Believe it or not, carpenter bees in Indiana are pollination powerhouses. When most people think of pollinators, honeybees usually come to mind. But Indiana is home to hundreds of native bee species quietly keeping our ecosystems and gardens thriving. Among them is the large, shiny black carpenter bee, a bee often mistaken for a bumblebee. While they sometimes get a bad reputation for boring holes into wood, carpenter bees are among the most important pollinators in our state, and with the right plants, you can attract them to your garden while supporting local ecosystems.
Meet the Carpenter Bee
The eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) is the most common species in Indiana. Unlike honeybees, which live in colonies, carpenter bees are solitary. Females carve out tunnels in untreated or weathered wood to lay eggs. This habit sometimes earns them the label of “pest,” especially when they nest in decks or siding. Yet, the damage they cause is usually minor compared to the enormous ecological benefits they provide.
Don’t “bee” afraid of that fuzzy, plump bee!
Males often hover around nesting sites and may look intimidating, but they cannot sting. Females are generally docile and focused on foraging, and foraging is where carpenter bees truly shine. Females can sting, unlike their male counterparts, but it is rare for them to do so.
Pollination Powerhouses
Carpenter bees are generalist pollinators and Indiana’s pollination powerhouses. They visit a wide variety of flowers. Their large bodies and strong flight muscles allow them to perform buzz pollination, vibrating their wing muscles while clinging to a flower to shake loose pollen that other bees might miss. This makes them particularly effective at pollinating tomatoes, peppers, blueberries, eggplants, and other crops common in Indiana gardens and farms.
Active from early spring through fall, carpenter bees ensure that flowers, vegetables, and fruit plants get consistent pollination throughout the growing season.
Plants Carpenter Bees Love
To support carpenter bees and enjoy a beautiful, thriving garden, plant a mix of native perennials and annuals that provide nectar and pollen from spring to fall.
Native Perennials:
- Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – A summer favorite, sturdy and full of pollen.
- Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) – Bright blooms that attract bees and other pollinators.
- Bee balm (Monarda fistulosa) – Tubular flowers brimming with nectar.
- Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) – Late-season blooms to keep bees active into fall.
- Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) – Large open faces perfect for landing and gathering pollen.
Annual Flowers:
- Zinnias – Quick-growing and bright, perfect for bee-friendly beds.
- Cosmos – Airy, daisy-like flowers that bees adore.
- Lantana – Colorful clusters that provide steady nectar all summer.
- Petunias – Especially trailing varieties, accessible to carpenter bees.
- Salvia – Spikes of tubular blooms in red and purple that attract pollinators.
- Annual sunflowers – Easy to grow, great for pollinators, and eye-catching in any garden.
By planting a combination of these natives and annuals, you provide continuous food for carpenter bees while creating a vibrant, colorful landscape that will keep pollinators and your neighbors happy.
Coexisting with Carpenter Bees
While the thought of wood-boring Carpenter bees in Indiana may raise concerns, there are simple ways to protect your home while still welcoming these pollinators. Painted or stained wood is less appealing, and leaving dead logs, stumps, or untreated wooden blocks in garden corners gives bees alternative nesting sites. Unlike termites, carpenter bees don’t eat wood, they simply create nesting tunnels. With a little planning, you can have a beautiful, bee-friendly garden and safe structures.
Why Indiana Needs Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees complement honeybees and other native pollinators, visiting plants at different times of day, in varied weather, and with a unique style of foraging. They help ensure fruit set in orchards, higher yields in vegetable gardens, and seed production in wildflower fields. Supporting these bees strengthens Indiana’s agriculture and local ecosystems.
Bring Pollinators to Your Garden
Wasson carries a wide selection of native perennials and pollinator-friendly annuals perfect for attracting carpenter bees in Indiana, and other pollinators. By planting these flowers, you’re not just creating a vibrant, colorful garden, you’re helping sustain Indiana’s pollinators and the food they help grow.
Stop by our garden center and shop our pollinator-friendly plants and learn how to design a garden that supports bees, butterflies, and other wildlife. Want to take the guessing out of where you should incorporate a pollinator garden in your landscape? Leave it to the Wasson Landscape crew, they will create a customized pollinator garden for you to enjoy for many years to come. Fill out this consultation form to get started planning yours!
Carpenter bees may not make honey, but their quiet work ensures Indiana’s landscapes, from backyard gardens to farms, thrive. With the right plants and a little planning, you can enjoy their benefits while creating a garden full of life and color, from season to season.