B, Sp–Su
Engelman daisy – B, Sp
Snake herb – B, Sp–Fa
Pigeonberry – B, Su–Fa
Wright’s skullcap – N, Su
Columbine – B, Sp
Primrose – B, Sp–Su
Shasta daisy – P, Sp–Su
Oxalis – N, Sp
Giant coneflower – B, Su–Fa

HERBS
Borage – B, Su–Fa
Garlic chives – B, Su–Fa
Elephant garlic – B, late Sp–Su
Mint – N, Sp–Su
Oregano – N, Sp–Su
Thyme – N, Sp–Su
Lavender – N, Su–Fa
Rosemary – N, W–Sp
Lemon balm – N, Sp–Su
Basil – N, Su–Fa
Fennel – B, Su–Fa
Dill – B, Su
Sage (culinary) – N, Sp–Su
Chives – N, Sp

VINES
Mexican flame vine – B, Su–Fa
Passionflower – B, Sp–Su
American wisteria – N, Sp–Su
Virginia creeper – N, Sp–Su
Coral honeysuckle – N, Sp–Su
Crossvine – N, Sp
Alamo vine – N, Su–Fa

NATIVE WILDFLOWER SEEDS
Frostweed – B, Fa
Basketflower – B, Sp–Su
Eryngo – B, Su–Fa
Partridge pea – B, Su–Fa
Lemon beebalm – B, Sp–Su
Cowpen daisy – B, Su–Fa
Indian blanket – B, Sp–Su
Plains coreopsis – B, Sp–Su
Texas thistle – N, Su
Blue curls – B, Sp–Su
Purple prairie clover – B, Sp–Su
Clasping coneflower – B, Sp–Su
Drummond’s phlox – B, Sp–Su
Greenthread – B, Sp–Su
Black-eyed Susan – B, Sp–Su
Annual sunflower – B, Su–Fa
Standing cypress – N, Su

ADAPTED FLOWER SEEDS
Mexican sunflower – B, Su–Fa
Borage – B, Sp–Su
Zinnia – B, Su–Fa
Cosmos – B, Su–Fa
Bachelor’s button – B, Sp–Su
Cleome – B, Su–Fa
Larkspur – B, Sp
Calendula – B, Sp–Su
Portulaca / Purslane – B, Su
Hollyhock – B, Sp–Su
Nigella (love-in-a-mist) – B, Sp–Su
Sweet pea – N, W–Sp
Amaranth – P, Su–Fa
Poppy – P, Sp

GROUNDCOVERS
Creeping germander – B, Sp–Su
Prostrate germander – B, Sp–Su
Sedum – B, Su–Fa
Prairie verbena – N, Sp–Fa
Frogfruit – N, Sp–Fa
Golden groundsel – B, late W–Sp
Ajuga – N, Sp
Horseherb – B, Sp–Fa

VEGETABLES
Squash – B, Sp–Su
Pumpkins – B, Sp–Su
Melons – B, Sp–Su
Cucumbers – B, Sp–Su
Okra – B, Su
Tomatillo – B, Su
Peppers – B, Sp–Su
Eggplant – B, Sp–Su
Southern peas – B, Sp–Su
Lima beans – B, Sp–Su
Pole beans – B, Sp–Su
Arugula – B, Sp
Carrots – B, Sp–Su
Parsnips – B, Sp–Su
Tomatoes – P, Sp–Su

FRUITS
Jujube – B, Su–Fa
Loquat – B, W–Sp
Crabapple – B, Sp
Peach – B, Sp
Apple – B, Sp
Pear – B, Sp
Blackberry – B, Sp
Blueberry – B, Sp
Elderberry – B, Sp–Su
Grape – B, Sp
Fig – B, Su
Mulberry – P, Sp

COMMON LAWN WEEDS
White clover – B, Sp–Su
Red clover – B, Sp–Su
Dandelion – B, very early Sp
Henbit – N, late W–Sp
Chickweed – B, W–Sp
Bur clover – B, Sp
Hop clover – B, Sp
Purslane – B, Su

INVASIVE BEE-FORAGE (avoid planting)
Chinese tallow – N, late Sp–Su
Privet (Ligustrum spp.) – N, Sp
Japanese honeysuckle – N, Sp–Su
Golden rain tree – N, Su
Chinaberry – N, Sp
Empress/Princess tree (Paulownia) – N, Sp
Hairy vetch – B, Sp–Su
Balloon vine – N, Su–Fa
Coral vine (Mexican creeper) – N, Su–Fa
Sweet autumn clematis – N, Fa
Vitex (non-sterile forms) – N, Su

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Don’t Forget Texas Native Bees

While honey bees are vital for gardens and agriculture, North Texas hosts over 700 species of native bees—including metallic green sweat bees, leafcutter bees, and bumble bees. Many outperform honey bees on certain crops and wildflowers, making them essential for biodiversity.

Beekeeper-friendly native bee tips:

• Plant diverse native/adapted flowers for continuous bloom

• Leave bare soil, brush piles, and hollow stems for nesting

• Provide shallow water with safe landing spots

• Avoid broad-spectrum pesticides during bloom

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Local Bee Resources – North Texas

Getting involved locally connects you with expert advice, seasonal tips, and community events.

Local Associations

• • Denton County Beekeepers Association 

  • Collin County Hobby Beekeepers Association

  • Trinity Valley Beekeepers Association 

  • Metro Beekeepers Association

  • Elm Fork Beekeepers Association

  • Grayson County Beekeepers

 

Statewide & Regional

• Texas Master Beekeeper Program – txmbp.org

• Texas Beekeepers Association – texasbeekeepers.org

 PowerPoint Presentation: “North Texas Plants for Bees”
>>> DOWNLOAD HERE <<<

 

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Rooted In – Your North Texas Source for Pollinator Plants

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contact@rootedin.com
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