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Last minute add on. Feeling the need for more flowers 🪻. Any suggestions for plants with maximum pollinator attraction that won’t overshadow the boxes behind this square one in the front?
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Last minute add on. Feeling the need for more flowers 🪻. Any suggestions for plants with maximum pollinator attraction that won’t overshadow the boxes behind this square one in the front?


Last minute add on. Feeling the need for more flowers 🪻. Any suggestions for plants with maximum pollinator attraction that won’t overshadow the boxes behind this square one in the front?

by DojaStinks

7 Comments

  1. bluewall7

    I follow a woman on YouTube that says to border your beds with “leaves” such as herbs, lettuces, and flowers. She says to do zinnias and calendulas but don’t those get kind of tall? I’m trying to follow her leaves on the borders, roots in the middle, and fruits in the center with lots of vertical set ups for growth. But I’m also have questions on some of these flower options.

  2. Positive-Beautiful55

    I have had superb results with local native blueberries. They seem to attract a really rare and unique local bee species. I am in Ontario, Canada.

    In general I would look at native plants, especially flowering food plants, local to your area as what you want to do is tailor what you plant to your local polinators if possible.

  3. zendabbq

    For spring: Sweet Alyssum and California Poppy –

    Alyssum grows in low clumps, and can hang over the bed. Doesn’t really attract bees, but does seem to attract bald faced hornets and wasps. Beneficial insects for sure, but up to you if you want that.

    The C.Poppies grow low and spindly, so they let lots of light through even if the flowers can get 1′ tall. Bumblebees seem to love.

    Summer to Fall – Marigolds, Lacy Phacelia

    Marigolds: Grows at most 1′ tall, but usually around 8-10 inches. Late season plant that will be visited by bumblebees and supposedly a good companion plant for tomatoes.

    Lacy Phacelia can grow tall but can be suitable for your taller beds hanging off the side. An absolute bumblebee magnet like no other, and very easy to grow – direct sow and forget.

    Edit to add:

    I’ve seen all the plants other than marigolds self-seed easily.

    C. Poppy seeds are pretty hardy and I’ve seen mine grow throw my thin woodchip mulch layer after winter. Theyre not hard to kill since disturbing their taproot is death for them but you could end up with poppies coming out the base of your beds next year.

  4. No-Distribution-4815

    I’m growing cosmos, calendula and zinnias both for pollinators and for cut flowers. Dill also is a great pollinator and can be interplanted with your veggies, same for the flowers

  5. BirdCelestial

    The shorter plants I have that get the most bees are catmint/calamint (though mine are dwarf varieties I think, one is *walker’s low*), erysimum *bowles mauve*, and some compact varieties of lavender (hidcote, munstead). 

    Honourable mention for Agastache / giant hyssop which is always swarmed but has quite tall spikes so might shade others out. Perhaps off to one side might work with a dwarf cultivar.

    Idk what’s hardy/a good idea where you live, though. I live in the middle of London. 

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