Table of Contents
Flowers provide all the food bees need, they feed on both the nectar and pollen of the flowers. The nectar is the sweet substance that flowers produce – its role is in fact to attract pollinators to the flowers. The pollen is a powder that contains the male genetics of the plant. So, the worker bees collect the nectar and they take back to the colony making it into honey. Depending on how much food is available to them, bee colonies can grow and stay within healthy numbers. Unfortunately, we know that in general, pollinator numbers are declining with all other insects. This is absolutely terrible news for us humans too, as we depend on pollinators too: an estimated about one-third of our food is pollinated by animals.
In this listicle, I collected the most popular flowers that you can grow to help to feed the bees. By planting bee-friendly flowers in our garden we can help all pollinators. There are many different bees with different tastes, but they like fragrant and are usually highly attracted to flowers that are white, yellow, blue and purple. It’s also helpful if we consider when the flowers will bloom. We can choose plants that flower at all different times of the year so there is always some available for the bees – therefore I listed flowers that bloom in early season, mid season and late season.
Early season
1 Aubrieta
This little purple and dark pink (sometimes white) flowered perennial does not need any care, the leaves are evergreen and can even grow in holes on a brick wall (which is how I have it). Flowering from mid-spring through to mid-summer and can easily be grown from seed.
When to plant it: April to June and September.
2 Crocus
One of the earliest bulbs popping up in February, crocuses come in a variety of colours: white, yellow and purple are the most common. Inaddition the spring flowering crocuses, there are also autumn flowering crocuses.
When to plant it: autumn.
3 English bluebell
A bulbous perennial plant with violet–blue (occasionally pink or white) flowers, common in woodlands and therefore it’s a protected flower under UK law. Flowering from April to early June and they prefer partly shaded spots (just like in the woodlands).
When to plant it: late spring.
4 Grape hyacinth
Also known as muscari, which originates from the Greek word for musk, thanks to the musky and sweet scent of the flowers. More commonly intense cobalt blue colour (less commonly pink and white), this perennial prefers to grow in sun or under a little shade and if they are happy, they spread quickly.
When to plant it: autumn.
5 Hellebore
Flowering from early spring, hellebore comes in shades of pink, purple, green and white – many with attractive speckles or stripes inside the flowers. They are hardy plants braving the cold and frost/snow even.
When to plant it: September and October
6 Lungwort
Also known as Pulmonaria. It has small blue, pink or white flowers and silver-speckled leaves. Lungwort is an easy-to-grow perennial with a rustic, English-countryside look. They prefer partial shade but other than that, they just need a little water. They are also quite pest resistant.
When to plant it: autumn or spring.
7 Primose
Very cheerful and colourful cluster of flowers in yellow, red, white and orange colours. Also perfect for hanging baskets and window boxes as they don’t grow more than 10cm high. These small perennials are also common in woodlands ( ancient-woodland-indicator plant). They can from late December through to May.
When to plant it: spring.
8 Sweet violet
A low-growing perennial with blue-violet as the most common colour (occasionally white or lilac). They are widespread across the UK, can be found in woods and hedgerows. A charming perennial with tiny and strongly scented flowers.
When to plant it: spring or autumn.
9 Winter aconite
Starting to flower as early ad mid-February, winter aconite has bright yellow flowers to attract pollinators. A member of the buttercup family, but they can be tricky to plant and establish them and they prefer to be left alone and self-seed.
When to plant it: autumn.
Mid season
10 Allium
Alliums, a botanical family of onions, garlic, chives. The bulbs are easy to grow and are long-lived: with their most commonly purple shades, they can brighten your garden for months. Allium petals are also edible.
When to plant it: autumn.
11 Ajuga
This little evergreen perennial has pretty, small purple-blue flowers flowers from late spring to midsummer. They quickly form a low carpet and are robust, hardy plants.
When to plant it: early spring
12 Anemone
Charming little flowers that come in the colours of the rainbow and depending on the variety, they can flower from early spring and in to the autumn.
When to plant it: autumn or spring.
13 Cosmos
This edible flower is long flowering from spring through autumn. Very easy to grow: just scatter the seeds and these freely flowering annual plants will pop up. Their colours are ranging from white through to pink, red and orange.
When to plant it: early spring
14 Delphinium
They come in vibrant colours: blue and purple mostly and are very fragrant. Their beautiful, tall flowers are make outstanding cut flowers. They bloom in May, June, and July. Delphiniums are easy to grow from seed, and some varieties will flower the first year.
When to plant it: early spring.
15 Forget-me-not
Pretty, frothy blue clouds of little flowers arriving in April. They are easy to grow from seed and will self-seed easily (they are biennial, so if you don’t want them to spread, you’ll need to pull them up before set seed).
When to plant it: May and June.
16 Lavender
Oh don’t we all love lavender? With it’s distinctly fragrant purple flowers and great foliage and edging – as well as bug repellent properties, lavender is a garden favourite and first class companion plant in the veggie garden.
When to plant it: April or May
17 Lily of the valley
Lily of the valley is a woodland plant, known for its fragrant summer flowers. Also provides a lush, green foliage. They come in delicate white and soft pink colours.
When to plant it: March-April.
18 Sweet scabious
It’s short-lived perennial with lightly-scented flowers. Some are white or very dark red. Usually annually sown. Loves the sun and also provides a nice foliage. Generally pest and disease free too. Beloved since the early 1600s in England.
When to plant it: autumn
19 Verbena
A lot of colours and shades of verbena exist: purple, mauve, ruby, pink and even white. Loves the sun, it flowers from early summer and into autumn. Easy to grow perennial that’s happy in containers and hanging baskets too.
When to plant it: late winter or early spring
Late season
20 Chrysanthemum
These traditional favourites bring boost of colour in late summer and autumn: they come in a variety of shapes and colours of the rainbow. This fast growing perennial can flower right up to Christmas!
When to plant it: February to March
21 Dahlia
They come in in a range of colours, sizes and shapes – a true star of late summer and autumn in the garden. They are not hardy, however: seeds should be sown in early to mid-spring in a propagator.
When to plant it: mid-spring.
22 Echinacea
Or coneflower – Easy to grow, tough perennials that are often used in herbal medicine. Long flowering and rich in nectar through late summer and autumn. Echinaceas come in an array of colours and forms.
When to plant it: spring and autumn
23 French Marigold
This bushy annual plant has a cheerful yellow-orange flower, sometimes red. French marigold blooms from early summer till the first frost. It’s an edible flower.
When to plant it: early spring
24 Hollyhocks
Tall and elegant elegant biennials, flowers are often shades of pink, cream, apricot or dark red. Easy to grow from seed and will self-seed afterwards. They flower in summer, a classic English cottage garden plant.
When to plant it: spring.
25 Michaelmas daisy
Also known as Asters. Flowering from August through to October, these cute flowers come in shades of white, blue, purple and pink. Great for boarders or even to turn your lawn into ornamental grass.
When to plant it: February through April
26 Salvia
Flowering from midsummer through fall, these tall flowers strike with tubular blossoms in rich colours of purple, blue, red, pink, and white. (Butterflies love tubular flowers!)
When to plant it: February to April
27 Sedum
Sedums are succulent plants with fleshy leaves and nectar-rich flowers. Easy to grow perennials, they love the sun and flower in late summer. In colour they change from green to pink throughout summer, when in full flower.
When to plant it: early spring
28 Snapdragon
Also known as Antirrhinum. They are easy-to-grow, old-fashioned cottage garden plants that come in a wide range of colours. They tend to have a long flowering period, from June until October.
When to plant it: autumn, to early spring.