When people think of bees, they think of honey bees. But honey bees came from Europe. North America has roughly 4,000 native bee species, and the prairies and farmland of the central United States host hundreds of them. Most are small, solitary and gentle, and they do the pollination work that wildflowers and many crops depend on.
Main groups you might see
| Group | What they look like | Where they nest |
|---|---|---|
| Bumble bees | Large, fuzzy, black with yellow, orange or white bands | Colonies in abandoned rodent burrows, grass tussocks or other cavities |
| Sweat bees | Small, often metallic green or bronze | Ground burrows, some in rotting wood |
| Mining bees | Medium, dark, fuzzy, active in early spring | Burrows in bare or sparsely vegetated soil |
| Long-horned bees | Medium bees, males with very long antennae, often found on sunflowers | Ground burrows |
| Squash bees | Medium, specialized visitors of squash and pumpkin flowers | Ground burrows near the plants |
| Digger bees | Fast, robust, fuzzy | Ground burrows, often in groups |
| Mason bees | Small to medium, often dark or metallic blue | Hollow stems, holes in wood or tubes, sealed with mud |
| Leafcutter bees | Medium, with pollen carried under the abdomen | Tunnels sealed with cut leaf pieces |
| Carpenter bees | Large, either shiny or fuzzy | Wood or hollow stems |
Identifying every species is difficult even for experts. Do not worry about names. What matters is giving them what they need.
Most native bees nest in the ground
Roughly 70 percent of native bees, by a commonly cited estimate, nest in the soil. The female digs a tunnel, stocks cells with pollen and nectar and lays eggs. They need bare or lightly vegetated, well-drained soil, often on a sunny slope. A small patch of exposed soil in your garden may be more valuable than a bee house, and a thick layer of mulch or landscape fabric can block them. Bumble bees prefer tussocks of grass or old burrows, so leaving some grass unmown or a brush pile can help.
Bloom calendar for the central United States
Native bees need food at every stage of the season. A mix of plants that bloom in sequence matters more than the number of plants. The following are examples, and your local native plant society or extension office can suggest species for your county.
- Early spring: willows, redbud, wild plum, golden Alexanders, pasqueflower, wild geranium
- Late spring and early summer: spiderwort, penstemon, columbine, wild indigo, native roses
- Summer: purple prairie clover, bee balm (bergamot), purple coneflower, milkweeds, black-eyed Susan, mountain mint, rattlesnake master
- Late summer and fall: goldenrod, native asters, sunflowers, blazing star, ironweed
Choose single-flowered native species where possible. Many double-flowered ornamentals produce little or no pollen or nectar, or hide it behind extra petals. Plant in clumps of one species at least a few feet wide so bees can find them.
Habits that help
- Skip pesticides. Insecticides, including some labeled for gardens, harm bees. Systemic products can persist in nectar and pollen. Avoid spraying open flowers, and read labels.
- Leave some mess. Hollow stems, wood and leaf litter shelter nesting and overwintering bees. Cut stems at different heights and leave some standing.
- Mow later and less. Mow when flowers are not in bloom, set the blade higher and leave unmown patches.
- Provide water. A shallow dish with stones gives bees a safe place to drink.
- Keep some bare, sunny soil well-drained and free of mulch.
- Plant natives. They are adapted to local bees.
Honey bees and native bees
Honey bees are managed livestock, not wild native pollinators. They are important for agriculture, but they can compete with native bees for flowers, and researchers continue to study how much that matters. For a home gardener, a diversity of plants supports both. If you wish to keep honey bees, check local rules and consider how many hives your area can support.
Are bees dangerous?
Most native bees are not aggressive. Solitary bees have no colony or honey to defend, and males cannot sting. Bumble bees can sting if their nest is disturbed. If you or anyone in your family has a serious allergy to stings, take care and keep appropriate medication available, as advised by a physician. If you find a large nest close to a doorway or play area, contact a pest-control professional who works with native bees, or your extension office. Wasps and hornets, which look different, are a separate issue.
Bee houses in context
A bee house or tube block serves only the cavity-nesting bees, such as mason and leafcutter bees. It is a nice addition but not the foundation. See mason bee house basics if you want to try one, and our category page for the full picture.
Citizen science
You can help scientists by photographing bees and uploading them to a platform such as iNaturalist or by joining a local bee-monitoring program. Photographs do not need to be perfect, and every record of what visits your plants helps.
Frequently asked questions
How many native bee species live in the United States?
Roughly 4,000, with hundreds in the Great Plains and Midwest.
Do native bees make honey?
No. Honey is made by honey bees. Native solitary bees stock their nests with pollen and nectar for their young. Bumble bees make only small amounts.
Where do most native bees nest?
In the ground. Leave a patch of bare, sunny, well-drained soil.
Are native bees aggressive?
Rarely. Most are docile, and many cannot sting at all.
What flowers should I plant?
A sequence of native flowers that bloom from spring through fall, in clumps and in sunny spots.
