Bee friendly flowers.

Hello.

 

Can't say I'm an expert on wildlife gardening, although it's something that is a growing interest to me.  I'd probably say that a good tactic is to grow single flowering varieties i.e. something where the insect has easier access to the pollen.  Not sure if non-native varieties are less atractive (to insects) than native or naturalised plants.  A good idea is to do a bit of internet research, and make up a list of suitable plants.  This means you can then score off species that are unsuitable for your garden and you should be left with a handful you can choose from.  Certainly Crane's Bill, and Budleija are usefull for attracting wildlife.  There are of course many others and if you can get away with it, I don't think there's anything wrong with leaving part of your garden to become wild, in order to attract wildlife.

 

Paul.

Unknown said:

I plant my garden with bees/insects in mind. Last year I grew Cerinthe Blue Kiwi for the first time, it had a long flowering period and was covered in bees, I’m definitely growing it again this year. I’ve also got a few Enchiums growing in pots ready to plant out next spring. I spotted these growing on the coast and each flower spike had 200+ bees on it.

 

I also grow Echinops, Lavender, Centaurea, Nepeta (Catmint), Salvia (perennial sage) and Sedum, I grow Buddleia for the butterflies.

 

Are there any flowers other people grow which is great for bees/insects?

 I observed Honey bees (My honey bees) making good use of
the prolific pollen produced by the crocus's, Here 'Chrysanthus
tommasinianus' for feeding early brood which is a critical time for
honey bees. I did not observe large numbers of native bees doing the
same thing but a few solitary mason bees were present ( we have lots
here ) There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that honey bees do not
like to forage too closely to bumble bees but I do not know if this the
same vice versa.  anyway detail aside they are a great source of early
pollen and make good use of lawn space before the need to mow and rather
cunningly prevent the mowing of said lawn before the leaves of the
crocus plants have yellowed, if you want flowering next year that is!

Have attached couple of pics for your reference.

 

 

As well as helping the bees, these crocus's certainly make a brilliant splash of colour and a welcome addition to any garden! Sound advice about the lawn Bgood, by not being too hasty with the lawn mower and avoiding chemicals, you will be amazed by how many bugs (and plants) will benefit.

A great many bumblebees have enjoyed the lavender in my garden this year and the Leaf cutter bees have really gone to town on my various roses, but I do not mind, as it is great to watch them intricately push bits of petal and leaf alike in the bee boxes I have dotted around.

Claire

Hve to agree Eryngium commonly known as Sea Holly is the best flowering plant I have had to attract the bees.

Happiest in a dry sandy soil but will flourish in any well drained acid free soil. Like full sun.

Cut it down to ground level at the end of  the season and it will be back again late spring in all its glory

I’m just about to plant some more crocus bulbs. It’s quite a performance as I have to make up little wire mesh cages to prevent the mice eating them.

 

Eryngium is a plant I’d love to be able to grow but they don’t like winter wet or hard frosts, both of which my garden suffers from. The Echinops is the closest I can get, it’s always covered in bees and it’s quite late flowering which helps.

we have trouble with badgers digging them up here, bless them! but its worth persevering to get them established.

I’m lucky because the badgers don’t come near the house, I’ve given up planting them in the orchard, they munched their way through 800 in one night and the mess they left behind was a nightmare.

If I was to cast my vote for bet plants for bees it would be, hmmm. there are so many, aren;t there! (Although there are of course 100 times as many plants that are rubbish for them!).

But certain moments with bees do stick in my mind, such as seeing a clump of white Marjoram just sagging under bumblebees, or Cotoneasters thick with Honeybees, or Blackthorn blossom full of early solitary bees.

For me I think the key to helping bees is actually a suite of factors - choose the right plants, plant them en masse, plant them in a sheltered spot that gets plenty of sun, and try to accommodate not only the rather showy long-tongued bumblebees and Honeybees but give something to the short-tongues bumbles and the solitary bees too - they're just as enteretaining. I promise to cover all that in my RSPB Homes for Wildlife blog next spring :-)

 

 

Unknown said:

For me I think the key to helping bees is actually a suite of factors - choose the right plants, plant them en masse, plant them in a sheltered spot that gets plenty of sun, and try to accommodate not only the rather showy long-tongued bumblebees and Honeybees but give something to the short-tongues bumbles and the solitary bees too - they're just as enteretaining. I promise to cover all that in my RSPB Homes for Wildlife blog next spring :-)

I’ll look forward to that, I’ve only just discovered the Homes for Wildlife Blog and now check it daily. I’ve got a single flowered Dahlia which the bees go mad for, I counted 30 bees on them today, they were mainly honey bees but there were half a dozen Bumble bees.