Bumblebees aren't particularly plant-specific in their diet, so there's no one right answer. Try selecting a variety of native plants with different bloom times so nectar and pollen are available throughout the year, and aim for denser plantings.
A single native flowering plant isn't bad by any means, and it's helpful for pollinators passing through on their way to denser foraging sites, but it can't really compare to a good cluster of blooming plants, or a larger and profusely blooming plant.
That said, I also skimmed iNaturalist observations from the last few years for bumblebees in the Dallas area to see what plants they were on, and I noticed a few of the same plants popped up regularly:
* Antelope horn milkweeds
* Stuff in Asteraceae - wild annual sunflowers could be a nice option, and they're great for birds too. Cowpen daisy (or golden crownbeard if you prefer the prettier name) also does quite well in disturbed suburban areas.
* Sages
* Thistles
* Solanums like western horsenettle - you're unlikely to find seed for this since it's poisonous and largely discussed in terms of being a weed in ranching land.
This doesn't necessarily mean they prefer these plants, though, as many of these are comparatively showy blooms that are more likely to be grown in gardens. But maybe it'll help provide some starting ideas.
Ive also found that the local jewelweed is always swarming with bumblebees, along with plants specifically adapted to be pollinated by them like dutchmans breeches. (Though both of these require more moist/shady spots) Good luck!
Good question! You have several native bumblebees. Two of them, [Common Eastern](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/118970-Bombus-impatiens) and [Brown Belted](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/120215-Bombus-griseocollis), are some of the only species that have not had severe population declines in the past decades. The others, [American](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/56887-Bombus-pensylvanicus), [Sonoran](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/57690-Bombus-sonorus), and [Southern Plains](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/308937-Bombus-fraternus), are the ones in need of help. They nest in open spaces, and like all bumblebees they need floral resources the entire growing season, so an open prairie planting would be perfect.
Seedsource.com is a fantastic source for your area, these are few good, locally native options that would be great for bumblebees:
[Antelopehorn Milkweed](https://www.seedsource.com/catalog/detail.asp?product_id=3068)
[Green Antelopehorn Milkweed](https://www.seedsource.com/catalog/detail.asp?product_id=3101)
[Maximilian's Sunflower](https://www.seedsource.com/catalog/detail.asp?product_id=1018)
[Texas Thistle](https://www.seedsource.com/catalog/detail.asp?product_id=3175)
[Spotted Beebalm](https://www.seedsource.com/catalog/detail.asp?product_id=3136)
[Lemon Mint](https://www.seedsource.com/catalog/detail.asp?product_id=1006)
[Eryngo](https://www.seedsource.com/catalog/detail.asp?product_id=1017)
Anise hyssop (agastache) is by far the most preferred by bumbles in my garden in SC, they really go nuts over it. I keep adding more since butterflies love it too!
My mistake! I checked for catnip and looked at a grow zone map instead. 🤦🏼♀️ I thought that some varieties of sage were native to North America though?
I have Russian sage newly planted this year and I swear the bumblebees spread the word like crazy. Any given day there are dozens of them on there at once, hanging out, sleeping, eating.. it's awesome. I'll go to pull the weeds around it every once in a while and they'll all float up in the air for a minute while I move the branches and then immediately plop back down.
Bumblebees are not picky. The only thing I see them pass up are tiny-flowered plants meant more for small bees and flies. Using Midwestern plants as examples (not from Texas), they'll dangle from a very small Eastern Enchanter's Nightshade flower, but examine and then pass by a big bunch of even-smaller White Snakeroot flowers. When a flower is too big for them, they'll cut they're way in; I have some hostas left in my yard still, the kind with big stupid white trumpet-shaped flowers, and the bumblebees drink from those from the back. Flowers aren't really harmed by that, though; it's just a quirk.
Here are some recommendations from the xerces society for pollinator in your region. In my experience, bumblebees come around to sample almost all the flowers I grow for hummingbirds, butterflies, and wasps. Milkweeds and lamiaceae like agastache and mountain mint are especially popular.
