Bees, as pollinators, are an essential aspect of the garden. I’ve written countless articles about all the ways you can draw them into your garden and improve the whole garden ecosystem with ease.
This article, however, will be a little different. Today, we’ll be discussing flowers you should actually skip if you want a bee-friendly garden! Let’s get right into it!
Why Aren’t All Flowers Bee-Friendly?
Fortunately or unfortunately, not all flowers are attractive to bees. There are certain qualities in flowers that bees look for, and nectar is perhaps the most important one.
Some flowers are just poor nectar/pollen sources and physically difficult for bees to access. They may lack the fragrance that would attract bees or have a color that bees typically aren’t able to see very well.
7 Common Flowers That Don’t Support Bees
1: Petunias
When we talk about petunias and why they’re unfavorable for attracting bees, it’s actually their layered petals that make nectar and pollen hard for bees to access.
If natural pollination with the help of bees is a priority for you, try planting echinacea or cosmos instead.
2: Marigolds (Certain Hybrids)
Believe it or not, many modern marigolds are bred more for appearance and aesthetic beauty rather than rich nectar production. Bees, as you can already expect, wouldn’t be drawn in by these modern-day marigold hybrids.
Try planting Signet marigolds (Tagetes Tenuifolia) if you want marigolds that accommodate bees.
3: Geraniums (Zonal Types)
If you didn’t already know, most geranium varieties offer little to no nectar, especially sterile hybrids that were bred in a way that removed all the rich nectar from their delicate petals over time.
A geranium variety that is nectar-rich, however, is the native wild geranium (Geranium Maculatum).
4: Impatiens
Although impatiens are beautiful and absolutely mesmerizing to look at, they’re typically very low in nectar, offering little to pollinators like bees and butterflies. Bee balms or calibrachoa are a much better choice for drawing in pollinators.
5: Roses (Hybrid Teas & Doubles)
Most hybrid tea roses you’ll come across are absolutely scentless and inaccessible to pollinators like the bee. If you want to plant roses and still draw in bees, go for single-flowered shrub roses or something like Rosa rugosa.
6: Pansies & Violas (Sterile Hybrids)
Both pansies and violas generally belong to the same category of sterile hybrids, so I often just mention them together. Neither of these flowers are attractive to bees due to their low nectar content.
Instead of pansies and violas, try planting native asters or wild violets. They’re much better, nectar-rich flower options with similar beauty and vibrancy.
7: Tulips
Tulips can be low in nectar and don’t bloom long enough to be helpful. You’re essentially compromising the nectar for more vigorously blooming tulips.
Instead of tulips, try planting crocuses, snowdrops, or grape hyacinths for early bees.
What Makes A Flower Bee-Friendly?
Now, you might be wondering, we talked so much about bee-friendly flowers, but it still isn’t clear what exactly makes a flower bee-friendly. Well, let me explain it to you in the simplest words.
The main thing to keep in mind, however, is that bees prioritize nectar. If your flowers are rich in nectar, bees are going to storm your garden no matter what. The rest of the factors are only mere bonuses.
If you’re still not sure what flowers are bee-friendly or which ones to grow in your garden, take a look at our article about: Best Flowers To Attract Bees To Your Garden.
Conclusion
In the past, I’ve written extensively about why I love bees in my garden and all the flowers I’ve experimented with to draw them in.
I grew up with the belief that pollinators like bees and butterflies are drawn to every bright-petaled flower out there. But, as I grew older and progressed in my gardening journey, I realized I couldn’t be more wrong.
Unfortunately, you have to make a real effort to plant certain flowers that really accommodate bees with either their color, fragrance, or nectar-rich petals.
Like I always say, nothing comes easy in the garden!
