A bee pasture should not be missing in the natural garden. The options range from species-rich flower strips to flowering solitaires. Dive into the colorful world of swarmed food plants for honey bees, wild bees, bumblebees and the like. These instructions explain how you can create an exemplary bee pasture in the garden and on the balcony.
Creating a bee pasture – tips for premium seeds
Nectar content and pollen abundance are the focus when selecting bee pastures. Honey bees, wild bees and bumblebees don't care about the picturesque beauty of a plant because they strive for a bubbling source of food. In order to enrich the bee-friendly garden and balcony with generous food plants, the following table presents recommended seeds:
| Name | Location | suitable for | annual/perennial | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veitshöchheimer Bienenweide Süd | Sun | Garden | Mixture of annuals, biennials and perennials | from 30 EUR/1 kg bag |
| Kiepenkerl Bienenweide | Sun to partial shade | Garden, outdoor area | perennial | from 3.99 EUR/5-8 m² |
| Mössinger Bienenweide | Sun to partial shade | Balcony | annual | from 5 EUR/3 m² |
| Bingenheimer Seeds Bee Pasture | Sun to partial shade | Open field, perennial bed | annual flower seeds | from 1.77 EUR/4 m² |
| Dehner bee pasture | Sun | Garden, open field, perennial bed | annual flower seeds | from 3.99 EUR/6 m² |
| Schönhagen bee pasture | Sun to partial shade | Garden, open spaces | annual flowering mixture | from 10, 60 EUR/40 m² |
| Tübingen bee pasture | Sun to partial shade | Garden, perennial bed, open field, strip of trees | annual flowering mixture | from 12, 30 EUR/1 kg bag |
| Blooming Bee Pasture | Sun | Garden, bed, open field | annual flower mix | from 19.95 EUR/1 kg bag |
| Syngenta insect splendor | Sun | Garden, perennial bed, open field | annual flowering mixture | from 3.45 EUR/1 kg bag |
Explanations about the seeds
The selection of seeds is large
The proven Veitshöchheimer Bienenweide seed mixture is available in three versions. In addition to seeds for sunny locations, there are seeds for partial shade and shade, so that no gardener goes away empty-handed. A special advantage of the product is a balanced combination of annual and biennial flower seeds with wild herbs and perennials that are hardy and thrive perennial.
In practice it has been shown that seed mixtures should always be cultivated as annuals, regardless of whether there are perennial plant species in them. The massive weed infestation in the second year prompted experienced experts to make this recommendation.
The product name bee pasture hides the fact that a wide range of valuable beneficial insects also feast on the rich food supply. So don't be surprised if, after sowing your favorite flowering mixture, a colorful smorgasbord of bees, bumblebees, butterflies, hoverflies and other insects appear.
Flowering mixtures in the test
When beginners start a new bee pasture, they want to buy seeds that have performed well in tests. The individual experiences of individual hobby gardeners are only of limited help when making a purchasing decision, because local conditions, sowing and care have a significant influence on the result. The findings of experienced experts from the Bavarian State Institute for Horticulture are more meaningful. The gardeners sowed a commercial seed mixture on each square meter. The experts went out twice a day to count the buzzing people. Three flower mixtures were particularly popular with bees, bumblebees and butterflies:
- Veitshöchheim bee pasture
- Bingenheimer Seeds Bee Pasture
- Beautiful bee pasture
The Veitshöchheim bee pasture is particularly popular with bees
The experts also counted a colorful array of winged beneficial insects, such as hoverflies, lacewings, dragonflies and ladybirds.
Tip
Flowers and perennials with simple flowers are primarily suitable as bee pasture. Densely double flowers may be a feast for the eyes. For busy honey and wild bees, the boastful flower shapes are a bitter disappointment, as nectar and pollen are in short supply here.
