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Bee friendly plants

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  • OwlbearOwlbear Posts: 49
    edited January 2021
    Generally speaking, most flowers are likely to be beneficial, so long as they're not doubles, and so long as there is enough of it in a given area, so if you see something you like the look of I would just give it a try. It also depends on what your local conditions are, and what bees (and other pollinators) are around in your area.

    For some more ideas to start with though in addition to what has already been mentioned: 

    Campanulas - very popular in early summer here
    Pyracantha
    Hibiscus - big and slow to get going every year but a bee magnet once it does.
    Clover
    Roses, so long as they're not too doubled/you can see the stamens they should be alright. The repeat flowering ones go on forever if they're happy and are always popular with bees.

    I would also echo Fran IOM's comment about Hardy Fuchsias being good, so if you are in a sheltered/mild area I'd consider them, like the roses, if they're happy they just flower and flower forever. 

    If you are in an area where it's likely to be mild enough for bees to be out and about during winter you might want to look at some of the winter flowering plants. We have one of the Ericas, starts in December and usually stops around April. Mahonia is supposed to be good as well but I've only ever seen it along railway lines (looks very nice though).

    There is a rather in-depth study here which breaks it down into Honey/Bumble/Solitary bees which may be useful to look at:
    https://www.rosybee.com/research 

    You could also look at people like Dave Goulson for some inspiration.

  • I have bought some bee friendly seeds for this coming planting in spring. I have got Borage, corn flowers and ecchanasia. I am sowing seeds from flowers that I know the bees have loved in my gardens from previous years eg nasturtiums, poppies, sun flowers and marigolds plus a few others and I have sea holly seeds already on the go. I also  have my Dahlia's which in flower the bees, I like to think are using to sunbathe and rest on.

    I was also thinking about getting a wild flower pack of seeds to go into a spot that I am in the process of creating.

    A couple of perennials- Lavendar and Phlox.

    Hope that has given you some inspiration 😁
  • Clover and bugle in the lawn, foxgloves, astrantias, salvias, buddleia, agapanthus, mallows, field poppies, different bean and pea crops, fruit blossom are just some of the places where we see different species of bees feeding in our garden.
  • thrxvsthrxvs Posts: 32
    The best 2 plants for attracting huge numbers of bees in my experience are purple sage and sneezeweed helenium (Sahin's early flowerer). I thought bees liked lavender but it's nothing compared to these two!
  • Mr. Vine EyeMr. Vine Eye Posts: 2,394
    edited January 2021
    Here are some ☺️

    https://youtu.be/GjtiRjXIDiA
    East Yorkshire
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,287
    In my garden the aquilegia are loved, which is a good one as it self seeds and comes back every year. I have planted more Nectaroscordum Siculum or honey garlic alliums as late spring/early summer they are full of bees.
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