Bees are vital. Without them, pollination of crops doesn't occur. Bees work tirelessly to provide us with our food, but are struggling in the wild. In recent years it has become apparent that bees, not just the honeybee, are under threat and some have already gone extinct. Find out on this lens which flowers to grow for pollen and nectar that will feed them and help them to increase their numbers. Insects and plants must now be taken care of by gardeners if they are to survive.The private garden is now a better place than the countryside for wildlife, since much agricultural land is now devoid of the diversity of flowers insects need to give them their 'five a day'. It is now thought by scientists in the field that insects need as much variety in their food as we do to get all the trace minerals and vitamins to keep them healthy, so go on, plant flowers for the bees!
HA= Hardy annual HHA =Half hardy annual P = Perennial HB= Hardy biennial HS= Hardy shrub
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1
Cosmos (HHA) is an annual flower easily raised from seed.
It’s also one of the very best for the bee. Grow it in groups, making the
collection of pollen easier for the bees, who won’t have to fly as far to find
their food. Cosmos grows 2-5ft tall, the majority reaching about 2ft. It’s from
Mexico, so a half hardy annual. Plant out after all danger of frost has passed,
and deadhead to keep them flowering continuously through the summer. These
open, flat flowers will delight you as well as giving the bees a feast.
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2
Aster (HHA) ‘Compostion’ or Michaelmass Daisies.
Many modern hybrids have little or no pollen. easy to grow, colorful and late
summer to autumn flowering, they provide food late in the season. Important if
honeybees are to be well fed to get through the winter months.
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3
Sunflowers (HA) are a great choice, available in many
heights and colours to suit your garden space. Choose yellow or orange over
red, which bees don’t like. Varieties exist now for the allergic gardener,
containing no pollen. Obviously avoid these when wishing to attract bees.
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4
Calendulas or marigolds (HA) are great for bees, especially
the original single flowered pot marigold. Dead head regularly
for a longer flowering period.
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5
Primulas. (HP) The native primrose, (primula vulgaris),
primulas of all kinds, even the drumstick ones are great early food for bees. Cowslips (primula veris) are also good members of this
extensive family of perennial plants.
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6
Rudbekia (HHA) are an extensive group of cone flowers from
the aster family. A wide variety of heights, mostly available in yellows and
oranges, sure to brighten your border and feed bees. There are also a few hardy
perennial ones, of which ‘Goldsturn’ is my personal favourite. All are easy
to grow from seed.
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Scabious or cornflowers (HA), another aster family member,
are mostly blue flowered and bees adore them. Dead-headed regularly, they’ll
flower all summer long.
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8
Lavender (HHS) There are plenty of lavenders to choose from,
all needing plenty of sun and well drained soil, but they’ll reward you with
plenty of fragrant flowers for cutting and drying. Just watch them get
smothered in bees when they come into flower.
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9
Bluebells (bulb) Another early food supply. Just a note of
caution for UK growers. The native English bluebell in now under threat from the Spanish
bluebell, which outcompetes and crosses with it. So please ensure you are
planting the native bluebell to ensure you don’t endanger a bluebell woodland
near you.
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10
Hellebores (HP) The Christmas rose! A lovely flower to
have in your garden from late winter to early spring, this plant will tolerate
some shade and moist conditions, though not wet. When bees emerge from
hibernation they need food fast. This one gives them a snack when there’s
little else around.
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11
Clematis (Perennial climber) The majority of clematis will
provide pollen, and I’ve watched bees happily moving from flower to flower
gathering their crop. Always plant clematis deeper than they were in the
container, as this gives more protection against cleamits wilt. These plants
are hungry and thirsty, so add good compost to the planting hole. They also
like their roots in the cool and heads in the sun, so once planted I place
either a thick mulch or a pile of stones or gravel around their roots, keeping
them cool and conserving moisture.
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12
Crocus (bulb) Early flowering, plenty to choose from, and
planted in the autumn to flower year after year. These are great value and
cheer me up as well as the bees!
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13
Mint (HP), especially water mint, is loved by bees. It’s
great in your cooking, too. Easy to grow, it can be a bit of a thug, so either
grow it in a container or prevent its escape around the garden by burying a
bucket (with holes in the bottom for drainage) and plant your mint into that.
