If you want to attract bees and butterflies to your garden, plant flowers that attract both. These creatures can be attracted to different types of flowers, depending on their color preferences. Purple, lavender, and blue flowers attract bees. Red and white flowers attract hummingbirds. They like tubular and flat flowers. Those colors attract both bees and butterflies. Read on to find out more about the best flowers for bees and butterflies.
Lychnis flowers
Butterfly and bee enthusiasts know that Lychnis flowers are excellent pollinators. They have a wide range of colors and blooms and can be found in many different parts of the world. Lychnis coronaria is an example of a species that blooms in June and continues to bloom through August. Lychnis coronaria grows best in full sun to partial shade and is a good choice for a mixed garden.
Plants that attract butterflies and bees are hyacinths and salvias. Hyacinths attract bees throughout the summer and provide an abundance of nectar and pollen. Moist rose and marigold also attract bees and butterflies. And finally, don’t forget to plant some Lychnis flowers in your yard. These two flowering plants are good for pollinators and make a great cutflower!
There are many pollinator-friendly plants to choose from. A study conducted by the University of Sheffield found that Lychnis flowers are the most popular choice. But be sure to select the plants that suit your garden conditions. Not all flowers provide the same amount of nectar. If you want to attract more pollinators to your garden, choose plants that are stress-tolerant. For example, consider Origanum laevigatum ‘Herrenhausen’, which has dark foliage and fragrant purple flowers.
Bee balm
Bee balm is a wonderful flower to plant in your yard, and it is both edible and medicinal. Bees love this plant, which is often used to treat cold symptoms. Bees love the flowers because they can also be used as a source of boreage, a type of flower that keeps bad bugs away and attracts other pollinators. Bee balm usually has blue or purple flowers, but you can find plants with pink or white flowers, too.
There are two main types of bee balm: dwarf and full size. Dwarf varieties are smaller, usually only a foot or two tall. Bee balms prefer moist soil and full sun. If possible, place your bee balm plant in full sun, although they will tolerate partial shade. Be sure to add compost to your soil after planting to add nutrients and retain moisture.
Geraniums
Aside from flowers, geraniums also attract many other creatures, such as butterflies. A geranium has bright, attractive blooms and can be very attractive to bees and butterflies. However, this plant is very vulnerable to attack by greenflies, which can damage it. These pests feed on the leaves and petals of geraniums and can also harm other plants. The life cycle of these pests is approximately 2 months.
Although butterflies and bees prefer other kinds of flowers, geraniums are the most suitable for attracting both. Since they are flat and have a sweet scent, geraniums are perfect for gardeners looking for a plant that attracts both creatures. However, it should be noted that geraniums do not attract hummingbirds and butterflies, as their nectar-rich flowers are too sluggish for them to drink in mid-flight.
For those who would like to attract both butterflies and bees, it is better to plant native flowers. While the choice of plants depends on your area, you can visit your local cooperative extension office for recommendations on native plants. Besides the wild geranium, you can also try the purple coneflower. This plant will bloom for two months and attract a wide range of pollinators. It is easy to grow and tolerates clay and dry soil, and it also attracts a number of different species of butterflies.
Phacelia
There are a few flowers that attract both butterflies and bees. Floss flower is an excellent choice for the garden, as it blooms from late spring into the summer. The purple pollen and nectar produced by this plant attract both bees and butterflies. It also attracts hoverflies. The American beautyberry is a wildlife-friendly shrub that also produces lavender-coloured berries. Another popular choice is the globe thistle, which has dark blue flowers and fuzzy leaves.
Native to the U.S., the ninebark is an excellent plant to plant for pollination and attract both bees and butterflies to your yard. The flowers are fragrant, but do not leave seedheads on deadheaded flowers. Some flower varieties also produce fruit for the bees and butterflies. Raspberry plants are non-invasive and thornless. They also provide a great food source for butterflies.
