Planting for bees & other pollinators
look to combinations of plants that bloom over the course of the year. Hardy perennials, high-performing natives and fruiting plants work well.
choose a corner of your garden that you don’t mind going a bit wild. a place in which you’re not inclined to get out the clippers every time you visit – a spot in your garden that can become your wild space. don’t have room? a large pot or series of planted pots works well too. cracks in concrete or tiles or the space around raised beds can all be planted out. in fact, anywhere there is space for a bit of dirt, there’s a place a plant will grow.
to get you started, here are a range of hardy favourites, which together provide high-quality food for a range of pollinators year-round.
HARAKEKE (PHORMIUM TENAX) – SUMMER FLOWERING
Always at the top of the list is harakeke (flax). This hardy native flowers in summer and provides huge amounts of high-quality pollen. Large amounts of nectar are also on offer. Bumble bees and native new Zealand bees love this plant and so do honey bees and many other insects.
PHACELIA (PHACELIA TANACETIFOLIA) – SPRING & SUMMER FLOWERING
This beautiful annual flowers within eight to 10 weeks after sowing, and readily self-seeds. Phacelia can continue to flower for quite some time, is very easy to grow and would suit beginner gardeners or children keen to garden for bees. it also works well as a green manure. this plant is very rich in nectar, and both honey bees and bumble bees absolutely love it.
FIVE FINGER (PSEUDOPANAX ARBOREUS) – WINTER TO EARLY SPRING FLOWERING
The five finger tree gives the insect world a boost from the middle of winter through to early spring – right when it’s needed. Male trees have open dish flowers (which provide both nectar and pollen), while female tree flowers provide only nectar (and the flowers have no petals). Don’t let that put you off – the nectar in such flowers is very easily accessed and benefits a wide range of insects.
COMFREY – FLOWERS SPRING TO SUMMER
comfrey is a plant you either love or hate – and once you have it, it’s very difficult to eradicate. Here in New Zealand the seeds are sterile, so it doesn’t spread rapidly around the garden ( just via its roots). However, it only takes a very small piece of root to be planted, and you’ll have a comfrey plant in no time. if you enjoy listening to the hum of bees, comfrey is the plant for you. bumble bees go crazy over it and the large leaves also provide plenty of habitat for insects. if you’d prefer not to grow comfrey then opt for borage: loved by hoverflies, honey bees and bumble bees.
LAVENDER – LATE SPRING FLOWERING (SOME RE-BLOOM LATE SUMMER)
Honey bees, bumble bees and butterflies all love lavender – and so do we. It’s a beautiful plant that can attract butterflies to your garden. it’s also a superb hardy plant that’s good for bees and for adding delicious scents to your garden.
THYME – FLOWERS BETWEEN EARLY SPRING & LATE SUMMER
Don’t have a huge space to fill? Thyme is perfect to plant in cracks, crevices or in pots. this lovely low-growing plant grows quickly and will attract hoverflies and bumble bees to your garden. it is a hardy herb that can also be used in the kitchen.
ROSEMARY – FLOWERS ALL YEAR ROUND
Even during the coldest months of the year you can find rosemary flowering. Some varieties can grow very large and provide muchneeded sustenance at times of the year when not much else is on offer. Plus, you can use it in the kitchen as well.