Ivydene Gardens Bee-Pollinated Bloom Plant Index Gallery:
Bee Pollinated Plants for Hay Fever Sufferers List with
Flowers in the Winter between
November-February

See Wildflower Garden Use Page for other bee-pollinated or insect-pollinated list of plants.

See Bee instead of wind pollinated plants for hay-fever sufferers
All Bee-Pollinated Flowers per Month 12
...Index pages

If a plant is polinated by a bee, then it is not wind-pollinated. This means that the plants mentioned on this page and in the book "Garden Plants Valuable to Bees" (written by the International Bee Research Association) will be suitable for people who suffer from hay fever.

You can compare the flower colour of the bee-pollinated plants with all the other bee-pollinated plants (who have Plant Description Pages in this website) using the Bee-pollinated 12 colours of Bloom in each Month Gallery. There are also 218 additional bee-pollinated plants (who may not have any Plant Description Page in this website) in the 12 colours per month pages of the Bee-pollinated Index Gallery.

The importance of garden plants yielding nectar and pollen is that together they provide a continuous food supply - from willows and crocuses in early spring to ivy in late autumn. Colonies of bees need food through their active season , so that they can develop and rear new bees. This food supply used to be provided by pastures that came into flower before they were cut, by verges and hedgerows, and by abundant weeds. Nowadays the efficiency of agriculture has greatly reduced these resources for the bees.

The list for gardens exclude most crop plants, most fruits and all very invasive plants that are difficult to control.

It is designed for Britain, Ireland, Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

"Ordinary garden soil" is pH 5-7 and contains some humus-forming material.

The report below details which plants in Greater San Francisco Bay Area Region of the USA were visited by each different bee family; and therefore will aid you in selection of plants that are bee-pollinated rather than wind-pollinated, besides the ones that I have listed in my table below:-

RECORD OF NATIVE BEES FOUND IN THE GREATER SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA REGION, WITH SOME OF THEIR LIKELY PLANT HOSTS

Compiled by Laura Arneson

Landscape Noise Reduction

Road Noise, Airport Noise, Industrial Units and Railway Noise next to gardens is detrimental to humans living in those houses within those gardens. There are 4 methods commonly used for sound attenuation (the reduction of intensity of outdoor sounds before they reach the receiver) :-

• Sound Absorption. This method uses plants to entrap or absorb sound vibrations.
• Sound Deflection and Reflection. This method causes the noise to be bounced away from the recipient and sometimes back toward the source.
• Sound Refraction. This little known effect occurs when noise is dissipated, diffused or dispersed by striking a rough surface on any plain.
• White Noise. It is designed to create sound that is appealing to the human brain as a mask for undesirable noise. The most widely used method is a fountain that makes loud splashes.

Using these bee-pollinated plants between estates in the public ambling area and between the houses/gardens and the noise will reduce that relevant noise level using the Sound Absorption Method; and be suitable for everyone including Hay Fever sufferers:-