Creating a bee pasture – sowing instructions
When you sow a bee pasture depends on local climatic conditions. Experience has shown that the time window opens in spring after the end of the main frost period. In principle, sowing is possible all year round as long as the ground is not frozen. Of course, it makes little sense to sow annual flowering mixtures in late summer. The best time for sowing is between the end of March and the end of May. How to do it right:
- Weeding the soil, raking and raking for a fine-crumb seedbed
- Spread seeds manually or with a spreader
- Distribute seeds in a checkerboard pattern with 5 to 10 g per m²
- Roll the seed mixture for a good soil seal
- pour with a fine spray
The seeds of a bee pasture are light germinators. Do not work the seeds into the soil. If the seeds get deeper than 0.5 cm into the soil, this will affect germination. A sowing aid is advisable for easier sowing and optimal mixing of the different grain sizes. For this purpose, mix the seeds with soybean meal in advance.
Bienenweide Neugersdorf with role model function
The Neugersdorf bee pasture impressively demonstrates why the project “Creating a bee pasture” is not tied to a specific age. As a recipient of the Saxon Generation Prize, the municipality involves members of all ages in creating an exemplary bee pasture. Other campaigns, such as bee specialist days and new beekeeping courses, underline the nimbus as a bee-friendly city.
Green manure – bee pasture and soil improvement
Phacelia is popular with bees and is a great green manure
Premium seeds for bee pastures have another advantage that nature-loving gardeners greatly appreciate. Organic flowering mixtures, such as Schönhagener Bienenweide, acted as green manure. Plants included in it, such as phacelia, cornflowers, marigolds, buckwheat, mustard and other traditional plants, prepare the soil perfectly when you create a vegetable bed. For this purpose, the sown plot is only cleared and raked the following year, shortly before the planting season begins.
Excursus
Sponsorship transforms wasteland into bee pasture
Bee lovers without a garden or balcony sponsor a bee pasture. In many regions of Germany, initiatives are working to transform vacant lots into thriving landscapes. Leading projects supported by the UN are “Deutschland hummt” and “Mellifera”. In 2019, the “Become a Bloom Sponsor” campaign was once again rewarded with the UN Decade of Biological Diversity Honorary Prize. For a small fee for seeds, plants or a tree, private individuals, farmers' associations and associations take care of the professional creation and maintenance of a bee pasture.
Nectar buffet for bees – tempting selection of plants
If there is not enough space in the garden and on the balcony for a bee-friendly flower strip, nature lovers turn their attention to solitary plants with the potential to be a pasture for bees. The following selection would like to inspire you to enhance your bed and balcony box with a floral nectar and pollen buffet:
| Shrubs | Flowering time | Colors | Perennials/Flowers | Flowering time | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gorse (Cytisus) | April to July | yellow, pink, violet, orange-red | Phacelia, Tufted Beautiful | June to September | light blue to violet |
| Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) | May to June | white | Silphia (Silphium perfoliatum) | July to October | yellow |
| Blue Rue (Perovskia atriplicifolia) | July to October | violetblue | Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris) | April to June | blue violet |
| Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) | May to October | various colors | Scented nettle (Agastache rugosa) | July to September | violet |
| Pranicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) | July to October | white, pink, red | Dahlia (Dahlia) | July to September | white, red, violet, pink to multicolored |
| Marshmallow (Hibiscus syriacus) | June to September | violet, white, red, pink, two-tone | Student flower (Tagetes) | June to November | yellow, yellow-brown, rust red, orange |
| Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) | July to September | violet, white, pink | Gold lacquer (Erysimum) | April to November | violetpurple |
| Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) | April to June | white, violet | Indian nettle | July to October | violet |
| Deutzia (Deutzia rosea) | June to July | pink-white | Sage (Salvia officinalis) | May to September | white, blue, violet, pink |
| Wild vine climbing plant (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) | July to August | white | Sun Bride (Helenium) | June to September | yellow, red, two-tone |
| Snow heather (Erica carnea) | March to May | white, pink, red | Carnation (Dianthus barbatus) | May to July | white to dark red |
Please always choose the pure type of plant if it is intended as bee pasture. Most varieties are breeding-modified, sexless hybrids that are completely uninteresting to insects. This connection can be clearly understood using the example of a panicle hydrangea. The inflorescences of hydrangeas are made up of fertile, very small flowers and decorative, albeit sterile, show flowers. Only the fertile flowers are of interest as a source of nectar for bees, bumblebees, hoverflies and butterflies. The rule of thumb when selecting bee pastures is: the less influence the breeder has, the more valuable it is for insects.
