Have you ever wondered why bumble bees visit—or don't visit—particular plants? Plants contain varying types and amounts of nutrients within their nectar and pollen that may—or may not—support a bee's dietary needs. This is similar to how humans require a well-rounded diet complete with vitamins and minerals.
Just because a bee visits a flower does not mean that flower offers nutritious qualities. Studies have shown, for example, that dandelion pollen is not as healthy as other spring flowering plants like willows and maples. This is not to say dandelions are bad, but rather that higher quality alternatives exist. In places that lack spring flowering plants, dandelions can serve as a vital food source for queens, but folks interested in gardening for pollinators should work to gradually replace dandelions with spring-blooming native plants.
Some plants have all or many of the essential nutrients that bees need, and/or have known medicinal properties. A few examples include cranberries, turtlehead, coneflowers, joe-pye wee, native sunflowers, goldenrod, and asters. Bumble bees can even self-medicate on these “superfoods” to help fight off diseases and pests!
