With the beautiful sunny weather we got recently it was fantastic to see all the bees busy at work. We are all very aware about planting for insect diversity now but it got me thinking about what bees in particular like.
The way bees see the world is very different to us, for example pale colours like light pinks, yellows, and greens don't actually register strongly to them. They can't actually tell the difference between red and black. What they do love is the deep blues, purples, and blue greens. So with that bearing in mind, what are the perfect plants to attract them to your garden? Here is a few to consider;
Scabiosa - Butterfly Blue.
This is a beautiful perennial with blue/purple flowers coming up in a multitude of little pompom type blooms. It will bloom continuously through the summer before finally dying back in autumn. The butterflies, as the name suggests, adore it as do the bees and other insects. It will come back each spring and is fairly low maintenance.
Plant in a well drained spot with plenty of sun exposure.
Verbena bonariensis - Lollipop
Again this is similar to the Scabiosa in flower however it is slightly tidier looking. The main difference is that it is a more rigid and taller plant. It will keep blooming all summer and can be encouraged by a hard cut back after its early flowering. Its rigid stems do mean it can be slightly more fragile than the scabiosa so if you have dogs or children that run through the flower beds it may damage more easily.
Lavender angustifolia
To be honest any of the lavenders are perfect, even the white ones. A garden staple that is very hardy, Lavenders can be planted anywhere provided they are in well drained soil.
The trick with lavenders is to keep cutting them back quite hard after each flowering. This will prevent any woody growth that can tend to make the plant look tired and untidy.
Chives
When planting your veg patch be sure to include chives for our honey producing friends! Bees absolutely love chives. Not to mention they are great in potato salad :)
Clematis
All clematis flowers are like a magnet to bees. Their flowers work like neon signs to them. As they are climbers they do need good support. So a sunny gable end of a house with a frame or a garden fence that is sheltered from any direct wind is the ideal spot for this plant.
There are certain plants that bees don't like and which should be avoided if you are trying to attract them. Especially try to avoid putting them next to the plants you are trying to attract them with! Here are a few;
Eucalyptus
Shrub and tree bees don't like the strong smelling eucalyptus. It also repels most other insects so avoid planting this if your aim is biodiversity.
Basil and Thyme
If you have a herb garden try not to plant your bee pleasing chive next to the bee repellent basil and thyme.
Marigolds
Although we may think they look lovely, the bees won't thank you. They are not necessarily repelled by them but they contain very little pollen that the bees can access due to their double flowers so the bees simply will not bother with them.
So get out and plant a feast for your bees! :)
