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Which plant in *your* garden do bees best like?

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  • SueAtooSueAtoo Posts: 380
    Do you find that the flowers have to be in the sun to be visited? Mine in the shade seem to be ignored.
    East Dorset, new (to me) rather neglected garden.
  • Hover flies just love my Bonze fennel flowers. Cerinthe is a great favourite with anything buzzy. Ivy when in flower is thick with bees. Cosmos is another favourite.
  • Hoverflies love my Angelica. Wasps like it too.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I will have to try bronze fennel again next year.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited September 2022
    SueAtoo said:
    Do you find that the flowers have to be in the sun to be visited? Mine in the shade seem to be ignored.

    @SueAtoo I think you are probably right. I have some veronica at the front, in partial shade and some at the back, in sun. The ones at the back (now flowering) are being ignored. The ones in the back are mobbed.

    However there is a critical mass of blooms that would make it worth the trip for pollinators. A garden full of plants in bloom, offering loads of nectar and pollen will be much more attractive, and worth the energy, than a few patchy blooms in the shade. Nectar rich plants are most likely to be found in sun.

    It's interesting question. I don't think plants have more pollen or nectar if in direct sun.
  • WoodgreenWoodgreen Posts: 1,273
    edited September 2022
    I have busy-lizzies (impatiens) in bowls on my north-facing window ledges. To look at the flowers you'd wonder what there is to attract bees, but when I am sitting in my kitchen there is a constant hum from visiting bees. Not lots, but always one or two going from flower to flower. 

  • 2000GTV2000GTV Posts: 112
    @LeadFarmer sorry for delay replying, just recovering from an operation.

    I was going to collect some of the seeds but decided the goldfinches could have them all (80 flower heads). My neighbours admire the plants but as I didn't actually plant them I take no credit.  :) 

    Martina Franca, Puglia, southern Italy
    Love living in Italy but a Loiner at heart 
  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,500
    Planning for next year I wanted a climber to grow up an obelisk I've purchased, and have ordered a clematis Koreana Amber which is supposed to be good for bees etc, and is currently on offer from Crocus. Anyone else got a clematis that attracts pollinators?


  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited September 2022
    @LeadFarmer My clematis terniflora is just peaking at the moment. Good for pollinators. I think someone from this forum recommended it. It's lovely, but a shame to cut it back every year. It's a replacement for a clem montana. Terniflora is much easier to manage.








  • LeadFarmerLeadFarmer Posts: 1,500
    Fire said:
    @LeadFarmer My clematis terniflora is just peaking at the moment. Good for pollinators. I think someone from this forum recommended it. It's lovely, but a shame to cut it back every year. It's a replacement for a clem montana. Terniflora is much easier to manage.









    That's a lovely flowering clematis you have. Maybe grows a little too high for where I want to plant it, but in your garden is really does look good.

    My neighbour has a Montana growing up their side of my garage, it comes over the roof onto my side and whilst I get to see the flowers, it does clog up the gutters etc.  In fact they let me go round and cut it back earlier this year but it will grow back again, very thuggish.

    This is the before view from their side..




    And after cutting back..


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