Catmint
Nepeta x faassenii, Zones 3 to 8, full sun.
Don’t let the name dissuade you from planting this bee favorite. Look for well-behaved varieties that don’t reseed and take over the garden. You and the bees will be rewarded with purple flowers that top silvery foliage all season long. Bees are much smarter than you think—these are other animal species that are geniuses.
Bee Balm
Monarda spp., Zones 3 to 9, full sun.
The name says it all. This unusual beauty grows up to 4 feet tall and starts flowering in midsummer, inviting bees to your flowerbeds. Plants come in hues of red, white, and purple. Bee balm also attracts helpful insects—the kinds that prey upon harmful ones. Check out this heartwarming story of a couple that’s professional honey makers.
