plants to help Bees

harrys_nan

http://beekind.bumblebeeconservation.org/

Check if you have a bee friendly garden.

ManofLeisure_2

Thanks for the link - a really interesting site

forgotmyname

On the allotment my neighbours plot hand a plant with purple flowers, it was swarming with bees. Never seen so many on one plant.

I had to take a picture and ask what it was, turned out to be Borage.

I thought i want a cutting of that, it turns out i didnt need to it spread like a weed.

Davesnave

Recent research shows what many of us have known for a long time, which is that UK native species have no special advantage over plants from other places when it comes to attracting and feeding insects.

The best gardens from an insect POV are those which show good plant diversity, which will be reflected in a long flowering season and different types of flower structure.

Of course there's more to it than that, but it means that people can grow plants other than those commonly recommended for wildlife, without thinking their garden is somehow inferior from an ecological perspective.

More info here:

http://staging.rhs.org.uk/science/pdf/conservation-and-biodiversity/wildlife/PlantForBugsBulletin1

And here:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/conservation-biodiversity/wildlife/encourage-wildlife-to-your-garden/plants-for-pollinators

harrys_nan

That's very interesting, I will have a good read later.
Anything that help bees, butterflies and good bugs is brilliant. I tend to buy plants that I see at the garden centre or plant nursery that has bees settling on them.
We all need to do our bit to help nature

REEN

I pass a salvia in a neighbour's garden which is always buzzing with bees. It has white and red flowers, I think it's Hotlips. I'll be looking out for that one at the garden centre.

sgun

Also flowers with simple petal structures are better for bees, rather than those with double or multi-petalled flowers as it is easier for them to access the pollen.


Many shop bought flowering bulbs contain levels of neonicotinoids that may or may not be harmful to bees (depending on who has paid for the research). If you are concerned about this you should buy bulbs that are certified neonic free or organic. Hopefully residues in the soil and in cultivated stocks will be lower since they started to be banned in many countries. The RHS are as usual a bit coy about mentioning controversial issues on their public pages so just be aware.