Are you looking for flowers bees don’t like because you want a beautiful garden without too many bees around your patio, balcony, front door, or outdoor seating area? Although no flower can guarantee a bee-free garden, some ornamental plants receive fewer bee visits than others.
Bees are attracted to flowers that provide useful food, particularly nectar and pollen. Plants with limited floral rewards, inaccessible flower structures, or particular ornamental characteristics may receive fewer visits from some bee species. However, a flower that attracts fewer honey bees may still attract bumble bees, carpenter bees, or other pollinators.
Some petunias, ornamental geraniums, pansies, and New Guinea impatiens have received relatively low pollinator visitation compared with more attractive garden flowers in scientific research. Certain double-flowered varieties may also offer less accessible floral resources, depending on their structure and cultivar.
If you want to reduce bee activity around frequently used outdoor spaces, your best approach is to combine carefully selected ornamental plants with foliage-based landscaping. This guide explains which flowers may attract fewer bees, why some plants receive fewer visits, and how to create a garden that is less attractive to bees without harming them.
Do Bees Dislike Certain Flowers?
Bees do not necessarily dislike particular flowers. Instead, they choose plants based on the food and other resources available to them.
Nectar provides carbohydrates that give bees energy, while pollen supplies proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals needed by developing bees and adult workers.
When a flower provides little accessible nectar or pollen, bees may spend more time visiting other plants that offer better food rewards.
Several characteristics influence whether bees visit a flower:
- Nectar production: Flowers with little accessible nectar may receive fewer visits from nectar-collecting bees.
- Pollen availability: Flowers with limited or inaccessible pollen may be less useful to pollen-collecting bees.
- Flower structure: Dense petals or unusual shapes can make some floral resources difficult to reach.
- Flower scent: Fragrance can help bees locate flowers, although scent alone does not determine attractiveness.
- Flower colour and visual signals: Bees use colour patterns and ultraviolet visual information when locating flowers.
- Local flower availability: Bees may prefer other plants when more rewarding food sources are nearby.
The same flower can attract many bees in one garden and very few in another. Its cultivar, growing conditions, location, and the bee species present all influence visitation.
15 Flowers and Plants That May Attract Fewer Bees
The following recommendations are divided into three groups: flowers with research-supported relatively low visitation, flowers with cultivar-dependent characteristics, and foliage-based alternatives for landscaping.
This distinction matters because not all 15 choices have been scientifically demonstrated to attract fewer bees. Some are practical ornamental options rather than proven low-bee flowers.
1. Petunias (Petunia × hybrida)
Petunias are popular ornamental flowers grown in hanging baskets, containers, window boxes, and garden borders.
Some petunia cultivars receive relatively few pollinator visits compared with highly attractive flowering plants.
A 2024 study published in the Journal of Economic Entomology found that petunia cultivars generally received fewer pollinator visits than the attractive benchmark zinnia cultivar used in the research.
The researchers also found substantial differences between individual petunia cultivars.
For example, in the 2017 observations, petunia ‘Dreams Coral Morn’ received approximately six times as many pollinator visits as ‘Easy Wave Burgundy Star’.
This demonstrates that choosing a particular variety can matter more than choosing petunias as a general category.
Best use: Hanging baskets, decorative containers, balconies, and ornamental borders.
Important: Petunias are not bee repellents. Some bees still visit them, and cultivar selection affects their attractiveness.
2. Ornamental Geraniums (Pelargonium zonale)
Ornamental zonal geraniums are commonly grown for their colourful flower clusters, attractive foliage, and ability to grow in pots and window boxes.
Some varieties receive relatively few pollinator visits, making them possible choices for ornamental gardens where attracting large numbers of pollinators is not the main objective.
The 2024 flower-visitation study found differences between geranium cultivars. For example, ‘Tango Deep Pink’ received more visits than ‘Tango Dark Red’ in the 2017 observations.
This is a useful reminder that two plants sold under the same common name may not have the same pollinator attractiveness.
Best use: Window boxes, entrance areas, containers, and decorative borders.
Important: The term geranium is often used for plants in the genus Pelargonium. True geraniums belong to a different genus. Do not assume that all plants called geraniums have identical characteristics.
3. Pansies (Viola × wittrockiana)
Pansies are popular bedding plants recognized by their distinctive face-like flower markings and wide range of colours.
They received relatively low pollinator visitation compared with attractive benchmark plants in the Michigan State University research.
