Shady bee plants?

[Shawn]

Does anyone know of any good plants or flowers bees like that do very well in shade. I have a big area under an elm tree that is shaded most of the day and it is just dirt. I thougt I would plant some flowers or plants there to help out the bees.

[reinbeau]

Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis.  The bees love it and it does well under elm trees - I've got lots of it under mine.

[MrILoveTheAnts]

I want to say Bug Bane, Cimicifuga racemosa, but I'm not sure the bees like it yet. Hasn't bloomed yet.

I have some Blazing Stars, Liatris, planted in partial shade under a tree. The bees love them. Liatris in shade tends to bloom a month later than it would normally.

Joe Pye weed, Eupatorium, can be planted in partial shade too, it actually grows taller in the shade but has a higher risk of falling over. So prop it up. A few Eupatoriums are actually compact in size too.

Aster cordifolius, Aster divaricatus, and Aster macropbyllus all love shade. I don't believe I own these but I know bees enjoy Asters very much.

[Shawn]

Thanks for the info.

[SgtMaj]

Are there any others (particularly lower to the ground ones)?  At some ponit next year my wife and I are going to put in a flower-garden pathway in a fairly shady spot, and it would be great if a lot of those flowers supported bees.

[Shawn]

Yea that is what I am looking for flowers for the bees. There are not many out there for the shade. I already have a sidewalk going through my backyard. I am working on putting a flower bed along both sides.

[Shawn]

While looking for new plants for this spring I found a seed package of plants that like shady places. Just thought I would share it.

http://www.americanmeadows.com/Perennials/Collections/ShadeCollection.aspx