There is hardly a group of plants that does not contain bee-friendly plants. However, there are also those that produce little or no nectar. This refers to plants with double flowers, so-called cultivated forms.
spring
In spring, nature begins to wake up from its hibernation and starts to greet the insects with bee-friendly flowers.
Bulb and bulb flowers
Spring crocus(Crocus vernus)
- Also known as spring saffron
- Flowering period: March to April
- Flowers purple, yellow or white
- Height: 6-15 cm
- Wild easily
Daffodil(Narcissus pseudonarcissus)
- Classic among the spring bloomers
- First flowering type of daffodil of the year
- Flowering period: March to April
- Flower colors: yellow or white
- Height: 40-60 cm
snowdrop(Galanthus)
- Flowering period: January / February to March
- Flowers: snow-white
- Well suited for naturalization
- Takes time to get established
- Is under natural reserve
Tip: Snowdrops are poisonous in all parts of the plant, especially bulbs.
Grape hyacinth(Muscari)
- Forms attractive carpets of flowers
- Blue-flowered varieties are best known
- Flowering period: between March and May
- Height 15-30 cm
- Overgrown in places that appeal to it
Tip: The less the soil is worked, the easier it is for the grape hyacinth to grow wild.
Winterling(Eranthis hyemalis)
- Small, yellow cup-shaped flowers
- Flowering period: February to March
- Height: 5-15 cm
- Propagation by self-sowing
- Dense carpets on soils rich in humus
Perennials
Blue pillows(Aubrieta x cultorum)
- Vigorous 8-10 cm high cushion perennial
- Habit: creeping, low, evergreen
- Flowering period: April to May
- Simple, racemose flowers
- Different shades of blue, purple, red, pink
Fragrant violets(Viola odorata)
- Fragrant ground cover for partially shaded locations
- Height: 5-15 cm
- Flowering period: March to April
- Flower colors: white, pink, purple
- Spread by self-sowing
Creeping Gunsel(Ajuga reptans)
- Wild shrub for natural gardens
- Rich nectar supply
- Growth height up to 20 cm
- Flowers spike-shaped, blue
- Flowering period: April to May
Pasque flower(Pulsatilla vulgaris)
- Blooms from March to April
- Bell-shaped single flowers
- Flower colors: purple, red, pink, white
- Propagation by self-sowing
- Height: 5-20 cm
Dead nettle(Lamium)
- Valuable wild perennial for low-light shade beds
- Flowers arranged in dummy whorls
- Flowering time: depending on the variety from March to autumn
- Flowering only from the second or third year
- Good nectar and pollen value
Meadow foam herb(Cardamine pratensis)
- Bee-friendly wild shrub
- Ideal for damp wildflower meadows
- Simple racemose, white to pink flowers
- Flowering period: April to May
- Height: 10-50 cm
Fruit trees
Apple(Malus)
- Attractive for wild and honey bees
- Lots of nectar and pollen
- Flowering months: April, May, June
- Proper location and regular pruning can lengthen flower windows
Tip: Ornamental apples are also supposed to be good bee pastures.
pear(Pyrus)
- Blooms just before the apple
- Good pollen and nectar dispenser
- Usually one type of pollinator is required
- Bees are the most important pollinator
- Pay attention to the variety
Blueberry(Vaccinium myrtillus)
- Flowering period: May to July
- Flower pot-shaped, greenish or reddish
- Good nectar value
- Height: about 50 cm
- Requires acidic soil
Summer raspberry(Rubus idaeus)
- Flowering time from May to June
- Single flower, bowl-shaped, white
- Nectar contains 46% sugar
- Height growth up to 180 cm
- Restricted flowering in the shade
Tip: After a long period of standing, plant raspberries on this soil again at the earliest after four years.
Gooseberry(Ribes uva-crispa)
- Highly attractive for 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 blooms from April
- Sour cherry from April to May
- Sour cherry nectar has a lower sugar content
- Has little effect on pollination
Trees / large shrubs
Barberry(Berberis vulgaris)
- Attractive flowers and berries
- Flowering period: beginning of May to June
- Flowers: cupped and bright yellow
- Average nectar and pollen value
- Growth height 100-250 cm
Tip: The roots and bark of the barberry contain poisonous alkaloids.