• 1. Install chain link fence on strong supports with 12 inch (30 cms) gap at bottom (to allow local wildlife - hedgehogs, foxes, badgers, frogs and newts access) and 48 inch (120 cms) chainlink between 12 and 60 inch (30 and 150 cms) from ground on estate boundary. Add 4th Line Wire on top links to prevent that chainlink from sagging. Plant ivy, Rosa with it's 'Single Flowers' cultivars (see below) and thornless blackberries so that they can then climb onto that chainlink fencing within the inside of that public ambling area.
• 2. Plant mixture of bulbs, evergreen perennials, herbaceous perennials, deciduous shrubs, evergreen shrubs, which grow between 18 and 96 inches (45 and 240 cms) high - add the eventual width of a pair and divide that by 2 as the planting distance between them. This combined with their different heights will produce a random effect in this minimum-width of 96 inches (240 cms) area and 72 inch width (180 cms) of area 4. It is also most likely that viewing from one side to the estate boundary, you are unlikely to see the bottom of the chainlink. Use 30% evergreen and the rest is herbaceous/deciduous to provide a change throughout the year for the estate inhabitants to enjoy on their rambles. The blackberries on the estate boundary and the fruit from each of the 3 cherries, 3 apple and 3 pear for each estate can either be enjoyed by the humans or the wildlife. Mulch the area with 4 inch thick (10 cms) of Bark before planting and thoroughly soak the ground after planting. Then, sow White Clover (see Green Manure) over the whole of both areas 2 and 4 to provide Nitrogen to the other plants and reduce evaporation of the irrigated water in between the 2 soakings each year.
  Thoroughly soak the ground in August to provide the shrubs and fruit trees with the water to be stored in their roots and then be used during the spring foliage production. Thoroughly soak the ground again in April to provide their water supply during the later spring and summer.
• 3. 48 inch wide (120 cms) path using ECCOGravel. After the ECCOGravel is installed, use different coloured pea-shingle to create games like snakes and ladders, hopscotch or noughts and crosses or a picture. This path allows the rain to drain through and be used by the plants on either side. If you wear women's high heels, you will have no problem walking on this path. You can also use it for remote-controlled model cars or landing remote-control model aircraft.
• 4. A repeat of of 2. without the blackberries or fruit trees - If the fruit is only on the other side of the path, then the fruit pickers will not be tempted to try the home owners side.
• 5. Install chain link fence on strong supports with 72 inch (180 cms) chainlink on top of ground level on private garden boundary. Add 4th Line Wire on top links to prevent that chainlink from sagging. Plant ivy so that it can then climb onto that chainlink fencing from inside the public ambling area.

If the house owner has a noise problem from outside their property, then they can use the same solution as above using 1, 2, 3 and 4 only. Their sheds and storage facilities can be installed in area 4 with path 3. leading to them.

Single flowered cultivars (some are marked as 'Single Flowers') are more useful to bees than double flowered cultivars.
Bloom type depends on the number of petals for Roses:-

• Single blooms are fully opened and almost flat, consisting of 1-7 petals per bloom.
• Semi-double blooms consist of 8-15 petals in two rows.
• Double blooms consist of 16-25 overlapping petals in three or more rows.
• Full: 26-40 petals in three or more rows.
• Very full: 40+ petals in three or more rows.

The final column shows the value of the plant to bees (honeybees and hive bees):

• N and P indicate that they collect Nectar and Pollen, respectively.
• Plants especially used by Bumble Bees are marked B.
• The absence of all 3 entries (N,P,B) for a few plants reflects insufficiency of observations as to what it is that bees collect from that plant.
   

Plant Name

Common Name

Flowering Months of Plant Named but not "and it's cultivars"

Flowering Colour of Plant Named but not "and it's cultivars"

Height x Spread in inches (cms).
Plants between
24 and 72 inches (60 and 180 cms) in Height

Plant Type
(Per = Perennial) with link to
Plant Description Page,
Companion Planting Page, Rock Garden Index Page
and/or Wildlife Family Page in this website

Comment

The RHS has compiled this list of plants that will provide nectar and pollen for bees and many other types of pollinating insects:-
Compiled by Andrew Halstead, RHS Principal Entomologist.
The plants detailed below start with the plants from the above list which flower in
Winter Nov-Feb

N for Nectar
P for Pollen
B for Bumble Bee

Clematis cirrhosa

Evergreen Clematis, Spanish Wild Cucumber

Feb-Mar

Pale yellow to cream

100-160 x 60-100
(250-400 x 150-250)

Evergreen Climber

C. cirrhosa is an evergreen climber, to 3m tall, with dark green leaves which may be undivided or compound with 3-6 leaflets. The bell-shaped pale yellow to cream flowers, sometimes spotted red inside, reach up to 6.5cm across and are borne from late winter into early spring and followed by silky seedheads

P

Crocus
tommasinianus

Early Crocus

Jan-Mar

Cobalt-Violet with outside Silvery-Grey

4 x 1
(10 x 3)

Perennial Corm

The 8-9 inch (20-23) long Grey-Green leaves are produced with the flowers.

Full Sun (Full Sun for 4 hours a day)and Part Shade. Full Sun will make the blooms open fully.
Sand, Chalk.
Crocus tommasinianus reproduces rapidly by self-seeding and by corm offsets. The cormlets are much too tiny to ever sieve out of the soil, and wherever the tommies spread on their own, that's where they will always remain.

