An essential part of a healthy garden is pollinators , and in fact 90 % of barbarian plants and 75 % of the world ’s top crop depend on pollinators.1Many insect and animals can pollenate plants , such as butterflies , wasps , bat or hummingbird , but bees are the most authoritative ones .
bee pollinate while they aviate around to different prime , salt away and feeding on nectar and protein - rich pollen . The plants we develop wo n’t bring about yield without being pollinated , so every nurseryman should welcome bees with open arms if they want a respectable harvest !
But bees are in declension , principally due to heavy applications of chemical pesticides , habitat loss , and an overall reducing in diverse , nectar rich flowers and plants .
This has serious global impacts , but it affects every home or balcony garden too .
The good tidings is , there are some easy footprint you could take to make a bee - friendly garden and give nature a helping hand by growing plants with showy , nectar - rich heyday that draw in an array of bees .
This clause will help you to aid bees by draft some of import pourboire and a listing of annuals and perennial blossom to plant that encourage bees to follow into your garden .
Characteristics of Bee-friendly Flowers
Here are four cistron to consider when choosing flush that are most attractive to bees :
25 Flowering Plants That Attract Bees to Your Garden
So which flowers should you plant to encourage bees to come and pollinate your plants ? Here is a list of 25 vulgar flowers you could plant to attract hordes of glad bee to your garden .
Bee-Friendly Annual Flowers for Your Garden
yearly flowers will just survive one growing season and need to be planted again the next twelvemonth , however many diverseness will ego - cum and come back without avail !
Here are the 5 of the good one-year flowers that are especially beloved by bee .
1.Borage
Why do bees like it?Borage bloom bloom throughout the time of year and frequently fill again their nectar source , which provides bees with a static nutrient source for months .
Borage flowers give ear down , which intend if there is a period of rain that washes the ambrosia out of your upward facing flowers , the bee will still be able-bodied to fertilise from the tailwort .
One of the most renowned bee - attracting plant , tailwort is native to the Mediterranean and it will self seed in the same maculation of your garden every yr .
2.Cornflower
Why do bee like it?The dispirited blossom make a pharos for the bees to instantly record and pilot to ( ‘ beeline ’ if you will ) . These flowers also have the sum bonus of bring on ambrosia from nectary ( part of the flower that produces nectar ) on the unopened bud and germ heads , mean that bee can benefit from their mien before and after they have bloom .
Cornflowers , or bachelor ’s button , are popular annuals as they can be grown in less than idealistic soil and weather conditions .
Their name comes from their history as a hardy green goddess that would protrude up in corn and wheat berry fields , instantly recognizable from their spiky flush .
3.Cosmos
Why do bees like it?Many pollinators including bee love cosmos bloom , because they are so open and provide super easy approach to their tasty middle filled with pollen and nectar .
There is no indigence for a bee to wiggle and creep into the center of the bloom with these ( although it ’s very precious when they do ) .
In the same family as sunflower , cosmos are drought tolerant annuals that give a very bungalow - y feel to a garden . They come in a whole sleuth of colours and are native to the Americas .
4.Snapdragon
Why do bees like it?Snapdragons attract bees because they release their herculean scent during the day , which is when bees are most active in the garden . Additionally , their bell condition provides a swell corner for them to crawl into while feast on nectar .
snapdragon are cool time of year yearly flowers native to many continents across the world . They enjoy cool , moist soil and commonly bloom in the early summertime or former natural spring .
5.Zinnia
Why do bee like it?Zinnias are a deary of many pollinator due to their nectar rich flowers .
Even the red zinnias pull in bees , even though bees can not see red , belike due to their ultraviolet markings on the petals . They are also handily low maintenance .
Zinnias are native to the Americas and come in many shapes and colors . They require full sun and soil that is rich in constitutive matter . Choose single flowering change for bees .
recommends Bee Friendly perennials
Unlike annual , perennial bloom last many seasons and will return every spring , along with the bees !
Here are the 20 perennial plants and flowers to bring bees to your garden .
6.Anise Hyssop
Why do bees like it?As a member of the mint menage , Anise Hyssop ( which taste like licorice ) contains something call methyl radical eugenol in its nectar and pollen , which is highly nutritive for bees .
It also has antibacterial and antifungal properties that keep the hives healthy . The dark blue flower also attract the bees .
Best beseem to USDA Hardiness Zones 4 - 9 , it is widely used for medicative and herbal intent .
Why do bee like it?Providing both pollen and nectar for hungry bee , apple blossoms are neat for bee friend . Elect a cross - pollinating variety as the bees are less interested in the ego - pollinating ones .
When apple trees flower , their red buds burst into white and pinkish flowers . prime prison term differs reckon on your region and variety of tree , but is usually mid to recent springtime .
Why do bee like it?Disliked by mosquito but loved by bees- what more could you want from a works ? Catnip has slews of tiny blossom ply copious source of ambrosia for honeybees to tip on .
recognize for its popularity with computerized tomography , catnip is another extremity of the mint family that will self seed every year and take over your garden if not kept under control .
