Honeybees are herb are like peas and cultivated carrot — they just go together . For the honeybee , herbaceous plant extend potent nutritionary value from the plant’spollen , as well as a delectable source of nectar with which to make love . For the gardener , herbs are almost always easy to grow , almost always neglect- and drouth - large-minded , and almost always grow anywhere ! And if you let your herbs flower , your Apis mellifera will work diligently to cross-pollinate them properly , ensuring strong plants year after yr , specially if you grow perennial herbaceous plant . If you ’re both a nurseryman and a beekeeper , you simply ca n’t go wrong growing these eight herbs .
1. Anise Hyssop
This easy , edible perennial herb is a deary of Apis mellifera . The flowers and leaves can be trim back and dry for Camellia sinensis — after you ’ve left some for your bee Friend , of course — and used in the place of traditional mint candy . Anise hyssop is , after all , the first of herb in the mint family that we ’ll depend at in this tilt . This fragrant herb is easy to develop and keep , making it a no - brainer for many gardeners . It bet great as a border industrial plant , is prosperous to grow from seed or plant as a start , and will thrive in dry conditions .
2. Basil
Basilis the quintessential culinary herb . From salads to fruit toppings , and of course of instruction , marinara sauces and pizza toppings , basil is versatile in the kitchen and beloved by pollinators in the garden . Basil crave warmth when grow , so in most part of the country , this flora will be take an annual . It ’s easy to get going from seed at home and is equally easy to regain at flora cut-rate sale or farmers marketplace in the outflow . It grows vigorously with heat and plenty of water supply and is a well-chosen companion plant for a variety of other garden veggie and herbs , especially tomatoes .
3. Lavender
Ah , lavender . My tie with this sweet , soothe herb is so strong , just say the name calms my nerves . Lavender has potent healing attribute when the dainty majestic bud are harvested or essential oils are distill from the plant life . Honeybees only adore it , and thankfully for them , most lilac varieties are insensate - hardy perennials . When develop lavender , it ’s important to mention that it does n’t vie well with mourning band , so plant in containers or be prepared to weed often . Lavender also does n’t like to have “ wet understructure , ” so properly enfeeble soil is a must , another reason that fix it a great container herbaceous plant .
4. Lemon Balm
Technically part of the mint family , lemon balmis so special , it merit it ’s own glare . It ’s enunciate that lemon balm is so attractive to Apis mellifera that beekeepers of quondam used to jam it and spread its oils around the inner fresh hived cloud ’s corner , hoping to keep the new colony settled in their hive . Perhaps the lemony scent mimic the pheromone of the pouf , encourage the bees to get back in for a tour . Whatever the reason , lemon balm is a delightful herb to farm and fantastically easy at that .
5. Mint
When it come to a sic - it - and - leave - it plant , nothing is quite as easy to turn as the herbs in the mint phratry . In fact , if you do n’t curb mint ’s appetency for attempt out novel territory , it will belike take over your garden … and yard … and your neighbor ’s thou … and their neighbour ’s yard … in a few class ’s time . Minthas an weird style of solace stressed nerves and calming the physical body . It can be used to flavor dishes and spike refreshing summer lemonade , and it can be dry out for wintertime teas , where it can ease an upset breadbasket and offer gastrointestinal quilt . There is a seemingly eternal list of mint variety to prefer from , too , include spearmint , mountain tea , catmint and the ill-famed bee balm , one of the Apis mellifera ’s favorites . Generally speaking , passel will grow in poor territory , but in deep , fertile ground , it will take off with abandon . It ’s best to keep this wild one contained to a pot .
6. Oregano
Pungent and peppery , pot marjoram offers a kick to the senses . The variety are so vast : Some have tiny , dark - green leaves , and others , like Cuban oregano , have 2- to 3 - column inch - long , thick , fuzzy leave of absence , not unlike a pup ’s ear . Like the other mediterranean herbs listed here , marjoram prefers to be hot and dry . It wo n’t tolerate cold , wet periods for very long , as it ’s susceptible to fungus and rot . Even so , marjoram is not fickle and does well in most locations with bright , direct sun . Be certain to get culinary oregano rather than ornamental if you ’re embed for the bee . This perennial will amount back year after year once it finds a place it likes .
7. Rosemary
Although it ’s say that rosemary is not a insensate - tolerant plant , many nurseryman find they can advance a ripe specimen to overwinter in the primer coat in just the ripe dapple . As you might have guessed , rosemary have it away dry , quick position and will be happy in full sunshine . In the tiptop of the farm time of year , offer seaweed liquid fertilizer to boost its development . Rosemary is good for the mind , raise memory . Its substantive vegetable oil also of course keeps pests off of Arabian tea and firedog .
8. Thyme
Just like oregano , thyme expand in teetotal , blistering climate . It ’s a staring herb to grow in container or in the ground because it ’s culinary uses are on the face of it interminable . If you ready with your herbs , you wo n’t regret planting thyme . Another sluttish perennial , do n’t disoblige to fertilize thyme : It boom in poorer land , so save the compost for your veg .
With each of the herbs list here , it ’s significant to provide them to flower in order for your bee to bask their pollen and ambrosia . Honeybees wo n’t be the only attendees at the herbal feast ; you ’ll ask in and host solitary bees , native bees , butterfly and many more with such a spread . Prepare now , and add up summer , they ’ll give thanks you for it !
