AT A GLANCE
Is the cinquefoil a bee pasture?
What insects visit the cinquefoil?
The cinquefoil is a native one small shrub, which grows up to a meter high and is very robust. This makes the plant ideal for growing in rock gardens, as a companion or bed borderin the garden to be planted. become rare wild bees such as the brown feeler bee (Lasioglossum fulvicorne), the common bee (Lasioglossum calceatum) and the bloodroot sand bee (Andrena tarsata) rely on the wood for food reliant. But also other insects, for example bumblebees or butterflies, increasingly fly to the cinquefoil during the flowering period.
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Why is cinquefoil important to bees?
Wild bees like the species mentioned above have become rare in many regions, and some species are even on the verge of extinction. Almost 600 different species live in Germany alone, which are essential for an intact ecological cycle. Unlike the domesticated honey bee, however, many wild bees are
adapted to specific plant species and/or regions and die when they can no longer find these plants or their habitat conditions have changed. the den cinquefoil approaching wild bees, for example feed their offspring with the pollen.When does the cinquefoil bloom?
The cinquefoil is a tireless perennial bloomer that grows its blooms from June to October shows and thus offers a valuable food source for many insects over a long period of time.
The cup flowers are usually bright yellow to orange, but there are now also cultivars with white, pink or red flowers. These contain a lot of nectar and are therefore so valuable for the local insect world.
Recommended sorts are for example:
- 'Kobold': bright yellow flowers, also suitable for sunny locations
- 'Abbotswood': white flowers, ideal for sunny locations
- 'Pink Lady': pink flowers, blooms as early as May
- 'Danny Boy': dark pink flowers, grows up to 150 centimeters high
Which plants are similar to the cinquefoil?
The cinquefoil belongs to the botanical genus Potentilla, which includes numerous more perennials belong. These are also called finger herbs referred to and often look confusingly similar to the cinquefoil. Varieties well suited for the garden, which also combine with the Combine cinquefoil are about these types:
- Potentilla atrosanguinea 'Gibson's Scarlet': also known as 'Cinquefoil', with bright red cup-shaped flowers
- Potentilla tridentata 'Nuuk': small, white flowers, evergreen and very hardy
- Potentilla x cultorum 'Light my Fire': attractive bi-colored flowers
The cinquefoils mentioned are also among the insect-friendly plants.
Which plants do bees like best?
Bees are on the largest possible variety of native species instructed, which offer a richly laid table from early spring until well into autumn. Therefore, you should choose plants for the garden according to these criteria:
- as local as possible
- flowers rich in nectar and pollen
- no varieties with semi-double or double flowers
- different flowering times from March to October
- Fruit trees, native shrubs and perennials, meadows with summer flowers instead of lawns
By the way, they are particularly recommended flowering hedges from woods like cornel, summer and splendor pier, honeysuckle, wild rose, barberry and others.
Tip
Finger shrub well suited as ground cover
You can also use low varieties of the cinquefoil as ground cover, for example in sunny locations under tall trees or in the rock garden. The perennial bloomer spreads out extensively and branches out heavily.