P

Crocus and it's cultivars like
Crocus vernus
(Crocus purpureus, Spring Crocus, Purple Crocus) -
Crocus vernus 'Flower Record'

From Bee pollinated flowers in winter Nov-Feb in Plants Folder

Other Crocus cultivars in Colchicum/ Crocus Gallery

Crocus

Feb-Apr

Purple

in Native Iris Family

5 x 2
(13 x 5)

Bulb ,
Companions

The Dark Green - with a White band in the centre - leaves appear with the flowers.
It is also good for the bees. Good for naturalizing and planting under turf

Corm.
Full Sun, Part Shade.
Sand, Chalk. Can be planted under trees, under shrubs, in borders and containers. Plant in groups for the best effect.

Crocuses provide an excellent and important source of early pollen for honeybees.

N P

Eranthis hyemalis (Buy "in the Green",
Winter Aconite)

From Bee pollinated flowers in winter Nov-Feb in Plants Folder

Native in
Buttercup Family

Winter Aconite

Jan-Mar

Flowers opening above 10 degrees Centi-grade.

Yellow /

Full Sun or Part Shade

6 x 12
(15 x 30)

Wildflower Rhizome,
Companions

Mid Green, which dies back in the summer / Moist.
Glossy green horizontal foliage appearing after the flowers.

A small, tuberous perennial, dying back in summer. It is naturalised, sometimes in large numbers, in open woodland, grassland and scrub associated with habitation, under park trees, in gardens and on road verges. Visited by hive-bees and flies.

PNB

x Fatshedera lizei

Tree Ivy, Ivy Tree

Nov-Dec

White balls on sticks

80 x 80
(200 x 200)

Evergreen Shrub

Suitable for a cool conservatory. Can be trained against a wall or pillar

Galanthus nivalis and its cultivars (Buy "in the Green")

From
Bee pollinated flowers in winter Nov-Feb in Plants Folder

Native in Daffodil Family

Snowdrop - single flowered forms

Feb-Mar

Very fragrant Creamy- White
followed by black berries. 
Part Shade,
Full Shade

8 x 4
(20 x 10)

Wildflower Bulb

Narrow, grey-green.

Moist, but well-drained, chalk, sand, clay

A bulbous perennial herb of moist woodlands and other shaded places. It is especially frequent in parks, large gardens and churchyards, but also occurs on road verges, by watercourses and in damp grassland. Spread is mainly by division of the bulbs, as seed production is poor.

N P B

Pollen is collec-ted from the Wild-flower but not from the double flowers of the garden varie-ties.

Helleborus argutifolius
(Helleborus corsicus)

Holly-leaved Hellebore

Jan-Mar

Bowl-shaped, pendent, Pale Green

20-40 x 20-40
(50-100 x 50-100)

Evergreen Perennial

"It is an evergreen perennial to 1m with stout stems bearing leaves composed
of three spiny-toothed dark green leaflets. Bowl-shaped, nodding, pale green
flowers 4-5cm in width are borne in large open clusters.
Pruning - Remove faded or damaged foliage as the flowers appear" from RHS.

Use as speciman in middle of mixed or shrub border.

P

Helleborus foetidus

Stinking Hellebore
Wild-flower

March-May

Bright Yellow-Green, Purple-edged

36 x 24
(90 x 60)

Perennial foetid Herb

A short-lived perennial herb of shallow calcareous soils. It is a poor competitor, and intolerant of deep shade, so is usually found in small colonies in woodland glades or open scrub, on scree slopes, rock ledges, hedge banks, and as an introduction in churchyards. Adult plants near senescence (4-5 years old) are typically found with a cohort of seedlings.

P

Helleborus x hybridus

Hellebore

Mar-May

Nodding or outward-facing, saucer-shaped, Pink

18 x 18
(45 x 45)

Evergreen Perennial

Grow in large clumps, particularly beneath trees in shady borders.

P

Helleborus x sternii

Hellebore

Feb-Apr

Nodding, Creamy-green

12 x 14
(30 x 35)

Semi-Evergreen Perennial

These beautiful hellebores look great planted in groups of three towards the front of a mixed border in sun or partial shade. One of the most eye-catching varieties of hellebore, for maximum results they require a neutral to alkaline soil.

