10 Flowers for Your Yard to Attract Bees Bees play a crucial role in ensuring our survival on the planet. That seems dramatic, right? It is true, though. Our earth needs pollinators to stay, well, pollinated. Keeping these little fuzzy bums healthy and strong can be done in part by planting plants that are beneficial to bees.
So, how do you go about doing that? See how easy it may be to grow your way to a bee friendly yard by looking at the list of 10 flowers below.
So let’s begin. Let’s talk about the flowers whose hues and scents entice bees. No matter how much or how little room you have available, the plants listed below will help you establish a bee-friendly yard. You should be aware of the following.
The pansies. Pansies are usually the first flowers that may be planted during the chilly spring months, therefore I named them first. Bees will be drawn to pansies because of their vivid purple and blue coloring, and they are also widely available and reasonably priced.
The peony.
I cherish peonies! Peonies are great since you may plant them once and enjoy them for many years. Although they don’t have a long growth season, the week or so that they do bloom will be advantageous to the hives of bees that come to visit. Don’t get alarmed if peonies bring out ants. Use a natural repellent or just let the ants hang out. Otherwise, you risk harming the bees.
Bee Balm 3.
This flower’s name explains it all! Another perennial that you may plant once and allow to grow year after year is bee balm. It has vivid purple, red, and pink undertones, and believe me when I say that bees will swarm to it! On Amazon, you may find bee balm seeds that are simple to plant.
Would you like to know more about raising bee balm? See my advice on growing bee balm here.
4. Goldenrod.
In addition to attracting bees to your yard, marigolds are wonderful for deterring pests like rabbits. If you’re short on room, grow marigolds in pots and window boxes; bees will love them. You must plant marigolds every year because they are annuals, but don’t let that deter you. When purchased by the flat, marigolds cost only a few cents per plant.
Lavender, 5. Lavender is a terrific delight for bees in addition to having a wonderful aroma. Lavender is adored by bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds. You only need to plant this simple-to-grow perennial once to enjoy it for many years.
Lavender is a useful plant to have about because there are so many ways to utilize it (in the cooking, in DIY bath products, and for stress reduction).
Six. Borage
Borage is a herb that few people are familiar with, but it is incredibly versatile and easy to grow. Bees adore the sweet delight of borage, and people also like it in their salads! You will enjoy the mild cucumber flavor of this perennial plant, and you will also find that it is relatively easy to grow. On Amazon, you may purchase your own borage seeds.
Are peonies beneficial to pollinators?
They are great garden plants for many different reasons.
They have a long lifespan, require little maintenance, draw pollinators, are drought tolerant, and come in a wide variety of colors, patterns, and foliage kinds. A single-petaled or semi-double peony will draw pollinators because of its pollen and nectar.
What plants are harmful to bees?
The following blooming plants may, at least in some circumstances, be toxic to honey bees. Under some circumstances is the key phrase in this sentence.
Some of these plants can genuinely benefit bees in good weather. The beekeeper shouldn’t attempt to eliminate all of these nectar sources from the environment.
Instead, during droughts, late freezes, etc., it is wise to be aware of and keep an eye on bee activity. By doing this, you might be ready to offer further assistance to entice your bees away from potentially harmful sources.
Only during dry periods, American basswood (Basswood tilla), an excellent source
What flowers are the friendliest to bees?
Purple blooms are found on some of the best bee plants, including lavender, alliums, buddleja, and catmint. Bees can see purple more clearly than any other color. Nevertheless, a lot of blooms will still draw bees in different colors, so leave them alone!
Grow tubular-shaped flowers for bees
For long-tongued bees like the garden bumblebee, Bombus hortorum, tubular-shaped flowers such as foxgloves, honeysuckle, penstemons, and snapdragons are an essential source of food.
Grow flowers all year round
While buff-tailed bumblebee queens may start nesting in the fall rather than hibernating, producing a “winter colony,” most bees are most active from March to September, while some emerge from hibernation early in mild winters. At least two nectar- or pollen-rich plants should be in bloom during the winter. The best plants for the job are winter clematis and winter honeysuckle.
Early-summer flowers for bees
- Campanula
- Comfrey
- Delphinium
- Foxglove
- tough geranium
- Honesty
- Hollyhock
- Potentilla
- Snapdragon
- Stachys
- Teasel
- Thyme
- Verbascum
Late-summer flowers
- Aster
- Buddleja
- Cardoon
- Cornflower
- Dahlia (single-flowered)
- Eryngium
- Bur thistle
- Heather
- Ivy
- Lavender
- Penstemon
- Scabious
- Sedum
- Bonariensis Verbena
Kate Bradbury says
In milder climates, the perennial wallflower Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’ blooms almost every day of the year. In a modest, bee-friendly garden, it makes a fantastic nectar plant.
What kinds of insects are drawn to peonies?
