Why Some Flowers Attract Bees While Others Attract Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds and bees are both valuable assets to your garden. These strong pollinators play a vital role in the ecosystem, sustaining plants' natural life cycles by transferring pollen from flower to flower. And they're always a treat to see in the yard—as long as the bees don't get too close. But if you're seeing more of one than the other, the reason may lie in your bloom selection: Nectar-rich blossoms provide sugary energy for hummingbirds, while pollen-coated flowers offer protein for busy bees.

Now, nectar and pollen are not mutually exclusive; most flowers have both. And, in fact, bees and hummingbirds ingest both. However, while bees seek out pollen for an energizing protein snack, hummingbirds often only swallow small amounts of the powdery yellow substance while aiming for the sweet nectar. The color, size, and abundance of the blooms on various plants can also play a role in who visits. Bees often prefer to dine on shallower surfaces, but hummingbirds' long beaks can easily access narrow, tube-shaped blossoms.

The best way to draw more hummingbirds and bees to your yard is to start a pollinator garden. You should plant a variety of blossoms, from giant single-blossomed sunflowers to lollipop-looking gomphrena serrata, that bloom at different times. This keeps the pollinator feast going as long as possible, providing crucial late summer and early fall nutrition for the year's final generation. By choosing the right combination of flowers, you can keep your garden blooming and full of pollinators all season long.

A quick search for hummingbird flowers often shows a list of predominantly red, orange, or pink options. In fact, for a long time, scientists believed hummingbirds were specifically attracted to this color, which led to the red hummingbird feeder phenomenon seen across retail spaces today. But even National Geographic has reported on hummingbirds' acute color vision capabilities, which are much more expansive than ours.

Hummingbirds are actually most attracted to the nectar these flowers possess—it just so happens that many of these sugary blossoms, such as red cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) or orange trumpet vine (Campsis radicans), appear in predominantly warm tones. But these blooms have something else in common: Their tubular shape creates the perfect access for a hummingbird's long beak, while larger bees can't squeeze in as easily.

Flowers that form umbrella-like clusters of smaller blossoms are also a favorite hummingbird treat. These matted tufts of flowers, such as appear on tall Phlox paniculata or butterfly bush plants (Buddleja davidii), can keep a fluttering hummingbird happy for minutes at a time—allowing them to fuel up without expending too much energy flying to a new plant. While many of these flowers are also beloved by bees, there are a few specific plant traits that attract bees to your garden.

Feathery flower heads such as phlox may be easy to reach for smaller bees, such as honeybees, mason bees, and sweat bees. But larger species like bumblebees sometimes struggle to land on these lightweight flowers—they may even weigh the blossoms to the ground when they do. Instead, hefty bees prefer a more shallow, flat dining surface, such as the pollen-covered head of sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) or Asters. This structure makes it easy for bees to eat their fill while simultaneously filling the pollen pockets they'll bring back to the hive.

Massive blooms like Hibiscus spp. offer a wide enough opening and lots of pollen and nectar, while small blossoms like catmint (Nepeta) and lavender (Lavandula spp.) are the perfect size for bumblebees, who have longer tongues. Zinnias, whose centers are actually made up of tiny flower heads called disc florets, also make a hearty and abundant snack. And plants with strong stems and already heavy flower heads, such as coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) or Allium, are able to support even the chunkiest carpenter bee. 

Color theory is also key. These insects see in the ultra-violet spectrum and are most often drawn to bright yellow and white flowers, such as daisies (Osteospermum spp.). While they will visit flowers of any color, bees may find your garden easier if there are a few pops of yellow throughout, so consider inter-planting with native perennials such as tickseed (Coreopsis). And since many of these flowers respond well to regular deadheading, you can trim them back regularly to keep the blooms going as long as possible.