P

Lonicera x purpusii

Shrubby Honey-suckle

Dec-Mar

Sweetly fragrant creamy white

80 x 120
(200 x 300)

Climbing Shrub

Use as hedge, in Wildlife gardens and Woodland Garden

P

Mahonia x media

Mahonia

Nov-Mar

Spikes of Pale Yellow

200 x 160
(500 x 400)

Evergreen Shrub

They provide a valuable source of nectar to pollinating insects in winter, while the bunches of highly ornamental, round, deep purple berries that follow on will help attract birds. This mahonia makes a lovely focal point for a shady spot in the garden, where its glossy, architectural leaves can be appreciated all year round.

N

Salix aegyptiaca

Musk Willow, Calaf of Persica willow, Salix medemii, Persian willow, Egyptian willow

Jan-Feb

Fragrant, Silvery flower catkins

160 x 200
(400 x 500)

Deciduous Shrub

Use at sunny edge of woodland garden or in dappled shade

NP

Sarcococca hookeriana

Himalayan sweet box, Christmas Box

Dec-Feb

Aromatic white

60 x 80
(150 x 200)

Low-growing Evergreen Shrub

Black fruits after flowers. Grow in sun or shade and fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Good for specimen plant and in borders.

NP

Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna

Sweet box

Dec-Mar

Clusters of small, creamy-white, fragrant flowers

40-60 x 60-100
(100-150 x 150-250)

Suckering Evergreen Shrub

Use as groundcover on banks and slopes for low maintenance. Flowers followed by rounded blue-black fruit

P

Sarcococca humilis

Dwarf Sweet box

Feb-Mar

Very fragrant creamy-white flowers follwed by Black berries

20-40 x 20-40
(50-100 x 50-100)

Suckering Evergreen Shrub

Use as bed edging and in beds

P

Viburnum tinus

Lauristinus

Oct-Apr

Pinkish-white flowers are fragrant and in dense bunches

120 x 120
(300 x 300)

Evergreen Shrub

Popular choice for hedging but may also be grown as a secimen shrub in a mixed border.

P

Allium and it's cultivars

Other Alliums in Allium/ Anemone Gallery and
Native in Lily Garlic Family

Garlic

Mar-Nov

Many colours

18 x24
(45 x 60)

Bulb ,
Companions and
Plant Combinations

As a general rule the foliage will emerge first and then die down as the flower stems emerge. It is often best to plant them with other plants that will mask the unsightly foliage as it dies back.

All Alliums have the distinctive onion smell, both in the foliage and bulb. This smell can be used to reduce aphid infestations on flowers by planting 1 each side of the infected plant with a short length of bamboo to indicate that its foliage comes from an ornamental onion rather than a blade of grass.

For best effect plant Medium Allium species with smaller heads en masse and use the larger headed species as accents (speciman plants).

"Alliums last well and are decorative for flower arrangements as they make a very distinctive shape in a mixed group.

N P

Chionodoxa forbesii and it's cultivars

Chionodoxa forbesii 'Pink Giant',
Chionodoxa forbesii 'Blue Giant'

Glory of the Snow

Mouse, Rabbit and Deer resistant

Feb-Apr

Pink, or Blue varieties, Star-shaped

Full Sun,
Part Shade

4-8 x 2-4
(10-20 x 5-10)

Bulb with dark green leaves

Free-draining sand, chalk.
Excellent upright naturaliser which gradually spreads over the years to produce groundcover swathes. Also plant under trees, in pots, gravel garden, coastal garden and cottage garden

N P

Crocus chrysanthus like
Crocus chrysanthus 'Blue Pearl'

See other Crocus chrysanthus cultivars in Colchicum/ Crocus Gallery

Crocus

Jan-Mar

Light Lobelia-Blue with White margin

4 x 3
(10 x 8)

Rock Garden,
Companions

The Dark Green leaves are produced with the flowers

If placed near the root crowns of deciduous shrubs, winter-flowering crocus get the sun they need in late winter & early spring when they bloom, then when they are dormant, the roots of the shrubs will soak up the water to keep the corms from steeping in too much moisture, so not at risk of rot.

