Table of contents
- spring
- Onion and bulb flowers
- perennials
- fruit trees
- trees / large shrubs
- Summer
- Bee friendly perennials
- shrubs
- Bee plants flowering in autumn
- Bee pastures for the winter
There is hardly a group of plants that does not contain bee-friendly plants. Nevertheless, there are also those that form little or no nectar. This refers to plants with double flowers, so-called cultivated forms.
spring
In spring, nature begins to wake up from hibernation and starts to greet the insects with bee-friendly flowers.
Onion and bulb flowers
Spring Crocus(crocus vernus)
- Also known as spring saffron
- Flowering time: March to April
- Flower violet, yellow or white
- Growth height: 6-15 cm
- Naturalize easily
daffodil(Narcissus pseudonarcissus)
- A classic among spring bloomers
- First flowering daffodils of the year
- Flowering time: March to April
- Flower colors: yellow or white
- Growth height: 40-60 cm
snowdrop(Galanthus)
- Flowering period: January/February to March
- flowers: snow-white
- Good for naturalising
- Takes time to establish itself
- stands under natural reserve
Tip:
Snowdrops are poisonous in all parts of the plant, but especially the bulb.
grape hyacinth(muscari)
- Forms attractive carpets of flowers
- Blue flowering varieties best known
- Flowering: between March and May
- Growth height 15-30 cm
- Wild in places that suit her
Tip:
The less the soil is tilled, the easier it is for the grape hyacinth to overgrow.
winterling(Eranthis hyemalis)
- Small yellow cup flowers
- Flowering time: February to March
- Growth height: 5-15 cm
- Propagation by self-seeding
- Dense carpets on humus-rich soils
perennials
blue pillow(Aubrieta x cultorum)
- Vigorous 8-10 cm high cushion perennial
- Growth: creeping, low, evergreen
- Flowering time: April to May
- Simple, racemose flowers
- Different shades of blue, violet, red, pink
Sweet Violet(Viola odorata)
- Fragrant ground cover for partially shaded locations
- Growth height: 5-15 cm
- Flowering time: March to April
- Flower colors: white, pink, violet
- Propagation by self-seeding
crawling bugle(Ajuga reptans)
- Wild perennial for natural gardens
- Rich supply of nectar
- Growth height up to 20 cm
- Flowers spike-shaped, blue
- Flowering time: April to May
pasqueflower(Pulsatilla vulgaris)
- Blooms from March to April
- Bell-shaped single flowers
- Flower colors: violet, red, pink, white
- Propagation by self-seeding
- Growth height: 5-20 cm
deadnettle(lamium)
- Valuable wild perennial for low-light shady beds
- Flowers arranged in false whorls
- Flowering time: Depending on the variety, from March to autumn
- Flowering only from the second or third year
- Good nectar and pollen count
Meadow bittercress(Cardamine pratensis)
- Bee-friendly wild perennial
- Ideal for wet wildflower meadows
- Single racemes of white to pink flowers
- Flowering time: April to May
- Growth height: 10-50 cm
fruit trees
Apple(penalty)
- Attractive to wild and honey bees
- Lots of nectar and pollen
- Flowering months: April, May, June
- The right location and regular pruning can extend flowering windows
Tip:
Ornamental apples that set fruit are also said to be good bee pastures.
Pear(pyrus)
- Blooms just before the apple
- Good pollen and nectar donor
- Usually one pollinator variety required
- Bees are the most important pollinators
- Pay attention to variety
blueberry(Vaccinium myrtillus)
- Flowering period: May to July
- Flower pitcher-shaped, greenish or reddish
- Good nectar value
- Growth height: about 50 cm
- Requires acidic soil
Summer Raspberry(Rubus idaeus)
- Flowering period from May to June
- Flower simple, cupped, white
- Nectar contains 46% sugar
- Height growth up to 180 cm
- Restricted flowering in the shade
Tip:
After a long standing period, plant raspberries again on this soil at the earliest after four years.
gooseberry(Ribes uva crispa)
- Very attractive to wild bees, wasps and bumblebees
- Flowering months: March and April
- Flowers rather inconspicuous
- Berries interesting for birds
- Growth height: up to 200 cm
sweet and sour cherries(prunus)
- Sweet cherry blossoms from April
- Sour cherry from April to May
- Sour cherry nectar lower sugar content
- Has little effect on pollination
trees / large shrubs
barberry(Berberis vulgaris)
- Attractive flowers and berries
- Flowering period: early May to June
- flowers: cupped and bright yellow
- Average nectar and pollen value
- Growth height 100-250 cm
Tip:
The root and stem bark of the barberry contain toxic alkaloids.
service pear(Amelanchier ovalis)
- Flowers appear before the leaves
- White, tart-scented, star-shaped flowers in April
- Offer lots of nectar
- Up to 200 cm high
- Edible berries very popular with birds
hazelnut(Corylus)
- Flowering time: early February to late April
- Flowers before leaves emerge
- Abundant pollen only on male flowers
- Female flowers contain no nectar
Blackthorn / Sloe(Prunus spinosa)
- Native wild shrub
- Growth height: 150-400 cm
- Flowers simple, small, white, with a fine almond fragrance
- Flowering time April to May
- Blooms before cherry, pear and apple
Tip:
The fruits of the sloe can only be eaten raw after the frost.
