Flower Seeds for Bees

Sunflowers

• Sunflowers come in a wide variety of sizes -- from dwarf varieties such as Sunny Smile, which is perfect for pots, to giants such as the Russian Mammoth that tower over you from a height of 6 to 8 feet. Many types of sunflower seeds are inexpensive, and the plants grow quickly. Not only do sunflowers attract bees, but as a bonus, wild birds will dine on them when they go to seed.

Poppies

• Bees are highly attracted to the flowers of a poppy plant, which springs up easily from seeds. There are many colors available, but the most common are red or deep orange. Seeds can be scattered directly in the garden for a natural look or started indoors six weeks before your area's last frost. Poppies do well in full sun but also tolerate partial shade; they look dramatic along a walkway or a garden's edge.

Tansies

• This perennial plant is considered by some to be a pest or a weed, but it provides a bounty of nectar and pollen to bees. These plants can be sown directly in your garden by placing the seeds on the ground and covering them with 1/4 inch of soil. Tansies require little maintenance, as they tolerate high heat and low water conditions. Grow them in flower pots if you want to curb the chances of them overtaking your garden.

Asters

• Highly colorful and full of the foods bees love, asters are a perennial plant suitable for growing in your garden at the start of the growing season. Covered by a light layer of garden soil, they grow quickly and establish flowers that will attract bees to your garden every year.