N P

Dahlia 'Piccolo'

12 x 12
(30 x 30)

Bulb ,
Companions

Dahlias usually suitable for cutting, as a bedding plant and in pots

See their FORM and USE
Clump-forming
Use in Pots
Use for Cut-Flower
Use in Bedding

N P B

Dahlia 'Preston Park' -
The National Dahlia Collection

18 x 18
(45 x 45)

Bedding Bulb,
Companions

See their NDS CLASSIFICATION GROUP
1 Single-flowered
2 Anemone-flowered
3 Collarette
4 Waterlily
5 Decorative
6 Ball
7 Pompon
8 Cactus
9 Semi-Cactus
10 Miscellaneous
11 Fimbriated
12 Single Orchid/Star
13 Double Orchid

N P B

Dahlia all 'Single Flowers' cultivars - Plants for Bees

See list of cultivars in Bulb Dahlia Gallery

Different Dahlias are in flower within
Jun-Nov

See their FLOWER COLOUR
Bicolour
Blue
Green
Orange
Pink
Purple
Red
Unusual Colours
White
Yellow

as can linked to in Bulb Dahlia Gallery

18 x 18
(45 x 45)

Bulb ,
Companions

See their ADS CLASSIFICATION GROUP
1 Formal Decorative
2 Informal Decorative
3 Semi-Cactus
4 Straight Cactus
5 Incurved Cactus
6 Laciniated
7 Ball
8 Miniature Ball
9 Pompon
10 Stellar
11 Waterlily
12 Peony-flowering
13 Anemone-flowered
14 Collarette
15 Single
16 Mignon Single
17 Orchid-flowering
18 Novelty Open
19 Novelty Fully Double

N P B

Erica carnea and its cultivars

Erica carnea cultivars are listed in the
Erica carnea Index

Winter Heath,
Mountain Heath

Oct-May

18 Heather Flower Colours shown in Erica carnea Site Map

9 x 23
(23 x 58)

Heather
Plants can be sheared lightly after flowers fade but not any later as flower buds are formed as early as July in the UK.  Annual light shearing, especially while plants are young, makes for a bushier plant that does not form a bare, woody center with age. 

Erica carnea is one of the hardiest of heathers.  Provides good winter color with its long blooming season. When spaced properly, they form a carpet for a good ground cover. Established plants need little care. Most carneas are prostrate in habit and grow quickly.  These are excellent for rock gardens, slopes and drifts of much needed winter colour.  New tip growth is often cream colored.  Erica carnea are some of the easiest heathers to grow and thrive in almost any soil.  Any winter damaged stems can be pruned in spring. 

N P B

Erica tetralix and its cultivars

Cultivars of
Erica tetralix are listed in the Erica x tetralix Cultivar Page

Cross-leaved Heath

Jun-Nov

18 Heather Flower Colours shown in Erica x tetralix Cultivar Page

12 x 20
(30 x 50)

Heather

Erica tetralix are "The third most widespread native UK heath, often found in boggy areas. In the garden, however, it is tolerant of drier conditions but does require acid soil. The flowers of this very hardy species are typically held in terminal umbels."

N P B

Erica vagans and its cultivars

More cultivars of
Erica vagans are listed in the Erica vagans Index Page

Cornish Heath,
Wandering Heath

Jul-Nov

18 Heather Flower Colours shown in Erica vagans Index Page

18 x 32
(30 x 70)

Heather

"Erica vagans is a native UK species found on the serpentine and gabbro rocks of the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, but will be successful in any soil containing a high content of magnesium. It provides a very useful range of colours during September and October. The faded bells of many cultivars become an attractive russet in winter."

N P B

Eschscholzia californica and Thai Silk Series cultivars

California Poppy, Golden Poppy, California Sunlight, Cup of Gold

Feb - Sep

Yellow to Orange with
'Appleblossom Bush' - Pink
'Dali' - Red
'Lemon Bush' - Pale Yellow
'Rose Chiffon' - Pink and White
Thai Silk Series - mixed colours

Full Sun

60 x 20
(150 x 50)

Bedding

Blue-Green /
Dry

Annual /
Sandy, well-drained, poor soil

N P B

The remainder of the entries for this table have been transferred to the third table across on the right.

