Creating a beautiful wildflower meadow not only adds colour to your garden, it also supports biodiversity, enhances the appearance and also helps the local ecosystem thrive.
Wildflowers have nectar and pollen which are vital in a bee's survival. Creating a wildflower meadow is a great way to help bumblebees thrive. In this blog, we explore everything you need to know about wildflowers and bees.
Why are wildflowers important for bees?
Bees play a pivotal role in our ecosystem by pollinating a huge variety of plants, including crops. Wildflowers offer not only food and shelter, but also a place to rest for these essential pollinators. As the population of native wildflowers continues to decline in the UK, planting a bee-friendly wildflower meadow has never been more important. Let’s dive into how you can create a bee-friendly garden.
Create a diverse wildflower meadow
Diversity is key when planting wildflowers. We recommend adding a diverse range of bee-friendly wildflower species to your garden or meadow. Choosing species of flowers with different flowering periods can keep the bees nourished throughout the whole of spring, summer, autumn and sometimes even into the winter.
Use native bee-friendly wildflowers
Planting native wildflowers is a great choice. Native wildflowers are more likely to thrive in the environmental conditions. In most cases, the native wildlife will have evolved alongside the native wildflowers making them often the favoured species of wildflower from pollinators.
Avoid using pesticides and harsh chemicals
Pesticides contain ingredients that are harmful to bees, avoid pesticides containing neonicotinoids (like thiacloprid and acetamiprid), as these kill pollinators, like bees. Make sure to always read the back of the bottle and opt for bee-friendly alternatives or natural methods of keeping the unwanted pests away.
Make your garden bee friendly
Alongside adding bee-friendly wildflowers to your garden, there are a couple other ways to make it bee-friendly. One great way to support the life of bees is to create bee hotels around your garden - perfect for solitary bees. Bees love the warmth so place your bee hotels in the sunshine, these allow for lone bees to lay their eggs in the hollow parts of the ‘bee hotel’. You can also create bee nests for bumblebees to hibernate in during the colder autumn and winter months.
Bee Friendly Wildflower Seed Mixtures from Boston Seeds
At Boston Seeds, we have curated a range of wildflower seed mixtures that have been specifically formulated to contain bee-friendly wildflower species. Our bee and butterfly wildflower seed BSBP 100% is perfect for creating a beautiful, long lasting wildflower meadow and wildlife habitat that is nectar and pollen rich. Or, choose our butterfly & bee wildflower seeds BSBM 80/20 which creates a grass and wildflower meadow attractive to bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
We also have bee mix wildflower seed balls that you throw onto your soil in Spring or Autumn and the seed ball has everything it needs to grow beautiful bee friendly native wildflowers.
If you prefer to plant wildflower plug plants instead, we have a wildflower plant mixture perfect for bees, our BS bee wildflower plant collection.
Bee-friendly wildflowers
Planting bee-friendly wildflowers in your garden is the perfect way to attract bees and help them thrive. There are lots of wildflowers bees love, we’ve listed a few of our favourites below.
Foxglove
Foxgloves is a beautiful flower that is adored by bees and other pollinators. They are an excellent source of pollen and nectar and their tubular shape makes it easy for bees to enter and collect the nectar.
AVOID planting foxgloves in places accessible by children and pets, as ingesting foxgloves are toxic if injested can be fatal.
Cornflower
Another firm favourite for bees is cornflowers, with their vibrant blue petals they are highly attractive to pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. Producing good amounts of nectar they are the perfect addition to any bee-friendly wildflower meadow.
Cowslip
Native to the UK, cowslips bloom in early spring, being one of the first flowers to provide nectar, a great early season food source for bees. Their delicate scent attracts pollinators.
Musk Mallow
With their distinct beautiful pink colour, musk mallows are attractive to bees and other pollinators. Add a pop of beautiful colour to your wildflower meadow.
Common Knapweed
Rich in pollen and nectar, common knapweed is beloved by bees, butterflies and other wildlife including birds. With thistle-like florists of purple and lance-shaped leaves, this wildflower is an excellent addition to any wildflower meadow. Adding common knapweed to your meadow can help weaker wildflowers thrive.
Common Poppy
This popular flower is more than just a symbol of remembrance. Their delicate appearance but vibrant colour make them a firm favourite. Poppies have a rich source of nectar and pollen, great for any bee-friendly garden.
Bluebells
Bluebells are a true sign spring is on its way. Bees love the bright colours and sweet scent of this elegant flower. When adding bluebells to your meadow or garden, make sure to only plant English wildflower species, as Spanish varieties are highly invasive.
Dandelion
Dandelions are one of the first flowers to bloom, making them a vital food source for bees in early spring. With their blooming season being right up until just before winter - they are a reliable, vital food source. Not only for bees, but dandelions also support a variety of other species, such as moths, flies and wasps.
Ox Eye Daisy
With their bright yellow centres, they are great for attracting bees and other pollinators to your garden. Ox eye daisies produce large amounts of nectar and pollen that helps feed many insects, including bees.
Clover
Clover, despite sometimes being categorised as a weed, actually provides a vital food source for bees and other insects. With its vibrant, nectar-rich flowers, clover is a consistent and easily accessible insect for insects looking for food. With a long blooming period, they are perfect for providing a continuous supply of nectar throughout the blooming seasons.
Yellow Rattle
Not only can yellow rattle help establish your wildflowers by reducing the amount of nutrients being stolen by grasses, it is also appealing to bees providing plenty of nectar and pollen.
How we can help!
At Boston Seeds we take pride in excellent customer service. If you're growing a wildflower meadow from scratch, take a look at our 100% wildflower mixes or our 20% wildflower mixes.
With Next Day Delivery on hundreds of items too, choosing from our extensive range of grass seed couldn't be easier. Ordering regularly or looking for large volumes? Click here to apply for a trade account today - we review all applications within one working day. If you have any questions, then please get in touch
