Rocky Mountain bee plant for birds in Utah
Nectar-rich in summer, seed for finches in fall. Native to Utah, where it feeds or shelters 49 backyard bird species.
- Scientific name
- Cleome serrulata
- Native status
- Native in Utah
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–9a
- What birds get from it
- seed, nectar
- Utah birds supported
- 49
- Nesting birds among them
- 46
Growing conditions in Utah
Semi-arid to arid, with the Wasatch Range rising above the Great Basin and red-rock canyon country in the south.
Hot, dry summers.
Utah birds that use Rocky Mountain bee plant
Year-round residents (30)
Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Evening Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, House Sparrow, Black-billed Magpie, Lesser Goldfinch, Cassin's Finch, Spotted Towhee, Gambel's Quail, California Quail, Verdin, Eurasian Collared-Dove, American Crow, Wild Turkey, Mallard, Brown-headed Cowbird, Black-throated Sparrow, Pinyon Jay, Canada Goose, Horned Lark, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Rock Pigeon
Summer breeders (16)
Chipping Sparrow, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, White-crowned Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock's Oriole, Lark Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, American Coot, Savannah Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Bobolink, Yellow-headed Blackbird
Winter visitors (3)
Cold winters with valley inversions; mountain birds descend to backyards.
Nesting season it supports in Utah
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:
- Black-capped Chickadee — April–July
- American Goldfinch — July–September
- House Finch — April–August
- Mourning Dove — March–September
- Dark-eyed Junco — May–July
- Song Sparrow — April–August
- Chipping Sparrow — April–July
- Red-winged Blackbird — April–July
- Evening Grosbeak — June–July
- Pine Siskin — April–June
Native plants to pair with Rocky Mountain bee plant in Utah
Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.
Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Frequently asked
Is Rocky Mountain bee plant native to Utah?
Yes. Rocky Mountain bee plant (Cleome serrulata) is recorded as native in Utah. Utah spans USDA 4a–9a.
What birds does Rocky Mountain bee plant attract in Utah?
In Utah, Rocky Mountain bee plant supports 49 backyard birds, including Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow.
Does Rocky Mountain bee plant help nesting birds in Utah?
46 of those birds nest in Utah: Black-capped Chickadee (April–July), American Goldfinch (July–September), House Finch (April–August), Mourning Dove (March–September).
Which winter birds use Rocky Mountain bee plant in Utah?
Winter visitors American Tree Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Lapland Longspur use it in Utah during the cold months.
Sources
- USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
- VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Utah
- 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.