Site design and content copyright ©December 2006. Page structure changed September 2012. External and Internal links added May 2015. Data added to existing pages December 2017. Chris Garnons-Williams.

DISCLAIMER: Links to external sites are provided as a courtesy to visitors. Ivydene Horticultural Services are not responsible for the content and/or quality of external web sites linked from this site.  

Height in inches (cms):-

25.4mm = 1 inch
304.8mm = 12 inches
12 inches = 1 foot
3 feet = 1 yard
914.4mm = 1 yard

I normally round this to
25mm = 1 inch
300mm = 30 cms = 12 inches =1 foot,
900 mm = 3 feet = 1 yard and
1000mm = 100 cms = 1 metre = 40 inches

The bee can pollinate the flower, which can then produce a seed. Hymn 881 then instructs the seed:-

Push, little seed,
push, push, little seed,
till your head pops out of the ground.
This is the air,
and now you are there
you can have a look round.
You'll see God's sky,
you'll see God's sun,
you'll feel his raindrops one by one,
as you grow, grow, grow, grow,
grow to be wheat for bread.
So push, little seed,
push, push, little seed,
that the world may be fed.

"Plants For Bees BOOK

(By WDJ Kirk and FN Howes; Published by IBRA)

This is a ‘must-have’ book for anyone serious about gardening for bees

This would make an ideal gift for any budding gardener, with some emphasis on which plants are suitable for growing in the British Isles, though would be applicable to any country with a similar temperate climate, as honeybees around the world have pretty much the same tastes and tongue-length. Bumblebees will also forage on any plant which provides nectar, and pollen, to their liking within reach of their tongue, regardless of the origin of the plant. So bees are not prejudiced against non-native plants. Nor should we be, as long as their benefits outweigh any capacity to become invasive weeds, of course.

It is an extremely well researched work; though the author is quick to remind us that this volume by no means contains all the bees favourite plants; though it contains enough to keep us very busy and bees very happy (review by Sarah Holdsworth)" from Bee Happy Plants.

"Bee Happy Plants based at Lakehayes Organic Nursery, is a small family run business, established and put into Soil Association organic conversion in 2002. Now run by Sarah and daughter Joy, with help from other family members, various local part-time and seasonal workers; all have contributed to what has become an efficient production line of seed-raised, organic, wild species plugs, plants and more seeds.

Sarah (with experience on organic farms since the 1980’s and RHS Level 3 at Bicton Agricultural College), would say the inspiration behind Bee Happy Plants began way back on the isolated smallholding of her childhood, in countryside untouched by modern agriculture. Watching parents, Fitz and Brygid and salt-of-the-earth land-worker Fred Shire care for 25 acres: planting trees, wild and formal gardens, fruit and vegetable garden, and maintaining permanent pasture and orchard, with nothing much more than a few grazing animals, a fork, a scythe and a sense of humour. It was this idyllic, magical place brimming with wildlife in all its weird and wonderful forms, from the gentle and regular hoot of owls, to the humming and buzzing of insects.

The shock came later when it dawned that the place of her childhood was unique. Few other places like this jewel of unspoilt countryside still exist. Instead the ‘green deserts’ of monoculture expand; where weeds, insects and wildflowers are no longer welcome, birds no longer gather, and bees go hungry. Understanding that it is down to ordinary people like us, in our own gardens, to nurture something wild or heritage – we can all help to save bees’ favourite plants. Bee Happy Plants was conceived to help us do this. Sarah Holdsworth 2014  ".

From Plants to encourage pollenating insects by the Royal Horticultural Society in the Wilstead Garden Club website:-

"Help for pollinating insects (from the RHS Website)

The RHS has compiled a list of plants that will provide nectar and pollen for bees and many other types of pollinating insects.

Over the last 50 years declines have been noted in many groups of British insects, including those that visit flowers. These include some  common butterflies, moths, hoverflies and bees.

The reasons for this are various and complex but part of the problem may be the reduction in abundance of wild flowers in the countryside that has occurred over this 50 year period. Gardens are increasingly recognised as important habitats where insects can find sources of nectar and pollen.

