Planting for Bees

[Erichalfbee]

Any idea why they prefer globosa? is the nectar more abundant or easier to access I wonder?

The flower is more shallow where a honeybee's proboscis can reach the nectary. The usual buddleia has deep flowers where only the bumbles and butterflies can reach

 

[BrianO]

Hi all

What about Dahlias, single flowering,

Have planted quite a few in my garden this year, bishop of Llandalf and Twinings after Eight.

Recall BOL is really popular with Bumblebees, any other Dahlia experiences re Honeybees.

As an aside, never eye any Honeybee activity on my Pyracantha, any body else differing experience, as they are a flower I thought would/should be attractive to Honeybees.

 

[chrismcd]

The flower is more shallow where a honeybee's proboscis can reach the nectary. The usual buddleia has deep flowers where only the bumbles and butterflies can reach

My lot are working perennial geraniums at the moment, but they will switch to the buddleia when it comes into flower. my lot obviously did not read the textbooks!

 

[irishguy]

Would you not need acres of flowers plants to give any real benefits for your bees.

 

[Goran]

Would you not need acres of flowers plants to give any real benefits for your bees.

I was told that one 30 years old lime tree is equal to one hectare of meadow..

 

[madasafish]

My lot are working perennial geraniums at the moment, but they will switch to the buddleia when it comes into flower. my lot obviously did not read the textbooks!

+1

I blame the B education system

 

[BILL.HEARD]

There is a 20 ft hedge of Escallonia 'apple blossom' next door to me, absolutely covered in bees this AM.

 

[BrianO]

Just posted by Mossie

Thought worth adding , gonna get me one a dem !

WOW .. Orange ball Buddleja !
We've got a fairly large Orange Ball Buddleja and half my hive must be on it at the moment. Just about every orange ball has a honey bee on it and the noise is tremendous.

 

[madasafish]

Hi all

What about Dahlias, single flowering,

Have planted quite a few in my garden this year, bishop of Llandalf and Twinings after Eight.

Recall BOL is really popular with Bumblebees, any other Dahlia experiences re Honeybees.

As an aside, never eye any Honeybee activity on my Pyracantha, any body else differing experience, as they are a flower I thought would/should be attractive to Honeybees.

Yes: Front border is in Bishop's Dahlias.. lot of bees on them...

 

[BrianO]

All

Anyone managed to grow AND bring to flower a Tetradium/Evodia " Bee Tree " ??

Was going to try source one but dont want to waste time and money if will not flower in our temperate ( at times Baltic ! ) climate

 

[Erichalfbee]

I have two growing in pots which I got after some research here on the forum, they are three feet tall, two years old and yet to flower. I was told that I might have to wait till they were in their sixth year.
However:
My sister in law has what I thought were the same growing and flowering in her garden in Cumbria. The trees flower late in the year and are covered in bees. I posted a picture here and was told it was an Evodia. It actually is an Aralia spinosa. It is a dead ringer for Evodia except the stems are spiny.
I brought two suckers from her tree down to Wales two years ago and there are flower buds on them for the first time.

 

[bontbee]

A friend of mine has a massive bee tree - not good at estimating heights, but it's a two storey tree. Flowers late on in the year when it positively purrs with bees... But then, we are in balmy, (note the spelling, please!), beautiful S Wales

 

[madasafish]

All

Anyone managed to grow AND bring to flower a Tetradium/Evodia " Bee Tree " ??

Was going to try source one but dont want to waste time and money if will not flower in our temperate ( at times Baltic ! ) climate

i have 4 two year old saplings in the garden:grown from seed. The tallest is 2 meters. They have survived -12C... Korea has colder winters...

 

[BrianO]

Good Stuff.... but the million dollar question.... any flowers.. and more importantly any bees on this supposed bee magnet plant ?

 

[enrico]

We have aralia Spinosa (devils walking stick)
It grows in sort of suckers to about fifteen feet. It flowers profusely but the bees only take to it some years. One year it will be humming, the next they won't touch it!
E

 

[Tremyfro]

The Bee Tree is a common name for Linden/lime/Basswood...all the same come from Tilia genus

 

[Goran]

Good Stuff.... but the million dollar question.... any flowers.. and more importantly any bees on this supposed bee magnet plant ?

At our place few days ago saw evodia flowers still not opened, but bees seems very eager to try to open it.. Every year when in flower bees are on them.

 

[BrianO]

Looking yesterday at bees foraging on Globe artichokes, in good numbers which surprised me , thought only Bumbles worked these, but in saying that it seemed a struggle for them to reach the heart of the flowers.

Another one to add to the late foraging list.

 

[Erichalfbee]

See only wasps on mine.
We have masses of sedum just on the cusp. Butterflies have been probing it for a few days and the odd red pin-prick is just visible

 

[BrianO]

Resurrected this auld chestnut, couple of reasons great replies and suggestions for anyone searching for Bee friendly planting, also noticed recently along the tram lines close to me profusion of Beautifull mahonia flowers .

On the 10 degrees plus days we seem to be getting must be a good source for my bees.

Soon be time for the snowdrops and all my crocus bulbs planted to shine.... Roll on Spring