Astrantia: Do bees like them?

Jac19

I planted some Astrantia last week.  On the site I bought them from, some Astrantias have the RHS PLANTS FOR POLLINATORS badge on them and others don't.   What is your experience with Astrantias and bees?  How about bumble bees?

Buttercupdays

When they flower for me there are normally aquilegias and pulmonarias available, as well as Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve'. I would say all these are more popular with the bees than the Astrantias, but other insects are also pollinators, just less noticeable and so it may still be true.

TheGreenMan

Mine are often covered in hover flies and the odd bee. Caught one accidentally last week 

bertrand-mabel

Astrantias in our garden are always buzzing with pollinators.

We dead head and get another flush of flowers and these are appreciated by the pollinators.

Jac19

Oh, wow!  That bee is amazing there. 
Especially bumble bees never cease to amaze me.  Aerodynamically, they are not supposed to be able to fly with that big body and wispy wings.  But they don't know physics and mathematics, and they happily fly anyway.

Jac19

Buttercupdays said:

When they flower for me there are normally aquilegias and pulmonarias available, as well as Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve'. I would say all these are more popular with the bees than the Astrantias, but other insects are also pollinators, just less noticeable and so it may still be true.

aquilegias
pulmonarias
Erysimum 'Bowles Mauve'

I don't have these.  The first time I have heard of these.  I will seek out and get some.  Thanks, Buttercup! 

Lyn

I think the bees prefer the darker ones to the pale. 

Jac19

Lyn said:

I think the bees prefer the darker ones to the pale. 

I got a deep red and some bluish whites.  Both had the RHS Plants for Pollinators badge on them.  They will flower only next season.

Jac19

I got onto Astrantias by watching this video, by the way.  You might like it, too.

https://youtu.be/0DRi3F0IrlI

Jac19

> We dead head and get another flush of flowers and these are appreciated by the pollinators.

Thanks for the tip.

Bright star

I have several Astrantias in my garden of all colours and can’t say that they attract many pollinators but I grow lots of other plants for pollinators that are always buzzing with insects. I wouldn’t part with my Astrantias as they are beautiful plants and a favourite of mine.