Pollination is the process by which pollen is transferred from one flower to another, allowing flowers to become fertilised and able to produce seeds and fruits. In some plants, such as grasses and conifers, pollen is spread by the wind, but the majority of plants require insects and sometimes other animals to carry the pollen.

Apples, plums, pears, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, red currants, gooseberries and strawberries all rely on insects to bring about pollination. The same is true for some vegetables, such as broad bean, runner bean and plants in the marrow-pumpkin family.

It has been estimated that the value of insect-pollinated fruits and vegetables grown in the UK is about £220 million a year. In addition there is the inestimable value of pollination provided to wild flowers and garden ornamentals, making insect pollinators a vital component of our biodiversity.

Flowers attract insects by providing them with two rich sources of food - nectar and pollen. Nectar contains sugars and provides insects with an energy source, while pollen grains contain proteins and oils.

Pollen and nectar provide the complete diet for both the adult bees and their larvae. Other insects, such as various flies and midges, beetles, wasps, thrips, bugs, butterflies and moths visit flowers to feed on pollen and nectar but may also have other dietary requirements, especially in their immature stages. Some predatory insects visit flowers to feed on other insects attracted to the blooms. All are capable of picking up pollen on their bodies and bringing about pollination when they move to other flowers of the same plant.

How to attract and support pollinating insects

Aim to have plants that are attractive to pollinating insects in flower from early spring to late autumn.

Seek plants at garden centres and nurseries having the RHS symbol pictured left.

Grow garden plants with flowers that attract pollinating insects.

Avoid plants with double or multi-petaled flowers. Such flowers may lack nectar and pollen, or insects may have difficulty in gaining access.

Never use pesticides on plants when they are in flower.

Where appropriate, British wild flowers can be an attractive addition to planting schemes and may help support a wider range of pollinating insects.

Observe the plants in your garden. If you know of plants with blooms that regularly attract insects, let the RHS know.

Encourage bees by keeping honeybees yourself or allowing a beekeeper to place hives in your garden. Nest boxes containing cardboard tubes or hollow plant stems, or holes drilled in blocks of wood will provide nest sites for some species of solitary bees. Such nests are available from garden centres or you can make your own (holes/tubes should be in a mixture of sizes with a diameter of 2-8mm).

Some pollinator insect facts

•Britain has 25 species of bumblebees, of which about 11 commonly visit garden flowers.

•A honeybee hive can contain up to about 60,000 bees in mid summer and they can convert the nectar they collect into over 100 pounds of honey.

•There are about 260 species of solitary bee in Britain.

•There is a similar number of hoverflies, many of which have aphid predator larvae.

•Adult pollen beetles (Meligethes spp.) feed on pollen and are commonly seen in flowers in spring and summer.

•Butterflies and moths, with their long tongues (proboscis), can reach nectar in flowers that is inaccessible to short-tongued insects.

•Unlike humans, honeybees can see ultraviolet light and can detect patterns on petals invisible to us. The markings on the petals guide bees to the nectar-producing parts of the flower and bring the insect into close contact with the pollen-bearing structures.

•When foraging honeybees have located a good source of nectar or pollen, they can recruit other bees to visit the same flowers. A figure-of- eight-dance performed on the combs in the hive tells other bees how far and in which direction they need to fly to find the flowers.
 

Compiled by Andrew Halstead, RHS Principal Entomologist"

For my recommendation on what to do with your prunings, kitchen scraps and grass mowings see Compost Bins in Companion Planting Page C, instead of composting them in a small 1 cubic yard domestic garden compost bin.

This group has been completed in the Index Gallery only

Table 10. British Floral Sources of importance to Honey Bees from
Plants and Honey Bees
An Introduction to Their Relationships
by David Aston and Sally Bucknall.
Printed by Northern Bee Books.
First published 2004, Reprinted 2009. ISBN 0-393-30879-0

Months in flower for nectar and pollen amended by Chris Garnons-Williams
with link to its first flower month index colour page

Comment

Plant Name

Common Name

Feb-Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep-Oct

Pollen

Alnus glutinosa

Alder

Brown

Nectar and Pollen

Prunus dulcis

Almond

Pink

000

Pollen

Lobularia maritima

Alyssum

Unus-ual

000

000

Nectar

Anchusa species

Anchusa

Blue

000

000

000

000

Honey,
Nectar and Pollen.
Major bee plant.