However, the study also found differences between pansy cultivars.
Some varieties received more visits than others, and bees can still collect resources from pansy flowers.
Pansies are generally better suited to cooler growing conditions than many tropical locations.
Best use: Decorative flower beds, containers, window boxes, and seasonal displays in suitable climates.
Important: Pansies are a relative low-visitation option in the cited research, not a guaranteed way to prevent bees from visiting a garden.
4. New Guinea Impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri)
New Guinea impatiens are ornamental plants grown for their colourful flowers and attractive foliage.
They are frequently used in containers, shaded garden areas, and decorative borders.
In the 2024 study, New Guinea impatiens received relatively low pollinator visitation compared with the more attractive benchmark flowers.
This makes them worth considering when selecting ornamental bedding plants for a garden where high pollinator activity is not desired.
Best use: Partially shaded containers and ornamental borders in climates where the plants grow successfully.
Important: They are not completely unattractive to bees. Their performance depends on the cultivar and local conditions.
5. Some Double-Flowered Petunias
Double-flowered petunias have additional petals that give them a fuller appearance than ordinary single-flowered varieties.
In some double flowers, the additional floral structures can reduce the accessibility of nectar or reproductive structures.
Research comparing single and double forms of several ornamental plants found that some double-flowered petunias produced little or no nectar and were less frequently used by insect visitors.
However, not every double petunia has the same structure or nectar production.
Best use: Decorative hanging baskets, ornamental pots, and flower displays.
Important: Choose based on the actual flower structure and cultivar rather than assuming every double petunia attracts fewer bees.
6. Double-Flowered Bird’s-Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
Bird’s-foot trefoil is a flowering plant in the legume family. Its flowers normally have a distinctive pea-like structure.
Some cultivated double-flowered forms have modified floral structures that can affect access to nectar.
A study published in Annals of Botany compared single and double variants of several flowering plants, including Lotus corniculatus. The researchers found that double flowers in the tested plant groups could produce little or no nectar and were generally less exploited by insect visitors.
Best use: Only consider ornamental double-flowered forms where locally available and suitable for your garden.
Important: Ordinary bird’s-foot trefoil can be valuable to pollinators. The recommendation concerns particular double-flowered forms, not the entire species.
7. Double-Flowered Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis)
Soapwort is an ornamental flowering plant with clusters of pink or pale flowers.
Its double-flowered forms have additional petals that can change the accessibility of floral resources.
The same comparative research on single and double flowers found little or no nectar production in the tested double-flowered soapwort forms.
This provides a more specific reason for considering certain double varieties than simply assuming bees dislike their colour or fragrance.
Best use: Suitable ornamental borders and decorative garden beds.
Important: The research concerns particular flower forms. Do not assume that all soapwort plants receive few bee visits.
8. Some Double-Flowered Roses
Roses are available in single, semi-double, and highly double forms.
Single roses often have visible central reproductive structures, while some densely double varieties have many layers of petals covering the centre.
When these structures make pollen or nectar less accessible, certain double roses may receive fewer visits from some pollinators.
However, rose varieties differ considerably. Some double roses still provide accessible pollen, and bees can visit them.
Best use: Decorative rose gardens, ornamental borders, and landscaping areas.
Important: If reducing bee activity is your priority, consider the flower structure rather than assuming every rose is a low-bee plant.
9. Some Double-Flowered Dahlias
Dahlias are available in several flower forms, including single, semi-double, decorative, and densely double varieties.
Single dahlias often have an exposed central disc containing small individual florets. These florets can provide accessible pollen and nectar.
Some densely double decorative dahlias have layers of petals that cover the centre, making access more difficult.
If you prefer dahlias but want to reduce the likelihood of frequent bee visits, consider avoiding highly attractive open-centred varieties. However, individual cultivars need to be assessed separately.
Best use: Ornamental borders, decorative beds, and display gardens.
Important: Many single and open-centred dahlias are attractive to bees. Not all double dahlias are low-attraction varieties.
10. Some Double-Flowered Zinnias
Zinnias are commonly planted in gardens because of their bright colours and long flowering periods.
Single-flowered zinnias with exposed central florets are often valuable to pollinators.
Some densely double varieties have additional petals that conceal the central florets and may make feeding more difficult.
This is why the flower form matters when choosing zinnias.
If reducing bee visits is your priority, investigate the specific cultivar rather than assuming every zinnia has the same pollinator value.
Best use: Ornamental flower beds, decorative containers, and landscaping displays.
