- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Best flowers that attract bees?
Posted on 5/1/19 at 8:36 am
Posted on 5/1/19 at 8:36 am
Like most of everyone on here I don't have many bees in my backyard to pollinate my cucumbers. What's a good flower tree or vine that'll bring in more bees?
Note: I live in South Louisiana.
Note: I live in South Louisiana.
This post was edited on 5/1/19 at 8:38 am
13
Posted on 5/1/19 at 8:44 am to EdmondDontez
Let the clover grow in your lawn and you'll have more honey bees than you know what to do with.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 8:48 am to EdmondDontez
Honey bees will find the flowers that best meet their needs and are in the most abundance and concentration. Problem is, this time of year there's a lot available, so they'll be all over clover fields instead of in your garden. In a couple weeks it'll be the tallow that takes their attention.
But after June, their food sources dwindle, so that's when they'll be looking harder for things in your garden. I've always seen bees on my flowing herbs come summer, especially basil and oregano.
Edit: or what TDs said. Let the clover attract them.
But after June, their food sources dwindle, so that's when they'll be looking harder for things in your garden. I've always seen bees on my flowing herbs come summer, especially basil and oregano.
Edit: or what TDs said. Let the clover attract them.
This post was edited on 5/1/19 at 8:50 am
Posted on 5/1/19 at 8:56 am to EdmondDontez
We have five or six Ligustrums along the back fence. They are loaded with those little, sweet flowers right now. Lots of bee activity.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 9:07 am to EdmondDontez
Although their are tons of options, if you have room, doesn’t require much, and willing to make small landscape bed I’ve planted a couple varieties of perennial salvias (Furman Red Salvia greggi and Amistad salvia) plus Cuphea, Vermillionare variety, and these perennials remain in almost continuous bloom from spring to fall. Looking at the plants yesterday and loaded with honey bees and bumble bees. Also pineapple sage (which is another perennial salvia) it just started blooming this week.
And like you are wanting to do, I planted them initially to attract more pollinators to the vegetable garden, but they are beautiful landscape plants in their own right. It would take them a year to get established but a good long term option to consider.
P.S. these plants are also hummingbird magnets.
And like you are wanting to do, I planted them initially to attract more pollinators to the vegetable garden, but they are beautiful landscape plants in their own right. It would take them a year to get established but a good long term option to consider.
P.S. these plants are also hummingbird magnets.
This post was edited on 5/1/19 at 4:02 pm
Posted on 5/1/19 at 9:17 am to CrawDude
Salvia greggi is great for bumblebees, haven't seen honeybees working it though. Do bumbles pollinate cucumber? Also I've seen honeybees working my gold Lantana during the heat of summer when there's not much else around...
Another option is to put in a bird bath. Bees need water (cools the hive and dilutes honey for feeding), and lots of it come summer. That may help to get them into the garden. Just make sure to keep it filed.
Another option is to put in a bird bath. Bees need water (cools the hive and dilutes honey for feeding), and lots of it come summer. That may help to get them into the garden. Just make sure to keep it filed.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 10:06 am to EdmondDontez
I have a row of crepe myrtles that bloom the same time as the garden produces and stays covered in bees
Posted on 5/1/19 at 10:07 am to LSUJuice
quote:
Salvia greggi is great for bumblebees, haven't seen honeybees working it though. Do bumbles pollinate cucumber?
Yes you are correct, I’ve observed the same, bumblebees on the the S. greggi but not honeybees. Bumblebees pollinate most vegetable and fruit crops. In fact, I’m sure I’ve read where bumblebees are more efficient pollinators than honey bees. I think there are about 4,000+ species of pollinators in North America so for the urban gardener attracting any pollinator is beneficial to vegetable gardening. The Amistad salvia definitely attracts honeybees and bumblebees and I’ve not seen them out of bloom from spring into early winter.
quote:
Another option is to put in a bird bath.
Excellent point. Bees/bumblebees require water so putting 1 or 2 small shallow bird baths is very beneficial. I’ve put a couple small ones for this purpose.
OP There are many good 1 or 2 page fact sheets on attracting pollinators to your urban garden. Do a google search and have fun reading them.
This post was edited on 5/1/19 at 7:41 pm
Posted on 5/1/19 at 10:42 am to TheWiz
quote:
We have five or six Ligustrums along the back fence. They are loaded with those little, sweet flowers right now. Lots of bee activity.
I was going to plant Ligustrums but my wife told me her dad is super allergic to them and he's at our house all the time. I was thinking about planting a sweet olive tree. I've heard that they can help attract bees as well.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 10:49 am to EdmondDontez
Daikon radish works great.
You can either harvest it, or if you have heavy clay soil, cut it back and as the roots die, they will improve the drainage.
You can either harvest it, or if you have heavy clay soil, cut it back and as the roots die, they will improve the drainage.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 3:50 pm to EdmondDontez
I have a catnip plant that sits right behind my outdoor fireplace and drapes down the rock retaining wall. It's right beside my raised garden.
Last year (1st year with the garden there) the catnip plant had hundreds of honey bees on it in the morning and subsequently so did the garden.
I don't know why but they love catnip.
Last year (1st year with the garden there) the catnip plant had hundreds of honey bees on it in the morning and subsequently so did the garden.
I don't know why but they love catnip.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 3:55 pm to EdmondDontez
Vitex shoal creek. It blooms in May and again in August if you deadhead it. Tons of bumblebees and butterflies. Be prepared to prune it a couple times a year...very fast grower.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 5:34 pm to EdmondDontez
honeysuckle works great, plant it on the fence and it will create a solid wall you can hardly see through. you will have so many bees you will be afraid to walk near it
Posted on 5/1/19 at 5:44 pm to LSUJuice
quote:
Do bumbles pollinate cucumber?
You can pollinate vegetable plants with a Q-Tip, so I would assume bumble bees, if going from flower to flower, would do the same.
Posted on 5/1/19 at 10:25 pm to EdmondDontez
Bottlebrush
Ligustrum
Viburnum
Ligustrum
Viburnum
Posted on 5/1/19 at 10:53 pm to EdmondDontez
Although it’s an invasive species, Chinese tallow trees are one of the major nectar producers in our area. Bees can’t resist them.
Posted on 5/2/19 at 7:37 am to EdmondDontez
Bee Balm & Joe-Pye are perennials. You’ll only have to plant them once and the spread over the years. Bees all over them.
Posted on 5/2/19 at 8:34 am to EdmondDontez
Saw this article posted this AM by MSU horticultural extension professor.
Salvias Bring Pollinators Color
Salvias Bring Pollinators Color
Posted on 5/2/19 at 1:07 pm to CrawDude
Google pollinator house and maybe hang some of those things around? Never tried them myself just saw them when I was searching for the bee hive I just bought and started.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News