Ideas for representative rose types
Roses also attract bees
Representative species are few and far between among recommended bee pastures. Seeds sprout in a floral tumult so that bees find a set table. Shrubs, perennials and flowers rarely stand out as a feast for the eyes when they promise insects a sought-after treat for the palate. This does not mean that creative hobby gardeners have to give up their desire for a beautiful garden. The queen of flowers is happy to take on the demanding role of being a feast for bees and a feast for the eyes. We would like to recommend the following representative types of roses to you:
- 'Apricot': small shrub rose, blooms often with simple, apricot-colored flowers, height 40-60 cm
- 'Bicolor': small shrub rose, blooms more often, open flowers in light yellow and pink, height 40-60 cm
- 'Fortuna': floribunda rose, blooms more often, pink cupped flowers, suitable as a ground cover rose, height 40-60 cm
- 'Lupo': dwarf rose, frequent flowering, red to crimson, single flowers, height 30-50 cm
- 'Golden Showers': climbing rose, frequent blooming, golden-yellow, semi-double flowers, height 200-250 cm
- 'Lykkefund': Rambler rose, blooms once, creamy white flowers with yellow center, height 500-700 cm
A moderate pruning at the right time will produce much-loved rebloom from roses in the garden and on the balcony. If you cut back a floribunda rose, dwarf rose or climbing rose that blooms more often after the first flower bloom, you clear the way for further nectar-rich flowers. Only rambler roses that bloom once can be cut into shape once in February from the fifth year onwards.
Virtual herbarium provides details
This table gives a first insight into the exuberant variety of native shrubs, perennials, herbs and flowers that excel as pastures for bees. The virtual herbarium of the ambitious “Honigmacher Bienenweide” project presents detailed information. Browse through hundreds of bee food plants to put together the ideal combination for your garden and balcony box. The wide spectrum of bee-friendly plants also allows for a creative color composition in yellow, pink, violet, blue and red that leaves nothing to be desired.
Bee pasture – planting instructions for the bed
In the fall the flower bulbs are planted for next year
The best time to plant native shrubs and perennials is in autumn. In order for a broom bee pasture to meet all expectations, the warm, sunny soil in September and October offers ideal conditions. Hardy perennials, such as a cranesbill bee willow, also benefit from these advantages. This is how you plant traditional plants in the garden correctly:
- soak potted root ball in water
- Dig a spacious planting pit
- Enrich the excavation by one third with compost soil
- Unpot the plant and place it in the middle using the enriched soil
- maintain previous planting depth
- Press soil and water
If it is a shrub, please cut back all shoots by a third or half. With a plant cut, you activate bushy branching on trees such as gorse or lilac, which results in a lush floral display with a high nectar yield for bees. Please select a bud, a leaf or a leaf node precisely as the intersection point. There you place the freshly sharpened scissors a few millimeters above the knot.
Balcony box as a bee pasture – planting instructions for beginners
If clumps of dahlias, sage, lavender and cornflowers thrive in boxes and tubs, your balcony is a popular destination for bees. In general, numerous herbs are very popular with insects thanks to their rich pollen and nectar content, such as oregano, lemon balm, peppermint and thyme. The best time to plant is between mid-April and mid-May. As a substrate, we recommend a peat-free herb soil or potting soil with sand. This is how you properly plant honey plants for bees in the balcony box:
- place potted young plants in water until no more air bubbles appear
- spread pottery shards or expanded clay balls on the bottom of the box as drainage
- Cover drainage with air- and water-permeable fleece to protect against siltation
- Fill the substrate up to half the height of the box
- Dig suitable planting holes at a distance of 5 to 15 cm
- Unpot and plant water-soaked root balls
- Fill with substrate while maintaining the previous planting depth to a watering edge of 2-4 cm
- Water the bee pasture in the box
In a sunny location, traditional plants develop in all their splendor. Beforehand, perennials and flowers should complete an acclimatization phase to get used to direct sunlight. To do this, place the balcony box in a warm, partially shaded place for a week.
