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Plants for bees and butterflies

Australia has around 2,000 kinds of native bee, and most are small, solitary and harmless. Open, simple flowers in blue, purple, white and yellow suit them best. Plant in drifts rather than one of each, and leave some bare ground and old stems for nesting.

173 plants. Narrow these down by size, sun, soil or your postcode

• Red-fruit saw-sedge Gahnia sieberiana 1.5–2.5 m, grass or strappy

  Grass or strappy, 1.5–2.5 m tall, 1–2 m wide
  Full sun to full shade

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Riberry Syzygium luehmannii 5–10 m, tree

  Tree, 5–10 m tall, 3–5 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Rice flower Ozothamnus diosmifolius 1–2 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1–2 m tall, 1–1.5 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• River mint Mentha australis 0.2–0.5 m, perennial or herb

  Perennial or herb, 0.2–0.5 m tall, 0.5–1 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• River wattle Acacia cognata 3–6 m, shrub

  Shrub, 3–6 m tall, 3–5 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Rock thryptomene Thryptomene saxicola 0.8–1.2 m, shrub

  Shrub, 0.8–1.2 m tall, 1–1.5 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, flowering
  6. J June, flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Rose coneflower Isopogon formosus 1–2 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1–2 m tall, 1–1.5 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Round-leaf mint bush Prostanthera rotundifolia 1–2 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1–2 m tall, 1–1.5 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Scarlet honey-myrtle Melaleuca fulgens 1–2 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1–2 m tall, 1–1.5 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Scarlet kunzea Kunzea baxteri 2–3 m, shrub

  Shrub, 2–3 m tall, 1.5–2.5 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Sea urchin hakea Hakea petiolaris 3–5 m, shrub

  Shrub, 3–5 m tall, 2–4 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, flowering
  5. M May, flowering
  6. J June, flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Showy honey-myrtle Melaleuca nesophila 2–4 m, shrub

  Shrub, 2–4 m tall, 2–4 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Silky eremophila Eremophila nivea 1–1.5 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1–1.5 m tall, 1–1.5 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Silky oak! Grevillea robusta 12–20 m, tree. Weed risk in some areas

  Tree, 12–20 m tall, 5–10 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering

  Weed risk in some areas

  Add
• Silver banksia Banksia marginata 2–6 m, shrub

  Shrub, 2–6 m tall, 2–4 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, flowering
  3. M March, flowering
  4. A April, flowering
  5. M May, flowering
  6. J June, flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Silver plectranthus Plectranthus argentatus 0.6–1 m, shrub

  Shrub, 0.6–1 m tall, 0.8–1.2 m wide
  Part shade to full shade

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, flowering
  3. M March, flowering
  4. A April, flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Silver princess Eucalyptus caesia 4–8 m, tree

  Tree, 4–8 m tall, 3–5 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, flowering
  6. J June, flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Small crowea Crowea exalata 0.5–1 m, shrub

  Shrub, 0.5–1 m tall, 0.5–1 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, flowering
  3. M March, flowering
  4. A April, flowering
  5. M May, flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Small-leaved clematis Clematis microphylla 2–4 m, climber

  Climber, 2–4 m tall, 1–3 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Smooth-barked apple Angophora costata 12–20 m, tree

  Tree, 12–20 m tall, 8–12 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Snake vine Hibbertia scandens 0.3–3 m, climber

  Climber, 0.3–3 m tall, 2–4 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, flowering
  3. M March, flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Snow gum Eucalyptus pauciflora 6–15 m, tree

  Tree, 6–15 m tall, 5–10 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Snow-in-summer Melaleuca linariifolia 5–8 m, tree

  Tree, 5–8 m tall, 3–6 m wide
  Full sun to part shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Spiny-headed mat-rush Lomandra longifolia 0.5–1 m, grass or strappy

  Grass or strappy, 0.5–1 m tall, 0.5–1 m wide
  Full sun to full shade

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not flowering
  3. M March, not flowering
  4. A April, not flowering
  5. M May, not flowering
  6. J June, not flowering
  7. J July, not flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add