Bees irritate some people. It’s most likely due to the effects of their sting. If you are among these people, you might change your mind once you find out how beneficial bees are in our environment. Aside from the fact that they provide honey, they also pollinate plants. These are just some of the reasons why there are also people who look for herbs to attract bees in their garden.
Here are 8 herbs that you can add to your garden and effectively attract bees.
Sage
Sage is a flavor that can go a long way in the kitchen, with leaves that provide a fragrant and warm taste that goes very well with all kinds of meats.
Just like rosemary, it also grows purple flowers that bees find irresistible.
Herbs for Bees: Mint
Everyone’s familiar with the unique light and refreshing flavor of mint—but it’s also incredibly easy to grow.
Still, if you plan on growing it, it may be better to let it have its own pot rather than just putting it in the ground (to protect it from encroaching weeds).
Does mint need full sun? Not really. Therefore, you can also place it by the window where your flower plants are located.
Additionally, when it’s ready to pick, you can add mint to a chocolate-based recipe or to some of your summer cocktails.
Thyme
Along with sage and rosemary, thyme is one of the most widely used herbs in the kitchen. As with some of the other spices listed, thyme goes with a wide variety of foods from many different cuisines (though Italian food is a big one).
As with all the others, these little plants produce purple flowers that bees simply can’t get enough of.
Fennel
Like the others on this list, fennel is fairly irresistible to pollinators (and can grow quite tall if you let it).
Anyone cooking with it would do well by pairing it with seafood, or perhaps by sprinkling it into some homemade coleslaw.
Borage
Although borage is a little bit more unusual to use in food, it can provide some delicious pops of flavor to some of your salads and cocktails in the summer.
They have a taste that is somewhere between a cucumber and honey. Regardless, these “starflowers” are very attractive to bees looking to pollinate.
Marjoram
One of the herbs that attract bees is marjoram. It is also known as oregano, an aromatic and delicious herb that has a mixture of pine and citrus flavors.
You can use dried marjoram in a wide range of dishes, though it has particular application in Italian cooking. As it turns out, it also is very attractive to honeybees and bumblebees!
Lemon Balm
If you want to know what types of mint plants attract bees, you may consider also consider lemon balm. As its name suggests, lemon balm has a delicious citrusy aroma and is very easy to grow.
When it blooms, it looks quite a bit like mint does with plenty of little sprouting leaves. If you’re wondering what to do with lemon balm and why you should consider adding it to your garden, you can actually use it in many ways.
You can definitely use it in the kitchen. Try mixing it into a pesto sauce or serving it with some fish. You can also make refreshing drinks out of it. See some recipes here.
Herbs to Attract Bees: Rosemary
Another herb that is indispensable when it comes to Italian cooking, rosemary is a many-needled plant with a delicious, honey-flavored taste (mixed with pine and other earthy tones).
In the wild, these plants grow blue flowers that attract bees—be sure to plant these in a place where they’ll get plenty of sunshine!
Takeaway
Do you know what’s amazing about planting these herbs? Aside from enticing bees to pollinate your flowers, they can also let you enjoy many other benefits. These herbs to attract bees will be a great addition to any garden.
Sources: Buzz About Bees, Ideal Home, The Conversation, Country Living