Over the past few years as knowledge of the decline of honeybees and native bee species has escalated, it has become clear how important these pollinators are to our food supply. There are some scary theories and statistics out there but the bottom line is that all is not lost and gardeners can do some simple things to help keep bees around and even increase local populations.
Bee Basics
Bees visit flowers to collect pollen, which is usually used to raise their young, and nectar, which is used as food for adults and, in the case of honey bees, is turned into honey. Some plants and bees have co-evolved over the years to have a mutually beneficial relationship and understanding these relationships can help you determine which plants to select and which bees they will attract.
Bumble Bees and Carpenter Bees
Two native bees, Bumble bees and Carpenter bees, have very similar appearances and habits with a few exceptions. Bumble bees have fuzzy black abdomens and nest in colonies in the ground while Carpenter bees have shiny black abdomens and are considered solitary bees that nest in wood cavities they have excavated. Both types of bee have similar plant preferences and planting for one will encourage both in the garden. Bumbles and Carpenters have evolved over the years to have fairly long tongues that let them get into tubular flowers like those that can be found on Monarda.
Monarda, or Bee Balm, is a native plant that spreads thickly and rapidly, but not invasively, and blooms from early summer to frost with a showy flower reminiscent of a fireworks display. Red is the most commonly seen color of Bee Balms but bees do not recognize the color red and prefer flowers in the ultraviolet ranges, particularly blue. Monarda 'Blue Stocking' or 'Violet Queen' are two good choices for bees. Both have a purplish hue that bees love. Since Bumbles and Carpenters are non-aggressive bees, there is little danger of stings so consider Monarda along a driveway strip or curbside selecting several color and/or height varieties. Monarda requires little in the way of care provided it is planted in a sunny spot and allowed some room to move.
Plants for Honey Bees
The well-known Honey bee is not as fond of Bee Balm due to the bee's shorter tongue which makes it difficult to reach the nectar at the base of the flower. You may occasionally see Honey bees hanging around where a flower meets the sepals since some flowers have an extra-nectary gland that can be accessed by a savvy bee who knows to look for it. The semi-evergreen shrub Glossy Abelia has an extra-nectary at the flower base and you will often see Honey bees buzzing around the back of those flowers to obtain nectar instead of approaching the flowers from the front. Glossy Abelia is a great landscape plant that provides food for bees for a long season provided it is planted in bright light and given plenty of room.
Honey bees enjoy a wide range of plants from weeds (clover and dandelions) to favorite foods (apples and blueberries and most herbs). The keys to a really attractive Honey bee plant include blue/purple colors, composite spikes made up of many open faced or short tubed flowers and a long bloom time. Lavender is a Honey bee favorite that is drought tolerant, easy to care for and looks beautiful in the garden.
Lavender 'Grosso' grows to 3' around and blossoms in June and July with two-foot long spikes topped with several inches of flowers. A shearing just after bloom will result in an armload of lavender for household use and will encourage a second, smaller bloom later in the season. Lavender loves a hot, dry, sandy spot but may need to be watered in cases of real drought. At peak bloom 'Grosso' is an unbelievable site to behold. Using several to line a walkway or to make a low hedge is an incredibly stunning site - particularly when the Honey bees engulf it during full bloom!
Orchard Mason Bees
Orchard Mason Bees, another native bee, is a small green solitary bee that is known for its efficiency in pollinating fruit trees. To encourage this pollinator to hang around the garden, select plants that bloom after the fruit trees are done. Sages and Salvias - both perennial and annual - will encourage Masons to hang around over the summer. As with Bee Balm, avoid the reds and go for the blues and look for flowers with shorter tubes so this smaller bee can reach the flower's prize. The biennial Clary Sage, growing to 3' tall and blooming in June and July with long spikes of close set flowers, is a good choice for Masons. Clary prefers a moist soil in a sunny spot but will tolerate some dryness. It is biennial so in order to ensure yearly bloom, gardeners should seed two years in a row. It is a ready self-sower and should return yearly on its own after that.
Watching these industrious creatures buzz from flower to flower from the first light of dawn until the last rays at dusk is a true garden pleasure and one surely worth a few well-selected plants.
Jessica Ferguson - Jess-of-all-trades! You name it, I'm probably interested in it. 15+ years experience as a gardener and naturalist and all that comes ...