Rock pear(Amelanchier ovalis)
- Flowers appear before the leaves
- White, tart scented star flowers in April
- Offer lots of nectar
- Up to 200 cm high
- Edible berries very popular with birds
hazelnut(Corylus)
- Flowering period: early February to late April
- Flowers before leaf shoots
- Abundant pollen only on male flowers
- Female flowers do not contain nectar
Blackthorn / sloe(Prunus spinosa)
- Indigenous wild shrub
- Height: 150-400 cm
- Flowers simple, small, white, with a fine almond scent
- Flowering period April to May
- Flowers 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 dispenser
- Flowering: late March to March / April
- Blooms earlier than other types of maple, is faster-growing
- Orange flowers
- 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 period: mid-February to April
summer
Summertime 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
- Becomes 50-100 cm high
- Flowering period: August to September
- Deep blue, delicately scented flowers
Purple loosestrife(Lythrum salicaria)
- Very attractive for wild bees
- Flowering period: June / July to September
- Bright dark pink flowers, false spikes
- Rich nectar supply
- Optimal irrigation 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 nutrient plant for bees and insects
- Large, sulfur-yellow panicles of flowers
- Flowering period: July and September / October
- Rich nectar supply
- Height: 30-150 cm
Catnip(Nepeta cataria)
- Flowering period: July to September
- Spike-shaped, mostly purple inflorescences
- Exude intense fragrance
- Pruning close to the ground after the main bloom promotes a second bloom
- Height about 70 cm
Cornflower(Centaurea cyanus)
- Flowering period: July to October
- Round, flat inflorescence, mostly blue
- Good nectar and pollen value
- Height: 30-80 cm
- Highly attractive for wild bees
Long-leaved speedwell(Veronica longifolia)
- Large-sized 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, aromatic, fragrant 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
- Nectar-rich flowers attract bees and bumblebees
- Growth upright, unbranched, 80-120 cm tall
Tip: The lupine has soil-improving properties. She enriches it with nitrogen.
Sun hat(Echinacea purpurea)
- One of the most impressive bee pastures
- Up to over 300 tubular flowers
- Good nectar and pollen value
- Flowering period: July to September / October
- Growth height 80-100 cm
Cranesbill(Geranium)
- Height: 15-100 cm
- Flowering period: May to October
- Flower colors: white, pink, purple, blue
- Lemon yellow pollen color
- Often clear grain on the 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 period: June to August / September
- Flowers predominantly 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 vegetables
Woods
Snowberry(Symphoricarpos albus)
- Undemanding beehive
- Flowering period: June to September
- Flowers: bell-shaped, pink
- Slightly poisonous
- Height: 120-200 cm
blackberry(Rubus)
- Flowering period: May to August
- White to light pink flowers
- Good nectar and pollen value
- Height: 50-300 cm
Common heather(Calluna vulgaris)
- Richly branched small shrub
- Flowering months: June to October
- Flowers: white, pink to purple-red
- Nectar value high
- Height: 15-50 cm
Bee plants with blossom in autumn
ivy(Hedera helix)
- The only domestic climbing plant
- Flowers rather inconspicuous
- Flowering period: September to frost
- Last source of nectar in the year
- Regular strong pruning prevents blooming
Autumn asters(Aster)
- Flowering period: beginning of September to November
- One of the last nectar and pollen donors of the year
- Generous amounts of nectar and pollen
- Flowers: white, purple, red, blue
- 25-150 cm high, depending on the variety
Low sedum(Sedum cauticolum)
- Flowering period: late summer and autumn
- Strong pink star flowers
- Low, vital 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 blooms
- Attracts early-flying bees
- Growth height up to 300 cm
Winter hedge cherry(Lonicera purpusii)
- Shrub with overhanging shoots
- Height: 150-200 cm
- Flowering period: January to April
- Flower color: creamy white
- Intense sweet fragrance
Winter heather(Erica carnea)
- Also known as snow heather
- Flowering period: December to the end of March
- White or dark pink, racemose inflorescences
- Plentiful supply of nectar and pollen
- Spreads with age
