shaded plants for bee's

joshcowin · February 2019

Hi there I am currently in the process of starting to become a beekeeper and where the bees will be kept is by a small lake which I have free roam to plant what i want. Some of the lake is fairly shaded by willow trees so I was looking for recommendations on what to start planting about now that will tolerate partly and fully shaded areas and also produce a good amount of flowers/pollen.the ground is a light clay with topsoil and stays fairly moist.
thanks Josh

Obelixx · February 2019

Lots of possibilities. The RHS has lists of pollinator friendly plants and you can specify full sun, partial shade and full shade.

Have a look at these two lists:-
Partial shade - https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Search-Results?f_plant_sunlight_partial_shade=f/plant_sunlight/partial shade&form-mode=true&context=b=0&hf=10&l=en&q=%23all&s=desc%28plant_merged%29&sl=plantForm&r=f%2Fplant_pollination%2Ftrue&unwind=undefined

Full shade - https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/Search-Results?f_plant_sunlight_partial_shade=f/plant_sunlight/partial shade&form-mode=true&context=b=0&hf=10&l=en&q=%23all&s=desc%28plant_merged%29&sl=plantForm&r=f%2Fplant_pollination%2Ftrue&r=f%2Fplant_sunlight%2Fpartial+shade&r=f%2Fplant_sunlight%2Ffull+shade&unwind=true

pbff · February 2019

Bees always go mad for Geraniums in our garden, many of which will grow well in part shade.
Geranium phaeum grows happily in deeper shade; we have a nice cultivar called 'Samobor'.

Ajuga reptans (bugle) is also popular, as is Teucrium scorodonia (there is a nice cultivar 'Crispum Marginatum').

Hellebores and crocuses are useful for bees that are out and about early in the year.

Thalictrum aquilegifolium is also very popular with bees in my garden; it doesn't like shade, but if you have a more open spot to plant it in, then it would be worth it.

On the website of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, they have a Bee Kind tool, with a Flower Finder, which suggests lots of different pollinator friendly plants.
https://beekind.bumblebeeconservation.org/home

Also, on the British Beekeeper's Association website there is a PDF list of good plants for honeybees
https://www.bbka.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=999fd115-ddc3-4482-bc7c-612305c168e0

raisingirl · February 2019

pulmonaria - flowering now when not much else is and the bees love it. A much bigger option would be comfrey in partial shade - has many uses and is always a-buzz with bees when it's in flower. Best to get hold of some 'Bocking 14' which doesn't set seed.

shaded plants for bee's

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