Frikart’s aster, Aster × frikartii ‘Mönch’ 

A herbaceous perennial that flowers throughout summer. Its lavender-blue daisies pair well with silver foliage plants. An absolute butterfly magnet it also attracts many types of native bees, and provides them with both pollen and nectar.

Ray Hartman’s California lilac, Ceanothus 

California lilacs are a large group of native shrubs that are an excellent source of pollen for early spring bees. ‘Ray Hartman’ is an upright large shrub that can be trained as a small tree and is covered with clear blue flowers in March. Unlike some other California lilacs, it tolerates summer irrigation and is relatively long-lived.

Western redbud, Cercis occidentalis 

This shrub or tree up to 15' is native to the foothills of California’s valley floor. It blooms in spring with magenta-pink pea-shaped flowers that are popular with a variety of native bees. 

California poppy, Eschscholzia californica 

Actually, this is an annual, but they will “perennial-ize” by sprouting the following year from their roots and lower stems or by re-seeding.

Blanket flower, Gaillardia × grandiflora 

A colorful daisy-type flower popular with a number of native bees. This plant may be short-lived in heavy soils.

Goodwin Creek lavender, Lavandula × ginginsii 

hybrid lavender is a tough and long-blooming sub-shrub that can be used to provide winter structure to your pollinator planting. 

Catmint, Nepeta × fassenii 

A tough, herbaceous and spreading perennial that blooms from spring to early summer. Cut this one back after its first bloom to promote reblooming.

Russian sage, Perovskia atriplicifolia 

Attractive to many types of native bees as well as honey bees, this upright deciduous perennial is tough and heat tolerant and thrives in harsh environments. This variety will reward you with vertical spikes of showy purple blooms late into the summer season. 

Germander sage, Salvia chamaedryoides 

Blooms with beautiful dark blue flowers from late spring to early summer and again in fall. It is a primary nectar source for a number of bee types.

Cascade Creek goldenrod, Solidago californica

Blooms summer into fall. Its flame-shaped yellow spikes of flower clusters are attractive to small bees and butterflies. Tough and drought tolerant, it is perfect in a native garden with other low-water plants.