Packets of bee-friendly seeds

[Zante]

The mayor of my local council decided to have packets of bee-friendly seeds made, to hand out for free at the next May fair. He's asked me to make a list of suitable flowers, and so far I've come up with cornflowers, phacelia, cowslip, poppies.

Anything else that could be added to the mix?

 

[Murox]

The mayor of my local council decided to have packets of bee-friendly seeds made, to hand out for free at the next May fair. He's asked me to make a list of suitable flowers, and so far I've come up with cornflowers, phacelia, cowslip, poppies.

Anything else that could be added to the mix?

Here is a little list of things, BUT you should really choose plants that are correct for your locale.
Self seeding 'bee' plants
Alyssum (Lobularia maritima)
Borage (Borago officinalis)
Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum)
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
California poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
Dandelion (Taraxacum)
Honesty (Lunaria annua)
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum)
Phacelia tanacetifolia
Poached egg flower (Limnanthes douglasii)
Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)
Verbena bonariensis
Welsh poppy (Meconopsis cambrica)

A few “must haves”
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Sage (salvia officinalis)
Queen Anne’s Lace (Ammi visnaga)
Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
Coastal Daisy (Erigeron glaucus)

 

[Swarm]

One essential missing from that list and possibly the best plant I've seen for pollinators, especially bees. Mine is covered in honey bees every year.

Oregano.

 

[blackcloud]

For that particular project you would be better to stick to just few types that are cheap and easy to grow in a variety of soils,but give a rewarding effect that would get people interested.
Blue cornflower are spectacular but there's a whole rack of different colours available to mix in.
Borage isn't as pretty but still beneficial and poppys are always nice.
EBay is a good source,and put some instructions in there too.
Gorse ,heather and lavendar are more complicated but folk can grow dandelions,daisy's,brambles,ivy and nettles without leaving the settee.....

 

[Millet]

You are also better of planting bee friendly trees..i know that it takes a long time for them to get going but think of the future..a mature tree provides forage the equivalent of a one acre field of flowers..

 

[masterBK]

Agree about Oregano. On the other hand I photograph Honey bees on flowers and haven't yet seen one on Honesty (despite being as a close relative of OSR). In my garden I see most bees on Cotoneaster when in flower . Have also been called out to swarms which turn out to be just lots of bees working it.

 

[Millet]

Agree about Oregano. On the other hand I photograph Honey bees on flowers and haven't yet seen one on Honesty (despite being as a close relative of OSR). In my garden I see most bees on Cotoneaster when in flower . Have also been called out to swarms which turn out to be just lots of bees working it.

Cracking picture..is oregano the white flower and a type of herb..

 

[Swarm]

Masses of tiny, white flowers, perennial herb, lovely in Italian dishes.

 

[Murox]

Cracking picture..is oregano the white flower and a type of herb..

You might know it as marjoram, which is part/one of the Oreganos .
Thanks to Swarm for highlighting it.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Masses of tiny, white flowers, perennial herb, lovely in Italian dishes.

Lovely picture Steve, oregano is a must have perennial herb but probably grown in walls etc .. it does well being grown hard not to rich a soil and lots of drainage , horticultural grit added .

I wanted to add yellow rattle to the list here's the reasons.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAdegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw3DNUmtMZ2O3PCLxUqC6r8y

Going into year two sowing a meadow 75% yellow rattle and 25% wild flower mix , a few hic ups having to re- sow
It's a waiting game now .

 

[Popparand]

You are also better of planting bee friendly trees..i know that it takes a long time for them to get going but think of the future..a mature tree provides forage the equivalent of a one acre field of flowers..

Spot on! Cotoneaster, goat willow, sycamore.. all fast growing.

 

[Curley]

I wanted to add yellow rattle to the list here's the reasons.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAdegQIBhAB&usg=AOvVaw3DNUmtMZ2O3PCLxUqC6r8y.

Yellow rattle is great in a wildflower meadow but difficult as it needs impoverished soil. If the soil is too rich the grass out competes it and crowds it out.

Another one for the list is melilot or sweet clover - patch near one of my apiaries was covered in bees for weeks.