Plants that attract butterflies and bees also provide food for their larvae. Some of these plants provide a host of other benefits for both bees and butterflies. Lavender is a great all-rounder as it looks pretty year-round and gives off an intoxicating fragrance when you walk by. Dahlias, on the other hand, are popular because they do not require much maintenance.
Catmint
Growing catmint is easy, and it has purple or lavender flowers that attract a variety of pollinators. This plant also deters aphids. Its leaves are also a popular food plant for caterpillars. The best part about catmint is that it can survive drought conditions. It will last from late spring into early fall, so it will be a valuable asset to any pollinator garden.
Catmint is a member of the mint family, but isn’t particularly attractive to domestic cats. Walker’s Low catmint is the standard for catmints in western gardens, and it has long-blooming flowers and average soil requirements. Catmint is a great choice for rock gardens, pathway points, or as a buddy plant for roses.
The flowering plant has a purple-blue color, which is appealing to bees. It is also edible to rabbits, so use a repellent if you see them munching on it. Catmint is also a popular companion plant for butterflies. The flowers will attract bees and butterflies to your garden. A little research will go a long way in making your garden a butterfly and bee magnet.
Itea
Itea is one of the best flowers that attract both bees and butterflies. The flower has tassel-like flowers and the foliage turns crimson in the fall. Its bloom is showy, and the nectar from its flowers is great for bees and butterflies. It thrives in poor drainage and acidic soil. There are many varieties of Itea, but the Virginia sweetspire is the most common.
It grows from the Atlantic coast to central Texas. Its small, white flowers are attractive to bees and attract other pollinators. In autumn, the flowers are followed by bright red berries. Cotoneaster species range in size, ranging from a ground cover to a medium-sized tree. The species Cotoneaster franchetii grows up to two or three meters tall and is an evergreen.
The Itea is a good choice for native gardens. Its flowers are attractive to butterflies and bees and will attract many species of pollinators. Its flower clusters attract native bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. It is also easy to grow and can tolerate dry and clay soil. This plant is ideal for butterfly habitats, and it’s available at Burpee, a home gardening store.
Spicebush
Native to Kentucky, the spicebush grows as a shrub in moist, rich woods. Its yellow flowers bloom in clusters along its branches. This dioecious plant is a favorite of butterflies and bees. It attracts a variety of pollinators, including monarch butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. It is also a good plant for butterfly gardens.
The leaves of the Spicebush shrub are brilliant yellow in fall. This contrasts beautifully with the red berries. Although birds don’t eat the berries before they turn yellow, this is still an important time for butterflies and bees. While this flower is often overlooked by people, it is an important source of nectar for several species of butterflies and bees. In addition to butterflies and bees, the plant also provides food for deer and rabbits.
Another flower that attracts bees and butterflies is the Carolina allspice. These plants are native to the South, and their flowers are attractive yellow in early spring. Bees and butterflies use these flowers as a food source, so make sure to plant them in sunny spots. A great native plant nursery will label both sexes of Spicebush, so you can easily tell which flowers are male and which are female.
Blazing star
The dense blazing star is a flowering plant native to eastern North America. Like daisies and sunflowers, the spiky spikes are loaded with nectar, attracting scores of pollinating insects. The plant has large corms that sprout from the ground. The flowers are purple, with a fuzzy texture. It makes a good cut flower, too.
While blazing star is a very low maintenance plant, it does require periodic pruning to promote growth and to encourage more blooms next spring. It requires little maintenance, and requires only a well-draining soil that can support it. However, it can be susceptible to leaf spot and powdery mildew, so it is important to keep the plant well-drained to minimize the risk of disease.
The blazing star plant grows well in a wide range of climates. It grows best in average to moist soil. It can tolerate high heat and humidity. It has corms with shallow, fibrous roots and produces new colonies from them. Although this flower is often propagated from seed, it is also attractive in mass plantings. Some varieties may need staking to avoid damage from tall stems.
