Looking for plant advice please

NoviceGardenerTina

Hi,

Just looking for a bit of advice.  Me and my partner have just bought our first house and I'm starting to plant in the garden.

One thing that I really want to do is plant bee friendly flowers. I have pets, so I also need pet friendly ones.

My go to was lavender, but my partner hates the smell. Can someone please give me advice on what to plant that is similar to lavender?

Thanks,

Tina

bullfinch

I have cat mint (nepeta) and hardy salvias. The bees love those.

Dovefromabove

Have a look at the hardy salvias ... happy in free draining soil in the sun
snd always loved by bees
https://www.crocus.co.uk/search/_/search.hardy-salvias/

NoviceGardenerTina

Thank you both! I will check them out

Paul B3

A plant with similar requisites to Lavender is Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) ; personally plants like this are usually of no interest to myself , but the flowers on these can be such a shade of blue as to be quite appealing .

Inglezinho

Insects in general go for plants with a blue or purple tinge. Avoid white. Go with the flow.... Good luck - Ian

Lyn

Strange how bees go for somethings in some gardens,  the bees just love my white Hyssop and white Aconitum. 

Brexiteer

I've so much lavender in my garden 3 different types and I can't smell it unless I touch it. Has your partner got a really sensitive sence of smell ?

Fire

There are some recent thoughts from the forum.

HouseFinch

You could give speedwell (Veronica) a try. It has long flowering stalks. The bees love it. There isn't any odor from the foliage, so your partner should be placated with that choice.

HouseFinch

Salvia also has tall purple spikes.