Collections

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

• Spotted gum Corymbia maculata 15–25 m, tree

  Tree, 15–25 m tall, 8–12 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
• Sticky wattle Acacia howittii 4–7 m, shrub

  Shrub, 4–7 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, not flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Stiff daisy Brachyscome angustifolia 0.1–0.2 m, groundcover

  Groundcover, 0.1–0.2 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, 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
• Summer Red flowering gum Corymbia 'Summer Red' 5–8 m, tree

  Tree, 5–8 m tall, 4–6 m wide
  Full sun

  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, not flowering
  10. O October, not flowering
  11. N November, not flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Swan River daisy Brachyscome iberidifolia 0.2–0.4 m, perennial or herb

  Perennial or herb, 0.2–0.4 m tall, 0.2–0.4 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
• Sweet jasmine Jasminum suavissimum 2–3 m, climber

  Climber, 2–3 m tall, 1–2 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, not flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Tantoon Leptospermum polygalifolium 2–4 m, shrub

  Shrub, 2–4 m tall, 2–3 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, 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
• Thyme honey-myrtle Melaleuca thymifolia 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, 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
• Tick bush Kunzea ambigua 2–4 m, shrub

  Shrub, 2–4 m tall, 2–3 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, 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
• Tree hovea Hovea elliptica 1–3 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1–3 m tall, 1–2 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
• Twining guinea flower Hibbertia dentata 1–2 m, climber

  Climber, 1–2 m tall, 1–2 m wide
  Part shade 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, not flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Variable sword-sedge Lepidosperma laterale 0.5–1 m, grass or strappy

  Grass or strappy, 0.5–1 m tall, 0.5–0.8 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, not flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Victorian Christmas bush Prostanthera lasianthos 3–6 m, shrub

  Shrub, 3–6 m tall, 2–4 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, not flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• WA peppermint Agonis flexuosa 6–10 m, tree

  Tree, 6–10 m tall, 4–8 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
• Wallangarra white gum Eucalyptus scoparia 8–12 m, tree

  Tree, 8–12 m tall, 4–6 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
• Wallum banksia Banksia aemula 2–6 m, shrub

  Shrub, 2–6 m tall, 2–4 m wide
  Full sun

  1. J January, not flowering
  2. F February, not 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
• Water gum Tristaniopsis laurina 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, not flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Wattle mat-rush Lomandra filiformis 0.2–0.4 m, grass or strappy

  Grass or strappy, 0.2–0.4 m tall, 0.3–0.5 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, not flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Weeping bottlebrush Melaleuca viminalis 4–8 m, tree

  Tree, 4–8 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, not flowering
  9. S September, not flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Weeping grass Microlaena stipoides 0.2–0.4 m, grass or strappy

  Grass or strappy, 0.2–0.4 m tall, 0.3–0.5 m wide
  Full sun to full 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, not flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Weeping lilly pilly Waterhousea floribunda 8–15 m, tree

  Tree, 8–15 m tall, 4–6 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
• White correa Correa alba 1–1.5 m, shrub

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

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

  Shrub, 4–6 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, 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
• Wilga Geijera parviflora 4–8 m, tree

  Tree, 4–8 m tall, 3–6 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, not flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add