AT A GLANCE
Are azaleas a bee-friendly plant?
Are azaleas one of the bee-friendly plants in the garden?
If azaleas are among the bee-friendly plants in the garden controversial. On the one hand they are described as exotic, with which native bees, bumblebees and butterflies cannot do anything, on the other hand it is pointed out that many species come from Europe. This makes the latter especially insect-friendly plants.
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Which azaleas do bees particularly like to fly to?
among the garden azaleas is there different types, which are approached by bees. Azaleas such as the
- Pontic Azalea (Rhododendron luteum) or
- Japanese Azalea (Rhododendron obtusum)
with trumpet or tubular flowers are a real magnet for bumblebees, which are real bees. It is important that the shrubs produce single flowers, because insects are usually denied access to pollen and nectar when the azalea flowers are filled.
What do azalea bloom days mean for bees?
In the case of azaleas and rhododendrons, the term “blossom days” is heyday understood. Since this can be determined almost exactly to the day, you can use garden azaleas food gaps of bees and bumblebees. So blooms
- Rhodendron luteum from mid/late May to early/mid/late June and
- Rhododendron obtusum from mid-June to mid-July, some varieties also from April to October.
Tip
When buying azaleas, pay attention to their winter hardiness
Since not all azaleas survive the German winter without any problems, you should pay attention to the frost tolerance when buying them. In this way, the plants will be preserved for you and the bees for many years.
