Eco Preservation : List of Garden Plants for Saving Bees

Hey Honey, I can give more than Honey! Save Me!

Bees are important indicators for the health of the environment. When something is wrong with our bees, something is wrong in the environment!

Bees are having a hard time, but we can all do our bit to help save the bees.  You do not need to become a beekeeper. Indeed, many other pollinators (not just honey bees) are in serious decline too. For example, in some countries, like the UK, some bumblebee species have gone extinct already. Many butterfly species are also struggling.

Here is a list of garden plants for bees that provide forage for at least one species of bee. Many of these plants will attract honey bees and different types of bumblebees and solitary bees.

Most people can accommodate at least a few of these flowers to attract bees and butterflies into their gardens, even if only in pots.

GARDEN PLANTS FOR BEES

LATE WINTER – SPRING GARDEN PLANTS
Mahonia
Winter Aconite
Crocus
Daffodil (try native wild types – e.g. if you live in the UK, try Narcissus pseudonarcissus)
Genista
Dicentra (Bleeding Heart)
Pulmonaria (Lungwort)
Gorse (Ulex)
Rosemary (Rosemarinus)
Flowering Currant (Ribes)
Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
Bluebell (Choose native varieties)
Cowslip (Choose native varieties)
Snakeshead (Fritillaria meleagris)
Winter Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima, Lonicera purpusii)
Barberry (Berberis) (Lamium)
Bugle (Ajuga)
Ground Ivy
Snowdrops (Galanthus) – single flowered varieties
Winter Heathers (Erica carnea)
Lenten rose ( Helleborus orientalis)
SPRING – SUMMER GARDEN PLANTS
Forget-me-not (Myosotis)
Foxglove (Digitalis)
Bistort
Crane’s-bill (Geranium)
Poppy (Papaver)
Chives
Bugle (Ajuga) (also in Late Winter – Spring)
Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus acris)
Borage officinalis
Crocus (also mentioned in Late Winter Spring)
Comfrey (Malus)
Honey Suckle (Lonicera)
Passion Flower (Passiflora)
Muscari
Thyme
Sweetpea (Lathyrus)
Campanula
Lupin (Lupinus)
Rosa rugosa
Sea Holly (Eryngium)
Columbine (Aquilegia)
Penstemon
Salvia
Hebe
Allium
Agapanthus
SUMMER – AUTUMN GARDEN PLANTS
Scorpion Weed (Phacelia tanacetifolia)
Purple Loosestrife
Sedum
Golden Rod (Solidago)
Cornflower
Red Hot Poker (Knifophia)
Veronica
Salvia (mentioned already)
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
Verbascum
Scabious
Sunflower
Lavender
Watermint
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum)
Nepeta (Catmint)
Bugle (Ajuga) (mentioned already)
Bergenia
Hellebores (mentioned already)
Hollyhock
Bergamot
Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens)
Verbena
Raspberry (especially the Autumn raspberry)
AUTUMN – WINTER GARDEN PLANTS
Ivy hedera helix
Mint (Mentha) (mentioned already)
Oregano (Origanum)
Autumn raspberries (mentioned already)
Viburnum
Common Heather (Calluna vulgaris)

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Courtesy : www.buzzaboutbees.net and WikiPedia