Bees can also be attracted to the balcony
Frequently asked questions
Can you recommend a bushy plant with purple flowers that provides food for bees, bumblebees and butterflies?
If you have a bushy shrub in mind, we recommend the magnificent garden marshmallow as a bee pasture. The Asian ornamental tree grows to a height of 150 to 350 centimeters and is ideal as a solitary plant and hedge. From July to October, the purple flowers attract hordes of bees, bumblebees and butterflies. A prime example of a bushy perennial with purple flowers is the wonderful Phacelia, also known by the aptly named tufted beauty and bee willow.
Is there a tree that is particularly suitable for bee pasture?
If bees had a say in choosing the house tree, they would advocate the thousands-flowered bush. The opulent flowering tree initially grows bushy to shrub-like, only to transform into a multi-stemmed tree after a while. From July to August, a fragrant explosion of flowers unfolds, which creates excitement as a pasture for butterflies and bees. The birds in the garden really appreciate the nutritious berries.
How can I create a bee pasture for free?
Free seeds for bee pastures are available at irregular intervals. Supermarkets and discounters demonstrate their closeness to nature by giving every customer a bag of seeds at the checkout. In 2019, for example, Lidl gave all customers a free portion of Bayer Bienenweide. Antenne Bayern and Dehner carried out a joint campaign to promote more flower strips in Bavaria by giving customers in the Dehner garden center free seeds if they knew the password.
Our front garden is on the north side. What possibility is there to still create a bee pasture in a shady location?
Where light is in short supply, native wildflowers and perennials thrive. With its “organic wildflower mixture shady” the manufacturer Sativa meets your wishes. It contains the seeds of 24 shade-tolerant wildflowers. These include wood anemones, wood carnations, wild garlic and other floral survivors that bloom even in the shade. If you cover the house wall with late-blooming ivy, you are guaranteed food for insects in the fall. What all plants have in common is a rich supply of pollen and nectar, which bees, bumblebees and butterflies greatly appreciate.
We would like to plant a tree as a pasture for bees, but also not go away empty-handed and harvest delicious fruit. Which tree species are considered?
Apple (Malus domestica) and pear (Pyrus) have particularly stood out as foraging plants for bees. Both fruit trees bloom in mid-April and provide bees with valuable nectar and pollen in abundance. Less known as a bee pasture is the sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), whose inconspicuous flowers invite wild and honey bees to the table from June onwards. For lovers of sour fruits, we recommend the local cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), which supplies the early starter insects with food from March onwards.
I would like to contribute to alleviating the acute food shortage of bees in early spring and late autumn. Which plants can do this?
The first nectar and pollen donors of the year are black hellebore (Helleborus niger), daisies (Bellis perennis), snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) and hazelnuts (Corylus avellana). To ensure that bees and bumblebees do not suffer from hunger in late autumn, we recommend tussock (Phacelia), cranesbill (Geranium), meadow hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) and deadnettle (Lamium album) for the planting plan. The latter has the apt second name Bienensaug.
Tip
The Nature Conservation Association of Germany (NABU) explicitly points out the preservation of an autumnal source of life for bees. Evergreen ivy blooms when most nectar sources have dried up. From the end of August until December, the inconspicuous blossom provides a setting for busy bees, bumblebees and other insects. So that ivy can fulfill its role as a valuable pasture for bees, attentive hobby gardeners only cut the climbing plant in late winter.