Important: Zinnias are frequently recommended for pollinator gardens. Do not treat the entire plant group as unattractive to bees.
11. Some Double-Flowered Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are popular ornamental plants available in many shapes, sizes, and colours.
Some highly double varieties have dense layers of petals that conceal the flower’s central reproductive structures.
This may reduce access to pollen or nectar compared with more open flower forms.
However, other chrysanthemum varieties have accessible centres and can receive insect visits.
Best use: Decorative pots, garden displays, and ornamental borders.
Important: There is insufficient evidence to classify every chrysanthemum cultivar as a low-bee flower. Treat this as a conditional landscaping choice.
12. Caladium (Caladium species)
Caladiums are tropical ornamental plants valued mainly for their colourful leaves rather than their flowers.
Their foliage can display combinations of green, white, pink, and red, making them useful for decorative garden beds and shaded spaces.
Because caladiums are generally selected for their foliage, they can provide colour without depending on large displays of nectar-producing flowers.
Their flowers are relatively inconspicuous compared with their leaves.
Best use: Tropical gardens, shaded borders, decorative pots, and landscape beds.
Important: Caladium is a foliage alternative, not a proven bee-repellent flower. Choose plants suitable for your local growing conditions.
13. Ornamental Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)
Croton is a tropical foliage plant with colourful leaves that may display red, yellow, orange, and green patterns.
It is commonly grown as a decorative shrub or container plant.
Unlike a garden designed around abundant flowering plants, a croton-based display can provide visual interest mainly through foliage.
This makes it a useful landscaping option when you want to reduce the number of prominent flowering plants immediately beside outdoor seating areas.
Best use: Tropical gardens, entrances, decorative pots, and landscape borders.
Important: Crotons can produce flowers, and those flowers may attract insects. They should not be described as completely bee-free.
14. Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses are useful landscaping choices when you want height, movement, texture, and greenery without relying on large displays of showy flowers.
Many ornamental grasses are wind-pollinated rather than dependent on insects for pollen transfer.
Their flower structures are generally less attractive to nectar-collecting bees than flowers that offer abundant nectar.
Suitable varieties may include certain ornamental fountain grasses and other locally adapted landscape grasses.
Best use: Garden borders, decorative beds, screening, and landscaping around patios.
Important: Some grasses produce pollen that may be collected by certain insects. Their low flower-based bee attraction does not mean they are completely unused by wildlife.
15. Ornamental Sedges (Carex species)
Sedges are grass-like plants that provide attractive foliage, texture, and ground coverage.
Many ornamental sedges have relatively inconspicuous flowers and are not major nectar sources for bees.
They can therefore be useful alternatives to flower-heavy garden beds when your objective is to reduce the number of prominent floral food sources near seating areas.
Different sedge species have different moisture, drainage, and sunlight requirements.
Best use: Garden edges, shaded landscaping, ground coverage, and decorative containers.
Important: Sedges are not flowering ornamental alternatives in the same sense as petunias or pansies. Their flowers are less conspicuous, but they are still flowering plants.
Which Flowers Attract the Fewest Bees?
If you want a quick comparison, the following table separates plants supported by comparative research from conditional ornamental choices.
| Plant | Evidence or characteristic | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Petunias | Relatively low visitation in comparative research | Consider selected cultivars |
| Ornamental geraniums | Relatively low visitation; cultivar differences | Consider selected cultivars |
| Pansies | Relatively low visitation in comparative research | Consider where climate permits |
| New Guinea impatiens | Relatively low visitation compared with benchmark flowers | Consider suitable cultivars |
| Double-flowered petunias | Some forms produce little or no nectar | Conditional choice |
| Double bird’s-foot trefoil | Tested double forms showed reduced nectar | Specialized ornamental choice |
| Double soapwort | Tested double forms showed reduced nectar | Conditional choice |
| Double roses | Some forms have less accessible centres | Depends on variety |
| Double dahlias | Dense petals may conceal central florets | Depends on variety |
| Double zinnias | Flower structure varies considerably | Depends on variety |
| Double chrysanthemums | Dense flower forms may restrict access | Depends on variety |
| Caladium | Primarily foliage-based landscaping | Foliage alternative |
| Croton | Primarily foliage-based landscaping | Foliage alternative |
| Ornamental grasses | Many are wind-pollinated | Landscaping alternative |
| Ornamental sedges | Often have inconspicuous flowers | Landscaping alternative |
The strongest research-supported starting points among these common bedding flowers are selected petunias, geraniums, pansies, and New Guinea impatiens.
