Plant Bee Friendly
Create a pollinator-friendly garden
You don’t have to be a beekeeper to help the bees! In fact, recent research suggests that planting flowers that bees like may be more important to bee livelihood than acquiring a hive. On top of that, many of the native, drought tolerant plants are bee friendly; an important consideration here in Santa Barbara.
Below we have featured our Top bee favorite plants and some excellent resources for further information - in particular, the UC Berkeley Urban Bee Lab “Gardening for Bees” website list is superb.
Resources:
Helpabee.org UCBerkley urban bee lab
Beebiology.ucdavis.edu UCDavis honey bee research facility
Buzzaboutbees.net The wonderful world of bees
A few tips to keep in mind when planting bee friendly plants:
1. Bees have their favorite plants. Many plants are “bee friendly” but not all are “bee favorites.”
2. Bees need floral resources all year long and some plants have bloom periods as short as two weeks while others bloom for months.
3. Bees have favorite colors too. Blue/Purple followed by yellow and then white.
4. Clusters of plants are markedly more attractive to bees than single specimens planted throughout your garden (e.g., plant of row of sunflowers).
Our TOP BEE FAVORITE PLANTS
SUNFLOWERS
PRIDE OF MADEIRA
SUNFLOWERS
Sunflowers are laden with pollen (and some nectar). The UK Royal Horticultural Society selected the Lemon Queen variety as the sunflower of choice for honeybees. Unique pointed petals in lemon-yellow with chocolate brown centers. Grows to about 6 ft tall. Full sun and grows in most soils. Average water needs. Easily grown from seeds.
BORAGE
PRIDE OF MADEIRA
SUNFLOWERS
Borage was selected as the #1 honeybee plant by researchers at the U. of Sussex. Average soils needs. Best in full sun but will tolerate some shade. Water miser once established. Violet-blue flowers with thick leaves; which have a cucumber scent. Can be grown from seeds but one must be patient. Known to be invasive; consider planting in a large pot or pulling it out in the Fall.
PRIDE OF MADEIRA
PRIDE OF MADEIRA
PRIDE OF MADEIRA
Pride of Madeira is a rapidly growing tropical shrub from the borage family. A perennial in Santa Barbara, it can grow up to 6 ft tall with small white or purple flowers in 20″ cone shaped clusters. Loves high heat and does well in poor soils. Drought tolerant. Can be grown in containers.
LILAC
GERMANDER SAGE
PRIDE OF MADEIRA
Ceanothus or Lilac, is a fast growing ground cover and especially effective where ocean spray is a factor. Blooms from Spring to early Summer and comes in many sizes, from low ground cover to large bushes and from deep purple flowers to white. Drought tolerant once established. Judicious pruning needed to maintain dense form and promote vigor.
GERMANDER SAGE
GERMANDER SAGE
GERMANDER SAGE
Germander Sage (Salvia) is a small mounding and spreading dense shrub, generally about 18-24 inches in height and 2-3 ft wide. Its dark blue flowers appear from mid-spring through late Fall. Drought tolerant. Likes well-drained soil in full sun though can tolerate some shade.
CHASTE TREE
GERMANDER SAGE
GERMANDER SAGE
The Chaste Tree grows quickly into a multi-trunked tree and can reach heights of 15 feet or higher. Great as a small patio tree, large bush, or single specimen in a lawn. Easy to grow. Needs full sun, well-drained soil. Drought tolerant once established. Bees love this tree! Hard to find locally but not because it doesn’t grow well here.