If you want your bees to stay healthy and happy, you should grow some of the best plants for honey bees. These include sainfoin, goldenrod, sunflowers, and cosmos. These plants are beneficial to the honey bees, and they can help keep the environment clean. Learn more about these plants. You can also try growing them in containers. Listed below are the best plants for honey bees.
Sunflowers
Honey bees will visit sunflowers and collect pollen and nectar. In fact, most of the sunflower crops are commercially grown in California. Approximately 1.5 hives are needed per acre of sunflower plants to effectively pollinate them. Honey bees vary greatly in their behavior and collect pollen and nectar. Honey is collected from pollen-covered blossoms and mixed with nectar to feed developing bee larvae.
The autumn beauty blend sunflower produces long-lasting, bold flowers. This variety is a good choice for large borders. The Italian White sunflower has small, delicate flowers borne on plants that grow five to seven feet tall. Big Smile sunflowers are good for small spaces and peach passion sunflowers are taller. Sunflowers attract honey bees of all ages, and they’re perfect for bee habitats.
Sainfoin
This perennial plant, also known as holy clover or esparcet, grows from fifteen to forty inches tall. It can tolerate drought and can survive in the driest parts of the country. However, it doesn’t tolerate heavy salt. Aside from being drought resistant, sainfoin is also susceptible to root rot. In the U.S., sainfoin is found on a small number of acres in Montana.
The flowers of sainfoin plants are ideal for honey bees because they provide both pollen and nectar to pollinating insects. The blooms grow on erect spikes. The flowers open from the bottom of the spike and continue to open for about two weeks. The sainfoin plant produces multiple spikes, enabling the bees to feed on several flowers at once.
Cosmos
A popular plant for beekeeping, Cosmos attracts both bees and other beneficial insects. Its flowers produce abundant amounts of nectar and pollen, and they are attractive to a variety of insects, including predatory wasps. Cosmos can also be a good choice for a garden, as their long blooming season encourages more bees to visit. And if you’re looking to add color to your garden, you’ll want to choose Cosmos plants for honey bees.
This flower is low-maintenance and doesn’t pose many pest problems. However, if you’re worried about pests, you can also plant it in your garden, alongside flowering herbs, vegetables, and even a native critter. A well-planted garden will reduce the imbalance of insects and pests. Cosmos plants also don’t require much maintenance. They can be planted in full sun and will tolerate occasional watering. Make sure to plant them in the early morning, when the soil is moistest, to reduce wiling.
Goldenrod
There are several benefits of goldenrod for honey bees. This plant provides the colony with a steady supply of pollen and nectar, which is vital for winter survival. Pollen and nectar are stored in the bees’ bodies, and goldenrod makes them a valuable source of food for the winter months. Despite the bitter taste, goldenrod isn’t unpleasant to the bees or to humans.
The goldenrod plant grows in large patches in mid-western states and blooms in the fall. The flowers of goldenrod attract different types of bees, including bumblebees and yellow jackets. It can be planted as a back border or mixed in with other plants. It prefers full sun, but can tolerate average soil. Goldenrod requires no particular soil type. However, it needs to drain well and not remain wet.
Azaleas
While many people believe that azaleas are the best plants for honeybees, that’s not always the case. Azaleas are high in andromedotoxins, a type of toxin found in both the nectar and leaves of some plants. Although this isn’t necessarily bad for bees, the fact that the blooms of some Azaleas can be toxic to bees is still troubling to many.
In addition to azaleas being excellent plants for honey bees, bumblebees are another great choice for pollinating azaleas. Butterfly pollination is more efficient because butterflies are able to carry more pollen on their wings, thus increasing the likelihood of successfully pollinating two plants at once. Because bumblebees are bigger than bees, they are also better pollinators.
Zinnias
If you want to attract bees to your flowerbed, try planting zinnias. These bright, colorful flowers attract a wide variety of pollinators, including honey bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. They also attract various species of solitary moths, including hawk moths, which have elongated mouthparts that allow them to get nectar from flowers without landing on them.
In addition to providing nectar, zinnias attract monarch butterflies and other pollinators. They are great plants for your garden because they also attract bumblebees and monarchs. Joe Pye, a native perennial plant, is a great addition to your garden because it attracts a variety of butterflies. It grows up to five feet tall and will give your garden plenty of colour for months on end.
You can also start seeds indoors before the last frost of the year. Seedlings will germinate quicker when placed in a south-facing window, but should not be shaded by a tree. A four-foot LED shop light can be purchased for $20 at your local home depot and should be placed five inches above the seedlings. You can also start zinnias in a plastic container by sowing them indoors. Make sure that the container has a drainage hole.
Azaleas contain a toxin
In addition to their poisonous pollen, azaleas produce toxic honey and nectar. This could be dangerous for people, especially those with heart conditions. However, there are ways to protect your bees from azalea-contaminated honey. If you have a azalea-prone garden, you should not plant this plant in your yard. Luckily, bumblebees tolerate azalea pollen, and you can still enjoy the flowers’ beauty.
Although the azalea toxin is safe for people to eat, it can have serious consequences for livestock. In a human, symptoms of an azalea poisoning include low blood pressure, muscle weakness, tremors, and difficulty walking. Symptoms of azalea poisoning may be delayed or absent, but if you notice any of these symptoms, you should visit your local vet. Medications and fluid replacement may be required.
Azaleas are drought tolerant
Azaleas are part of the rhododendron family, and they are easy to grow. There are several varieties of azalea, including deciduous types. Azaleas do well in full sun, and are not tolerant of hot, dry conditions. Azaleas bloom earlier in the season, so they are not as attractive to bees.
Aloe is another plant for drought tolerant conditions. Many species grow well in low-water conditions. Their big, bright green leaves are water-efficient. Plants should be watered occasionally, but not frequently. Angelonia angustifolia, a tropical native, blooms all summer. It has showy flowers that appear at different times of the year, and hybrid varieties add colors and texture to the blooms. These plants make excellent containers and bedding plants.
Bayberry, or “Bee Balm,” is another drought-tolerant plant that can grow in many types of soil. It is not to be confused with Barberry, a thorny shrub with a prickly appearance. Bayberry attracts bees with its grayish berries. Not only do they provide pollen, but also serve as food for various species of bees.
Azaleas are attractive to monarch butterflies
The brightly colored flowers of azaleas attract butterflies. These blooms can attract a variety of butterflies, including the elusive monarch. Depending on the species, you can plant them in groups of three or more. Also, consider planting them near your seating area. In addition to monarchs, hummingbirds also like azaleas. You can learn more about monarch butterflies and their habits from this article.
Another plant that attracts monarchs is Gregg’s mistflower. The flower is ruffled and purple and has jagged white edges. Monarchs also visit this plant when they migrate. It’s also good for bees and attracts other pollinators. Azaleas are attractive to monarchs because they bloom in spring and produce flowers that last all summer. They are also drought tolerant, so they can be planted even in poor soil.