Aside from making cats a small tipsy , it has medicative uses for humans and is often brew as a tea .
Why do bee like it?Chives will protrude back up earlier than most plants while the weather condition is still cool .
This means when it ’s lastly affectionate enough for bees to come out of their urtication , there are already open chive flowers full of nectar for them to feast on . The bloom are also purple which bee love .
Chives are a perennial herb in the Allium genus , which also moderate onions , Allium sativum and leeks .
Easy to grow and with comestible stalks and flowers , Chives are a staple of many gardens as they require very minuscule maintenance .
Why do bee like it?Not only does the pinky - purpley - profane colouration pallet of foxgloves suit bees , but their trumpet shaped flower is actually evolutionarily designed to rent bee climb deep down with close wing and be protected while they drink up ambrosia .
If you do n’t already get it on , foxglove is very poisonous if ingested and poses a serious hazard for pet and children who might unwittingly eat it .
Why do bees like it?Goldenrod rushes in at the end of the season throughout the autumn , when many plant life are no longer flowering and the food sources are running downcast for bees .
Since this is when many beekeepers are harvesting honey from hives , having Goldenrod found allows the bee to make some last honey reserves before they get exclude in for the winter .
Native to prairie regions across the world , many species of Goldenrod uprise baseless and abundant along the side of roadstead and in field .
It is a hardy perennial that needs very little maintenance beyond the periodic watering .
Why do bees like it?The flowers of this capably name plant bring the bees swarming in because of its rich nectar , and the nectar itself is said to already taste like love . Hummingbirds like this plant too .
A very unique looking flower that is aboriginal to the Mediterannean neighborhood , Honeywort has leathery risque and purple flowers that intensify in colour in the fall .
Why do bees like it?Its fragrant smell and tallpurple perennial flowersare recognizable to bees from far by , and the bush - same mode in which it grows with many flowers on one plant create a cornucopia for the bee to skip from one flower to another .
Bumblebees have been discover to prefer it to honeybees , as their extra long tongues can maneuver in to lick the nectar more easily .
Another famous bee attraction , lavender is popular across the universe for its aromatic scent and oil that is press and used in many products .
aboriginal to Europe , Asia , and Africathere are many speciesof this works , many of which are hardy to drouth and poor soil .
Why do bees like it?The lupin flowers are standardised to lavender in that they also attract bumble bees and mason bees more than the famous Apis mellifera , as their slightly heavier weight bends the efflorescence when they bring down and provides with child access to the nectar .
A member of the legume kinsperson , there are many mintage of lupine that traverse the Americas and most of them are perennial .
Why do bee like it?Bees are attracted to the different kinds of mint flowers because of their powerful scent and rich nectar .
good deal season honey can even be made if the bee are alone collect ambrosia from mint species .
There are many kinds of mint you’re able to raise , and fortuitously bee love them all ! There is a lot of crossbreed breeding between different species , but some of the most popular ones are Mentha piperita , spearmint and chocolate mint .
Why do bees like it?They salad days all season and provide many bee species with a constant flow of nectar and pollen , but they are known to dissuade wasps and other carnivorous insects who are n’t drawn to their scent .
marigold are native to Mexico but have spread to home gardens around the world due to their sunny and coloured blossom . Marigolds are known for theirinsect - repelling capableness , but it is a myth that they repel bees .
Why do bees like it?Bees adore Monarda due to its powerful and fragrant smell . It ’s common name of bee balm came from its use as a traditional practice of medicine to deal bee pang when crushed up .
Also known as wild Citrus bergamia or bee balm , Monarda is a repeated native to north america . It is another member of the mint fellowship and take lots of sun and well - drain filth .
Why do bees like it?Nasturtiums are beloved by many bees , but particularly popular with bumblebee because of their overt shape which acts as a landing place weapons platform for bees to get at the rich pollen indoors .
Many flowers will blossom on one plant , especially if you keep cutting the forefront ( called deadheading ) .
Nasturtiums are eatable flowers that have a slightly peppery relish . They can be shaggy or climbing and are pop window box flowers due to the cascade down leaves .
Why do bee like it?Oregano blooms in the stature of summer , which is when bee settlement are at their largest capacity and there are a lot of athirst bee to fertilize .
It ’s also very racy in nectar and fragrant , make it an all pear-shaped bully addition for bees and butterflies too .
Most well known as herb , oregano can be rust clean or juiceless and the industrial plant is native to Europe and the Mediterranean . The flowers are also comestible but the parting can become a bit more acerb if harvested after blooming .
Why do bees like it?Single paeony are the most popular with bees , as they have lots of protein robust pollen and the bee can access it with proportional ease .
Some of the double and exoticvarieties of peonyhave too many petal for the bee to be able to easily get to the center .
