Plants That Are Useless to Bees: 8 Types That Deter Insects

Most gardeners love attracting pollinators to the garden. However, there are plants that repel bees. In case you are allergic to bees, you can add such flowers to your garden. Read on and see the plants that are useless for bees. We have put together a list for you.

Plants that keep bees away

When it comes to fragrant plants like basil, rosemary, mint and eucalyptus, the pure essential oils of these plants can deter bees while at the same time attracting them to their flowers. Here are the plants most likely to keep bees away from your garden.

Forsythia has no nectar

Forsythia is an early-flowering shrub that is often believed to be a favorite of bees. While it is true that bees are attracted to the flowers, the amount of pollen they produce is questionable.

The amount of pollen in forsythia flowers is relatively small. It is estimated that a single forsythia flower contains around 330 pollen grains. For comparison: a honey bee can collect up to 185,000 pollen grains in a single day! Bees completely ignore forsythia and many other flowering plants because they do not provide nectar.

Why are cucumber plants not useful for bees

Bees tend to avoid the smell of cucumber plants. This plant that people love keeps bees away. Mancan assume that insectsdislike the bitterness of cucumber peels due to the cucurbitacin they contain.

Red geraniums do not attract insects

Red geraniums prove to be plants that keep bees away. It is very interesting that bees cannot see the color red, so red flowers appear green to them and simply blend in with the surrounding foliage. Additionally, these flowers contain very little pollen and have a scent similar to lemongrass, which the stinging insects do not like. Give these flowers about 4-6 hours of sun daily.

Plants that are useless to bees: Wormwood

Bees do not like the smell of wormwood plants because wormwood gives off a pungent smell that deters a variety of creatures such as bees, deer, ticks and mites. The chemicals contained in wormwood are so powerful that farmers sometimes use it to repel fleas.This medicinal herb containsAbsinthe and thujone, substances that are toxic to both insects and humans in high doses. Wormwood can kill other plants in the immediate vicinity. So be careful if you want to plant it near a garden.

Marigolds deter bees

Marigolds are a deterrent to bees. Although not scientifically studied, marigolds have been found to be unattractive to insects due to their pungent smell. Additionally, marigolds have very little pollen, so bees have little reason to visit them, even though they are attracted to their yellow and orange colors. These full and fluffy flowers make a beautiful addition to any landscape because of their bright colors and long bloom period.

Knock Out roses don't provide much nectar

Bees love most roses, but the one type of rose that bees tend to avoid is called Knock Out roses. These roses are unattractive to insects because they have a limited supply of pollen and nectar and the flower stalks are difficult to access. This variety comes in different colors, but as we have already learned, red roses are the safest choice because bees cannot see the color red.

If you share your happiness with othersWant to try rose varieties, you should opt for the crossed flowers in red or white and make sure you choose a non-fragrant variety. Heavily grown flowers tend to have less intense scent and less nectar than other flowers, so they attract fewer bees.

Tropical lemongrass keeps insects away

Lemongrass is best known for keeping mosquitoes away, but it is also known for deterring other insects, including bees. Native to Sri Lanka, citronella grass is an exotic tropical grass that requires a lot of water. Although this grass is not considered invasive, it is fast-growing and can uproot nearby plants. For this reason and because it is sensitive to cold, it is best kept in a pot so that you can control its growth and bring it indoors in winter. If you don't want to plant this grass, you can drizzle diluted citronella oil on plant leaves or outdoor surfaces.

Bees don't like feverfew

Feverfew is a powerful medicinal plant that bees don't like. This is a perennial plant that grows up to one meter high and looks very similar to daisies. This potent flower, often used for medicinal purposes, gives off a strong scent (slightly citrusy) that bees dislike. Unlike other flowers that bees simply don't like, this self-pollinating flower actively repels bees. Therefore, it should not be planted near vegetables or other flowers that are intended to be pollinated by bees. Be careful if you want to take advantage of the medicinal properties of feverfew, as the natural compounds contained in the flower can be toxic if used in the wrong dosage or incorrectly.