How to Have a Bee Friendly Garden

Nothing excites me more than to see wildlife in my garden attracted by the plants I bring in, and the wildlife-safe organic gardening practices I follow. This week at the Master Gardener Conference, Dr. Gordon Frankie, the highly respected professor and entomologist, gave us research-based tips on how to maximize native bees in the garden.  

My pollinator garden                                                                                         S. Reeve          

Native bee diversity is promoted by providing at least twenty different blooming plants. Different species of native bees will be attracted by different plants. When you maximize choice, you automatically increase your chances of attracting a wide variety of native bees. Of the estimated 3,600 species of bees in the United States, California is home to about 1,600 species of bees. You may have never noticed many bees before, but once you become interested in seeing bees in the garden, you start to develop “bee eyes” and you will see them everywhere. 

Many native bees are very small and very fast, and you may think they are flies, but some, like the Carpenter bee (Xylocopa varipuncta), are easily recognizable, about an inch long, and so entertaining to watch. Good plants to attact Carpenter bees are Leucophyllum frutescens, Senna  and Wisteria selections, and Caesalpinia mexicana. Wisteria flowers, in particular, have large flowers that only a large bee can open. Interestingly, Xylocopa varipuncta, is a sexually dimorphic species, and the males and females do not look at all alike. Males are often called, “teddy bear” bees because of their furry brown bodies. While females are shiny black with a violet cast. Males set up nesting territories that they patrol, looking for unmated females.  Using glands in their thorax, males release a scent that perfumes their territories. Females chose mates based on the quality of the fragrance. Unlike most bees that only live a matter of weeks, female Carpenter bees can live for several years.

Xylocopa varipuncta female on Caesalpinia mexicana                                                                                            S. Reeve

Once you develop “bee eyes” you will start to see the differences in the small flying insects, and you will recognize that bees look different than flies, and even wasps. Important differences include the fact, that bees generally have hairy or furry bodies, while wasps and flies do not.  Female bees also carry pollen on various locations on their bodies. The fur on their bodies makes it easier to do this. Bees and wasps, like other members of the Hymenoptera, have a narrow constriction in their midsection. Hence the term, “wasp waist.”  Flies do not have this. Bees and wasps also have two pair of wings, compared to only one pair for flies.  There are some flies that are excellent bee mimics, they even have the striped furry bodies, but the number of wings and lack of a mid-section joint gives them away. 

Bombus vosnesenskii gathering pollen from California poppy                                                                            S. Reeve

Besides, the wonderful bounty of life your bee garden will attract, bringing in bees will help you with your vegetable garden. Native bees are terrific pollinators. Be sure an include Lavendula ‘Provence’, a particularly enticing selection for bees, in your vegetable garden to bring in more pollinators. Let herbs and vegetables go to flower to attract even more bees. Kale, cilantro, basil and others will be covered in bees if allowed to flower.  If you are an early riser, go look at your squash blossoms, and you will certainly see the medium-sized Squash Bee (Peponapis pruinosa) deep in the squash flower. 

Peponapis pruinosa in squash blossom                                                                                                                    S. Reeve

To attract the most bee diversity,  plan your garden in the sunniest area, and include plants that have a continuous succession of bloom from February through October. In California we are lucky to have bees in the garden for most of the year.  Having flowers for most of the year, will insure a good food source for the many species of bees that nest all through the year, and often, multiple times during the year. Bees are natural searchers, and will soon find what you have planted. Experiments show, that even in the most urban gardens, bee diversity can increase dramatically if flowering plants are added. Plants in the Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, Polygonaceae, Malvaceae, and Papaveraceae are particularly attractive for bees. Bees gather pollen and nectar, but not necessarily in the same plant. Pollen is used to provision the nest as food for bee larvae, and nectar is a food source for adult bees. A broad assortment of flowering plants will provide something for many different species.  Plant in large patches of at least 2 square meters, so bees can easily locate the flowers. Flowers in blues, whites, and yellows attract the most bees. 

Bombus melanopygus on Echium fastuosum                                                                                                           S. Reeve

While native plants are certainly important for feeding and nesting bees, non-natives fill an important role, as they bloom in the summer, when many natives are dormant. Some of the best bee plants are: Echium, Arctostaphylos, Phacelia tanacetifolia, Nepeta, Caryopteris, California poppies, Cosmos bipinattus, Ceanothus, Encelia, Gaillardia, and Calandrinia. Be sure to garden without pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, to keep your bees safe.