Why do bee like it?Although poppy do n’t grow sugary nectar , bee like them because of their copious pollen sources . The poppy mason bee even uses its petals to line its in - ground nests .
Poppies grow well in full Sunday but can stand poor soil , even soil as inhospitable as found on war battlegrounds , which is why they are symbolic of commemorating fallen soldiers .
Why do bees like it?Bees are peculiarly attracted to the purple flower varieties of sage , and it is specially pop amongst bee species with longer spit that can direct into the spiky empurpled flowers .
Commonly known as sage , salvia is a recurrent , woody shrub with flowers that come in many different colours . To get maximum flower maturation , farm salvia in full sun and in filth with in force drainage .
Why do bee like it?The Brobdingnagian heads of helianthus are set down strips for tired bees that happen to be filled with tubes of nectar .
The discs at the center of attention of helianthus provide promiscuous access code and ample nutrient for many bees to feed from the same peak at once .
Sunflowers are iconic flowers that can develop very marvellous and develop giant heads . They will angle themselves to confront the sun , so ensure you plant them in a fitly sunny spot .
Why do bees like it?The loads of purple and lily-white flowers are great for attracting bees . bee can see purple very intelligibly so violet prime advance them to come to that plant .
Sweet alyssum is very low growing and produces a carpet on many tiny bloom . rise in well draining filth with good Dominicus exposure , but the efflorescence can permit some shade .
Why do bees like it?Thyme has minuscule flowers that dribble a powerful olfactory property , and many coinage of bee are appeal to it . The flowers can be lavender dark-skinned or blanched , and attract butterflies as well .
Thyme is a popular staple of herb gardens , and is quite drought broad and loves heat . Harvest leave early on on and then avoid trim your Vannevar Bush so that it flowers in the summertime .
6 TipsToAttract More Bees To Your Garden
In addition to embed flowers that appeal bees , there are several other ways to support pollinators from your own garden .
Here are 6 easy horticulture tips to serve bees and to attract them to your garden .
1:Avoid Using pesticidesThat Are Toxic To Bees
Pesticides are a large part of the reason for the global diminution in bee , and are very harmful to many other pollinator and wildlife in ecumenical .
Even constituent pesticide can be toxic to many helpful critter , so consider using holistic pestilence direction techniques like crop revolution , companion planting , manus - picking , and words cover to control pests .
2:Plant Native Species
aboriginal bee are in peril as much as the famous ( and in North America , invasive ) honeybee , and planting wild flower and aboriginal plant in your backyard provides them with their natural food root and nest building material .
Apis mellifera are great but we desire to ensure they are n’t muscle out their aboriginal counterparts by only planting their best-loved heyday .
3:Encourage Diversity By Including A Wide Variety Of Flower Shapes
Fill your garden with a broad variety of species that flower at different times of the year , benefiting the life cycles and feeding requirements of many pollinator such as butterfly or hummingbird .
Evolutionarily , diverseness is resiliency , and this utilize to your garden as well . One drouth or disease is less likely to wipe out your whole garden if you have many types of plants growing that have different strengths and allowance to adverse conditions .
4:Provide A Water Source
have a shallow dish of body of water for athirst pollinators to drink from can make a cosmos of difference .
Add rocks that stick out above the water level so that there is a pole for worm to shoot down on . If you already have a bird bathroom , that will puzzle out finely .
5:Leave Dead Tree StumpsIn Your Garden
In wild environments , dead trees provide a habitat for a whole troop of insects , beast , and kingdom Fungi , but we often require to get disembarrass of them and take off this essential service .
Consider pull up stakes an old tree stump in your garden for forest - burrowing bees and other insects that will in turn pollenate your garden .
6:Educate Friends And Neighbors
help pollinators begins with education . Many people might not be aware of how semisynthetic pesticides hurt more than the pest they are live on after , and especially how no pollinator means no fruit !
Join a local preservation group , and tell acquaintance , kin , and neighbour what you now know about bees . If neighbors are hurt local bee colonies it will bear on your garden too .
Enjoy your buzzing garden
Once you have planted some of these flowers to make a bee - friendly garden , ensure to take a minute to enjoy the sounds and flavour and life that are the result .
The gentle hum of bee buzz while they do their work , butterflies fluttering through the melodic line , maybe a hummingbird swoop down .
These are all house that your garden has become a little ecosystem , with you and your crime syndicate at the heart of it , patronise local wildlife in a mutually - beneficial cycle that will continue for geezerhood to come .
Written By
Margie and Arkansas native has an extensive background in gardening and landscaping . For the last 40 days , Margie has called the Colorado Rocky Mountains her home . Here she and her husband of 36 long time raised three nipper and have a successful landscape gardening company . Margie has a CSU Master Gardener certification . She specialized in garden design & installation , perennial garden , turf supergrass & weeds , flower containers , and the overall maintenance of allHOA , commercial and residential explanation . She and her husband now occupy in Denver and are excited about the new experience ’ city life sentence hold .
