Attracting bees to the garden

[naoussabarb]

The best plant that I have ever seen for attracting bees is Echium Fatuosum. I grew many of these plants when living in Greece, and when in flower, they are like a beehive. I understand there is some debate as to their hardiness in the UK, but I shall doubtless find out this winter

[Birdie Wife]

Sedum spectabile is good too, especially as it's a late summer plant and bees are feeding up for the winter. Very hardy too! If you like bees you should visit the website of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust.

[Two_Sheds]

Their fave plant on my allotment is Scabious ... it gets thru the winter, and provides cut flowers for the house. Good all-rounder (I love the black variety)

[rustylady]

Lavender, chives, sweet peas all attract bees. Sweet peas provide cut flowers, Lavender and chives are both useful herbs.

[smallblueplanet]

Our bumblebees love verbena bonensiaris (sp?), as do butterflies and humming bird moths. They're still visiting them now.

[Protea]

I grew two drifts of wildflower mix accross the middle of my plot last year and the bees absolutely loved the cornflowers, they are super hardy too and come back year after year. Phacelia is also great for attracting bees and is a good green manure (although ideally you would want to dig it in before it flowers so not ideal for the bees!)

[greenlung]

Comfrey & sunflowers - da bees in my hood luv 'em : )

[moggssue]

It was definitely sweet peas for me this year, had thousands of bees around them. Will experiment with some of your suggestions when I have my lottie next year .....

[andrewo]

Phacelia, oregano flowers, mint flowers, borage and comfrey brings them in droves to mine.

[Flummery]

At our old house we had a ceanothus (California Lilac) that positively hummed. It was near the front door and used to frighten people who weren't used to it.