Creating a Bee-Friendly Garden: Attracting Honey Bees to Your NZ Garden

Honey bees are the unsung heroes of our gardens, pollinating up to 80% of flowering plants in New Zealand. Without these industrious pollinators, our gardens would look very different, and our harvest of fruits and vegetables would be significantly reduced. Creating a bee-friendly garden isn't just good for the bees—it's essential for a thriving, productive outdoor space.

If you're looking to welcome more of these beneficial insects into your garden, you're in the right place. Let's explore what plants attract honey bees in New Zealand and what else you can do to make your garden a buzzing haven.

Why Honey Bees Matter in New Zealand Gardens

Honey bees are vital pollinators that contribute to the health of our ecosystems and food production. In New Zealand, both introduced European honey bees and our native bees play crucial roles in pollinating everything from backyard vegetable patches to commercial orchards.

Beyond pollination, honey bees indicate a healthy garden ecosystem. When you see bees visiting your flowers, it's a sign that your garden is providing the resources they need—nectar, pollen, and a safe environment.

Best Plants to Attract Honey Bees in NZ

The key to attracting honey bees is providing a diverse range of flowering plants that bloom throughout the seasons. Bees need consistent food sources from early spring through to late autumn.

Spring Bloomers (September - November)

Borage - This Mediterranean herb produces beautiful star-shaped blue flowers that bees absolutely adore. It self-seeds readily and provides continuous blooms throughout spring and into summer. Borage is incredibly easy to grow and thrives in NZ conditions.

Phacelia - Often called "bee bread," phacelia produces masses of purple-blue flowers that are irresistible to honey bees. It's an excellent green manure crop that improves soil while feeding pollinators.

Fruit Tree Blossoms - Apple, plum, cherry, and pear trees provide abundant early-season nectar. The spectacular spring blossoms not only feed bees but also ensure you get a good fruit crop.

Native Kowhai - Our iconic yellow-flowered native tree is a spring favourite for both honey bees and native bees. The tubular flowers provide rich nectar rewards.

Summer Bloomers (December - February)

Lavender - A classic bee plant that thrives in NZ's summer conditions. Both English and French lavender varieties attract hordes of bees and add wonderful fragrance to your garden.

Sunflowers - These cheerful giants provide abundant pollen and nectar. The single-flower varieties (not the fancy doubles) are best for bees.

Pohutukawa and Rata - These iconic New Zealand natives produce spectacular summer blooms that provide crucial nectar when many other plants have finished flowering.

Cosmos - These easy-to-grow annuals produce masses of daisy-like flowers in pink, white, and burgundy. They flower prolifically and self-seed for next season.

Thyme - This low-growing herb flowers abundantly in summer, creating a carpet of tiny blooms that bees love. It's also drought-tolerant once established.

Autumn Bloomers (March - May)

Sedum (Autumn Joy types) - These succulents produce flat-topped flower heads in late summer and autumn when nectar sources become scarce.

Salvias - Many salvias flower well into autumn, providing reliable nectar sources. 'Hot Lips' and 'Amistad' are particularly good choices for NZ gardens.

Asters - These daisy-like perennials bloom prolifically in autumn, offering late-season sustenance for bees building winter stores.

Hebes - Many New Zealand native hebes flower in autumn, providing crucial late-season nectar. 'Wiri Mist' and 'Great Orme' are excellent bee-attracting varieties.

Herbs That Bees Love

Don't underestimate the power of herbs! Many culinary herbs are fantastic bee plants:

• Rosemary - Flowers in winter and spring, providing early nectar

• Oregano - Produces masses of small flowers that bees adore

• Basil - If left to flower, basil attracts numerous pollinators

• Coriander - Allow some plants to bolt and flower for the bees

• Mint - All varieties flower prolifically and are bee magnets

Creating the Perfect Bee-Friendly Garden

Plant in Drifts

Rather than planting single specimens scattered throughout your garden, plant bee-friendly flowers in groups or drifts of the same species. This makes it easier for bees to locate the flowers and work more efficiently, saving energy.

