Features > Plants and Flowers for Bees

Plants and Flowers for Bees

Bumble bee and flower Gardens are very important for bumble bees as bees need flowers for sustenance. Bees are a welcome visitor to any garden as bees also help to pollinate flowers. If you are looking to invite as many bees as possible to your garden, it’s wise to look for flowers which bees prefer.

Most double flowers aren’t helpful for bees as they are too elaborate – some won’t have either male or female parts, whilst others have so many petals that bees struggle to get to the pollen.

It is also a good idea to try and provide flowers for as long a period as you can. Ideal conditions would see at least two nectar or pollen rich plants in your garden flowering at any one time. There are such a wide range of flowers that bees like that you can fit in some bumblebee flowers no matter what the style or colour scheme of your garden.

To help the novice gardener out, Checkout Spy has picked our favourite flowers which are also favourites of bees and we have split them into three time periods to help you ensure your garden is always buzzing with bees!

Spring Flowers for Bees

Early Summer Flowers for Bees

Late Summer Flowers for Bees

If you aren’t trying to cultivate a perfect bowling-green lawn, bees also love clover so leave your grass to grow a little and allow the clover in your lawn to thrive and flower.

It is also a nice idea to provide a home for bees. View our selection of bee and insect boxes.

If visiting bumblebees have inspired you and you want to go a step further, have a think about keeping bees in your garden. Even if you live in a town or city, it is still possible to become a beekeeper.

View our top bee keeping books.
View a range of bee keeping equipment.