Echinacea, commonly known as coneflower, is a popular perennial that serves as a highly beneficial resource for pollinators in the garden. The answer to whether bees like Echinacea is a definitive yes, provided the right varieties are chosen. Native species, in particular, are powerful attractants, helping to support local ecosystems by offering necessary sustenance. As a native North American wildflower, Echinacea has co-evolved with local insect populations, making it a reliable and effective food source that gardeners can easily incorporate.
Why Echinacea Attracts Pollinators
The physical structure of the coneflower is adapted to accommodate a wide range of foraging insects. Its prominent central cone acts as a stable landing platform for large pollinators, like bumblebees and butterflies, and smaller solitary bee species. This cone is an aggregate of hundreds of tiny, individual disc florets that open sequentially from the rim inward. This gradual blooming pattern allows a single flower head to offer a sustained supply of nectar and pollen over a period of weeks.
The resources provided are nutritionally dense, a major factor in the plant’s appeal. Echinacea nectar contains sugar concentrations and specific amino acid profiles that are beneficial for native bee health and reproduction. The pollen it produces is rich in protein, essential for the development of bee larvae. This combination of accessible structure and high-quality food makes Echinacea a superior choice. Common visitors include honeybees, various species of bumblebees, and native solitary bees.
Choosing the Best Echinacea for Bees
Selecting the right Echinacea variety is the most important step for maximizing pollinator support in your garden. The native, or “straight species,” such as Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower) and Echinacea pallida (Pale Purple Coneflower), are consistently the most beneficial choices. These varieties retain the open, single-petal structure that has co-evolved with local insects, ensuring easy access to pollen and nectar. The accessibility of the central cone is a direct measure of the flower’s value to a foraging bee.
Many modern cultivars, or “nativars,” have been bred for unique colors, compact size, or novel flower shapes, which often compromise their ecological function. Varieties with a “double-flowered” appearance, where the center is densely packed with extra petals, are particularly problematic.
This heavy hybridization physically obstructs the bee’s access to the reproductive parts of the flower, essentially eliminating the pollen and nectar reward. Research has demonstrated this difference, with native E. purpurea receiving a significantly higher number of pollinator visits compared to heavily modified double-flowered cultivars.
When choosing plants, look for varieties that closely resemble the native species, featuring a single layer of ray petals around a fully exposed center. Cultivars that maintain this classic, open structure, such as ‘White Swan’ or ‘Magnus,’ perform better than highly modified options. Prioritizing the straight species or open-centered cultivars ensures the plant provides readily available resources.
Cultivating Echinacea for Maximum Bee Activity
Proper cultivation techniques focus on maximizing the visibility and availability of the flowers throughout the growing season. Planting Echinacea in large clusters or drifts makes the resource patch more conspicuous to foraging bees flying overhead. A mass of blooms creates a strong visual cue that helps insects locate the food source efficiently.
Echinacea thrives in full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct sunlight daily to promote vigorous growth and abundant flowering. It also requires well-drained soil and is tolerant of drought once established. Providing these conditions ensures the plants are healthy, which correlates with robust nectar and pollen production.
Strategic maintenance can extend the plant’s benefit to pollinators. While deadheading encourages new blooms, a balanced approach is best for supporting wildlife. Removing approximately two-thirds of the faded flowers encourages a second flush of blooms, extending nectar availability into the late summer. The remaining spent flower heads should be left intact, as they provide seeds for wintering birds and allow for natural self-seeding.