Re: Bee friendly flowers.

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 grow native geraniums - Cranesbill. The bees seem very partial to them.

Sacha

I edged one of my borders by the house with white allysum this year and it has been covered in various bees and insects all summer and although its a bedding plant it has a very long flowering season.  I also grow nasturtians for the caterpillars to hatch on - most years I get a good display of flowers as well although the leaves are well nibbled! 

Where we live we can't actually grow lupins in the garden because of slugs but I grow them in pots quite successfully and the bees seemed to love them - you just need to keep cutting off the old flower spikes to keep the plant flowering.  Plus the thousands of ladybirds we had this year really benefitted as they loved the greenfly that lupins are pone to.  Foxgloves were also a success from a bee point of view!

Kezmo

 

For the first time this year I planted petunias (upright not trailing) in our front garden. Something(s) really enjoyed the leaves as the plants are stripped bare but the leaves are obviously the preferred delicacy as they are still merrily flowering away.

Squirrel

My wild thyme bank always seems to be popular with the bees and hoverflies, as is the buddleia.

Wildlife friendly

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?

An absolute must are Scabious, all types are excellent for all pollinating insects.

Also Verbena bonariensis, this also self seeds and grows thin and high above your plants, like nectar landing platforms for bees and butterflies.

 The Bumble Bee Conservation Trust has an excellent website, if you click on the link 'help the bees', go to the gardening page, they have a month by month guide of flowering plants favored by our buzzy friends.

 

Hope thats some help.

Thanks for all your suggestions. The Bumble Bee Conservation Trust site is great, I have downloaded the fact sheets and shall be building some nesting sites. It surprised me how many of the flowers I grow already but there are still some I can add.

 

There are a few surveys to take part in too.

Wildlife friendly

Thanks for all your suggestions. The Bumble Bee Conservation Trust site is great, I have downloaded the fact sheets and shall be building some nesting sites. It surprised me how many of the flowers I grow already but there are still some I can add.

 

There are a few surveys to take part in too.

Glad you found the info, I would have posted the link to the site, but i'm not sure if i'm allowed.  (I'm still quite new.!)

Hope its of some use, it was for me, inparticial the id sheet they do.

 

All the best.

Most herbs seem to be popular with bees & butterflies, especially chives and other alliums such as leeks which are left to flower!

Hebes and most of the veronicas (speedwells) are also favoured, as are ragworts (although not everyone favours them!!)

Caryopteris is great at this time of year. Lots of bees on it at the moment.

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.

Wildlife friendly

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