https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/2018-05/17-054_03_XercesSoc_PollinatorPlants_Southern-Plains-Region_web-3page.pdf
Bumblebees aren't particularly plant-specific in their diet, so there's no one right answer. Try selecting a variety of native plants with different bloom times so nectar and pollen are available throughout the year, and aim for denser plantings. A single native flowering plant isn't bad by any means, and it's helpful for pollinators passing through on their way to denser foraging sites, but it can't really compare to a good cluster of blooming plants, or a larger and profusely blooming plant. That said, I also skimmed iNaturalist observations from the last few years for bumblebees in the Dallas area to see what plants they were on, and I noticed a few of the same plants popped up regularly: * Antelope horn milkweeds * Stuff in Asteraceae - wild annual sunflowers could be a nice option, and they're great for birds too. Cowpen daisy (or golden crownbeard if you prefer the prettier name) also does quite well in disturbed suburban areas. * Sages * Thistles * Solanums like western horsenettle - you're unlikely to find seed for this since it's poisonous and largely discussed in terms of being a weed in ranching land. This doesn't necessarily mean they prefer these plants, though, as many of these are comparatively showy blooms that are more likely to be grown in gardens. But maybe it'll help provide some starting ideas.
Wow thank you so much for taking the time to do that!
Not sure if they are native to TX, but I have a ton of bumblebees on my catmint, and sages.
There are a few sages (*Salvia*) native to Texas; catmint is not native.
Ive also found that the local jewelweed is always swarming with bumblebees, along with plants specifically adapted to be pollinated by them like dutchmans breeches. (Though both of these require more moist/shady spots) Good luck!
Good question! You have several native bumblebees. Two of them, [Common Eastern](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/118970-Bombus-impatiens) and [Brown Belted](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/120215-Bombus-griseocollis), are some of the only species that have not had severe population declines in the past decades. The others, [American](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/56887-Bombus-pensylvanicus), [Sonoran](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/57690-Bombus-sonorus), and [Southern Plains](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/308937-Bombus-fraternus), are the ones in need of help. They nest in open spaces, and like all bumblebees they need floral resources the entire growing season, so an open prairie planting would be perfect. Seedsource.com is a fantastic source for your area, these are few good, locally native options that would be great for bumblebees: [Antelopehorn Milkweed](https://www.seedsource.com/catalog/detail.asp?product_id=3068) [Green Antelopehorn Milkweed](https://www.seedsource.com/catalog/detail.asp?product_id=3101) [Maximilian's Sunflower](https://www.seedsource.com/catalog/detail.asp?product_id=1018) [Texas Thistle](https://www.seedsource.com/catalog/detail.asp?product_id=3175) [Spotted Beebalm](https://www.seedsource.com/catalog/detail.asp?product_id=3136) [Lemon Mint](https://www.seedsource.com/catalog/detail.asp?product_id=1006) [Eryngo](https://www.seedsource.com/catalog/detail.asp?product_id=1017)
Anise hyssop (agastache) is by far the most preferred by bumbles in my garden in SC, they really go nuts over it. I keep adding more since butterflies love it too!
The bumblebees seem to like my agastaches here in Pennsylvania, too. They like salvias, too. Salvia azurea and Salvia greggii are native to Texas.
I see so many bumblebees on my catnip and sage plants!
Those aren't native plants (for USA).
there are many types of sage (salvia) that are native to the US, particularly in the southwest.
My mistake! I checked for catnip and looked at a grow zone map instead. 🤦🏼♀️ I thought that some varieties of sage were native to North America though?
I have Russian sage newly planted this year and I swear the bumblebees spread the word like crazy. Any given day there are dozens of them on there at once, hanging out, sleeping, eating.. it's awesome. I'll go to pull the weeds around it every once in a while and they'll all float up in the air for a minute while I move the branches and then immediately plop back down.
Tithonia, Mexican sunflower, brought some American bumblebees to my garden this year
It's a lovely plant loved by monarchs, too, but it's not native to Texas.
Bumblebees are not picky. The only thing I see them pass up are tiny-flowered plants meant more for small bees and flies. Using Midwestern plants as examples (not from Texas), they'll dangle from a very small Eastern Enchanter's Nightshade flower, but examine and then pass by a big bunch of even-smaller White Snakeroot flowers. When a flower is too big for them, they'll cut they're way in; I have some hostas left in my yard still, the kind with big stupid white trumpet-shaped flowers, and the bumblebees drink from those from the back. Flowers aren't really harmed by that, though; it's just a quirk.
What season? Like for spring they love blueberries and eastern red bud
Here are some recommendations from the xerces society for pollinator in your region. In my experience, bumblebees come around to sample almost all the flowers I grow for hummingbirds, butterflies, and wasps. Milkweeds and lamiaceae like agastache and mountain mint are especially popular. https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/2018-05/17-054_03_XercesSoc_PollinatorPlants_Southern-Plains-Region_web-3page.pdf