# Planting forage & nectar flow for my area **URL:** \ **Category:** General Bee Chat\ **Created:** [May 3, 2015, 10:21am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122 "2015-05-03T10:21:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Woodside\_Beehive](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/woodside_beehive/32/2419_2.png) [@Woodside\_Beehive](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Woodside_Beehive)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 10:21am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/1 "2015-05-03T10:21:00Z")
I’m thinking that planting forage for all the newbees would be a good idea. Anyone planning to do this? ---
**Author:** ![mjsmith55](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/mjsmith55/32/19963_2.png) [@mjsmith55](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/mjsmith55)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 10:34am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/2 "2015-05-03T10:34:48Z")
Hello, yes I am but have no ideas as to what. ---
**Author:** ![dbennett](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dbennett/32/98_2.png) [@dbennett](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/dbennett)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 11:20am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/3 "2015-05-03T11:20:51Z")
Several seed companies sell packets of seeds especially for attracting and feeding bees. ---
**Author:** ![mdtablet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8edcca/32.png) [@mdtablet](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/mdtablet)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 11:46am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/4 "2015-05-03T11:46:52Z")
Lavender, Sunflowers, Autumn Joy Sedum, Mint, Wild Flowers, Apple trees are the ones I have planted - there are lots of lists available online relative to your planting zones ---
**Author:** ![Ginny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Ginny](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Ginny)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 1:10pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/5 "2015-05-03T13:10:47Z")
Woodside The Xerces Society has a list of pollinator friendly plants. Here is the link: [http://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/plant-lists/](http://www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/plant-lists/) Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![lavenderlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dec6dc/32.png) [@lavenderlady](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/lavenderlady)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/6 "2015-05-03T13:39:13Z")
An important thought to keep in mind is when the plants will bloom. Plant so that there is a staggered bloom, allowing for a constant supply of food for the bees. Don’t forget trees. Early flowering willows, maple, Linden, black locust, wild cherry, fruit trees and berry bushes. This will keep the bees happy and provide you with delicious honey. ---
**Author:** ![Valli](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/valli/32/159_2.png) [@Valli](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Valli)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 2:58pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/7 "2015-05-03T14:58:12Z")
@Planting Forage: This is a list for the UK of what to plant throughout the year for bee forage. from the British Bee keeper Association [http://www.bbka.org.uk/learn/gardening\_for\_bees](http://www.bbka.org.uk/learn/gardening_for_bees). > **[pollen\_&\_nectar\_rich\_plants\_for\_your\_garden\_by\_season\_june\_2011\_for\_website\_1310045511.pdf](https://www.bbka.org.uk/files/library/pollen_&_nectar_rich_plants_for_your_garden_by_season_june_2011_for_website_1310045511.pdf)** > > 712.86 KB ---
**Author:** ![pbrutz](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/pbrutz/32/189_2.png) [@pbrutz](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/pbrutz)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/8 "2015-05-03T15:06:59Z")
[American honey plants, together with those which are of special value to the beekeeper as sources of pollen, by Frank C. Pellett.](http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924062872811;view=1up;seq=9) ---
**Author:** ![Simon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/simon/32/202_2.png) [@Simon](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Simon)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 3:53pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/9 "2015-05-03T15:53:47Z")
My bees love the early blooming pussy willows and heathers I have also planted a swath of buckwheat. It really darkens the honey and gives it a rich taste. ---
**Author:** ![SuBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f04885/32.png) [@SuBee](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/SuBee)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 4:01pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/10 "2015-05-03T16:01:32Z")
I find tons of honey bees on my asters which bloom in sept. So I think it’s a good last feed for them. That’s a possibility. In the spring they love lavender also. This is just observation. ---
**Author:** ![SowthEfrikan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/sowthefrikan/32/343_2.png) [@SowthEfrikan](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/SowthEfrikan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/11 "2015-05-03T18:22:47Z")
Be careful about planting black locust. The thorns will go through anything and these trees are extremely invasive. Of course, if you are planning to abandon your property, no problem. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dbennett](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/dbennett/32/98_2.png) [@dbennett](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/dbennett)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/12 "2015-05-03T18:40:43Z")
We have a lot of Black Locust on our property which was, along with hedge, planted for hedge rows. Those thorns are deadly. They’ll easily pierce heavy leather gloves and boots as well as massive, rear, tractor tires. I have, however, used some of those thorns to make some primitive sewing needles. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SowthEfrikan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/sowthefrikan/32/343_2.png) [@SowthEfrikan](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/SowthEfrikan)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 7:01pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/13 "2015-05-03T19:01:09Z")
They used to use the thorns as nails - yes, nails - in the old days. The trees make for fantastic firewood, too. Fence posts also last forever. And, of course, there is a great nectar flow. But, to actually _plant_ them … ---
**Author:** ![GrantA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/90ced4/32.png) [@GrantA](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/GrantA)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/14 "2015-05-03T20:18:12Z")
Borage is a great forage plant and easy to grow. (In the Pacific Northwest, USA.) ---
**Author:** ![stnick01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@stnick01](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/stnick01)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/15 "2015-05-03T23:11:04Z")
It is always good to have as many native flowering plants trees etc. It is also good to research ones that will produce flowers for pollination early and throughout the season when bees are out in your particular area. As I saw one post quoted the Xerces Society and other native plant groups are great resources for all this. ---
**Author:** ![savtadeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@savtadeby](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/savtadeby)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2015, 11:17pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/16 "2015-05-03T23:17:36Z")
I planted rosemary and lavender all around my bee yard. The bees love those. ---
**Author:** ![Martydallas](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/martydallas/32/284_2.png) [@Martydallas](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Martydallas)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/17 "2015-05-04T01:13:44Z")
one of the things I have read, is if you plant something that has Movement to it then the bees will not be as disturbed and you walk around them for their use to the movement then. So I planted a young Japanese maple and honeysuckle near where I plan to put the Hive. Also putting in a water garden so the bee’s will have a water source. It will be about 25 feet away from the Hive ---
**Author:** ![Ken\_Grady](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/ken_grady/32/24084_2.png) [@Ken\_Grady](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Ken_Grady)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 10:53am UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/18 "2015-05-04T10:53:19Z")
Our local beekeeping association has a member who works for the conservation society and has a list of trees etc. to use as forage so it might be a way to look into getting the right advice. ---
**Author:** ![Bee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/bee/32/60_2.png) [@Bee](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Bee)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 12:08pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/19 "2015-05-04T12:08:14Z")
[Eucalyptus Flowering Guide courtesy DPI](http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/117487/honey-pollen-flora-for-planting-nsw.pdf) Some great info here for newbees, I now walk around at work looking up at the trees constantly. ---
**Author:** ![Bee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.honeyflow.com/bee/32/60_2.png) [@Bee](https://forum.honeyflow.com/u/Bee)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 12:13pm UTC](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122/20 "2015-05-04T12:13:05Z")
> [@savtadeby](#): > > I planted rosemary and lavender all around my bee yard. The bees love those. you could say we planted a bit of Rosemary 🙂 bees live about 30yds away. [Next page](https://forum.honeyflow.com/t/planting-forage-nectar-flow-for-my-area/122.md?page=2)