Planting for Bees
Many popular varieties of flowers have been hybridised for features that benefit gardeners, such as disease resistance, enhanced colour, flower size and bigger or longer blooms. The result of this is a reduction of nectar and pollen produced by these hybrids. So, where possible, it is best to offer native plants for bees.
Top Flowering Plants for Bees
• Aubretia
• Alysum
• Aster
• Balsam
• Broom
• Buddleia
• Busy Lizzie
• Candytuft
• Clover
• Coneflower
• Cornflower
• Crocus
• Dandelion
• Hebe
• Honeysuckle
• Hyacinth
• Hydrangea
• Lavender
• Laveteria
• Leopards Bane
• Ling Heather
• Lobelia
• Lupins
• Marjoram
• Michaelmas Daisy
• Mint
• Oregano
• Phlox
• Poppy
• Primrose
• Scabious
• Sedum
• Sweet Rocket
• Snowdrop
• Tree Poppy
• Thyme
• Viburnum
• Wallflower
• Single flowered varieties of flowering cherries, almonds & apricot
Tips
• Plant a range of flowering plants that flower at different times of the year
• Plant varieties that have a mixture of deep and shallow flower cups to accommodate different species of bee.