Malus pumila

Apple

Unus-ual

000

Nectar and Pollen.

Arabis species

Arabis

White

000

000

Pollen

Fraxinus excelsior

Ash

Purp-le

000

000

000

Nectar and Pollen

Aubretia deltoidea

Aubretia

Unus-ual

000

000

Pollen

Colchicum autumnale

Autumn Crocus

Pink

000

Honey and
Nectar

Impatiens balsamina, Impatiens bicolor.

Balsam

Unus-ual

000

000

000

Pollen source only in UK.

Beechwood Honey in New Zealand

Fagus sylvatica in Europe

Beech

Brown

000

Honey,
Nectar and Pollen.

Major bee plant

Calluna vulgaris

See Heather calluna Gallery

Bell Heather

Unus-ual

000

000
and Nov

Barberry Honey and Nectar

Berberis

Berberis

Mar

Unus-ual

000

Nectar

Monarda fistulosa and Monarda didyma

Bergamot

Unus-ual

000

000

Nectar.
Bilberry Mining Bee collects its pollen

Vaccinium myrtillus

Billberry

White

000

000

Pollen
Can smother other plants, so do not plant in your garden

Calystegia sepium and Convolvulus arvensis

Bindweed

000

Pollen.
It is wind pollinated

Betula species

Birch

Mar

Brown

000

Comment

Plant Name

Common Name

Feb-Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep-Oct

Single-flowered wild plant for its Nectar

Lotus corniculatus

Bird's-foot-trefoil

Yell-ow

000

000

000

Sep

Nectar and Pollen.
Major bee plant.

Rubus fruticosus

Blackberry

White

000

000

000

Nectar and Pollen

Prunus spinosa

Blackthorn

White

000

Nectar

Hyacinthoides non-scripta

Bluebell

Blue

000

000

Honey,
Nectar and Pollen.
Major bee plant.

Borago officinalis

Borage

Blue

000

000

000

Honey, Nectar and Pollen

Brassica species

Brassicas

White

000

000

Sep

Nectar and Pollen

Cytisus scoparius

Broom

Yell-ow

000

000

Pollen may be harmful to bees. Poisonous to horses, cattle and other livestock eating it

Ranunculus species like Ranunculus repens

Buttercup

Yell-ow

000

000

Sep

Nectar and Pollen.

Campanula

Campanula

Blue

000

000

000

Nectar.

Nepeta cataria

Cat-mint

Mauve

000

000

000

Nov

Pollen in UK. Nectar and Pollen in USA.

Ceanothus species

Ceanothus

Blue

000

Pollen

Ranunculus ficaria

Lesser Celandine

Mar

Yell-ow

000

Honey, Nectar and Pollen.
Major bee plant.

Prunus avium

Wild Cherry

White

000

Nectar and Pollen. Also used by Bumble Bees

Malus sylvestris

Crab apple

Mar

Unus-ual

000

Nectar and Pollen

Geranium species in Geranium Family

Crane's-bill but not Pelargon-iums - bedding plants

Blue

000

000

000

Pollen

Crocus species
Crocus vernus and Crocus nudiflorus

Crocus

Purp-le

000

000

Honey, Nectar and Pollen

Ribes species

Currants

Unus-ual

000

Honey and Nectar.
Major bee plant.

Prunus domestica

Damson

White

Honey, Nectar and Pollen.
Major bee plant.

Taraxacum officinale
(Taraxum vulgare)
Grow with Clover and Alfalfa in Pots to help bees and birds

Dandelion

Yell-ow

000

000

000

000

Comment

Plant Name

Common Name

Feb-Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep-Oct

Nectar and Pollen.
White dead-nettle
(Lamium album) regularly flowers thoughout winter months.

Lamium species like Lamium purpureum

Dead-nettle

Mar

Mauve

000

000

000

000

000

Nectar and Pollen.

Doronicum like Doronicum plantagineum

Leopard's Bane

Yell-ow

000

Pollen

Ulex minor

Dwarf Gorse

Yell-ow

000

Sep

Pollen

Ulmus species like Ulmus glabra

Elm

Unus-ual