Attracting bees and butterflies
Burpee Edible Gardening Team Members
At this stage of the season, you’re harvesting vegetables and enjoying those herbs. We hope you’re feeling well-fed! Share that bounty by feeding your friendly pollinator pals as well. With warm weather and established plants, your vegetable and herb garden can also sustain bees and butterflies as they begin their stores for Fall.
Early in the season, we recommended pinching off flowers from your lettuce, greens and herbs. But now, let some of your herbs go to seed, like mint, basil and oregano. You’ll see wings fluttering about all month long on the blooms! Planning for more “good bugs” in your garden next season? Plant colorful and pollen-filled flowers to frame your space and draw them in: Marigolds, Zinnias, Coneflower, Monarda (bee balm), Geranium and Petunias. More suggestions are listed below.
Add a few places of shelter (like a felled tree stump or nesting box) and install a shallow water feature to catch rain for hydration, and you’ll soon have a pollinator paradise!
Plants that attract butterflies
Fennel
Lavender
Marigold
Oregano
Sage
Plants that attract bees
Basil
Lavender
Mint
Rosemary
Sage
Thyme
Geranium
Bee Balm
Borage