Attracting bees to your garden is not just about enjoying the sight of these busy insects buzzing among your flowers; it serves a crucial role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Bees are crucial for pollination, a process vital for the reproduction of many flowering plants, including numerous crops that form the foundation of our food supply. Here are some benefits of attracting bees to your garden and the broader significance of bees in our ecosystem:
- Pollination: Bees are exceptional pollinators, transferring pollen from the male parts (anthers) of a flower to the female parts (stigma), facilitating fertilization and seed production. This process is essential for the reproduction of various plants, ensuring the growth of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Approximately one-third of the world’s food crops depend on pollinators like bees.
- Biodiversity: Attracting bees to your garden can contribute to increased biodiversity. Different species of bees have specific preferences for certain types of flowers, and by providing a variety of flowering plants, you can support a diverse range of bee species. This biodiversity is not only aesthetically pleasing but also strengthens the overall resilience of the ecosystem.
- Increased Crop Yields: For farmers and gardeners, the presence of bees can significantly boost crop yields. Crops such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts often benefit from bee pollination, leading to more abundant and healthier harvests. This, in turn, helps support food security and contributes to a more sustainable agricultural system.
There is no wrong answer when it comes to planting flowers in your garden or even on pots sitting on your deck, but there are specific species of flowers that are bee magnets. Keep on reading to learn more, or don’t, but I hope you do.
I absolutely love bee balm. They can spready quite aggressively, so take note of where you plant them. Bee balm is a perennial if it’s taken care of properly in preparation for the winter. Don’t be too concerned about that though, just cut the stems back and mulch around the base for insulation in the fall. I have bee balm that comes back year after year – and I forget about them sometimes. When first introducing bee balm, also known as ‘wild bergamot’, ensure that the seeds are started indoors 3-4 weeks before the last frost to increase transplant success. Bee balm is extremely medicinal and can be added to teas and salves, which is why bee balm is in my top favorites.
Borage
Borage is an annual plant that drops its seeds so I’ll likely germinate year after year. It’s cucumber scented plant that attracts bees and other pollinators to the garden, it’s even said to deter tomato hornworms! Borage is edible and is commonly added to salads, water, soups and dips for added cucumber flavor. Though, this dazzling plant should not be a major part of your diet, and you should not eat it in large quantities. It contains small amounts of pyrrolizidine alkaloids, and frequently eating large quantities can lead to stomach upset. But they smell amazing, attract pollinators, and are a perfect addition to the garden! Find some borage seeds & resources here.
Coneflower
Coneflowers, also known as Echinacea, are a popular garden flower for a good reason. They are an easy to grow perennial flower and they’ll bloom all summer long. They come in a wide range of colors, they are edible and (my favorite part) they have medicinal properties. Its recommended to dead head the flowers but in my experience, Coneflowers are low maintenance and have a strong bloom throughout the summer – even without pruning. Find coneflower seeds here!
Sunflower
Who doesn’t love a gorgeous sunflower? In my garden, I love to plant a big wall of all different kinds of sunflowers as a photo backdrop – mainly for my dog! Sunflower seeds are easy to come by and easy to grow, just pop ’em in the ground according to the package instructions after the danger of last frost has passed. Sunflower seeds are some of the easiest to harvest, so you can have sunflowers year after year. Once they bloom, sit back and watch and the bees and butterflies come and go. The average supermarket will carry sunflower seeds but if you’re looking for more and better quality options… check out these sunflower seed options.
Zinnia
Zinnias are an easy to grow annual and are available in explosions of colors. The beautiful blooms will last almost all summer, attracting butterflies and hummingbirds with their array of colors. They enjoy full sun and well draining soil. Plus, they’ll grow in almost any zone. This easy going pollinator friendly flower is a win-win.
Lavender
Lavender is a perennial herb. It’s a perfect addition to any garden because of how versatile is it. Not only will it attract bees and butterflies, lavender is a culinary herb. The buds can be used in baking, skincare, teas etc. I love a good lavender lemon tea! I add a cheesecloth bag bull of buds to my pajama drawer to pass its sweet aroma over to my clothes. I would recommend buying a healthy plant from a nursery and transplanting it according to the directions given with the plant. I consider myself an experienced gardener and it took me years to finally get a successful plant from seed.
Joe Pye Weed
Joe Pye Weed is a tall flower, perfect for the backrow in the pollinator garden. Joe Pye Weed is a good flower to plant in low lying areas in your garden as it can tolerate high moisture soils. The sweet vanilla scent and pollen rich clusters of flowers attract pollinators of all kinds, butterflies especially. These flowers typically bloom late in the summer or early in the fall so they’re not the best early season option. They are easy to grow from seed – so grab some seeds and get planting!
You can also hang cute little pollinator shelters near your garden to encourage a healthy population around your garden. This isn’t necessary by any means but I think it’s such a neat idea. You can get up close and personal with our pollinator friends. Check them out:
There are thousands of flower species that you can plant in your garden, and most of them will attract pollinators. This consists of my favorites and the flowers that I grow the most of. I love sitting around in the garden watching the birds, bees, and beautiful butterflies come and go. If you’re on the hunt for seeds and and seed starting resources – I highly recommend Seeds Now. I know from experience that some uncommon seeds can be hard to find.
By planting flowers that encourage bees to come around, offering space for habitat, and limiting harmful chemicals and fertilizers, we can provide a safe oasis for our winged friends. Remember… no pollinators leads to no crops, which leads to no food.
Happy Gardening!!
