Rocky Mountain bee plant for birds in Nebraska
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall. Native to Nebraska, where it feeds or shelters 54 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Cleome serrulata
- Native status
- Native in Nebraska
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4b–5b
- What birds get from it
- seed, nectar
- Nebraska birds supported
- 54
- Nesting birds among them
- 42
Growing conditions in Nebraska
Continental, from tallgrass prairie in the east to the Sandhills and shortgrass in the west.
Hot summers with thunderstorms.
Nebraska birds that use Rocky Mountain bee plant
Year-round residents (21)
Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Mourning Dove, Song Sparrow, House Sparrow, Black-billed Magpie, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Wood Duck, Wild Turkey, Northern Bobwhite, Mallard, Eastern Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, Field Sparrow, Canada Goose, Horned Lark, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (21)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Chipping Sparrow, Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Spotted Towhee, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, Lark Sparrow, American Coot, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Dickcissel, Blue Grosbeak, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird
Winter visitors (12)
Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Hoary Redpoll, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Cold, windy winters; the Platte River corridor holds most wintering birds.
Nesting season it supports in Nebraska
Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Rocky Mountain bee plant:
- Northern Cardinal — April–August
- Black-capped Chickadee — April–July
- American Goldfinch — July–September
- House Finch — April–August
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird — May–August
- Mourning Dove — March–September
- Song Sparrow — April–August
- Chipping Sparrow — April–July
- Common Grackle — April–June
- Red-winged Blackbird — April–July
Native plants to pair with Rocky Mountain bee plant in Nebraska
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Rocky Mountain bee plant native to Nebraska?
Yes. Rocky Mountain bee plant (Cleome serrulata) is recorded as native in Nebraska. Nebraska spans USDA 4b–5b.
What birds does Rocky Mountain bee plant attract in Nebraska?
In Nebraska, Rocky Mountain bee plant supports 54 backyard birds, including Northern Cardinal, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Purple Finch, Ruby-throated Hummingbird.
Does Rocky Mountain bee plant help nesting birds in Nebraska?
42 of those birds nest in Nebraska: Northern Cardinal (April–August), Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), American Goldfinch (July–September), House Finch (April–August).
Which winter birds use Rocky Mountain bee plant in Nebraska?
Winter visitors Purple Finch, Dark-eyed Junco, White-throated Sparrow, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, American Tree Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur, Hoary Redpoll, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch use it in Nebraska during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Nebraska
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.