Although their foliage is sometimes seen to be lovely, peonies (Paeonia species and hybrids) are mostly appreciated for their brilliant flowers, which come in a variety of colors and styles. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s plant hardiness zones 2 through 8 are suitable for these plants to grow in, while individual examples often have significantly limited growth ranges. Due to their attraction to the peony petals, ants are frequently found on peonies. The peony is unaffected by these ants, however a few other insects may provide a problem for these plants.
Whether wasps enjoy peonies
Since February, today was the first day with a high of 70 degrees (when we oddly had an entire week of 70s). The peony kept growing in the warm weather, and today all the bugs decided to emerge as well. Today, there were a lot of wasps hovering around and on my peonies, searching for and consuming the lovely nectar from the flower buds. They weren’t harming the peonies, and as long as they didn’t perceive me as a threat, they weren’t harming me either. Wasps are definitely not my favorite flying creatures, especially after I was bitten by one under my deck last year. Though I’m sure they simply receive a poor rap, they are probably required, just like bees, to help with pollination. I therefore tend to let them be, unless they are building nests on my front or back porch.
I couldn’t help but snap a few pictures when I saw this wasp attempting to land on the same peony bud as this vivid red ladybug. The ladybug and the wasp It sounds like some sort of fable, as though I should concoct a captivating tale about these two. The wasp came along and attempted to steal the ladybug’s afternoon snack, but the truth was that the ladybug had already found it. Although the wasp was highly persistent, the ladybug held its own and ultimately prevailed in this food fight. This ladybug in brilliant red is simply too adorable. If I’ve ever seen one on a peony bud before, I can’t recall it. Ladybugs are thought to bring luck. Hopefully, this portends a good peony bloom this year. You can probably guess that I’m feeling a little impatient waiting for the peony buds to start opening given how chilly March has been up until now. Hopefully they will blossom soon!
Which plants don’t draw bees?
Although pollination by bees is necessary for flowers, as we all taught in school, it doesn’t imply we want them swarming around in our backyards. Bees and wasps can quickly ruin time spent outside, whether you are allergic to them or not. Don’t let your fear of being stung prevent you from having fun this summer. When it comes to fending off bees and wasps, a few simple changes to your landscape can have a significant impact. A list of 10 plants that deter bees and wasps is provided below. Resuming your season-long enjoyment after adding some to your backyard landscaping.
Of course, if you notice any bees or wasps on your property, call your neighborhood Ehrlich Pest Control office to find out what you can do to get rid of them and stop them from coming back.
Cucumber
This well-liked vegetable not only enhances summer salads but also deters wasps and bees. The acidic cucumber peels’ harsh flavor turns off bees and wasps.
There are several ways you may make use of cucumbers in your yard. You may either scatter cucumber peels across the garden or grow cucumber plants that will produce fresh fruit for snacks and drinks. Cucumbers are tropical vegetables, so if you decide to grow them, you’ll need warm weather and lots of moisture.
Basil
Another wonderful plant for your garden that serves as both a culinary ingredient and a pest deterrent is basil. While bees and wasps may not mind the scent of basil in a hearty tomato sauce, we humans do not. Basil enjoys a place that receives 6 to 8 hours each day of direct sunlight since it needs heat to thrive efficiently. To prevent drowning the basil plants and/or inducing root rot, the soil must be well-drained even if it should be kept moist.
Geraniums
Because bees cannot perceive the color red, geraniums, especially red geraniums, can be useful in deterring bees. Although it may seem odd that a flower would deter bees, these blooms have a fragrance that the stinging insect does not particularly enjoy and contain little to no pollen. Geraniums can be brought indoors to overwinter during the colder months and prefer to receive 4-6 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Wormwood
Absinthe, a component in wormwood that is poisonous to insects, is present. Bees and wasps typically avoid it because of its strong aroma, which warns them of any potential threats. Direct sunlight and well-drained soil are required for wormwood. Wormwood should be planted with caution because it can obliterate nearby plants.
Mint
Although mint has a pleasant aroma in the human world, stinging insects do not appreciate it. Although they may withstand some shade, mint plants need to be carefully monitored. They may easily take over a garden due to their speedy growth.
Eucalyptus
This fragrant shrub is a favorite of koala bears, but not of bees and wasps. You can grow eucalyptus in a garden or in containers. It requires a huge bit of light in any case. The eucalyptus plant can withstand drought, so give it a little time to dry out in between waterings.
Marigolds
Like most of the other plants on our list, the vibrant marigold adds beauty to gardens and deters insects with its pungent scent. It does not necessarily deter honeybees that are looking for nectar, but it does not appeal to wasps. Particularly when planted in the ground, marigolds are incredibly hardy and require little maintenance. Try using red types of plants to deter bees, like you would with geraniums.
Citronella
Citronella is primarily recognized for its ability to repel mosquitoes, but wasps and bees can also find it repulsive due to its overpowering odor. Although it may be grown indoors or outdoors, it prefers at least six hours of direct sunlight daily, whether it’s by a window or in the sun. The soil around the citronella plant should continue to drain well.
