Get the native bee buzz

Story by Denis Crawford

Denis Crawford explores the world of native bees and how we can help provide food for them. A good starting point is to see what you can plant in your garden that will attract them to your patch.

You can help the native bees of your area by making your garden more attractive to them with desired food, roosting and nesting spots, and water. Also, grow a variety of flowering plants so that pollen and nectar is available throughout the year. Planting bushes with nectar-bearing flowers in clumps will maximise their attractiveness. Also, go for a variety of nesting sites, such as uncovered earth, dense shrubbery and dead tree branches. A dish of water is also a must, but put some pebbles or marbles in the dish to prevent birds emptying it.

Bee-attracting plants

This list is not exhaustive and mostly suits ‘generalist bees’ that feed on more than one type of plant. Some native bees have specific requirements. For example, native bees of the genus Trichocolletes mostly visit native pea flowers (Fabaceae). If you want to attract a wider variety of bees to your garden find out which species occur in your area, and grow local native plants to suit them.

Natives

Daisies

Eucalypts, gum trees

Pincushion hakea

Happy wanderer

Grevilleas

Tea-tree

Honey myrtles

Thryptomene

Coastal rosemary

Exotics

Abelia x grandiflora