Bee Magnet Hanging Baskets

Elusive

Hi all, does anyone have any experience of great flowers for bees and other pollinators for spring/summer/autumn hanging baskets?

As lovely as my Begonias were last year I would prefer to fill them with flowers for the bees to enjoy (and me of course )

I have heard fuchsias tend to be pretty good but are there any others?

higgy50

Hi Matt,

this is something that I have also been thinking about and on my list at the moment for my summer baskets are.

Scabious - one of the dwarf with nectar such as S Columbardia

Dwarf Campanula (something like C Carpatia) will hang over the edges

Trailing Lobellia - again to hang over the edges

Salvia 'Nemerosa' for some height again a small variety with blue/purple spires

That's what I thinking if it's of use to you or anyone else.

 

Orchid Lady

I'm not very good with hanging baskets but the bees love my lavender, might be worth a thought if you want to attract them.  You may be able to get a small variety that will go in a hanging basket?

Orchid Lady

Why don't you start a 'hanging basket' thread Brumbull, I know I could do with some tips

Orchid Lady

 Go one Brumbull....help me out

Lancashire Lass

Those Heucherellas are a credit to you Brumbull. I'm really impressed.

On the subject of bees, I have found that trailing basket fuchsia attract the bees in my garden; They are good for late pollen as well because they flower well into late September/October.

But hey, those Heucherellas - wow!

Elusive

Wow those baskets are incredible!

But I would still love them to be covered in bees. Which plants out of that list do you find are the best for this?

Elusive

Awesome thanks Brumbull

Orchid Lady

Fantastic baskets Brumbull and I like both types, the ones with tall flowers (whose name I can't remember or spell but I know my mum used to have some in the garden), are lovely and so are the flowering ones. I can see why people let you do theirs........do you live near Lancashire by any chance



Thanks for sharing and for being so thorough with the plants you use

Orchid Lady

 This is what I am aspiring to (in my dreams!)

stevew1975

I'd try one of the following

1 In well drained compost (add some grit and to counter the additional weight maybe a small number of small bits of polystyrene) use some thyme for the trailing plants - the non-variegated seem to flower better (will need full sun on them and won't flourish at the back of the basket). Also a small lavender (English or French lavendula) or two and some pot marjoram. For a splash of colour some calendula (keep some seed back and grow another few in individual cells to replace when the first have ceased flowering). Or Instead of the pastel coloured marjoram you could sow some limnanthes, that is great for bees.

2 In ordinary compost you could sow calendula, emilia Irish poet,  flax (all easy from seed) and possibly also some candytuft and night scented stock.  The latter may attract moths but in any case will give a welcoming scent by your door. You could dot in some chives for colour contrast. Not sure about bee-friendly trailers - maybe nasturtium? The height may help tp reduce aphid infestation. Someone else may come up with something better for trailers in ordinary compost.

If you want something more pastel, try candytuft with night scented stock and some sweet scabious and/or nigella. I find sweet scabious  best started off one per sowing cell until established rather than sowing direct. Again not entirely sure about bee friendly trailers.

Haven't tried these combinations in a basket myself but they should work well.