For gardens where you do not need many flowers, foliage plants, grasses, and sedges provide additional landscaping options.
Why Do Some Flowers Attract Fewer Bees?
Understanding the reasons behind flower visitation makes it easier to choose appropriate plants.
1. They Produce Little Accessible Nectar
Nectar is an important source of carbohydrates for bees.
Some ornamental flowers produce small amounts of nectar, while others have floral structures that make the nectar difficult for certain bees to reach.
When a plant offers limited nectar, bees may spend more time visiting other flowers with better food rewards.
However, nectar production alone does not determine whether a flower attracts bees. Pollen availability, scent, flower structure, and the surrounding environment also matter.
2. They Provide Limited Accessible Pollen
Pollen supplies important nutrients for bee development and colony growth.
Some highly modified ornamental flowers have reproductive structures that are less accessible than those of their simpler relatives.
When bees cannot easily reach pollen, they may prefer other flowers.
This does not mean every ornamental flower with many petals is unsuitable for pollinators. The actual structure of the flower is important.
3. Their Petals Conceal the Flower Centre
Single and double flowers can differ in how accessible their reproductive structures are.
A single flower usually has a more exposed centre. Depending on the species, this can make pollen and nectar easier to access.
A densely double flower may contain extra petals that cover the centre or alter the flower’s normal structure.
Research comparing single and double forms of Lotus corniculatus, Petunia × hybrida, Calendula officinalis, and Saponaria officinalis found that some double-flowered forms produced little or no nectar.
However, the researchers also found that double and single calendula flowers had similar nectar standing crops.
This is an important exception: double flowers do not automatically provide fewer resources.
4. Flower Shape Influences Which Bees Can Feed
Different bee species have different body sizes and mouthpart lengths.
A flower with a deep tubular structure may be easier for a long-tongued bee to use than a shorter-tongued species.
Similarly, a small flower may be accessible to a small solitary bee but less suitable for a larger bee.
This explains why a flower may receive fewer visits from honey bees while still attracting other pollinators.
5. Colour Can Influence Flower Detection
Bees do not perceive colour in exactly the same way humans do.
Their visual systems are sensitive to ultraviolet, blue, and green wavelengths. They do not have a dedicated red photoreceptor like humans.
Some red flowers are less conspicuous to bees, particularly when their colour signals are adapted to bird pollinators.
However, bees can still visit certain red flowers.
Red is therefore not a reliable bee-repellent colour. Floral scent, ultraviolet patterns, nectar rewards, and other visual characteristics can also influence visitation.
6. The Surrounding Environment Matters
A flower that attracts few bees in one garden may receive many visits in another.
Bee activity is affected by:
- Weather and temperature.
- Time of day.
- Flowering season.
- Nearby food sources.
- Distance between flowers.
- Local bee species.
- Availability of nectar and pollen.
For this reason, plant recommendations should be treated as relative rather than guaranteed.
Do Honey Bees and Wild Bees Prefer the Same Flowers?
No. Different bee species do not always use flowers in the same way.
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are social insects that collect nectar and pollen for their colonies.
Bumble bees (Bombus species) are also social bees but differ in body size, tongue length, and flower-handling behaviour.
Carpenter bees (Xylocopa species) are large-bodied bees that can interact with certain flowers differently from smaller species.
Leafcutter bees (Megachile species) and mining bees (Andrena species) are solitary bees with their own feeding and nesting behaviours.
Consequently, a plant receiving relatively few honey bee visits may still support other bees.
The 2024 Michigan State University study is particularly valuable because it recorded visits from honey bees, bumble bees, hoverflies, other flies, and other wasps and bees.
Its results should not be interpreted as a universal ranking for every bee species or every climate.
What Flowers Should You Avoid Near a Patio If You Want Fewer Bees?
If you want to reduce bee encounters around your patio, dining table, balcony, or entrance, focus on the location of your plants rather than trying to eliminate every flowering plant.
Some plants are particularly attractive to pollinators because they provide accessible nectar and pollen.
Examples include:
- Lavender.
- Bee balm.
- Borage.
- Sunflowers.
- Cosmos.
- Open-centred zinnias.
- Flowering basil.
- Many open-centred dahlias.
These plants can be excellent for pollinators, but they may not be the most convenient choices immediately beside an outdoor dining table if you prefer fewer bee encounters.
