Let's explore native flowers. They may not be as showy as exotic species or garden hybrids, but if you live near natural areas, they can provide essential nectar and pollen for honey bees and native pollinators like bumble bees. Even in cities, native plants and their cultivated varieties (nativars) are often used in landscaping. Since they're adapted to our wet winters and dry summers, they thrive in gardens with little maintenance.
Plants are listed in the order I found them in the North Seattle area in 2025. Photos with pollinators were taken between 2018 and 2025. Some plants may not be strictly native; they could be cultivated varieties or high-altitude species planted in lowland gardens. Click on the Latin names for detailed descriptions (external links).
To view an alphabetical list of common native flowers, click below to go to the bottom of this page.
A sizable deciduous shrub that may serve as an early pollen source for honey bees in non-urban settings. While I have identified its pollen in my honey bee hives (distinguished from the European hazelnut, which had already finished blooming at the time), I have not personally observed bees actively foraging on it.
A moderate-sized tree with reddish catkins, it is the most common deciduous tree in the Pacific Northwest. While I’ve found pollen resembling alder in my honey bee hives, I have not personally observed bees actively foraging on red alder trees.
A sizable deciduous shrub commonly found in open woods, it is often the first native nectar source in the Pacific Northwest lowlands. I planted one in a partially sunny spot in my garden, which turned out to be a male plant (note the yellowish pollen on the honey bee).
An evergreen shrub known for its spiky leaves and vibrant yellow flowers. It makes an excellent hedge plant and is a superior alternative to the invasive English holly.
A deciduous shrub often used in landscaping, this specimen is the 'King Edward VII' cultivar, which I planted in a partially sunny spot.
One of our native 'pussy willows,' it thrives in relatively dry locations (for a willow). Typically growing as a large shrub or small tree, it can occasionally reach heights over 50 feet. While I’ve seen bees buzzing around it, capturing a clear photo has proven challenging.
A bog plant with a striking yellow bract surrounding its flower stem. While I have found its pollen in my honey bee hives, I have not observed bees actively foraging on it.
The earliest-blooming bramble, commonly found in moist woods and along streambanks.
A low-growing evergreen shrub with small leaves and urn-shaped pink or white flowers. I’ve seen bumble bees on it, but not honey bees.
A type of pussy willow, it distinguishes itself from Scouler's willow by blooming later and is commonly found in wetlands.
A very large evergreen conifer, I’ve found its pollen in my honey bee hives, but I haven’t personally observed bees foraging directly on it (they may have gathered pollen from nearby rooftops).
A perennial herb that thrives in moist, shaded environments, featuring delicate, pink or white flowers with five petals and narrow, lance-shaped leaves.
An evergreen shrub, ideal for hedge planting as an alternative to boxwoods. Mine is a favorite of both bumble bees and honey bees.
A moderate-sized shrub often found in moist woodland, with thorny stems, lobed green leaves, and clusters of small, greenish or yellowish flowers.
A perennial wildflower, standing at a modest 1-2 feet tall, adds a burst of color to the shaded corners of my garden, drawing in bumble bees but not attracting honey bees.
A sizable shrub found in damp, open woodlands, reaching its flowering peak in May and continuing to bloom until mid-summer.
Undoubtedly one of the most significant native nectar sources in spring, its towering height—often exceeding 100 feet—makes photographing bees on its flowers a challenge.
Perennial wildflowers found in moist woodlands, featuring showy, nodding flowers. They are often planted in shady gardens.
A petite maple tree, perfect for garden settings, honey bees seem to favor it over the Japanese maple.
A perennial wildflower typically found in moist, shaded woodland areas, featuring drooping, bell-shaped flowers.
A substantial shrub or small to medium-sized tree, commonly found in wetlands, featuring lance-shaped, glossy leaves and yellow catkins.
A sizable evergreen tree with peeling orange-red bark and white, heath-like flowers. I've noticed flying insects around its blooms, but they were too distant to confirm whether they were bees.
