If your edible plants aren’t producing the harvest you would like, it could be lack of flower pollination. Flowers that have not been pollinated will not seed, set or form fruit.
By adding flowering plants that produce lots of pollen and nectar, you will attract the best pollinators in the business, bees. Luring bees to your garden will increase the likelihood your edible plants will get pollinated and you will get food.
Also important to attracting more bees is to leave area of bare soil for native bees to lay their eggs underground. As little as one square foot will work. Native bees are great pollinators too and they love our native plants!
I have collected some of the best bee attracting plants you can add to your garden:
Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) Pollinating bees are attracted to the blooms of this easy to grow evergreen. Blooms in early spring through the end of summer. Likes full sun and hot and dry footing in well drained soil. Drought resistant. Grows from 1’ to 6’ in height and 2’ to 4’ wide. Aromatic needles can be used as an herb in cooking.
Wall Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys) This creeping evergreen grows 6 to 18 inches in height. Pink, purple, or lavender tubular shaped blooms appear in May. Aromatic leaves resemble miniature oak leaves. Plant in well drained soil. Medium water, drought tolerant. Full sun.
Sonoma Sage (Salvia sonomensis) This California native is a mat forming sub-shrub that grows to 12 inches in height. Lavender flowers rise 6 inches above foliage. Thrives in light shade and well drained soil. Will not tolerate regular water during summer months.
Point Reyes Ceanothus (Ceanothus gloriosus ‘Anchor Bay’) Lavender flowers appear from March to May on this mounding ground cover. Leathery, glossy, holly shaped leaves. This California native thrives in well drained soil and light shade.
Coffeberry (Rhamnus californica ‘Eve Case’) Smaller than the species, this adaptable California native shrub grows to 3’ wide by 3’ high making for a good informal screen or hedge. Yellow flowers appear in the spring. Plant in sun or partial shade in well drained soil.
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I also find, in the winter and early spring, Manzanitas absolutely humming with honey bees. I like that you have a picture of California Poppies and a native Bumble Bee. They are so fun to watch tumbling around in the poppies.
Deva
Yes Deva, many people forget about the native bees, so that’s why I had to give them a mention. They are so important to our ecosytem and for pollination. Thanks for mentioning Manzanita. I love this plant but wish it grew a bit faster.
It was a surprise to me to see perhaps a dozen bees at a time on my tall sedums (Autumn joy, etc.) when they are in bloom.
I admire they way you find time to do a monthly blog, Julie, and it is always good info.
Thanks Claudia for taking the time to read and comment. I love Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ and not only do bees enjoy it but it’s fun to watch the flowers change colors too.
I see rosemary blooming all year and most heavily in the Winter. It gives bees something to work on when very few other plants are blooming. And it needs no water when established and seems to do ok in our clay soils. And there are all different forms–prostrate, clumping, upright. I think we take it for granted but it’s such a great plant.
So true Julia. Rosemary is not only a bee favorite but it’s a great cooking herb as well. Bonus! You actually gave me this hot tip one day…remember?
I have a blue borage plant, and bees like it very much. Is blue borage counted as CA native?
As quoted from Wikipedia: