Planting for rusty patched bumble bees
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Want to help support an endangered bumble bee? We at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wanted to recommend some native plants known to be favored by the rusty patched bumble bee to get you started! Be sure to include varieties that bloom from early spring through late fall to support rusty patched bumble bees and other pollinators throughout the year. Whether you have a few feet on your apartment balcony, a yard in need of landscaping or several acres, these are great plants to help you get started.
Keep in mind that this is a general guide - not every plant will grow well in the variety of conditions throughout each region. For best results, ensure your growing conditions are appropriate for the needs of each plant you select. Search for native plant nurseries in your area for specific local recommendations.
Historically, the rusty patched bumble bee was broadly distributed across the eastern United States and upper midwest, as well as in southern Quebec and Ontario, in Canada. This historical range continued south to the northeast corner of Georgia and reached west to the eastern edges of North and South Dakota. Currently, the rusty patched bumble bee is known to occur in a small fraction of its historical range.
Learn more about the rusty patched bumble bee.
Choose your region to get started:
Great Plains
Spring blooming (March to April)
Herbaceous species
- Native shooting star species (Primula spp)
- Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
- Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)
- Wild lupine (Lupinus perennis)
- Wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis)
Woody species
- Native serviceberry (Amelanchier spp)
- Native plums and cherries (Prunus spp)
- Native gooseberry and currants (Ribes spp)
- Native willows (Salix spp)
Summer blooming (May to August)
Herbaceous species
- Native giant hyssop species (Agastache spp)
- Native milkweed species (Asclepias spp)
- Wild white indigo (Baptisia alba)
- Cream indigo (Baptisia bracteata)
- Native field thistle (Cirsium discolor)
- Native swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum)
- White prairie clover (Dalea candida)
- Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea)
- Native coneflower species (Echinacea spp)
- Native Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium spp)
- Native gentian species (Gentiana spp)
- Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
- Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)
- Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
- Native blazing-star species (Liatris spp)
- Wild lupine (Lupinus perennis)
- Bee balm/wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
- Wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis)
- Large-flowered penstemon (Penstemon grandiflorus)
- Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)
- Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)
- Native goldenrod species (Solidago spp)
- New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
- Culver鈥檚 root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
Woody species
- Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)
- New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
- Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
- Dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)
- Native plums and cherries (Prunus spp)
- Native wild roses (rosa spp)
- Native spiraea (Spiraea spp)
- American basswood (Tilia americana)
- Large cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
Fall blooming (September to October)
Herbaceous species
- Native field thistle (Cirsium discolor)
- Native swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum)
- Native gentian species (Gentiana spp)
- Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)
- Native goldenrod species (Solidago spp)
- New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Great Lakes
Spring blooming (March to April)
Herbaceous species
- Native shooting star species (Primula spp)
- Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
- Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)
- Wild lupine (Lupinus perennis)
- Wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis)
Woody species
- Native serviceberry (Amelanchier spp)
- Native plums and cherries (Prunus spp)
- Native gooseberry and currants (Ribes spp)
- Native willows (Salix spp)
Summer blooming (May to August)
Herbaceous species
- Native giant hyssop species (Agastache spp)
- Native milkweed species (Asclepias spp)
- Wild white indigo (Baptisia alba)
- Cream indigo (Baptisia bracteata)
- Native field thistle (Cirsium discolor)
- Native swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum)
- White prairie clover (Dalea candida)
- Purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea)
- Native shooting star species (Primula spp)
- Native coneflower species (Echinacea spp)
- Native Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium spp)
- Native gentian species (Gentiana spp)
- Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
- Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)
- Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis)
- Native blazing-star species (Liatris spp)
- Wild lupine (Lupinus perennis)
- Bee balm/wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
- Wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis)
- Smooth penstemon (Penstemon digitalis)
- Large-flowered penstemon (Penstemon grandiflorus)
- Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)
- Culver鈥檚 root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
Woody species
- Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)
- New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
- Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
- Dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)
- Native plums and cherries (Prunus spp)
- Native wild roses (rosa spp)
- Native spiraea (Spiraea spp)
- American basswood (Tilia americana)
- Large cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
Fall blooming (September to October)
Herbaceous species
- Native field thistle (Cirsium discolor)
- Native swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum)
- Native gentian species (Gentiana spp)
- Showy goldenrod (Solidago speciosa)
- Native goldenrod species (Solidago spp)
- New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Northeast
Spring blooming (March to April)
Herbaceous species
- Wild white indigo (Baptisia alba)
- Native shooting star species (Primula spp)
- Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
- Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)
- Wild lupine (Lupinus perennis)
- Wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis)
Woody species
- Native serviceberry (Amelanchier spp)
- Native plums and cherries (Prunus spp)
- Native gooseberry and currants (Ribes spp)
- Native wild roses (rosa spp)
- Native willows (Salix spp)
- Native spiraea (Spiraea spp)
Summer blooming (May to August)
Herbaceous species
- Native giant hyssop species (Agastache spp)
- Native milkweed species (Asclepias spp)
- Native field thistle (Cirsium discolor)
- Native swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum)
- Native coneflower species (Echinacea spp)
- Native Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium spp)
- Native blazing-star species (Liatris spp)
- Bee balm/wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
- Mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)
- Culver鈥檚 root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
Woody species
- New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
- Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
- Dwarf bush honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)
- Native plums and cherries (Prunus spp)
- American basswood (Tilia americana)
- Large cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
Fall blooming (September to October)
Herbaceous species
- Native field thistle (Cirsium discolor)
- Native swamp thistle (Cirsium muticum)
- Native gentian species (Gentiana spp)
- Native goldenrod species (Solidago spp)
- New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
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