Silver Maple(Acer saccharinum)
- Very valuable nectar donor
- Flowering: late March to March/April
- Flowers earlier than other maple species and grows faster
- Orange flowers
- Growth height: approx. 40 m
pastures(Salix)
- Early flowering willows, very good bee pastures
- Lots of pollen and nectar
- Female and male inflorescences
- Protein-rich pollen food for rearing the brood
- Flowering time: mid-February to April
Summer
Summer time is flowering time, here you will find the most bee-friendly plants for the hot season.
Bee friendly perennials
beard flower(Caryopteris clandonensis)
- Naturalized neophyte
- High pollen and nectar value
- Grows 50-100 cm high
- Flowering period: August to September
- Deep blue, delicately scented flowers
loosestrife(Lythrum salicaria)
- Attractiveness for wild bees very high
- Flowering period: June/July to September
- Bright dark pink flowers, false spikes
- Rich supply of nectar
- Optimal watering promotes nectar formation
borage(Borago officinalis)
- Naturalized neophyte
- Star-shaped flowers, white or blue
- Flowering months: June, July, August, September
- Nectar value significantly higher than pollen supply
- Growth height up to 80 cm
goldenrod(solidago)
- Valuable plant for bees and insects
- Large, sulphurous yellow flower spikes
- Flowering period: July and September/October
- Rich supply of nectar
- Growth height: 30-150 cm
catnip(Nepeta cataria)
- Flowering period: July to September
- Spike-shaped, mostly violet inflorescences
- Emit an intense fragrance
- Cutting back close to the ground after the main bloom encourages a second bloom
- Growth height about 70 cm
cornflower(Centaurea cyanus)
- Flowering period: July to October
- Round flat inflorescence, mostly blue
- Good nectar and pollen value
- Growth height: 30-80 cm
- High attractiveness for wild bees
Longleaf Speedwell(Veronica longifolia)
- Large Speedwell species
- One of the best native nectar plants
- Growth height 40-120 cm
- Blue inflorescences (flower candles)
- Flowering period: July to August
lavender(Lavandula angustifolia)
- Mostly blue-violet, aromatically scented flowers
- Flowering period: June/July to August
- Subshrubs up to 60 cm high
- High nectar value
lupine(lupinus)
- Classic cottage garden plant
- Flowering period: May to June
- Flower candles with small butterfly flowers
- Flowers rich in nectar attract bees and bumblebees
- Grows upright, unbranched, 80-120 cm tall
Tip:
The lupine has soil-improving properties. It enriches it with nitrogen.
coneflower(Echinacea purpurea)
- One of the most impressive bee pastures
- Up to 300 tubular flowers
- Good nectar and pollen value
- Flowering period: July to September/October
- Growth height 80-100 cm
cranesbill(geranium)
- Growth height: 15-100 cm
- Flowering period: May to October
- Flower colors: white, pink, crimson, blue
- Pollen color lemon yellow
- Often clear veining on petals
wild mallow(Malva sylvestris)
- Also known as cheese poplar
- Flowering period: June to September
- Flowers: pink with dark pink vertical stripes
- Abundant pollen and nectar
- Growth height 30-120 cm
meadow sage(Salvia pratensis)
- Good supplier of nectar and pollen
- Flowering time: June to August/September
- Flowers mostly blue
- Other colors: white, pink, purple
- Growth height 40-60 cm
Wild Rocket, Arugula(Diplotaxis tenuifolia)
- Excellent bee pasture
- Visited by bees and hoverflies
- Flowering period: May to September
- Yellow flowers typical of cruciferous plants
shrubs
snowberry(Symphoricarpos albus)
- Undemanding bee shrub
- Flowering period: June to September
- flowers: bell-shaped, pink
- Slightly toxic
- Growth height: 120-200 cm
blackberry(Rubus)
- Flowering period: May to August
- White to light pink flowers
- Good nectar and pollen value
- Growth height: 50-300 cm
heather(Calluna vulgaris)
- Richly branched small shrub
- Flowering months: June to October
- flowers: white, pink to crimson
- nectar value high
- Growth height: 15-50 cm
Bee plants flowering in autumn
ivy(Hedera helix)
- The only native climbing plant
- Flowers rather inconspicuous
- Flowering time: September until frost
- Last nectar spring of the year
- Regular heavy pruning prevents flowering
autumn asters(Aster)
- Flowering time: early September to November
- One of the last nectar and pollen donors of the year
- Abundant amounts of nectar and pollen
- Flowers: white, violet, red, blue
- Depending on the variety, 25-150 cm high
Low sedum(Sedum cauticolum)
- Flowering time: late summer and autumn
- Bright pink star flowers
- Low, vigorous ground cover
- Up to 15 cm high
Bee pastures for the winter
winter bloom(Chimonanthus praecox)
- Slow growing shrub
- Flowering period: late December to February
- Pleasantly scented winter bloom
- Attracts early-flying bees
- Growth height up to 300 cm
winter honeysuckle(Lonicera purpusii)
- Shrub with overhanging shoots
- Growth height: 150-200 cm
- Flowering period: January to April
- Flower color: creamy white
- Intense sweet scent
winter heath(Erica carnea)
- Also known as snow heather
- Flowering time: December to the end of March
- White or dark pink racemose inflorescences
- Abundant supply of nectar and pollen
- Spreads with age
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