Where possible, try to obtain a native and original species. Many popular flower varieties are hybridized for features that are valued by the gardener, like disease resistance, flower size/colour/bigger/longer blooms. Sadly, much hybridization has reduced the production of nectar and pollen and sometimes leaves the resulting plant completely sterile and useless to bees and other pollinators.
Native plants are also 4 times more attractive to bees than exotic flowers. Double glowered plants are also not suitable for pollination. Single and small flowers are easier for bees to pollinate! Bees also don’t like Insecticides (even organic!) or bedding plants:
Native plants are also 4 times more attractive to bees than exotic flowers. Double glowered plants are also not suitable for pollination. Single and small flowers are easier for bees to pollinate! Bees also don’t like Insecticides (even organic!) or bedding plants:
- Apple mint
- Asters
- Aubretia
- Bergamot
- Berberis Vulgaris
- Barberry
- Bell Heather
- Bilberries
- Black eyed Susan
- Bluebell
- Blueberries
- Borage
- Brambles
- Broad bean flowers
- Broom
- Buddlea Davidii Butterbur (Queen bee!)
- Bugle
- Cardoon
- Catmints
- Ceanothus
- Clover (inc Red clover)
- Comfrey
- Cornflowers
- Cosmos
- Cowslip
- Crab apples
- Cynoglossum
- Dahlia
- Deadnettles (red and white)
- Erica
- Ergngium
- Eupatorium
- Field Poppy
- Field Scabious
- Flowering cherry
- Flowering currant
- Forget-me-not
- Fuschia
- Geranium (simpe)
- Globe Thistle
- Greater Knapweed
- Hebe
- Hedge Woundwort
- Honesty
- Lavender (but not the french one)
- Limnanthus Douglasii
- Lungwort
- Oregano
- Pansies
- Penstemon
- Primula
- Poached egg
- Polyanthus
- Potentilla
- Pussy Willow
- Raspberries
- Rosa Canina,
- Rosemary
- Runner beans
- Scabious
- Sea Holly
- Sedum
- Single flowered roses
- Solidago
- Strawberries
- Sunflowers
- Sweet peas
- Sweet Sultan
- Symphoricarpus albus,
- Snowberry
- Teasel
- Thistle like flowers
- Trefoils
- Vetches
- Viburnum Oplus,
- Viper’s bugloss
- Wallflower
- Wiegela
- Wild Foxglove
- Wild Thyme
- Winter flowering heather
Gardening tips:
- Don’t use pesticides
- Use local native plants
- Choose several colours: blue, purple, violet, white and yellow
- Plant flowers in clumps
- Include flowers of different shapes
- Have a diversity of plants flowering all season
- Plant where bees will visit (ie sunny and sheltered from wind)
Source: growsonyou.com/craftnutter/blog/4145-bee-friendly-plants-for-dying-bee
