If you want to attract bees to your garden, this is also possible with shade perennials. Introducing five bee-friendly perennials.
Shadowy corners in the garden are often used as storage space for planters that are not required, the tool shed or the composter. But for this shadowy existence they are actually much too good. Garden areas that get little or no sun are not problematic locations, but rather a missed opportunity. If the thermometer climbs above 30 degrees Celsius in midsummer, even the biggest sun lovers are grateful for a shady spot. In the shade, even shade perennials can create a wonderful realm for bees. They feel completely comfortable there and can diligently collect nectar.
Bring shady locations to flowering with shady perennials
Shady places should not be neglected, as beautiful and enchanting plants thrive there and also make these areas a special eye-catcher. Shade perennials are perfect for this. There are a variety of perennial varieties that can get by with just a few hours of sunshine a day. They have their own beauty and are even popular with bees. Choosing the right shade plants offers birds and insects a perfect source of food. Shaded areas are also given more color with the appropriate plants. With that, the little-noticed existence has come to an end.
Perennials are naturally provided with muted shades for partial shade or shade. However, there are also strong colors. The most conspicuous is the astilbe or the spiers, which feel very comfortable in the light shade with their blossoms in fiery red, bright and pastel colors. The same goes for daylilies, which come in various shades of orange and yellow. You don't have to look far for attractive flowers that thrive in the shadow of a building. Numerous types of watery hearts, filigree elf flowers (Epimedium) and imposing forest goat's beard (Arunucs dioicus) to cranesbill species (Geranium) and wolf's monkshood (Aconutum vulparia) can be planted without hesitation in a shady spot in the garden or in the shadow of houses andother buildings.
Five attractive, insect-friendly shade perennials and their special properties
Numerous perennials grow in partial shade and shade. They give the shady areas a whole new look, add color to the darkness and just look magical. Particularly beautiful to look at and bee-friendly are:
- Foam Blossom
- St. John's Wort
- Perennial Silverleaf
- Bergenie
- Astilbe
Foam Blossom
The foam flower, botanically referred to as Tiarella cordifolia, is native to North America and is an evergreen shade perennial. It mainly grows as a wild perennial in forests, where it receives very little light. The plant has a great attraction to insects. From April, the perennial attracts numerous bees and butterflies with its white-pink flowers. In this way, it provides an excellent and important supply of food early in the year. The foam flower can be planted very well in a neutral to slightly acidic location. The color play of the leaves, which change color from green to dark red over the course of the year, is particularly beautiful. This creates an interesting pattern in the foliage of the uncomplicated ornamental perennial.
St. John's Wort
St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is one of the most colorful shade perennials. From July to September, the bright yellow flowers add a wonderful touch of color to any shaded area. The perennial is hardy and a special treat for bees and other insects. A nice additional effect: St. John's wort is a well-known medicinal plant that has been used for centuries to treat various ailments. The healing ingredients have a calming and relaxing effect and can support recovery.
Perennial Silverleaf
The perennial silver leaf (Lunaria rediviva), also known as the moon violet, is a shade perennial that exudes an intense and floral scent. The filigree, white flowers stand out particularly beautifully in dark locations. As a wild perennial, the moon violet grows mainly in the forest or on the edge of the forest, where it is nice and shady. Bees and other insects are attracted by the scent and diligently collect the flower nectar of the bee-friendly shade plant.
Bergenie
The Bergenia is an evergreen perennial that feels particularly at home in a shady spot. In spring, it brings color to your home with its eye-catching flowersGarden. The color spectrum ranges from white to red. Autumn lets the otherwise deep green leaves shine in bright colors. If the perennial plant is cultivated in well-drained soil, bees and other insects will enjoy it for many years. The shade perennials are extremely robust and completely uncomplicated in terms of care and watering.
Astilbe
The Astilbe, which is also known as the magnificent spire, exudes a pleasant fragrance through its lush inflorescences. There are different types of this shade perennial that flower in many different colors. The perennial perennial can be combined well and very attractively with other shade perennials. She feels particularly comfortable near water, so she can be planted very well near a garden pond. Since the splendor blooms a little later in the year, there is also a nice spot of color in the garden when other plants are already out of bloom. Bees, butterflies and other insects enjoy the astilbe as they can continue to find food there later in the year.
Which shade perennials are ideal for dry shaded areas?
A semi-dark and dark area and dry soil needs specialists who don't mind these conditions. Grasses such as grove simen (Luzula) and some sedges (Carex) can be planted very well here. Easy-care ground covers are just as suitable.
- Various Colored Deadnettles (Lamium)
- Wintergreen golden strawberries (Waldsteinia) with bright yellow flowers
- Seal of Solomon (Polygonatum)
They beautify bare soil and provide a great source of food for bees and other insects. If you choose Solomon's seal, you not only get a perfect plant for natural gardens, but also a great structure for a formal garden design with magical, delicately scented flowers that bees also enjoy.
Tip: In order to improve the water holding capacity of sandy and dry soil, well-seasoned compost and clay minerals such as bentonite should be worked into the soil at regular intervals.
Combine bee-friendly shade perennials
A garden becomes particularly magnificent when shade perennials that bloom at different times are combined. From spring to autumn there are always new flowering times. A mixed culture of different perennials in the shade garden is not just something to look at. Rather, such plantings serve domestic onesas a source of food for birds, bees and insects over a long period of time. This is particularly important for bees, as they have fewer and fewer opportunities to collect nectar and feed themselves.