pyracantha bush is my most visited by bee's. 4-5 on it as we speak. Salvia & obviously lavender, they quite like my hardy geraniums and delphiniums as well.
In regards to butterflies specifically, i've found sedum, yarrow and erysimum ( Bowles Mauve esp) to be especially enticing. There are smaller versions of buddleia if you dont want a giant.
As others have said cotoneaster is a bee magnet - but my raspberries are even more popular.
Poached egg plants are definitely a winner in my book. So far this year the bees have gone nuts for my alliums, the Lupins, snapdragon (I was surprised) my spring flowering hebe, foxgloves, blueberries, violas and have just started sniffing round my lilies
Cranesbills (hardy geraniums) and nepeta. They are covered in bees at the moment (or they would be if it wasn't raining). I'm suffering a touch of deja vu here as I am sure I typed the same thing last year.
Even though it was mizzly and wet earlier my Weigela Bristol Ruby were both covered in bees this morning. My lupins have been alive with bees this year too.
I'm a novice too but when I was looking to attract bees I had the most success with a load of giant catmint. It seemed to always be flowering and always full off bees.
I've tried loads of advertised bee friendly plants with little interest from bees.
As for butterflies, someone helpfully told me if you want loads of butterflies you don't just need to feed them but provide them with plants hey like to lay their eggs on and for the caterpillars to eat. Do some research into which butterflies you can hope to see and where they like to lay their eggs. I was told that nettles are a good start xx
I have a large-ish garden and have made a special effort to design with butterfly and bee-friendly plants where possible. Of all of the plants in my garden, the cotoneaster is by far the best when it comes to attracting bees. The whole thing is literally crawling with bees between May and July. My butterfly bush is best for butterflies. It deserves it's name.
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pyracantha bush is my most visited by bee's. 4-5 on it as we speak. Salvia & obviously lavender, they quite like my hardy geraniums and delphiniums as well.
Last edited: 08 June 2016 17:45:55
Hebes!
In regards to butterflies specifically, i've found sedum, yarrow and erysimum ( Bowles Mauve esp) to be especially enticing. There are smaller versions of buddleia if you dont want a giant.
As others have said cotoneaster is a bee magnet - but my raspberries are even more popular.
Last edited: 08 June 2016 23:30:27
At this time if year my Ceanothus literally buzzes as you walk past it. They grow pretty fast if you want a large shrub for the area.
Poached egg plants are definitely a winner in my book. So far this year the bees have gone nuts for my alliums, the Lupins, snapdragon (I was surprised) my spring flowering hebe, foxgloves, blueberries, violas and have just started sniffing round my lilies
Cranesbills (hardy geraniums) and nepeta. They are covered in bees at the moment (or they would be if it wasn't raining). I'm suffering a touch of deja vu here as I am sure I typed the same thing last year.
Even though it was mizzly and wet earlier my Weigela Bristol Ruby were both covered in bees this morning. My lupins have been alive with bees this year too.
I'm a novice too but when I was looking to attract bees I had the most success with a load of giant catmint. It seemed to always be flowering and always full off bees.
I've tried loads of advertised bee friendly plants with little interest from bees.
As for butterflies, someone helpfully told me if you want loads of butterflies you don't just need to feed them but provide them with plants hey like to lay their eggs on and for the caterpillars to eat. Do some research into which butterflies you can hope to see and where they like to lay their eggs. I was told that nettles are a good start xx
I have a large-ish garden and have made a special effort to design with butterfly and bee-friendly plants where possible. Of all of the plants in my garden, the cotoneaster is by far the best when it comes to attracting bees. The whole thing is literally crawling with bees between May and July. My butterfly bush is best for butterflies. It deserves it's name.
Foxgloves,foxgloves and more foxgloves,my garden is just buzzing with bees thanks to these amazing plants.