Love buzz: bees most attracted to lavender and marjoram, study finds. Borage, marjoram, and certain types of lavender are among the flowers most attractive to bees, a study that tested what many gardeners already knew has found.
Which lavender do bees like best?
Research suggests that the larger lavender cultivars are the best for bees. You can find varieties from fragrant white to luscious dark purple. Look for the hardier and less picky Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandin x intermedia cultivars for individual plants or to make a lovely hedge.
Do bees like the smell of lavender?
Slide 1: Lavender Attracts Bees
If you already have lavender in your yard, then you might have noticed that when it’s in bloom, it attracts bees like a magnet. That’s because the fragrant plant has both pollen and nectar to feed the bees.
Is lavender harmful to bees?
Plants for Bees: Lavender
If you ever wondered, does lavender attract bees, then you’ll be pleased to know it’s a great addition. Lavender is one of the most versatile plants on our list, ideal for gardens, pots, flowerbeds and anywhere else you want to include it.
Are bees scared of lavender?
Bees also have a distaste for lavender oil, citronella oil, olive oil, vegetable oil, lemon, and lime. These are all topical defenses you can add to your skin to keep bees away. Unlike other flying insects, bees are not attracted to the scent of humans; they are just curious by nature.
Do bees get drunk on lavender?
They are punch drunk. Last year I laid down in the lavender and was amazed at how many bees simply ran into me. FWI – Flying While Intoxicated. They can get drunk from fermented nectars in the flowers and you can imagine how many flying accidents there are.
What animals are attracted to lavender?
Numerous other animals find the flowers of the lavender plant attractive. The typical ones include the moth and butterflies, hummingbirds, ladybugs, caterpillars, and hedgehogs.
Do wasps like lavender?
Rather than repelling wasps, however, lavender’s showy, fragrant flowers attract them and other pollinators.
What do lavender plants attract?
Ecological Uses: Lavender attracts butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects to the garden, making it a great choice for pollinator gardens! It’s also a natural pest and deer repellant, thanks to its high essential oil content.
What flowers do bees not like?
10 plants that repel bees and wasps
- Cucumber. This popular vegetable not only makes a great addition to summer salads, but also keeps bees and wasps away.
- Basil. Basil is another great choice for your garden that doubles as a kitchen resource and a pest repellent.
- Geraniums.
- Wormwood.
- Marigolds.
- Pitcher Plants.
What plant keeps bees away?
Here are some of the many plants that can help you repel bees and wasps from your garden.
- 1 – Cucumber. One of the most popular plants that would make a fine addition to any garden is the cucumber.
- 2 – Basil.
- 3 – Marigolds.
- 4 – Geraniums.
- 5 – Mint.
- 6 – Eucalyptus.
- 7 – Wormwood.
- 8 – Pennyroyal.
Does lavender attract bees and butterflies?
Lavender is not only one of the most beautiful and useful perennials to grow, it also is a major attraction for bees and butterflies. In fact, when it comes to attracting bees, lavender might just be at the top of the list. Lavender has many medicinal uses, and is well known for it’s wondrous fragrance too.
Which scents attract bees?
In addition, bees are attracted to scented herbs such as rosemary, borage, sage, thyme, catnip, chamomile, lavender, basil, marjoram, hyssop and, of course, beebalm. Bees are partial to native plants, too, and there are plenty to choose from that can also be colorful additions to the garden.
Why does my lavender not attract bees?
The tubular flowers of lavender make nectar extraction harder for the shorter-tongued honey bee, which has to jam its head into each flower to get to the nectar, Nick Balfour and fellow researchers at the University of Sussex observed when studying bees visiting an experimental flower garden at the University.
What Bugs does lavender keep away?
Lavender has a strong scent that can repel moths, flies, fleas, and mosquitoes. Use it fresh or dry some of the flowers to hang around the house or put in with your clothing to keep bugs out.
Does lavender attract yellow jackets?
The study of 21 essential oils found that 17 were effective in repelling yellowjackets and paper wasps: clove, pennyroyal, lemongrass, ylang ylang, spearmint, wintergreen, sage, rosemary, lavender, geranium, patchouli, citronella, Roman chamomile, thyme, fennel seed, anise and peppermint.
Does Rosemary attract bees?
Rosemary attracts a variety of bees including mason, bumble, mining, and honey bees. It is great for other pollinators, as well, like nectar-feeding flies and butterflies.
Do bees like mint?
Bees and other beneficial insects absolutely love mint flowers, and it doesn’t matter if it’s peppermint, spearmint, chocolate mint, apple mint, or catmint (also known as catnip), horsemint, wild mint, or even lemon balm (which is also in the mint family).
Do bees like hydrangeas?
The fertile flowers of hydrangeas are small and insignificant and not as showy to our eyes but are heavily frequented by bees.
Is lavender bad for dogs?
Can dogs eat lavender? No, never feed your dog lavender buds or essential oil. They both contain linalool, a compound that is toxic to dogs in large amounts.
Does lavender come back every year?
Lavender is a Low-Maintenance Perennial
And this beauty will come back to your garden every year, for about 3-5 years, so it’s a great investment. What is this? Before you make any plant purchases, however, I want to remind you to always choose plants that thrive in your plant hardiness zone.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.