While it may seem that all flowers are good for bees, that is not always the case. In fact, some flowers are useless to bees or can even harm them.
According to several studies, not all flowers provide bees with the pollen and nectar they need to survive. Some flowers have evolved to attract other pollinators, such as butterflies or birds, and may not be accessible or useful to bees. Additionally, some flowers have been hybridized to have extra petals or larger blooms, making it difficult for bees to access the pollen and nectar.
Some flowers may be beautiful to look at but actually offer little to no nutritional value to bees. Flowers that are bred for aesthetics, such as double-flowered varieties, often have fewer reproductive organs and therefore less pollen and nectar for bees. Additionally, some flowers may produce toxic chemicals that are harmful to bees.
So why do bees visit some flowers and not others? According to entomologists, bees are attracted to flowers with bright colors, strong fragrances, and patterns that guide them to the nectar and pollen. Flowers with a single layer of petals, like daisies or sunflowers, are easy for bees to access and provide ample amounts of pollen and nectar.
To ensure that your garden is a haven for bees, it’s important to choose the right flowers. It’s recommended to plant a variety of flowers in different colors and shapes to attract different species of bees. Native flowers are also a good choice, as they have evolved to be pollinated by local bees and provide the right amount of pollen and nectar.
Not all flowers are created equal when it comes to their usefulness to bees. While some may be beautiful to look at, they may not offer the necessary nutrition for bees to survive. By choosing the right flowers and planting a variety of species, we can help ensure that our gardens are a welcoming habitat for these important pollinators.