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Flowers not attracting pollinators

hiacedrifterhiacedrifter Posts: 119
in Wildlife gardening
I was given some cosmos flowers (grown from seed collected from last year, which were grown from seed from the year before, etc), but the bees etc aren't interested WHATSOEVER! However they are all over my poppies, lavender etc. I wonder if the cosmos has been overbred, or has lots it's potency? Or perhaps they prefer the small of my other plants!

Posts

  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    Bees are not the only pollinators, and pollinators are not the only useful insects that we need to encourage
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    What colour are the cosmos? As RG says, there are loads of types of pollinators, some of them micro, such that you might not spot them. If the blooms are white, they might be more interesting to night fliers.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Agree with @raisingirl A lot of news/info/advice often concentrates on Bees and the other myriad insects don't always get a look in.
    As with most environmental issues, it helps to take an overall view if you can. 
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    I found that hover flies like cosmos,  the bees will go for what they like best first, so lavender would be their first choice. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    As we often discuss here, what animals go for first, depends on what else is on the immediate menu. Most of what goes on isn't visible, one way or another.
  • hiacedrifterhiacedrifter Posts: 119
    When I said "pollinators" read "insects". I just meant I hadn't seen a single insect on the cosmos despite watching them intently. I wasn't saying non pollinators are inferior.
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    I never see a single pollinator on my nemesias either, so I'm afraid I'm as stumped as you!
  • hiacedrifterhiacedrifter Posts: 119
    Lyn said:
    I found that hover flies like cosmos,  the bees will go for what they like best first, so lavender would be their first choice. 
    I did see a hoverfly casing out the joint earlier! And an ant chasing a black/yellow lady bird :)
  • hiacedrifterhiacedrifter Posts: 119
    Fire said:
    What colour are the cosmos? As RG says, there are loads of types of pollinators, some of them micro, such that you might not spot them. If the blooms are white, they might be more interesting to night fliers.
    White, pale pink, dark pink.
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