Attract bees to your garden with perennial nectar-producing plants

Environmental conservation issues are finally beginning to awaken the sensitivity of an increasing number of people. Many of us would like to lend a hand with a concrete gesture, but we often feel that most of the actions within our reach are insignificant.

Well, if you have a garden, you have much more power than you think: all you need to do is incorporate some nectar-producing plants to help protect bees, the indispensable guardians of our ecosystem. Let's discover together which plants are best suited to attract bees and provide them with good nectar, while taking the opportunity to refresh the look of your garden.

Why attract bees to your garden?

Let's start with a brief introduction in which we will explain why you should want to attract bees to your garden.

This story, as old as the world itself, begins with nectar, a sugary substance produced by the flowers of nectar-producing plants to attract pollinating insects. These insects move from flower to flower in search of this precious food, and in doing so, they transport pollen that sticks to their bodies from one plant to another. This process enables plants to be fertilized and reproduce, a true masterpiece of nature: not only is it much more effective than other methods of reproduction (for example, when pollen is carried by the wind), but it also creates a situation in which all the beings involved benefit from each other.

Bees are the queens of pollinating insects, and for thousands of years, their industrious back-and-forth has enabled the reproduction of a vast number of plants. Their work is essential for the balance of the ecosystem and for the growth of many crops that are vital for human food use. However, pollution, climate change, and the use of pesticides are dramatically reducing bee populations, putting this irreplaceable work at risk. This is why each of us should do our part by providing bees with good nectar that will enable them to survive and continue their work.

What are nectar-producing plants

The best way to lend a hand to our bee friends is therefore to use nectar-producing plants. This is the name given to plants whose flowers are favored by bees: they are, in fact, flower clusters rich in nectar and equipped with attractive features for pollinating insects (such as very abundant blooms or an intense fragrance).

Incorporating nectar-producing plants into your garden will be a winning move: not only will you have taken a simple but concrete step to protect the environment, but you will also have made a forward-thinking choice to keep the ecosystem of your precious green space healthy and diverse.

Perennial nectar-producing plants for your garden

If you are wondering how to attract bees, know that you have many interesting options at your disposal, and you will surely find something that will blend wonderfully with the personality of your garden.

The first choice in these cases is often an aromatic plant, beautiful and useful for both bees and your kitchen. Rosmarinus officinalis is the quintessential bee-friendly plant, but it is not the only one. The charming little flowers of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) are also highly loved by pollinating insects, while one of the favorite summer nectar-producing plants for bees is certainly Lavandula angustifolia: its exquisite fragrance will fill your garden and delight everyone, human or insect!

If you are looking for a good nectar-producing climbing plant for your garden, Lonicera caprifolium (the classic honeysuckle) will be an excellent choice for both you and the ecosystem. In addition to being known for its sweet fragrance, its spectacular blooms will enhance any surface and allow many bees to refuel.

Would you like to fill an empty corner with a charming, colorful bush, or create a beautiful border? Achillea millefolium or Perovskia atriplicifolia will enchant you with their refined hues. If you prefer a slightly larger shrub, you can count on the pure white, long-lasting blooms of Carissa macrocarpa.

If you have plenty of space, you could even consider a tree, such as the classic Robinia pseudoacacia or Arbutus unedo. The latter is none other than the famous strawberry tree, and in addition to attracting bees, it will delight you with its sweet fruit. It blooms in the middle of autumn, allowing bees to store up nectar before the rigors of winter set in.

A nectar-producing lawn is possible

Do you think that is where it ends? Here is the best part: even your lawn can become a true oasis for our bee friends! Of course, we are not talking about the classic English lawn, which obviously does not have this attractive power.

Among the low-water lawns we have selected over years of activity, we have two nectar-producing species for those who wish to lend a hand to the ecosystem, while also adding considerable water savings to their concern for bees.

The first option has to be Lippia nodiflora, the queen of the dry garden. Its tiny pinkish-white flowers are highly loved by bees, which will adore coming to your garden for a snack. A very interesting feature of this lawn is that the flowers of Lippia nodiflora contain caffeine, a substance that has a calming effect on bees: our striped friends will be so captivated by the flowers that you can even pet them without any problems while they work!

You could also consider mixing Lippia nodiflora with a non-nectar-producing species (for example, Verbena hybrida) to reduce the attraction its flowers exert on bees.