Bee populations have been steadily declining in many regions in recent years. But as gardeners, we can do our part by providing these important pollinators with the best nutritional sources. Find out which flowers are bee-friendly and suitable for your garden beds in this article.
Our gardens are particularly important to bees, providing them with the nectar and pollen that pollinators need to thrive. But bees are also useful for us, as without them most vegetables do not grow and flowering plants do not survive. Check out these beautiful flowers to attract the unique pollinators to your garden and grow a variety of shapes and sizes in your garden.
Which are the best early bloomers for bees?
In late winter and early spring, when most of nature is still sleeping, it is most difficult for pollinators to find enough food. The best early blooming flowers we can consider are as follows.
- Kegelblume:The plant, native to the Caucasus, has strap-shaped foliage and light blue flowers that provide food for pollinators.
- Winterlingeare the first sign of spring. They bloom when hardly anything else is blooming and are an important source of nectar and pollen for honey bees.
- Daffodils:These early bloomers are a sure sign of spring with their bright flowers in shades of yellow and orange.
- Snowdrop:This flower blooms in spring and serves as a source of nectar for bees. It often appears when there is still snow and is very easy to care for.
- Bluestar:They are an excellent source of food for bees in spring and combine very well with other flowering bulbs.
- Schachbrettblume:It has a short flowering period, but because it flowers very early, it provides a valuable food source for honey bees and bumblebees.
Which flowers are bee-friendly: Summer bloomers
Many plants are beautiful to look at, but...useless for bees. Here we have compiled the best summer bloomers that pollinators love.
- Bienenweide:The dense clusters of small two-lipped flowers attract a variety of pollinators, as do the aromatic green leaves. This flower provides high quality nectar and pollen between April and October and is one of the best bee supporters.
- Astern (Sternblumen):There are many types of asters that bloom in summer or fall. But they are all bee-friendly and are ideal for the garden.
- Sun hat:Bees are often seen buzzing busily around the striking central umbels of this flower, visiting each blossom to feast on nectar and pollen. Their long flowering period ensures that the bees are well supplied for months.
- Zinnie:Add color to your garden with multi-colored zinnias. They are very easy to care for once established. To maintain their blooms, remove the wilted flowers regularly.
- Sunflower:These summer and fall bloomers are not only rich sources of nectar and pollen for bees, but they also have healing properties for pollinators. Start sowing after the last frost and enjoy the cheerful flowers all summer long. Just be careful not to choose hybrid varieties as they don't produce pollen.
- Bellflower:This plant delights people and bees alike with its long flowering period. In summer it transforms the garden into a sea of white or purple flowers and is also very easy to care for.
- Snapdragons:They are becoming increasingly popular in modern garden design because they require little care and are not only grown in beds, but also in containers and potsas balcony plants. They form eye-catching flower spikes that are particularly popular with bumblebees, but also with wild and honey bees.
- Lantana:This outstanding plant has an unusual ability to change the color of its flowers. So if you can't decide between orange, red or yellow, this plant is the best choice for you. And the bees love it too as it blooms from May to October and is an excellent source of food for them.
The best flowers for bees in late fall
Bees are active until the weather cools in late fall. So remember to plant some late bloomers in your flower beds too.
- Dahlias:These beautiful flowers offer a variety of magnificent blooms that are popular with bees, butterflies and other pollinators. They come in gorgeous shades of red, pink, orange, yellow and white that can be enjoyed until the last frost.
- Daisy:They have the perfect shape for collecting nectar and pollen with their flat, open flowers. They actually bloom almost all year round in mild temperatures and are therefore popular with honey bees and native bees.
- Nasturtium:Its large, circular flowers are yellow to orange and shaped like a small hibiscus flower and attract honey bees.
