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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

• Willow-leaved hakea Hakea salicifolia 4–6 m, shrub

  Shrub, 4–6 m tall, 2–4 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
• Wonga vine Pandorea pandorana 4–6 m, climber

  Climber, 4–6 m tall, 2–4 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, flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add
• Woolly tea-tree Leptospermum lanigerum 3–5 m, shrub

  Shrub, 3–5 m tall, 2–4 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
• Wynyabbie Gem westringia Westringia 'Wynyabbie Gem' 1.5–2 m, shrub

  Shrub, 1.5–2 m tall, 1.5–2 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, flowering
  7. J July, flowering
  8. A August, flowering
  9. S September, flowering
  10. O October, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, flowering
  Add
• Yellow gum Eucalyptus leucoxylon 8–20 m, tree

  Tree, 8–20 m tall, 5–15 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, flowering
  11. N November, flowering
  12. D December, not flowering
  Add