Flowers for Bees
There are a lot of pollinators in the world, but the most efficient and well known are bees. Bees and other pollinators are the backbones of our food system. They carry pollen from one plant to another, fertilizing the plants, making them capable of producing fruits, vegetables, and seeds. Creating an oasis of pollinator-friendly plants helps the bees refuel with pollen for their hive, making them able to do their job more efficiently.
Planting perennials that flower consistently throughout the year is helpful for bees. It has been proven that native plants are 4x more attractive to bees than exotic plants. Here is a list of native plants in Texas.
Bees see color differently than humans. That is why it is essential to plant a variety of flower colors. Bees are partial to purple, blue, violet, white and yellow. Planting flowers in bunches is also a great practice when planting a bee-friendly landscape. This makes it easier for the bees to locate the flowers. Also, they will have to exude less energy while gathering more pollen in a particular area.
Proper planning goes a long way when planting a bee-friendly landscape. If you are looking to have flowers during the spring and summer, this means you will have to plant these bulbs or seeds the season beforehand for them to be flowering during the desired seasons. Spring flowers are planted in the fall or winter, summer flowers are planted in the spring and so forth.
Plant the flowers in a sunny location. The bright sunlight helps the bees to locate the pollen-rich flowers. Bees favor sunny spots over shaded areas.
Flowers For Bees
Here is a list of flowers that bees love. Research native plants specific to your area and tries to incorporate them into your pollinator landscapes. This not an all inclusive list, just some of my favorites.
Almond Verbena
Coral Vine
Flame Acanthus
Mist Flower
Hyssop
Salvia’s
Texas Honeysuckle
Mexican Honeysuckle
Snakewood
Black Sage
Blue Sage
Esperanza
Lantana- Trailing, Mexican, New gold, Texas
Autumn Sage
Turks Cap
Bee Brush
Bee Balm
Purple Sage
Mallow
Liatris
Thyme
Yarrow
Winecup
Willow
Red clover
Mexican Bush Sage
Borage
Purple Coneflower
Black-eyed Susan
Texas Thistle
Daisies
Asters
Sunflowers
Oregano
Rosemary
Garlic Chives
Basil
Honeysuckle
Verbenas
Take a look at the list and see if there is a way to incorporate any of these beauties into your landscape. Remember, this is bigger than us. Without bees and other pollinators the world as we know it would drastically change for the worst.