This week is National Wildflower Week. We honour our native wildflowers and the pollinators they sustain during the first week of May. This article is a part of a series that features some of the top pollinator-friendly plants nationwide. utilising material from our publications Gardening for Butterflies, 100 Plants to Feed the Bees, and our Monarch Nectar Plant Guides.
Gaillardia spp.
The vividly coloured blossom of blanketflower, which blooms in warm colours reminiscent of blankets woven by Native Americans of the Southwest, may be the source of the plant’s common name. Another explanation is that it alludes to the way that certain plants “spread the ground in regions where they grow. In any case, a variety of bees, including green metallic sweat bees (Agapostemon spp.), bumble bees, and others attracted to the brightly coloured blossoms, adore this vibrant plant. Additionally, the plant serves as a food supply for the caterpillars of the painted schinia (S. volupia) and gaillardia flower moth (Schinia masoni), butterflies with wing patterns and hues that resemble the petals of the blanketflower.
Generally speaking, blanketflower performs best in a dry, sunny location and does not tolerate damp or dense clay soils. Although it may be cultivated in much of the United States, save for the drier parts of the country, it is usually an annual or a short-lived perennial. It’s worth putting in your pollinator garden as an annual or short-lived perennial even if it isn’t consistently perennial outside of its native range because it flowers early and frequently, frequently remaining one of the last plants to flower through the end of the season.
Native range: There are perhaps a dozen different species of blanketflower in North America, but only two of them are frequently bought as seeds or garden plants. Gaillardia aristata, a perennial species of blanketflower, is found in the northern plains, the Rocky Mountains, and the interior Northwest. An annual species known as Indian blanket (G. pulchella) can be found from Arizona through the southern plains, the Gulf Coast, and Florida.
Best for: Providing a variety of bees with a year-round source of pollen and nectar.
Do butterflies flutter to Gaillardia flowers?
Coverlet Flower (Gaillardia) A “plant and ignore” flower is the blanket flower. It can withstand poor soil conditions and is tolerant of drought. After becoming established, it will continue to produce blooms until the first frost. Few butterflies will flutter away from this one by rolling up their proboscises.
What kind of flower draws bees?
Bees are drawn to a number of other wildflowers, including California poppies and evening primrose, as well as bee balm, echinacea, snapdragon, and hostas. Are you aware that bees have superb colour vision? They swarm to blooms that are bright, purple, blue, and white because of this.
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 neighbourhood 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 flavour 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 colour 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 favourite 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 recognised for its ability to repel mosquitoes, but wasps and bees can also find it repulsive due to its overpowering odour. 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’ favourite colours. These colours 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 Gaillardia seeds eaten by birds?
Holding a seed head above a bowl after it has finished drying can allow you to gently rub it. It should cause the seeds to move and land in the bowl. Stems and other non-seed debris will also be left, which you must remove from the bowl. The remaining seeds must be kept in a sealed jar that is marked with the plant’s name and the date the seeds were collected. Until you are ready to plant, keep that jar of seeds in a cool, dark location.
Aesthetic seed heads in the shape of globes are produced by both annual and perennial blanket flower types. Gardeners can increase winter appeal by leaving the final flush of blossoms on the plant and letting them set seed in the fall. If you don’t want to transplant annual kinds every year, you can allow the fall seed heads on the plant to self-sow; however, seed-grown varieties might not produce plants that are exactly like their parents. Additionally, the seeds draw birds to your garden in the fall and winter. If you don’t want the plant to set seeds, cut it back to the ground after it turns dormant in the late fall.
The Gaillardia (blanket flowers) were named in honour of M. Gaillard de Charentonneau, a French judge and supporter of botany in the 18th century.
Can blanket flowers pollinate effectively?
Plants Good for Bees Honeybees swarm the blanket flowers at the appropriate time of day. It is understandable why blanket flower was one of the first perennials planted in the University of California’s new bee-friendly garden last year and is listed on the Royal Horticultural Society’s Perfect for Pollinators list.
Where can you find flowers that draw butterflies but not bees?
Butterflies-Attracting Flowers
- Yarrow and Achillea.
- Butterfly Milkweed, Asclepias tuberosa.
- Blanket Flower is Gaillardia grandiflora.
- Hollyhock, Alcea rosea
- Sunflower and helianthus.
- Maximum chrysanthemum, Shasta daisy
- Alyssum maritima, or Lobularia.
- Oh, my, aster.
Can Gaillardia withstand shade?
The full sun is optimal for these plants. In warmer climes, the blanket flower may tolerate some partial shade, but they will become a little floppy and produce fewer flowers.