Bees play a critical role in the wild, agriculture and our backyards through pollination. Without bees many crops such as apples, cucumbers, zucchinis and hundreds of others that depend on insect pollination may never reach the harvest stage.
In our small garden we have a range of flowering plants that help to attract bees, including several varieties of Lavender which the bees just seem to go mad over.
So how can you entice bees to get busy in your garden? Below a some guidelines from Australia’s Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.
“Bee Friendly” – Attracting Bees:
1. Avoid Pesticides
Most pesticides are not selective. By using pesticides, one risks killing off the beneficial insects along with the pests. If you must use a pesticide, start with the least toxic one and follow the label instructions to the letter.
2. Native Plants
Many native plants are very attractive to honeybees. They are also usually well adapted to your growing conditions and can thrive with minimum attention. In gardens, heirloom varieties of herbs and perennials should be used. Single-flower varieties may also provide good foraging.
3. Plant in Clusters
Flowers clustered into clumps of one species will attract more pollinators than individual plants scattered through the habitat patch. Where space allows, make the clumps 1 m or more in diameter.
4. Multiple Colours and Shapes
Bees have good colour vision to help them find flowers and the nectar and pollen they offer. Flower colours that particularly attract bees are blue, purple, violet, white and yellow. Open or cup-shaped flowers provide the easiest access and shorter floral tubes are important for honeybees. Other pollinators, including native bees, butterflies and birds, benefit from differing flower shapes.
5. Seasonal Diversity
Have a diversity of plants, flowering all season. A varied diet is essential for the wellbeing of honeybees and other pollinators.
6. Location
Plant where bees will visit, bees favour sunny spots over shade and need some shelter from strong winds. You’ve likely already selected a spot with similar attributes for your vegetable garden.
7. Water
Bees need access to water. Provide easy access, either through wet sand or pebbles; do not drown the bees.
Boosting Bee Forage
Here are some suggestions of Australian native and exotic species that could help boost bee forage in your garden.
Suggestions are based on climate zone (Cool, Temperate, Humid, Arid) although some will be viable across multiple climates. If you’re not sure on your local climate and live in Australia checkout our Australian Climate Zones article.
Cool Climates
| Herbs | Shrubs | Trees |
|---|---|---|
| Lavender Lemon Balm Oregano Peppermint Rosemary Alyssm Gaudichaudi Ganaznia Catmint Iceland Poppy Cornflower Forget-me-not |
Grevillea Montis-cole Flowering Currants Raspberry Blueberry Fern-leaf Grevillea Californian Lilac Hebe Escallonia Willow Bottlebrush Roses Snowberry Mountain Pinkberry |
Portugal Laurel Lemon Apple Large Fruited Yellow Gum Tulip Tree Crab Apple Snow Gum Yellow Bloodwood Cherry Plum Lime Tree Sweet Chestnut Red Ironbark Cootamundra Wattle |
Temperate Climates
| Herbs | Shrubs | Trees |
|---|---|---|
| Marjoram Sage Borage Winter Savory Fairy-fan Flower Dwarf Bottlebrush Pigface Bronze Rambler Mexican Sage Pride of Madeira Common Clematis Bee Balm |
Gungurra Hairpin Banksia Pincushion Hakea Passionfruit Harkness Bottlebrush Acorn Banksia Glossy Abelia Violet Honey Myrtle Bull Banksia Two-leaf Hakea Cup Gum Saw-tooth Banksia |
Red Cap Gum Hickson Mandarin Plum Persimmon Water Gum Broad-leaved Tea Tree Red Flowering Gum Currawong Smooth-barked Apple Spotted Gum Coast Banksia Swamp Mahogany |
Warm Humid Climates
| Herbs | Shrubs | Trees |
|---|---|---|
| Celosia Coriander Basil Nemesia Grevillea ‘Mason’s Hybrid’ Verbena Zinnia Mexican Heather Happy Wanderer Golden Grevillea Nasturtium Giant Angelica |
Guava Macadamia Carambola Banana ‘Howie’s Fire Glow’ Bottlebrush Ivory Curl Weeping Tea Tree Flax-leaved Paperbark Red Bottlebrush White Oak Golden Penda Small-leaved Lilly Pilly |
Lemon Scented Myrtle Lime Avocado Bee Bee Tree Brush Box Jacaranda Guioa Silky Oak Sarsaparilla Bimble Box Silver-leaved Ironbark Grey Box |
Hot Arid Climates
| Herbs | Shrubs | Trees |
|---|---|---|
| Native Hibiscus Thyme Spearmint Magenta Storksbill Grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’ Grey Honey Myrtle Coreopsis Creeping Boobialla Thryptomene Prickly Spider Flower Candy Tuft Trailing Ice Plant |
Showy Banksia Elegant Wattle Green Mallee Emu Bush Budda Yellow Malle Grevillea Insignis Crimson Malle Firewood Banksia Ellangowan Stoney Mallee Wilga |
Red Mallee Coral Gum Desert Lime Dryland Tea Tree Moort Flat-topped Yate White Cedar Mallee Box Sugar Gum Yate Napunyah Gum-barked Coolibah |
Source: M Leech (2012), ‘Bee Friendly’, Rural Industries: Research & Development Corporation