Pennyroyal
Bees and wasps absolutely detest pennyroyal because of its mint-like fragrance. Pennyroyal is a fantastic option for pots because it is a very modest plant with a height of 6 to 12 inches. Although this plant is quite simple to manage, it needs to be watered frequently to prevent drying out.
Pitcher Plants
Compared to the other plants on this list, these ones function rather differently. Pitcher plants aid in the control of bees and wasps rather than putting them off. Pitcher plants are predators that capture and consume insects for their own food. Insects are drawn into the flower, where a slick surface causes them to slip and drown in a watery pool.
Because it cannot take tap, bottled, or filtered water, this sort of flower can be challenging to care for because it only tolerates rainwater or distilled water. Because pitcher plants have evolved to get their minerals from the insects they catch rather than from the accumulation of minerals in that type of water, this can be harmful to them. Pitcher plants need full, direct sunlight as well.
When choosing flowers for your yard, try to stay away from blue, violet, and yellow-hued plants as much as you can because these are bees’ favorite colors. These colors will draw bees to flowers in particular. Additionally, trumpet-shaped flowers are a barrier since they naturally make it more challenging for bees to get the nectar.
Are bees poisoned by hydrangeas?
I recently got the chance to assess a university campus for bee-friendly landscape plants. Large trees and sprawling lawns made up the majority of the campus, creating a plush and welcoming blanket of greenery that encircled tall buildings and trees like draped velvet. I’m delighted to report that it provided a quiet retreat for students and many families using or passing through the campus with young children.
The campus had so many trees that they formed an almost closed canopy, giving the impression that the trees had given permission for structures to be placed amid them for our benefit.
On the university grounds, a variety of trees including oaks, American elms, ash, mimosas, catalpas, mulberries, willows, golden chain trees, lindens, flowering crab apples, hawthorns, cedar, fir, pine, horse chestnuts, honey locusts, and eastern redbuds flourished in harmony and profusion. Many of the huge shrubs and trees were pollinator-friendly.
Willows were the first bee-friendly trees to blossom in the spring, and they were soon followed by hawthorn, horse chestnut, red buds (both eastern and western), and flowering crab apples.
Up to the end of July, golden chain tree, honey locust, linden, catalpa, mimosa, and linden all produced continuous tree bloom.
As long as there are other pollinator-friendly plants blooming before and after them, each tree holds a significant amount of floral resources during bloom time and is beneficial to pollinators; bees require sustained floral resources during the growing season.
Conifers, ash, elm, and other wind-pollinated trees are generally unwelcoming to bees.
On campus, hydrangeas were widely planted, so it was fascinating to see which ones were good for pollinators and which weren’t. Although we don’t typically think of plants as being friendly to bees, some are actually quite alluring to bees while others are not.
There was a fairly lengthy planting of lacecap hydrangeas on the east side of a sizable structure. The more popular mop-head hydrangea macrophylla hortensis is unsuitable for bees since its flowers are all sterile and, while attractive to humans, provide neither pollen nor nectar for bees.
Although hydrangeas’ fruitful blossoms are little, unimportant, and not particularly eye-catching, bees are very drawn to them. A large core cluster of fertile flowers is surrounded by stunning sterile flowers on lacecap hydrangeas.
They combine grace and delicacy with flowers that are friendly to pollinators, giving you the best of both worlds. These beautiful flowers are available in a variety of hues, including white, blue, and purple.
Hydrangea aspera, sometimes known as rough-leaf hydrangea, is a too rarely planted lacecap variety. Zone 9 locations with maritime influences, enough water, and annual composting are best suited for its use. This lovely big shrub, which grows to a height of 8 feet and flowers in the late summer, needs filtered shade.
A ring of light purple sterile blooms surrounds the bright purple, extremely fragrant fertile flowers. Both we and the bees adore its blossoms.
The appeal of the various hydrangea paniculata varieties to bees varies. The elongated, white flower heads typically contain a mixture of viable and sterile blooms.
Some varieties have non-scented, primarily sterile flowers whereas others have highly fragrant, bee-friendly blossoms. All are garish.
It is better to visit a nursery and distinguish between plants with a lot of bees visiting them and others that are not aromatic. The plants can range in size from three feet to roughly six or eight feet. Numerous cultivars exist.
Native to the eastern United States, hydrangea arborescens is frequently planted along the coast or in regions that receive a lot of coastal impact. ‘Annabelle’ is a popular cultivar.
It features very enormous umbels of white flowers that resemble mopheads, but each blossom is somewhat smaller than the mophead varieties, giving the flowering plant a softer and more elegant appearance.
The leaves are a brighter shade of green, much smaller, and less waxy. Large flower heads and weak stems can cause flowers to occasionally topple down.
While cultivars like “Haas Halo” have lacecap blooms made up of both fertile and sterile flowers and are exceedingly spectacular and bee-friendly, this cultivar only has sterile flowers. H. arborescens has exclusively viable blooms in its wild form. The scent of hydrangeas can help determine whether they are bee-friendly.