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Plants that don't attract babes and wasps

My 95 year old mother made me empty a herb bed under her kitchen window because it attracted bees and wasps and she had to keep her windows closed during the summer.  She has now asked me to plant perennials but nothing to attract stinging insects, as she has quite a phobias about them.  The bed is half circle, about 6 ft by 6 ft.  Any ideas please for something easy maintenance.

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,064

    Grasses are wind pollinated so you could start with some of those.   Double forms of flowers tend to be sterile or difficult for bees to access so you could look at those.

    The RHS publishes a list of plants to attract pollnating insects so avoid anything on there - https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/pdf/conservation-and-biodiversity/wildlife/rhs_pollinators_plantlist

     

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Buy her one of those mesh screens that you can cover her window with

  • Thanks for your suggestions.  Looks like ornamental grasses then

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,444

    pompom dahlias, double flowered this and that. Not much to attract insects there.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    Even those pom pom dahlias open eventually and show pollen, they would have to be dead headed soon after they bloom.

    Where does the baby come into it?

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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