Instead, consider planting them in a separate section of your garden.
For seating areas, you can use suitable foliage plants, ornamental grasses, sedges, and selected bedding plants that have received relatively low pollinator visitation.
This approach allows you to enjoy decorative plants while reducing the concentration of attractive flowers near frequently used spaces.
How to Reduce Bee Visits Around Your Garden Without Harming Bees
Changing your plants can help, but it is not a complete solution. Bees may still fly through your garden while searching for food elsewhere.
Use the following practical measures.
1. Choose Foliage-Focused Plants
Consider decorative plants that provide colour through their leaves rather than large displays of nectar-producing flowers.
Examples include suitable caladiums, crotons, ornamental grasses, and sedges.
Choose species that can tolerate your local sunlight, rainfall, soil, and watering conditions.
2. Move Attractive Flowering Plants Away From Seating Areas
You do not need to remove every pollinator-friendly plant.
Instead, separate your garden into different areas:
- Outdoor dining and seating.
- Decorative foliage landscaping.
- Flowering borders.
- Pollinator-friendly planting areas.
This can reduce direct encounters around the spaces you use most often.
3. Keep Sweet Foods and Drinks Covered
Bees and wasps may investigate sweet drinks, ripe fruit, and exposed food.
When eating outdoors:
- Cover sweet drinks.
- Clean spilled beverages.
- Dispose of fruit scraps.
- Keep food waste in covered containers.
This is particularly useful when entertaining guests outside.
4. Avoid Disturbing Bee Nests
If bees repeatedly enter a wall, roof, or hole in the ground, there may be an active nesting site nearby.
Do not block the entrance, spray chemicals into it, or disturb the nest.
Contact a qualified beekeeper or appropriate local pest-management professional if the nest creates a safety concern.
5. Do Not Use Flowers as Bee Repellents
No ornamental flower should be treated as a dependable method of keeping bees away.
Some plants may receive fewer visits, but this does not mean they actively repel bees.
Avoid unnecessary insecticide use, especially on flowering plants, because it can harm pollinators.
Best Low-Bee Landscaping Choices for Ghana and Other Tropical Climates
Garden recommendations developed in Europe and North America do not automatically apply to Ghana.
Temperature, rainfall, sunlight, soil conditions, and the local bee community can change which plants perform well and how frequently pollinators visit them.
For a tropical garden, consider:
- Caladium: Attractive foliage for shaded areas.
- Croton: Colourful leaves for sunny or partially shaded landscaping, depending on the variety.
- Ornamental grasses: Useful for borders and open landscaping areas.
- Suitable sedges: Useful for ground coverage and decorative garden edges.
- Selected petunias: Where suitable cultivars and growing conditions are available.
- Ornamental geraniums: Where heat and growing conditions permit.
Do not assume that a flower with low visitation in a Michigan study will receive the same number of visits in Accra or another tropical location.
If you want a more reliable local assessment, observe the plants in your area during their flowering periods and ask local nurseries which varieties commonly receive bee visits.
The most useful approach is to select plants that suit your climate and then assess their actual pollinator activity.
Flowers People Think Repel Bees but Actually Don’t
Some popular gardening suggestions claim that particular flowers keep bees away. However, these claims are often exaggerated.
Do Marigolds Repel Bees?
No. Marigolds are not reliable bee repellents.
Some varieties may receive relatively few visits, but other marigolds attract bees and other pollinators.
In the 2024 Michigan State University study, marigold ‘Alumia Vanilla Cream’ was used as a moderately attractive benchmark annual.
Therefore, planting marigolds does not guarantee fewer bees.
Do Red Flowers Keep Bees Away?
No. Red flowers are not guaranteed to keep bees away.
Some red flowers are less conspicuous to bees, particularly certain bird-pollinated species. However, bees can still detect and visit red flowers that offer suitable resources or provide other visual signals.
Flower colour alone is not a dependable way to reduce bee activity.
Does Lavender Repel Bees?
No. Lavender is generally known as a plant that attracts bees.
Its flowers provide nectar, and it is commonly recommended for pollinator-friendly gardens.
If your objective is to reduce bee activity around a patio, planting large amounts of lavender immediately beside the seating area may not be the best choice.
Do Strong-Smelling Flowers Repel Bees?
Not necessarily.
Some floral scents help bees locate flowers, while others may be less attractive to particular pollinators.
A strong fragrance does not automatically make a plant unattractive to bees.
