Save the Bees: Plant Flowers

The buzz is that saving the bees can be as simple as planting more flowers.

For years, the plight of bees has been a major concern in the press, and by now, most of us understand how vital they are—not only for the food we eat but also for the ecosystems we depend on. While much attention has been given to their role in pollinating crops, it’s important to remember that 80% of South Africa’s indigenous flowering plants also rely on bees.

Considering that over a third of our crops are pollinated almost exclusively by various species of bees, losing them would deal a massive blow to food security. We could say goodbye to favourites like tomatoes, avocados, apples, pears, plums, peaches, citrus fruits like oranges and naartjies, a variety of nuts, strawberries, blueberries, cherries, onions, potatoes, and many other fruits and vegetables. And, most alarmingly—coffee!

Why do people say "save the bees"?

There are over 20,000 bee species worldwide, but only 8 are honey producers. Ensuring a steady supply of food and resources is crucial not just for honeybees but also for other pollinators. South Africa is home to numerous solitary and stingless bee species, which play an equally vital role in pollinating various plants. Bees vary greatly in size, ranging from as small as 2mm to as large as 40mm.

In Southern Africa alone, there are over 1,000 bee species, most of which are solitary, meaning they don’t live in hives or colonies like honeybees. Consider providing them with shelter in your garden—a simple way to support these important pollinators. You can purchase bee hotels from garden centres or create your own by drilling small holes into blocks of wood to make nesting spaces.

Like in many parts of the world, bees in our country are under threat from habitat loss, climate change, diseases, and pesticide use. Adding to these challenges is the spread of the parasitic Cape honeybee. This unique variety has queens capable of cloning themselves and laying viable female eggs without mating. Their pheromones are far stronger than those of the African bee queen, which can result in the original queen being ousted and the colony collapsing. This collapse occurs because the Capensis bee produces only a few hundred eggs, compared to the thousands laid by the original queen.

Another major issue facing beekeepers is the extensive use of chemicals by citrus and macadamia farmers. The replacement of natural bushland and wildflowers with human food crops further exacerbates the problem, creating an unhealthy environment for bees.

So how can you as an individual help to nurture biodiversity and maintain the delicate balance of Earth’s ecosystems?

What can I give bees to save them?

It is easy really. Just grow more plants and flowers that bees love.

While bees thrive in spring and early summer when blooms and indigenous trees provide plenty of nectar and pollen, they often face long periods of food scarcity that fail to meet their nutritional needs. However, your garden, verge, parks, and green spaces can help address this forage crisis.

Bees aren’t picky—there is a wide range of plants, including some you might consider weeds, that they will flock to for nourishment. Increasingly, people are replacing traditional lawns with low-growing flowering clovers, which serve as a vibrant alternative. These clovers not only create a bee-friendly “lawn” but can also act as undergrowth beneath trees, boosting nitrogen levels in the soil and enhancing tree health. Others are turning to forage-friendly gardens featuring aloes and veld grasses, which benefit bees as well as a variety of bird species.

We all want to have gardens that have something of interest the whole year through, so thinking cleverly about what to plant for wildlife will ensure that there is always something in flower, giving the critters sustenance, and your soul ease!

You need not set up a hive in your backyard to support bees—though if you have the space and interest, there are excellent companies, like BeeQuip on the Highveld, that can help you get started and ensure you have the necessary documentation for a domestic hive.

If you are wondering whether bees will find and return to your flowers, they have an incredible way of communicating with their hive mates. Through a special ‘dance,’ they convey the direction, distance, and availability of the food source. While bees generally prefer to forage within a 2km radius of their hive, they are willing to put foot and travel up to 6–8km in search of nourishment.

Choosing the right plants and flowers for bees

Essentially, the bees need to smell the flowers to guide them to your garden, so choosing richly sweet-scented varieties will give them direction. It is not about seeing the colours in your garden as that only becomes apparent when they get closer. They’re mostly attracted to white, yellow, purple, blue and violet flowers so consider amending a current colour scheme to incorporate those hues, and don’t be afraid to go big. Rather have a larger group of similar flowers than just dot one or two here and there.

Not all plants are created equal when it comes to nourishing our little workers. Many have been hybridised to no longer produce allergy-inducing pollen.

Here are our top picks for a pollen and nectar rich buffet for buzzing bees.

Wild trees that bees love 

Dombeya rotundifolia - wild pear

Calpurnia aurea - wild laburnum

Nuxia floribunda - forest elder

Some more options include: Halleria lucida (tree fuchsia), Rhamnus prinoides (dogwood), Erythrina caffra (coral tree), Syzygium cordatum (waterberry), Ziziphus mucronata (buffalo thorn), Searsia lancea (karee), and Euclea crispa (blue guarri).

Shrubs that bees love 

Polygala myrtifolia - September bush

Erica spp - Heather

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis -hibiscus

Aloe spp

Other shrubs to consider: Hebe, Portulacaria afra (spekboom), Buddleja saligna (false olive, also known as butterfly bush), Leonotis leonurus (wild dagga), Hellebores, Plectranthus spp, buchu, and proteas.

Bees love these blooms 

Echinacea purpurea - purple coneflower

Salvia farinacea ‘Victoria’ - blue mealy sage

Osteospermum ecklonis - Cape marguerite

Agapanthus praecox

Others in the right colours: Rudbeckia, Scabiosa, Eucomis, Felicia, Euryops, Arctotis, Diascia, Geranium incanum, Bulbine, Polianthes, Watsonia, Zantedeschia (arum lily), Mesembryanthemum(ice plant – and other kinds of vygies would work), and Barleria.

Infill your beds or pots with annuals that bees love 

Cosmos bipinnatus - cosmos

Calendula officinalis - pot marigold (go for the yellow rather than orange)

Helianthus annuus - sunflower

Primula malacoides - fairy primula

Anchusa capensis - Cape forget-me-not

Other annual options: Sweet Williams, marigolds, Nemesia, hollyhocks, Lobularia maritime (sweet alyssum), poppies, Portulaca (purslane) and nasturtiums.

Get the bees buzzing in your veggie and herb garden with these plants

Lavandula intermedia ‘Margaret Roberts’ - Margaret Roberts’ lavender

Rosmarinus officinalis - rosemary

Mentha spicata – garden mint

Borago officinalis – borage

Other options worth planting: thyme, lemon balm, sage, citrus, fennel, dill, tansy, catnip, coriander, strawberries, granadillas, and rocket.

It is also helpful to have some water available for bees all year round, and it doesn’t have to be a water feature – a bowl or terracotta saucer filled with pebbles and water will do the trick.

So get planting a range of wildflowers, in pocket meadows. Use endemic plants and flowering lawn alternatives. Even if you don’t have much space, plant up bee-friendly window boxes and flower pots. Go chemical-free. Most importantly, bee the change you want to see.