A tree of modest to medium size, adorned with striking white flowers (six large bracts surrounding a cluster of tiny flowers). I've found its pollen in my honey bee hives, potentially from the eastern dogwood, though I haven't directly observed bees foraging on it.
A low-growing, leafy herb thriving in moist, shaded areas with round, succulent leaves and tiny flowers.
A medium-sized deciduous tree, I have identified birch-like pollen in my honey bee hives, which could potentially be from European birch, although I haven't directly observed the bees foraging on it.
A very large evergreen conifer, the most common tree in the Pacific Northwest. I have found its pollen in my honey bee hives but have not witnessed bees foraging on it (they might have collected pollen from rooftops).
An evergreen perennial that forms a neat, compact mound. This particular one is a cultivar (I forgot the name) planted in my rock garden.
A small to medium-sized tree with flat-topped clusters of small, white, five-petaled flowers—each smaller than those of the Japanese cherry. I've identified its pollen in my honey bee hives (other cherries had already faded), yet I haven't seen bees actively foraging on it.
A perennial wildflower thriving in damp forests, characterized by round leaves and elongated flower spikes. Planted in shaded areas of my garden, it attracts bumble bees, though I haven't observed honey bees on it.
A bulbous plant standing 2-3 feet tall. I plant it alongside spring bulbs like tulips and hyacinths, which have faded by the time the camas blooms.
A small tree or large shrub, commonly found in wetlands and along streams, with dark green leaves and clusters of fragrant white to pink flowers. I believe this tree found in the University of Washington wetland is one, though it could be a flowering crabapple cultivar.
A towering evergreen tree commonly seen near the coastline. I've found spruce pollen in my honey bee hives, potentially from non-native spruces, but I haven't observed bees actively foraging on spruce trees.
A native blackberry, notably less vigorous than the invasive Himalayan blackberry, it attracts honey bees, bumble bees, mason bees, and more.
A low-growing perennial found in moist woodlands, featuring small, bell-shaped flowers on slender stems.
A climbing vine, often found in forests, along roadsides, and in rocky slopes, featuring bright orange to red tubular flowers.
A medium-sized deciduous shrub or small tree, often found at woodland edges and in open areas, with oval, toothed leaves and clusters of white, five-petaled flowers.
A substantial shrub or petite tree with clusters of white, five-petaled flowers. While hawthorns are known bee magnets, I haven't been able to capture a good bee photo of the black hawthorn, as it is relatively uncommon in my neighborhood
An evergreen shrub, usually 2 to 5 feet tall, forming dense thickets. Its small, urn-shaped flowers range from white to pink and attract bumble bees, though I haven't seen honey bees on them.
A perennial wildflower, approximately 2 feet tall, commonly found in most forests. It grows well in my shade garden.
A substantial shrub with red (or possibly yellow) bark and clusters of small, creamy-white flowers. Native to wetlands and often used in landscaping, it blooms in May and again in July, attracting honey bees.
An annual or perennial wildflower often found along sunny roadsides, with blue-green leaves and vibrant orange-yellow flowers.
A sizable shrub with white, five-petaled flowers and prickles that are not as sharp or abundant as those of other brambles.
A low-growing perennial found in moist forests, featuring clusters of tiny, star-shaped white flowers on slender stems.
A sizable shrub or small tree with oval, glossy leaves. Its small greenish-yellow flowers may not be showy, but they attract honey bees, bumble bees, and other insects.
A medium-sized deciduous tree. I've found oak pollen in my honey bee hives (possibly from other non-native oaks), but I haven't directly observed bees actively foraging on oak trees.
A sizable rose shrub, reaching 5-8 feet in height, adorned with prickles, pinnately compound leaves, and attractive pink flowers.
A small perennial with green or purple leaves and sturdy flower stalks. Some 'coral bells' garden varieties may come from this species.
A relatively small pine, typically growing about 20–40 feet tall, and it blooms early in the season. Although I have found pine pollen in my honey bee hives (possibly from non-native pine trees), I have not observed bees actively foraging on shore pine.
