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Herb Planting For Bees

Herb planting for bees is rewarding - they help pollinators and they have many uses for humans too: cooking, medicinal, fragrance, not to mention their beauty and verstility in the garden.

Many herbs are among the best plants for bees, and herb planting is also very much in fashion.

You may or may not have space for a kitchen herb garden, but even a few herb plants in the border will help bees and other pollinators.

A container herb garden, or a window herb garden may be an option.

You could even give herbs as a gift! Home-made gifts such as these are increasingly appreciated - and not only by gardeners and those who enjoy cooking. People genuinely appreciate the effort that goes into making a gift, and home made herb planters are simple to put together.

I strongly recommend you seek an organic supplier. If you live in the USA, you can purchase organic heirloom seeds to create a variety of herb gardens from this supplier (clicking on the link opens a new window). If you live in the UK, check out Bee Happy Plants.

chives

HERB PLANTING FOR BEES

Here is my list of ideal herbs for bees!

Borage
I have read that borage refills with nectar every 2 minutes! This is exceptionally fast. No wonder all kinds of bees love it!

Catmint (Nepeta)
Note, cats love it too!)

Chives
Allow them to flower. You can still clip a few of the stalks for cooking.

Comfrey
Another excellent flower for bees – refills with nectar approximately every 45 minutes.

Hyssop
Attracts bees and butterflies.

Lavender
Choose different varieties for a prolonged season.

Sage
The sage family of plants are wonderful for bees and other pollinators.

Thyme Marjoram/Origanum
Thyme can also be used to create a small patch of lawn. The fragrance and look are beautiful. Butterflies like thymes too.

Mints (Mentha)
Bees love the flowers, but I have read that some beekeepers apply mint oil diluted with water to their beehives to deter wax moth. I am aiming to place a pot of mint close to a bumblebee nest when I next find one, to see if it helps bumblebees too.

Lemon Balm
In the past, beekeepers would rub a handful of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) inside the hive after hiving a new swarm, in order to help the swarm settle and to encourage them not to leave the hive. Rubbing hands with the leaves is also claimed to help prevent bee stings!

Fennel
Also popular with seed-eating birds and hoverflies. Find out how to grow Fennel here.

Angelica
Pretty herb loved by a variety of bees and hoverflies.

Wild Bergamot
Long tongued bees especially, enjoy this pretty herb.

Woundworts
Pretty flowers loved by bees.

Betony
Another great bee and butterfly plant.

Myrtle
Gorgeous shrub loved by bees and other insects.

Rosemary
Excellent early food source for bees.

I came across an excellent website about medicinal herbs, with a very nice section on growing herbs. (Clicking the link opens a new window).

You can also find out more by visiting the UK Herb Society.

Go from Herb Planting For Bees to one of these links to find out about more about planting for bees:

Bee plant lists
Take a look at these different lists of plants for bees. including wildflowers, garden plants, trees, shrubs and even fruit and vegetables!

Plants for problem places
Even in conditions of clay soil, drought and shade, there are plants you can include in your garden to attract bees. Go from Herb Planting For Bees

Create a bee garden!
Some great handy tips for creating a garden to attract bees.

Free Plants!
It needn't cost a fortune to create a bee garden! Take a look at these ideas for getting free (or nearly free) garden plants!

Bee pollination
What makes bees such excellent pollinators, and how important are they?

Save the bees!
Here are 10 simple things you can do to help the bees. Why not share these tips with your friends?

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SBI!