Planting for Bees

uberalles

http://www.irishbeekeeping.ie/bflora/bflora.html


If you want to enjoy the sight and sound of bees foraging in your garden, or to help support your local bees by providing food for them, here are some suggestions.
Bees very rarely sting when foraging for nectar and pollen: they are much too busy making honey while the sun shines to bother with people. Growing a few more bee-friendly plants is not likely to increase the risk of stings.
Not all flowers have food for bees. 'Double' flowers have extra rows of petals instead of nectaries and stamens, and so produce little or no nectar or pollen. Many flowering cherry trees are double-flowered.
The most valuable plants for bees are those that flower in late autumn, winter and early spring, including Laurustinus (Viburnun tinus) and the winter heath (Erica carnea) 'Springwood White'. Bees use mild periods to forage for whatever nectar and pollen is available, and even small amounts of fresh supplies make a big difference to them then. In high summer there is so much nectar and pollen available everywhere that a little more doesn't matter as much.
The nectar in pendent (downward-hanging) flowers is not diluted by our frequent rain, as can happen with open-shaped flowers. Raspberry, Fuchsia and Snowberry are more valuable because of this.
Plants with a long flowering period, such as Potentilla, Fuchsia and Laurustinus are more valuable to bees. In a spell of poor weather when they cannot leave the hive, bees could completely miss a short flowering period.
Bees prefer to forage on flowers in full sun, so plant them where they will get full sun or at least a few hours' sun each day.
Large blocks of the one plant are more attractive to bees than 'one each of everything'.
Shrubs generally produce more forage for bees than herbaceous plants, and trees more than any.
Don't forget climbers: the smaller your garden the more wall and fence space it has per square metre of ground.
Never plant when the soil is sodden or frozen. Dig a hole bigger than the plant's roots, break up the bottom and fill back around the roots with the best soil mixed with some garden compost.
Don't let plants raised in peat-based compost dry out for the first year: the peat will shrink and tear out the new roots from the surrounding soil. A mulch of compost around the base of the plant helps keep it moist, but keep it away from the stem.
Go to Top of Page
What to Plant

Trees:

Willow, Fruit trees (various) Holly, Lime, Sycamore.
Spring bulbs:

Bluebell, Chinodoxa, Crocus (yellow forms may be more attractive to bees than white or purple), Muscari (Grape Hyacinth) Scilla, Snowdrop.
Shrubs:

Berberis, Box, Brachyglottis 'Sunshine', Buddleja globosa (Orange Ball Tree), Chaenomeles (Flowering Quince), Cotoneaster horizontalis (Fishbone Plant), Escallonia, Flowering Currant, Fuchsia, Helianthemum, Laurustinus (Viburnun tinus), Lavender, Potentilla, Pyracantha, Rosemary, Snowberry, Staghorn Sumach (Rhus typhina), Winter heath (Erica carnea 'Springwood White'),
Annuals & Biennials:

Alyssum, Borage, Cosmos, Forget-me-not, Limnanthes (Poached-egg plant) Mignonette, Wallflower.
Perennials:

Aster, Aubretia, Catmint, hardy Geraniums, kitchen herbs (most), Phormium, Salvia x superba
Climbers:

Clematis Montana, Hydrangea petiolaris, Ivy, Virginia Creeper

redser7

Can second the Poached-egg plant. Had loads of it growing this summer. The constant sound of buzzing was unreal, really nice to have around. Never bothered the kids for a second. Very easy to sow and pretty to look at. 99 cents from B&Q for a packet that could fill your garden.

Sonnenblumen

The more the merrier, surprised not to see Scabiosas which are very popular with bees and butterflies (S. Butterfly Blue, S. Pink Mist, S.Perfecta etc) on the list.

bmaxi

redser7 wrote: »

Can second the Poached-egg plant. Had loads of it growing this summer. The constant sound of buzzing was unreal, really nice to have around. Never bothered the kids for a second. Very easy to sow and pretty to look at. 99 cents from B&Q for a packet that could fill your garden.

You underestimate the poached egg plant, a 99c packet, given time, would fill the Phoenix Park. I have it close to my fruit as it attracts all sorts of pollinators, not just bees. When it sheds its seeds they are picked up on the soles of shoes, dogs' paws etc. and spread all over the place.

maringo

They seem to love delving into my hollyhocks too and stonecrop and lavatera shrub - think thats their names but i might have misspelt them.:)