The scent, flower structure, nectar availability, and surrounding environment all influence visits.
Frequently Asked Questions About Flowers Bees Don’t Like
What flowers do bees hate the most?
There is no scientifically established list of flowers that bees universally hate.
Some ornamental flowers receive fewer visits because they provide limited accessible nectar or pollen, or because their flower structures make feeding difficult.
Selected petunias, geraniums, pansies, and New Guinea impatiens received relatively low pollinator visitation compared with more attractive benchmark plants in a scientific study.
What flowers attract the fewest bees?
Among the popular bedding plants examined in the 2024 Michigan State University study, petunias, geraniums, pansies, and New Guinea impatiens generally received fewer pollinator visits than the attractive benchmark plants.
Individual cultivars still differed, so none should be considered completely bee-free.
What can I plant near my front door to attract fewer bees?
Consider foliage-focused plants, suitable ornamental grasses, sedges, and selected ornamental bedding plants.
You can also move highly attractive flowering plants away from your entrance and seating areas.
No plant guarantees that bees will never fly near your front door.
Do bees like petunias?
Bees can visit petunias, but some petunia cultivars receive relatively few pollinator visits compared with more attractive flowers.
The cultivar, flower structure, and local conditions influence how attractive a petunia is to pollinators.
Do bees like geraniums?
Some bees visit ornamental geraniums, but certain zonal geranium cultivars receive relatively few visits.
Different plants sold under the name geranium can have different characteristics, so identifying the actual plant is important.
Do marigolds keep bees away?
No. Marigolds do not reliably repel bees.
Some cultivars receive fewer visits than other flowering plants, but marigolds can also attract pollinators.
Are double flowers better if I want fewer bees?
Some double-flowered varieties may provide less accessible nectar or pollen because extra petals can conceal the flower centre.
However, not all double flowers have the same characteristics. Some double varieties still provide resources for pollinators.
Do bees avoid red flowers?
Not all red flowers are avoided by bees.
Certain red flowers are less conspicuous to bees than to birds, but bees can still detect and visit some red flowers.
Red is not a reliable bee-repellent colour.
Can I have a beautiful garden without attracting many bees?
Yes. You can create an attractive garden using foliage plants, ornamental grasses, sedges, decorative pots, stones, and carefully selected ornamental flowers.
Placing highly attractive flowering plants away from seating areas can also reduce unwanted encounters.
How do I keep bees away without killing them?
Choose less flower-intensive landscaping near busy areas, cover sweet foods and drinks, avoid disturbing nests, and relocate seating where practical.
If a nest is creating a safety issue, seek assistance from an appropriate local professional rather than attempting to destroy it yourself.
Conclusion: Choosing Flowers Bees Don’t Like
Flowers bees don’t like are better understood as flowers that receive fewer bee visits rather than plants that actively repel bees.
Some petunias, ornamental geraniums, pansies, and New Guinea impatiens received relatively low pollinator visitation in comparative research. Certain double-flowered varieties may also provide less accessible floral resources, depending on their structure and cultivar.
For areas where you want fewer bee encounters, foliage-focused plants, ornamental grasses, and sedges can provide attractive landscaping without relying on large displays of nectar-producing flowers.
Remember that no flower guarantees a bee-free garden. The most practical approach is to select suitable plants, move highly attractive flowers away from frequently used outdoor spaces, and avoid disturbing bees unnecessarily.
This allows you to enjoy a beautiful garden while reducing unwanted bee encounters.
Scientific References and Further Reading
- Smitley, D., et al. (2024). Evaluation of the most popular annual flowers sold in the United States and Europe indicates low visitation rates by pollinators and large variation among cultivars. Journal of Economic Entomology, 117(3), 1057–1070.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toae084 - Comba, L., et al. (2001). Native or Exotic? Double or Single? Evaluating Plants for Pollinator-Friendly Gardens. Annals of Botany.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32050738/ - Chen, D., et al. (2020). Red flowers differ in shades between pollination systems and across continents. Annals of Botany.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7539362/ - Cornell Cooperative Extension. Creating a Pollinator-Friendly Garden.
https://monroe.cce.cornell.edu/master-gardeners/pollinator-friendly-gardens/creating-a-pollinator-friendly-garden - Li, D., et al. (2021). Do flowers removed of either nectar or pollen attract fewer bumblebee pollinators? An experimental test in Impatiens oxyanthera. AoB PLANTS.
https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plab029
