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.
Honeybees enjoy peony, right?
The majority of peonies raised for commercial use aren’t allowed to bloom in the field. One of the reasons peonies are such an outstanding and adaptable flower is that they are instead harvested in bud form and stored in a cooler until bloom time. However, did you know that a peony doesn’t even need to bloom for bees to get its nectar?
Extrafloral nectaries are found in peonies, which indicates that the nectar is made on the bud’s exterior. Have you ever felt a peony bud that was a little bit sticky? That is the sweet substance that ants and bees adore! Bees or ants collecting nectar from the blossom do not harm the peony in any way.
Wild and honey bees alike enjoy the nectar of peonies. Three of the farms in our cooperative run apiaries and gather honey at their peony farms. The nectar from the peonies that the bees bring back to the hive is combined with nectar collected from the understory of Alaska’s wild forests, including fireweed, elderberry, wild rose, wild raspberry, and any other wild nectar that the bees find irresistible. In Alaska, fruit orchards like the 35-year-old apple orchard you can see here are pollinated by bees.
The pollen that is hidden deep within all of the fluffy petals of a peony may attract bees once the plant blooms. Only the largest bees may be able to successfully navigate such a dense mass of petals. Here, a wild Alaskan bee is seen swarming after pollen, which serves as a protein supply for bees. As you can see, the bee is carrying around pollen on its rear legs, which beekeepers fondly refer to as “pollen pants.”
Take a moment to enjoy watching bees or ants at work the next time you see them on your peonies. To accomplish a task, a committed team is required. The Alaska Peony Cooperative’s member farms make an effort to cooperate harmoniously as a well-balanced hive to produce the premium peonies that you’ve come to expect. We appreciate you becoming a part of our group!
Do peony have a large bee population?
From early spring until late fall, honeybees, bumblebees, and wild bees all require access to nectar and pollen on a daily basis. As flower gardeners, there are many things we can do to make sure the bees in our yards have access to the food they require to survive.
Knowing which kinds of flowers bees prefer is useful because few of us have infinite area for gardening. Species preferences vary, but certain flower types and plant families consistently draw sizable numbers of bees. Growing some of the bee-friendly flowers listed below will help spread the message that your garden is a pleasant environment for bees.
Bowl-Shaped Flowers
The honeybees and bumblebees are drawn to these flowers in particular. Usually simple to access, they are abundant in pollen, and the cupped petals provide some cover while feeding. Crocuses, tulips, poppies, peonies, anemones, cosmos, hollyhocks, and shrub roses are a few flowers that fit this category well.
Daisy-Like Flowers
These flowers’ flat centers make for comfortable landing sites for feeding, tanning, and sleeping. Examples include single or peony-style dahlias, golden marguerite, Shasta daisies, echinaceas, asters, sunflowers, zinnias, heleniums, and sunflowers.
Plants with Fluffy Flowers
Wild bees are especially drawn to plants with flower clusters that resemble fluffy clouds, including Joe Pye weed, veronicastrum, goldenrod, buddleia, astilbe, and the majority of the mint family, including agastache (shown above).
Plants with Globe-Like Blossoms
Numerous kinds of bees find these flowers to be enticing. Nectar is abundantly produced by the flower heads, which can have either flat florets (as in the image above) or tubular ones (like chives). Examples include scabiosas, astrantias, globe thistles, and alliums.
Flowers With Flat Umbels
Wide, flat umbels on flowers of the carrot family are attractive to many bee species, especially the tiny solitary bees. There are Queen Anne’s lace, ammi majus, and angelica as alternatives.
Flowers in the Mint Family
Bees are attracted to the fragrant foliage and nectar-rich blooms of plants in the mint family. Bee-friendly flowers including monarda (bee balm), nepeta (catmint), lavender, sage, and salvia are among the garden-worthy species.
Plants in the Legume Family
The legume family of plants is a favorite with bees. This is as a result of the more nutritious pollen they generate. Sweet peas, lupines, and baptisia are just a few of the legumes that have lovely, garden-worthy blossoms.
Plants in the Borage Family
Another plant family that attracts bees is the borage family. Bees swarm over them from morning till dusk when their blossoms are in bloom. Borage is the most bee-friendly flower in this family, and it is followed by comfrey, lungwort, forget-me-nots, heliotrope, Virginia bluebells, and forget-me-nots.
Do peonies produce pollen?
A single-petaled or semi-double peony will draw pollinators because of its pollen and nectar. We rarely see a basic peony with fewer petals because we are used to large flowers with numerous petals. Those petals’ abundance of golden anthers might be a feast for important pollinators. The hairs on the bee’s hind legs touch the mature pollen as it forages inside the peony, gathering it to feed the hive’s larvae. For their nutrition, the pollen supplies protein and other nutrients.
What draw people to peonies?
Peonies are well known for luring ants, which crawl all over the flowers and feast on the sticky sugars they release. Whether they are outside or on someone’s dining room table, the ants leave once the blossom has fully opened and the sucrose has been digested. People who have had ants march across their dinner table and depart their centerpiece frequently have a negative opinion of peonies as cut flowers.
However, there is a straightforward fix for the ant issue, and every professional peony grower uses it: Before the petals open, cut the peonies when they are in bud. Shake or wipe off any ants that may be present on the buds. The peony should then be placed in water to begin blooming indoors.
The only tricky part is figuring out when the bud is mature enough to be cut open from the inside. The bud is at its softest and most colorful when it is at this stage. When clipped, the bud on a giant double peony like Sarah Bernhardt can measure around 1.5 inches in diameter; two days later, it will have grown to its full size.
Cut peonies can be stored in the refrigerator for a few weeks if they are at the marshmallow stage. The peony can be stored in the refrigerator’s back section after being gently wrapped in plastic with the clipped stem ends showing. (Warning: Adding apples, cantaloupes, or other ethylene-producing fruits will reduce the flowers’ vase life.) The flowers can be burrito-style wrapped in newspaper and put in an opaque plastic container in a fridge for the commercial grower. They will hold at 35 for a month or longer. Cut an inch from the stem when you are ready to use it, and then immerse it in warm, deep water. The length of time it takes for the bloom to fully open can range from eight to 48 hours, depending on how tightly closed the bud was when it was cut.
Your peony won’t have ants if you handle them this way. Additionally, they’ll be the most exquisite, lavish, and aromatic cut flowers imaginable.
Pink “Sarah Bernhardt” peonies are complemented in the image above by fuschia Dianthus “Purple Bouquet” and deep purple Campanula glomerata. On Friday morning, the peonies were placed in water after being cut in bud and kept in the cooler for a week. Sunday morning was when this picture was taken.
What flower does a honey bee like best?
You wouldn’t want your preferred supermarket to be open for only one month out of the year. Similar to this, a healthy pollinator garden features flowers that bloom all year round. Some in the spring, summer, and fall.
We advise you to look for alternative guides if you’re in another state. A helpful resource center with a location-based organization is available from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Bee balm (Monarda spp.)
Although bees are actually preoccupied with the blooms, this plant is known as “bee balm” since it was traditionally used to heal bee stings. The bee balm family includes a wide range of plants that are indigenous to North Carolina. Most have fragrant flowers that can last up to eight weeks in bloom.
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!
What flowers are undesirable to 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 leads them to slip and perish 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.