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14
Rosemary (HHS) A mediterranean herb, rosemary likes well
drained soild and full sun. It flowers around April/May. A great culinary herb,
bees will take advantage of the pollen as long as you prune it correctly. This
is best done straight after flowering, as most of the flowers will appear on
new wood. Don’t prune rosemary back to old, bare wood as these are not likely
to regrow. Depending on where you live and soil conditions, rosemary can be
short lived, so take some cuttings each year so you can replace the old plant
should it dsie or become too leggy.
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15
Thyme (H to HHS)) There are now quite a few varieties
available, tasting slightly different to each other eg lemon thyme. However,
I’ve noticed that the wild thyme (thymus serpyllum) attracts a lot of bee visitors and
tends to flower more profusely. But they are all worth growing. Give them the
same growing conditions as rosemary and lavender.
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16
Hebe (HH-HS) This extensive group of shrubs have wonderful
flowers for bees. Plenty of pollen, all on one flower and plenty of flowers on
one shrub. They vary in height, are mosly blue or pink and tolerate most soils.
They dislike too much wet, so a well drained soil is best. Water well, though,
until established.
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17
Borage, the bee herb. (HA) Borage is blue flowered, simple
to grow and in fact one type grows wild in the UK, though originally from
Syria. Easy, prolific and the bees love it.
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18
Echinacea, the cone flower. (HP) Now available in a variety
of colours, all of which will attract bees. Echinacea Tennesseensis will attract birds, bees and
butterflies.
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Mignotette. There are HA, HHA and Perennial members of this
family. They are sweetly scented and will attract and feed your bees,
especially Reseda lutea.
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Thrift, or Sea Pink (HP) is a great plant for a rock garden,
trough or wall. Holding its bright pink flowers well above the grass-like
foliage, it will cheer your garden and make the bees come back for more! Give
it well drained condiitons and lots of sun.
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21
Sedums are also excellent plants for rock gardens and walls.
There are many to choose from, but avoid Sedum Spectabilis Autumn Joy if you’re
planting for bees. Biting stonecrop and English stonecrop (sedums
acre and anglicum). are
natives, and great for bees.
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Sweet Williams (Dianthus barbatus) (HB) are fantastic
flowers for bees. An old cottage garden favourite, bees are attracted to the
pink or white flowers and we love the perfume! They are members of the dianthus
family, as are Pinks and Carnations, all of which
are good for the bees.
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23
Monarda (Bergamot) (HP) This is the herb that flavours Earl Grey tea, but
the bees love its flowers for pollen and nectar. Its folk name in the Uk is bee
balm. It likes a moist but not wet soil and can cope with a bit of shade. Share
it with the bees! Bergamot tea is a herbal treat in itself. Just pour boiling
water on the leaves and allow about ten minutes before drinking.
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Cornflower (HA) Easy to grow, cheap and cheerful,
cornflowers are another cottage garden favourite. Thier blue flowers act like a
bee magnet. Grow in as large a group as you have the space for. This makes it
easier for the bees to spot them and saves them flying around more than
necessary. It’s easy to save seed from one year to the next, too.
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25
Poppies (HA-HP) All poppies are attractive to bees, and are
laden with pollen in nice open flowers. Very easy to grow, especially the
annual kinds, and easy to save seeds to sow next year. Enjoy their delicate
petals while your bees enjoy a feast.
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Verbena Bonariensis (HP) a tall, delicate looking perennial
with purple/mauve flowers that add a tropical feel to your borders. This is
easy to grow from seed and sown early enough will flower in its first year. One
not to do without!
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Snapdragons (Antirrhinum) (HHA) Plenty of choice in heights
and colours. Have you ever watched a bee enter and leave a snapdragon? Their
weight pulls the lower part of the petal down so they can get inside for their
food, and you can hear them buzzing while they are in there. Lovely to watch.
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Ageratum (HHA) Easy to grow, with heads of blue flowers and
another member of the compositae family, so lots of food on one flower head.
This is one of my favorite annuals in the garden. Just don’t plant out until
all danger of frost has passed and dead head for more flowers.
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29
Echinops (globe thistle) (HP) This lovely blue thistle is
very ornamental, even when not in flower, standing about 36″ tall. Bees and
butterflies love the flowers which provide plenty of nectar. Easy to grow from
seed and will come back year after year.
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Digitalis (foxglove) (HB) Foxgloves make great food for
bees. As they are poisonous, protect children from them and handle wearing
gloves. As long as these precautions are taken these are wonderful plants for
the garden and the bees. A woodland plant, they’re useful for a shady spot.
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