To help save bumble bees, plant these flowers in your spring garden
Bumble bees are in trouble. Across the world, their populations are declining due to habitat loss, pesticide exposure, climate change, and disease. These vital pollinators play a crucial role in our ecosystems, ensuring food security by pollinating fruits, vegetables, and wild plants. Many of the crops we rely on would struggle to produce food without them.
The good news? You can help—right from your own backyard. Planting bee-friendly flowers provides bumble bees with essential nectar and pollen, giving them the resources they need to thrive. Here’s how you can support these important pollinators by growing the right plants in your garden.
Bumble bee populations are facing unprecedented challenges. Scientists point to four major threats. Urban development and large-scale agriculture have replaced meadows, wildflowers, and forests with concrete and monoculture farms, leaving bumble bees with fewer places to forage and nest.
Chemicals, particularly neonicotinoids, weaken bees’ immune systems and disrupt their ability to find food. Even small amounts of pesticide exposure can have long-term effects on bee colonies.
Rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns are altering the availability of flowers, forcing bumble bees to travel further for food and making it harder for them to survive.
Pathogens, such as the Nosema fungus, and invasive parasites like the Varroa mite further threaten bee populations by spreading infections and weakening colonies.
Bumble bees are not just another insect. They are among the first pollinators to emerge in early spring, making them crucial for crops like tomatoes, blueberries, squash, and peppers. Unlike honeybees, which primarily pollinate by hovering over flowers, bumble bees use a technique called “buzz pollination.” By vibrating their bodies, they release pollen that other pollinators cannot access, making them irreplaceable in certain ecosystems.
The best way to support bumble bees is by providing them with a reliable food source. By planting a variety of flowers that bloom throughout the growing season, you can help ensure that bumble bees have access to nectar and pollen when they need it most.
Here are some of the best flowers to plant for bumble bees:
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – A striking purple bloom that provides a steady nectar supply throughout summer. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil.
- Bee Balm (Monarda spp.) – This bright red, pink, or purple flower is a favorite of bumble bees, thanks to its tubular shape and high nectar content. It grows best in sunny or partly shaded areas.
- Lavender (Lavandula spp.) – Known for its fragrant purple flowers, lavender is an excellent summer nectar source. It prefers dry, sandy soil and full sun.
- Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) – A wildflower that attracts a variety of pollinators, offering nectar-rich blooms from mid to late summer.
- Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) – These large, pollen-packed blooms provide an excellent late-summer food source for bumble bees.
- Crocus (Crocus spp.) – One of the first flowers to bloom in early spring, crocuses give bumble bees much-needed energy after winter hibernation.
- Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) – Tall, bell-shaped flowers that bumble bees love to crawl into for nectar. These thrive in partial shade and moist soil.
By planting a mix of these flowers, you can create a bee-friendly garden that supports bumble bees throughout their active season.
Bumble bees are facing serious threats, but by taking small actions—like planting bee-friendly flowers and avoiding pesticides—you can make a significant difference. This spring, consider adding some of these recommended flowers to your garden. Not only will you enjoy a beautiful, colourful landscape, but you’ll also be helping protect one of nature’s most important pollinators. Share this information with friends and family, and encourage others to plant bee-friendly gardens. Together, we can give bumble bees a fighting chance.
