Potted plants for bees...

Looking for potted plants, commonly available in garden centres, B&Q etc which will attract and support bees, for our patio...

Thanks.

 

If you check the plant label there will be a picture of a bee, which denotes that it is bee friendly.

Rusty.

 

Hello and welcome.

Can't go too far wrong with lavender for what you're after. Looks and smells nice for us human sorts, and bees love it too.

If you wanted to stick with the herb theme and offer some earlier flowers for the bees, thyme blooms about now, and bees love that too.

Borage is a cracker for bees, but I'm not sure I'd call it a patio plant. Some of the hardy geraniums put on an excellent show, and seem to be popular with bees too.

 

Really? Cool! Never noticed that before - thanks!

 

Try this website. I use it all the time.

http://beekind.bumblebeeconservation.org/

Heathers are also good for containers and the bees go mad for them too.

 

Fennel could be a interesting choice.

 

Brilliant, thanks everyone!

 

Now here's a related question.

I like to grow container tomatoes over the summer. All of my plants are 18" - 24" tall now and have been placed outside now that the stems are strong enough to take the elements.

I've bought a pack of mixed wild flower seeds which are supposed to attract bees. Is there any reason why I can't scatter a few in the earth around each potted tomato plant? They're in large pots, and I'd keep an eye on how tall the wild flowers were getting, so as not to shade the toms.

Thanks.

 

I've never seen my fennel plant attract bees. Hoverflies yes, but not bees.

I personally wouldn't do that. For a start the tomatoes will need a lot of nitrogen in the soil, where as (depending on your seeds) most wildflowers need a poor to average soil at best.

 

Last year I had two Fennels that grew to nearly 7 feet tall, all day they would be covered with flies, hoverflies, wasps, bees and ladybirds.

 

I have delphiniums in a container which come back year after year and don't need much tending to and he bees love them

also sedum spectabile the bees love that and mine is very happy in a pot and agapanthus.

You can also get dwarf buddleias which are good for pots and the bees love them and of course butterflies

I agree with clueless tho. you cant go wrong with lavender

 

Flowers that Attract Bees
Clover, Marigolds, Poppies , Sunflowers, Zinnias,Buttercups ,Clamatis ,Crocus ,Dahlias, English Ivy,Foxglove,Geraniums,Hyacinth ,Rhododendron,Roses

Vegetables and Herbs That Attract Bees
Catnip ,Cilantro ,Fennel,Lavender,Mint,Peppers,Rosemary ,Sage,Strawberries,Thyme

 

great choice @clueless1

 

I have Scabious, Lavender, Dianthus, dwarf Buddliea and various herbs in pots ( Cammomile, Sage, Pineapple Mint, Thyme, Lemon Balm, Rosemary - all meant to be wildlife friendly ). Also got a large Fennel.

 

Bees seem to love all these - ornamental sage, salvia nemorosa, lavendar, buddleia



And these in the background - veronica, agastache (spelling?) - anything with purple flower spikes seems to be a winner