Creeping thyme (Thymus pseudolanguinosus) makes a lush groundcover; its purple blossoms are beloved by butterflies. Don’t be put off by its tongue-twisting Latin name; most thymes are attractive to bees and generalist butterflies like skippers.
Do bees like the smell of thyme?
“Some of the more attractive herbs to bees are thyme, comfrey, borage, oregano, bee’s friend, lemon balm, rosemary, hyssop, sage, lavender and chives.”
Which thyme is best for bees?
You can’t go wrong with ‘Common Thyme’ – Thymus vulgaris. Plant it in your garden border or rockery (or in pots) to provide pollen and nectar for a variety of bee species.
What is the best garden plants for bees and butterflies?
Planting for Bees & Butterflies
- Helianthus (Sunflowers) Easy to grow and beautiful to look at, Sunflowers are also incredibly attractive to bees and butterflies – and their healthy growth depends on pollinators.
- Cosmos.
- Roses.
- Lavandula (Lavender)
- Echinacea (Cornflower)
- Aster.
- Salvia.
- Digitalis (Foxgloves)
What plant do bees like the most?
The 7 best flowers to plant for bees
- Bee balm (Monarda spp.)
- White wild indigo (Baptisia alba)
- Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
- Black-eyed susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
- Joe-pye weed (Eutrochium purpureum)
- Marsh blazing star (Liatris spicata)
- Wrinkleleaf goldenrod (Solidago rugosa)
Is creeping thyme good for bees?
Flowering creeping thyme is very attractive to bees and is a nice addition to a garden focused on honeybees. In fact, the pollen from the blooming thyme will flavor the resulting honey.
Does creeping thyme attract bees?
As with many species in the mint family, the flowers of Creeping Thyme attract honey bees and wild bees.
Do pollinators like creeping thyme?
Often called the “mother of thyme,” creeping thyme thrives in full sun. Its fragrant flowers attract pollinators—particularly bees and butterflies—and the mint-like flavor of its dark green leaves makes it deer-resistant. Gardeners often favor creeping thyme for landscaping, sometimes as a lawn substitute.
What herbs do bees and butterflies like?
Bees love all members of the Allium family, which includes chives and onions, both of which flower. There are many really decorative Alliums, which look stylish in the border and attract pollinators as illustrated by the Allium cristophii. I cannot imagine a spring border without Alliums. In the same family are chives.
What ground cover does not attract bees?
Bees are not attracted to many types of trees, such as elm, birch and oak, or to conifers, ground covers or shrubs. Ornamental grasses are an excellent choice if you do not want to attract bees to your yard, as bees are not attracted to them and they add beauty to the landscape. Sedges (Carex spp.)
How do I get more butterflies and bees?
8 Ways to Attract Bees and Butterflies
- Try leave-it-alone gardening. Stop obsessing over perfectly planted flower beds and weed-free lawns.
- Go native. Local plants match the needs of nearby pollinators.
- Mix it up.
- Stop spraying pesticides.
- Shop smart.
- Plant milkweed.
- Just add water.
- Extra credit: Become a landlord.
What plant attracts the most pollinators?
- Daisy.
- Dandelion.
- Goldenrod.
- Lavender.
- Marigold.
- Milkweed.
- Snapdragon. The snapdragon is the ultimate bumblebee attractor.
- Sunflower. The beautiful sunflower is perfect for attracting insects as well as birds, who adore their seeds.
What plant attracts butterflies and hummingbirds?
Milkweed (Asclepias) also known as Butterfly Weed
Milkweed is a must-have butterfly plant. Not only is it the host plant for monarchs — hummingbirds (and many other butterflies) like these flowers too.
What plant attracts the most butterflies?
Butterfly Garden Flowers
- Phlox. Phlox is a low-growing, spreading plant that forms a blanket of blooms all summer.
- Coneflower (Echinacea) Coneflower is one of the best flowers for attracting butterflies.
- Lantana.
- Bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii)
- Pot Marigolds.
- Black-Eyed Susan.
- Blazing Star Flowers (Liatris spicata)
- Heliotrope.
What plant do bees not like?
Geraniums. Geraniums can be helpful in repelling bees, particularly red geraniums, as bees cannot see the color red. It may seem counterintuitive that a flower would repel bees, but these flowers contain little to no pollen and have a scent that the stinging pest does not particularly like.
What colors are bees least attracted to?
Darker colors such as red appear black to bees, and since black is the absence of color bees are not naturally attracted to plants with red hues. Also, some tubular flowers are not attractive to bees because the shape is not conducive to pollination. Choosing red plants will discourage bees in the garden.
Does creeping thyme spread fast?
Used primarily as a ground cover, the creeping thyme varieties (Thymus spp.) are slow- to fast-spreading perennials when grown in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 9, depending on the species.
Will creeping thyme choke out other plants?
Creeping Thyme
Creeping Thyme spreads by sending runners underground that choke out other plants, including weeds. It has a maximum growth height of about four inches, which is considered the ideal height for lawns, and beautiful pink, purple or blue flowers.
Is creeping thyme invasive?
So, let’s cut the chase — is creeping thyme really invasive? The answer is no; though it will spread fast in a garden, it won’t bother the other plants. Therefore, if you are looking for an attractive ground cover that smells nice and is also deer and rabbit resistant, you should definitely consider creeping thyme!
What does creeping thyme repel?
mosquito
Thyme. Thyme, including red creeping thyme (shown), possesses excellent mosquito-repelling properties. The secret is to crush the leaves to release the volatile oils. You can simply place crushed stems around outdoor seating areas or rub the leaves on skin or clothing.
Does creeping thyme attract wasps?
But of special interest are the red and white creeping thymes. Though they don’t provide much joy to the cook, (low-growing thymes, they hug the ground making harvest difficult), the small but complex blooms of both attract the smaller beneficial insects like parasitic wasps while doing their fending off of others.