The flat-spreading stonecrop is extremely undemanding and is therefore often used as a rock garden plant or for greening nutrient-poor areas. From June to August, the plants form a bright yellow carpet of flowers that radiates throughout the garden.
Is the stonecrop popular with bees?
When the stonecrop opens its flower heads, the perennials hum and buzz because they areextremely popular with beesBut other insects such as butterflies, hoverflies and bumblebees can also be observed on the flowers of the perennial bee willow.
Why is the stonecrop so popular with bees?
The bright yellow flowers of the stonecrop arevery rich in nectar(nectar value 3), thepollen valueis also quitegood. Because the petals are almost horizontal, the bees can easily reach the sweet food. They consume part of the sugary liquid they consume themselves, and transport the rest to the beehive.
Wild bees, which are more selective than domesticated honey bees, also like to perch on flowers to drink nectar and collect pollen to raise their offspring.
Why do bees also need stonecrop pollen?
Thebee bread made from thepollenis stored in honeycombs by the animals andservesthebroodasfood.
- The bees use a special device on their hind legs to collect pollen from stonecrops and other plants.
- In flight, they stretch their legs backwards and form the pollen into small balls, they “hoof”. Ball.
- In the burrow they strip off the pollen balls.
- These are chewed, dried, mixed with honey and preserved by fermentation.
Tip
Frugal plant for green roofs
With green roofs, a piece of nature can be brought back into densely built-up inner cities. Since the stonecrop copes very well with full sunlight and is valuable for insects, it is often used for this purpose. The succulent can store water in its fleshy leaves so that it can survive longer dry periods without damage. It also copes excellently with the city climate.