A large evergreen shrub with leathery, dark green leaves and showy clusters of pink to lavender flowers. I believe this is one, but it might be a similar-looking species or hybrid.
A perennial wildflower, about 2 feet tall, with lobed leaves and graceful, nodding red-orange flowers. While it attracts bumble bees in my garden, honey bees seem less drawn to it.
A medium-sized shrub found in a variety of habitats, including forests, riparian areas, and woodland edges, with white to pink flowers.
A perennial wildflower, 1-3 feet tall, with feathery leaves and flat flower heads. The flowers are typically white or pinkish, but can also be yellow or red in some cultivars.
A 3-foot-tall perennial with vibrant blue-purple flowers. Planted in partly sunny spots, it attracts many bumble bees but seems less appealing to honey bees.
A sizable shrub, typically 6 to 12 feet tall, often found in wetlands, with lobed leaves and clusters of small, creamy-white flowers.
A compact shrub, often used in landscaping, with dense clusters of small, white flowers.
A perennial wildflower, 4-6 feet tall, with hanging flower stems covered in numerous tiny white flowers. Planted in a partially sunny spot in my garden, it attracts bumble bees, though I have yet to spot honey bees among its blooms.
A sizable deciduous shrub with small pinkish flowers that later produce striking white berries
An annual wildflower, 2-3 feet tall, with a flowerhead adorned with numerous tiny blue flowers.
A clump-forming perennial with two-lipped, tubular flowers in shades of blue to purple, arranged in spikes.
A perennial wildflower, thriving from sea level to subalpine regions, with lance-shaped leaves and vibrant deep-pink flowers.
A large perennial plant found in wet meadows, streamsides, and forest edges, featuring large, flat clusters of white flowers.
One of the most common and latest-blooming pine trees, growing to about 130–180 feet tall. My honey bees occasionally bring back pine pollen during its peak bloom.
A small perennial wildflower, 1 to 3 feet tall, with daisy-like flowers featuring lavender to violet-blue petals and a yellow center. In my garden, these blooms last until the first hard frost, mainly attracting small pollinators, with occasional visits from bumble bees.
A sizable shrub often found in open woodlands along streams, featuring fragrant white flowers.
A substantial shrub, reaching heights of 6 to 12 feet or more, with lobed leaves and abundant, arching clusters of small, creamy-white flowers.
A rose shrub, 3-6 feet tall, with prickles, pinnately compound leaves, and pink roses. It blooms later than the similar Nootka rose.
A perennial with slender, grass-like leaves and arching stems that bear loose clusters of pink to pale lavender, nodding flowers in early to mid-summer.
A perennial wildflower often found in coastal environments, with palmately compound leaves and pea-like flowers in shades of blue, purple, or pink. It attracts bumble bees but not honey bees.
A robust perennial vine often found near wetlands, attracting honey bees and bumble bees. It thrives in sun or shade but can become unruly in gardens without management.
A perennial herb thriving in wetlands, characterized by parsley-like leaves and clusters of tiny white flowers.
A low-growing, perennial herb with creeping stems, opposite leaves, and dense spikes of purple, hooded flowers that bloom from late spring through summer. It spreads readily in lawns, meadows, and disturbed sites.
A perennial wildflower with papery white flowers and silver-green foliage. While I seldom observe pollinators on it in the Puget Sound Lowlands, it is quite popular with bumble bees at higher elevations.
A woody shrub, 3 to 6 feet tall, commonly found near wetlands. It has small, rose-pink flowers in dense spikes that attract bees during the summer.
A perennial herb flourishing in wetlands, characterized by parsley-like leaves and clusters of tiny white flowers.
A perennial wildflower, typically 2-4 feet tall, with daisy-like flowers (violet-blue rays surrounding a yellow center). In most years, it is the last native flower to bloom.
Click ↕ in the table header to sort alphabetically. Click ↗ in the third column to jump to the plant's description in the text.