The following is a list of the major Michigan plants that provide nectar or pollen for honey bees.
Zachary Huang, Michigan State University
Common Name | Latin Name | Blooming time | Photo Link |
Alfalfa | Medicago sativa | July-August | Photo |
Aster | Aster spp | Most after frost | Photo |
Basswood | Tilia spp | May to July | Photo |
Blueberry (lowbush, high bush) | Vaccinium spp | May | highbush, lowbush |
Bluevine | Gonolobus laevis | ||
Buckbrush | Symporicarpos spp | ||
Buckwheat | Fagopyrum esculentum | June-July | Photo |
Clover, Alsike | Trifolium hybridum | Photo | |
Clover, Crimson | Trifolium incanatum | Photo | |
Clover, Red | Trifolium pratense | summer | Photo |
Clover, sweetclover | Meliotus spp | June to Sept | Photo |
Clover, white | Trifolium repens | all summer | Photo |
Corn | Zea mays | July | Photo |
Cranberry | Vaccinium macrocarpon | Photo | |
Cucurbits: Cantaloup | Cucumis melo | summer | Photo |
Cucurbits: Cucumber | Cucumis spp | Photo | |
Cucurbits :Gourds | Cucurbita spp | Photo | |
Cucurbits: Melon | Citrullus spp | Photo | |
Cucurbits: Pumpkin | Cucurbita spp | Photo | |
Cucurbits: Squash | Cucurbita spp | Photo | |
Dandelion | Taraxacum spp | March to May | Photo |
Elm | Ulmus spp | Photo | |
Fireweed | Epilobium angustifolium | Photo | |
Fruit: Apple | Malus spp | May, first week | Photo |
Fruit: Apricot | Prunus spp | Photo | |
Fruit: Cherry | Prunus spp | Slightly before apple | Photo |
Fruit: Peach | Prunus spp | May | Photo |
Fruit: Pear | Pyrus spp | May, 2nd week | Photo |
Fruit: Plum | Prunus spp | May | Photo |
Goldenrod | Solidago spp | Sept, Oct | Photo |
Grape | Vitis spp | May | Photo |
Locust: Black | Robinia pseudo-acacia | June | Photo |
Loose-strife, Purple | Lythrum spp | Photo | |
Maple | Acer spp | April, May | Photo |
Milkweed | Asclepias spp | Summer | swamp |
Mint, Mountain | Pycnanthemum ? | Photo | |
Mint, Spear | Photo | ||
Mustard | Brassica spp | Photo | |
Oak | Quercus spp | Photo | |
Ragweed | Ambrosia spp | Sept, Oct | Photo |
Rasberry | Rubus spp | Summer | Photo |
Sourwood | Oxydendrum arboreum | Photo | |
Soybean | Glycine max | Photo | |
Spanish-needles | Bidens bipinnata | Photo | |
Sumac | Rhus spp | June | Photo |
Sunflower | Helianthus spp | July | Photo |
Thistle, Canadian | Cirsium arvense | ||
Thistle, Star | Centaurea spp | late summer | Photo |
Willow | Salix spp | April/May | Photo |
Yellow-rocket | Barbara vulgaris | Photo | |
Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for information only. Mention of products does not indicate endorsement. Prepared by Zachary Huang, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. email: bees@msu.edu.
url: http://bees.msu.edu/honey-plants/
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Are there any plans recommended for the city? I live in Royal Oak and don’t have alot of land, but would love to plant what I can to provide bees with nutients.
Try basswood (linden trees) or black locusts.