Hi all, just a quick one. As long as I can remember they always say bees like Erigeron. But I’ve never see one on one of the flowers and I’ve made a point of checking whenever I walk past bunched Erigeron. Is it a myth? Cheers
Smaller bees seem to favour the flowers so it may be that you're not noticing the smaller ones or they might not be abundant in your area. I don't see many bumbles or honey bees on mine but these little furrow bees seem to enjoy them. You can see how tiny they are compared to the flower and it's easy to mistake them for flies. Being smaller and less 'busy' they don't spend as long on the flowers either so blink and you miss them. Pollinators comprise a wide range of insects though and I see a lot of beetles on mine later in the summer. Karvinskianus is one of my favourite plants right now but 'canary bird' in the bottom photo is a lovely little alpine (and it's easier to spell).
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Sometimes, for bees, there needs to be a 'mass' of them to warrant attention? I have a book, 'Plants and Bee-keeping' by F. N. Howes (1945) that mentions them in passing ... '... These are striking, with their pure white petals and masses of stamens. Bees visit them for pollen and for nectar. The shrub can hardly be described as common in cultivation, probably because it it not among the easiest of plants to propagate and transplants badly.' I was only thinking earlier today, when in the garden, that I have never noticed bees on the daisies or buttercups; but buttercups are, according to the author above '... of little consequence as bee plants.'
I think theyre great for softening edges around paths. I just wanted to check about attracting insects as I always like to plant plants that have some benefit for pollinating insects. Thanks all
The shrub can hardly be described as common in cultivation, probably because it it not among the easiest of plants to propagate and transplants badly.'
sorry...it won't let me go out the quote box...
I didn't know there was one that was woody one that could be described as a shrub. Normally ones such as Erigeron karvinskianus seed everywhere..once you have one it will appear in every crack and cranny..
As others have said they don’t necessarily attract the bigger bees but they are good for lots of smaller pollinators
on the subject, it’s only my second year of growing them, and all my flowers this year so far are white like a normal daisy, is this normal? Do they turn pink as they age or do the pink ones come in later?
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'... These are striking, with their pure white petals and masses of stamens. Bees visit them for pollen and for nectar. The shrub can hardly be described as common in cultivation, probably because it it not among the easiest of plants to propagate and transplants badly.'
I was only thinking earlier today, when in the garden, that I have never noticed bees on the daisies or buttercups; but buttercups are, according to the author above '... of little consequence as bee plants.'
on the subject, it’s only my second year of growing them, and all my flowers this year so far are white like a normal daisy, is this normal? Do they turn pink as they age or do the pink ones come in later?