bee friendly flowers

[crazii_c]

im a complete novice to flowers so im asking for your advice. i would like to grow a few flowers in my garden to encouage bees to pollinate my veg this summer. im very limited on space, so i want the flowers to fit into spare gaps between my veg so i would like varieties that dont require a lot of space. and also flowers that arent too hard for novices to grow.

im greatful for any suggestions that'll make the bees happy. thanks!

[ginger ninger]

I love Fox gloves, they grow tall, self seed and are very easy to grow, bees love them as well (you can't eat them...very poisonous). But why not plant some thyme, rosemary, cowslips or lavender.

[shushkin!]

Can I add the poached egg flower and species marigolds

[Jeanied]

I think Ginger's suggestions are great - I think the lavender is your best bet for the summer months and you can use a dwarf variety as an edging. If you want to encourage bumble bees for the broad beans then lamium and pulmonarias are two decorative low growing perennials that would mix in with other plants and bees love the flowers.

[Two_Sheds]

I had the most bees on those veg that I let go to flower: brassicas, coriander etc. Lots on comfrey too, and sunflowers. Pics in my album I think


Dandelions are a very important early food for bees

[sweetiepea]

I was going to say purple flowers are great for attracting them, but this is not exclusive of course. Having said it though I do find they like heathers, lavender, rosemary, sage and dead nettles (purple/lilac flowers!).

It's also important to consider habitat. Honey bees may well have a hive to find shelter in but other bees need dead wood, old walls, tree trunks, even leaf piles (I think). Leave a wild corner in your garden for them, and other beneficial insects.

[elsie-scot]

I read a library book about plants for wildlife, there are loads in there for bees, but I bought some seeds of the easier and cheaper suggestions - snapdragon , marigolds, cosmos, sweet pea and nasturtium. I grew my sweet peas along with my runner and broad beans. Had my nasturtium and marigold around/in my veg plot - can get nice trailing nastutiums.

[ginger ninger]

I love nasturtiums, the leaves are peppery and great in salads only thing is...so do black fly . Mine were trailing mixed colour's from Netto 19p a pkt, looked fantastic.

[binley100]

....and there's borage and purple loosestrife.

[smallblueplanet]

Came across these links on Twitter

Bumblebees and Gardens

There's two factsheets:

Bumblebee info

Bumblebee gardening info

lots more info:

Gardens for Wildlife : Nature on your Doorstep

[Snadger]

I think generally single flowers are better than doubles for bees and hoverflies!

[crazii_c]

thanks everyone for all the great suggestions. ive already got some sweet peas and foxgloves. im going to go and buy some other flower seeds now!

[OllieMartin]

Wikipedia has a list of companion plants including a number of beneficial flowers. They don't mention bees (probably because there are too many flowers that attract them), but there are some useful hints amongst it.