Choose Single-Flower Varieties

Modern double or fancy hybrid flowers often have reduced nectar and pollen, or the extra petals make it difficult for bees to access the food source. Opt for single-flower varieties or old-fashioned heirloom plants.

Avoid Pesticides

This is crucial. Pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, are highly toxic to bees. If you must use pest control, choose bee-safe options and apply them in the evening when bees are less active.

Provide Water Sources

Bees need water, especially during hot summer days. Create shallow water stations with pebbles or corks for bees to land on while drinking. Change the water regularly to prevent mosquito breeding.

Leave Some Wild Patches

A perfectly manicured lawn provides nothing for bees. Allow sections of your garden to grow a bit wild. Let white clover bloom in your lawn, leave dandelions in corners, and create habitat areas with native grasses and wildflowers.

Create Nesting Habitats

While honey bees live in hives, native solitary bees need nesting sites. Leave some bare patches of soil for ground-nesting species, and consider installing bee hotels for cavity-nesting bees. Hollow bamboo canes bundled together make excellent nesting sites.

Seasonal Bee Garden Care

Spring

Plant annuals like sunflowers, cosmos, and phacelia. Ensure early-flowering bulbs and trees are well-established. Your spring garden should be waking up with abundant blooms to support bees emerging from winter.

Summer

Deadhead flowering plants to encourage continuous blooming. Ensure adequate water during dry spells. This is when bees are most active, so maintaining flower production is essential.

Autumn

Plant spring-flowering bulbs and perennials. Allow late-flowering plants like salvias and asters to complete their bloom cycle. Bees need to build up reserves before winter.

Winter

Plan next season's bee garden. Order seeds and plants. Some plants like rosemary and native hebes flower in winter, providing crucial food when little else is available.

The Green Fingers Approach to Bee-Friendly Gardens

At Green Fingers, we believe healthy plants attract healthy pollinators. Using our range of foliar and liquid fertilisers ensures your flowering plants are vigorous and produce abundant blooms rich in nectar and pollen.

Our General Garden Foliar Fertiliser is particularly effective for flowering plants, providing the nutrients needed for strong growth and prolific flowering. Combined with our Liquid Seaweed, which contains natural growth hormones and trace elements, you'll create the perfect conditions for a bee-friendly garden.

Remember, well-fed plants don't just grow better—they flower better and produce more nectar, making your garden irresistible to honey bees and other pollinators.

Common Questions About Bee-Friendly Gardening

When is the best time to plant for bees? Plant bee-friendly flowers year-round to ensure continuous bloom. Spring planting gets annuals established, while autumn is ideal for planting perennials and spring bulbs.

Do bees prefer native or exotic plants? Bees are opportunistic and will visit both native and exotic plants. The key is providing a diverse range of flower shapes and bloom times. Many exotic herbs and flowers are excellent bee plants.

How much space do I need for a bee-friendly garden? Even a few pots on a balcony can make a difference! Start with containers of herbs like rosemary and thyme, or plant a small border of lavender and salvias.

Will planting for bees attract more bees to my house? You'll attract more bees to your flowers, but honey bees are gentle and focused on foraging. They're unlikely to bother you if you're not interfering with their work.

Get Started Today

Creating a bee-friendly garden is one of the most rewarding things you can do as a gardener. Not only will you enjoy abundant blooms and improved pollination in your vegetable garden, but you'll also be supporting these essential pollinators.

Start small if you need to—plant a few lavender bushes, let your herbs flower, or sow some borage seeds. Every flower counts, and every garden can make a difference to our precious bee populations.

Ready to transform your garden into a pollinator paradise? Visit our shop to find the fertilisers that will help your bee-friendly plants thrive, or check out our growing guides for more specialist advice on creating the ultimate New Zealand garden.