Did you know that some flowers don’t attract bees? Believe it or not, your summer is much more enjoyable without these busy bees buzzing around your garden.
A closer look of honey bees sipping nectar from a flower
Oftentimes, these bees flock to fragrant or yellow flowers to get nectar and pollen. They usually ignore long and narrow blossoms. Since their tongues are short, they cannot touch the nectar. Do you want to know what these flowers are? Take a look at the list of floral species that these buzzing insects don’t find attractive!
1. Foxglove
Its long- throated blooms don’t appeal to bees. With that, hummingbirds pollinate them since they are capable of reaching the long throat through their beaks. This flower typically opens up on long and spiky stems. You can also see them in different shades of cream, red, white, and magenta.
Lovely violet foxgloves which features their long throat
2. Datura
Have you seen a flat and trumpet-like shape flower in your garden? This is known as Datura, a night-blooming plant which is being pollinated by different nocturnal insects like moth or sphinx. Most of the time, these nocturnal insects are mistaken as hummingbird because they create ‘buzz’ or ‘whiz’ sounds and roam around when they feed.
Datura
You can plant this near your patio where moth activity and fragrance could be enjoyed during warm summer nights.
3. Rose
Rose, the most prominent romantic flower to express affection, is a great addition to anyone’s garden. Although you need to put extra effort in taking care of it, still its lovely blossom is worth the trouble. Bees are not fond of roses, especially red roses because they can’t see the color red. Thus, it draws fewer.
A thorn-less, pinkish rose freshly picked from the garden
4. Penstemon
There’s a specific variety named as beardtongue that drives away bees. Its flower has a long and narrow bell-shaped corolla, which perfectly suits your meticulous taste. Hummingbirds love to pollinate this red flower because of its shape. It is abundant in Western North America.
Penstemon with other flowers in the garden
5. Chrysanthemum
Otherwise known as ‘mums,’ chrysanthemums have double corolla that keeps bees away from the flower. It is another type of flowers that don’t attract bees. This flower needs well-drained soil and sunny spot. It is also available in different hue such as yellow, red, maroon, pink, white, and cream.
Chrysanthemum flower that is just opening, flaunting its impeccable beauty
Moreover, they don’t thrive well under cold temperature. You have to safeguard them when the temperature starts to drop. Aside from that, these shrubs do have a low amount of pollen.
6. Strawflower
If you are looking for flowers which are natural bee deterrents, red starflower is your best-answered prayer. This perennial plant can grow up to three feet. You don’t need to worry anymore about your kids who are allergic to bee stings ‘coz they will effortlessly make these insects pass them over due to its fragrance. It is an indigenous plant in Australia.
A pink Strawflower, another one-of-a-kind beauty from nature
7. Geranium
Another flower that doesn’t attract bees is a geranium. Also, it only gives little to none pollen. Varying from ivy geranium trailing annuals to hardy geranium perennial, this flower makes pollination difficult not only for plant insects but as well as for botanist. It is an ideal add-on for every gardener out there who are looking for flowers that don’t attract bees since it is so easy to care.
Geranium’s closer look during day time
8. Red Dianthus
Some people call it Sweet Williams. You won’t ever see bees come near this flower particularly those with red shades. With this red-colored flower, the ultraviolet sun rays are being absorbed by its color. Hence, this is less appealing than yellow, white, or other bright-colored blooms which reflect with ultraviolet rays.
Red Dianthus
9. Feverfew
This is annual or short-lived perennial flowers that don’t attract bees. It also looks like a daisy, but it is not. Most bees avoid this flower due to the aromatic oil on its foliage. They can’t stand the smell. Growing this one around your patio will surely deter the bees from coming because of its fragrance.
A bunch of Feverfew flowers thriving in the meadow
10. Marigold
The orange and yellow bloom of this blossom compliments perfectly with its green foliage. Marigold has no fragrance at all. Apart from that, it has a low amount of pollen to which simply implies why it belongs on the list of flowers that don’t attract bees.
Pretty Marigold flower with its overlapping layers of petal growing in the garden
Though you can’t find the smell emitted by the flower too strong, it is still unacceptable for the working bees. These plants thrive well in sunny, warm places. They need fertilizer and well-drained soil, too. This can grow from two to five feet in height.
The Bottom Line
Planting flowers is an excellent way to improve the aesthetic of your yard. And yet with any garden addition, there’s always an army of insects ready to invade and destroy your happiness. Worse, it can also pose a threat to your kids. However, with this rundown of flowers that don’t attract bees, you can be confident that you can keep a bee-free garden. Through a little research and the perfect soil type, you could create a lovely landscape you’ve been dreaming of without honeybees buzzing around!
Thank you for reading, and hopefully, you’ve found this article helpful. So, wait no further, and start planting these flowers in your garden now!
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