Jane snapped this thickly covered bee at her plot, more pollen than bee…whatever the flower it was foraging in, the pollen was prolific!
Solitary, bumble and worker honey bees are now out making the most of the recent floriferous flowering season to fuel themselves with carbohydrate rich nectar and to collect pollen for their larvae, containing proteins, vitamins and minerals. And it’s not just bees that are so essential for pollinating our crops and growing plants.
“Pollination is where pollen is transferred from the male part of a flower (stamen), to the female part (stigma), of either the same or a different flower. This is how plants are fertilised so they can create fruits and seeds for reproduction. Pollinators are animals that help transfer the pollen. They include bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths and beetles. Pollinators transfer the pollen by carrying it from one flower to the other on their body. This happens when they feed on nectar or pollen in the flower or because they want to take the pollen to use for food later. Bees often carry pollen pellets on their back legs.” (Earthwatch Europe, httsp://earthwatch.org.uk)
Dave Goulson has compiled a list of top flowering plants for bees, with star ratings, some included here. He writes, “Many flowers are attractive to bees, with different types of bee varying in their particular preferences. In particular, long-tongued bumblebees such as Bombus hortorum tend to favour deep flowers, and of course short-tongued bumblebees such as Bombus terrestris prefer shallow flowers.
Sometimes short-tongued bees rob deep flowers by biting a hole in the side of the flower so they can reach the nectar. In general herbs and cottage garden perennials are good, and annual bedding plants are best avoided (because they have been intensively bred and have often lost their rewards or become so misshapen that insects cannot get in to them – also, many have been drenched in insecticides).
This is an incomplete list of some of my favourites, all guaranteed to attract bumblebees to your garden. Star ratings are from 1 to 5, and reflect my view of how attractive they are to bees. All are worth growing!”

Allium siculum Sicilian honey garlic***
Worth a special mention amongst the alliums, these odd looking plants drip with nectar and are exceedingly popular with bees, especially red-tailed bumble bees.
Apple**
Apples are a good source of forage for queens in April and May, and of course the bee visits ensure a good crop. All varieties are good, but some of the crab apples produce particularly profuse flowers and are very attractive. I have 24 varieties of apple in my garden :)
Borage****
Great plant for short tongued bumblebees and honeybees, an easy to grow annual that flowers for months and is very rich in sweet nectar. The petals can also be used to make salads more beautiful.
Echium vulgare, Viper’s bugloss*****
A stunning biennial wildflower growing to about 4’, flowering in July and August and absolutely loved by bees of all types for its copious nectar. Likes a sunny, well-drained site, and given this will freely self-seed.
Helianthis, Sunflower***
Iconic, very tall annuals, producing spectacular dinner-plate sized flowers that attract many insects, including bumblebees, honeybees and hoverflies.
Hollyhock***
A classic cottage garden plant, giant biennials growing to 10’ tall, very popular with male Bombus terrestris. Bees seem to go for the nectar but ignore the plentiful pollen, often becoming smothered in it. Needs staking or growing in dense clumps.
Phacelia tanacetifolia*****
Perhaps the single most attractive plant for bees on the planet! An easy-to-grow annual, flowers in 8-10 weeks from sowing and keeps flowering for quite a while. Incredibly nectar rich, bees go crazy for it. A North American native, easy to grow from seed. Sometimes sold as a green manure.
(The best garden flowers for bees: Resources: Goulson Lab, University of Sussex, https://www.sussex.ac.uk)
From observations on the plot I’d also add Limnanthes, (poached egg plant) and marjoram, a bee magnet in the summer months. And a wonderful day of very warm sun for the first day of May!
Jenny Bourne
01.05.26