EXOTIC PLANTS
Just a selection of observations

In general these have been added because of their observed value for foraging for bees. Very often a visit to a nursery will result in finding a table of plants in flower with sufficient numbers of stingless bees in particular in attendance. This is always a good way of picking such plants, let the bees choose. Just remember, when just a single plant is growing in a garden, that may not be enough to attract them, nor will it keep them coming. Plant a diversity, to keep the flowering happening.

PLANT

DESCRIPTION

PHOTO

Bartlettina sordeda (Mexican Mist)

A medium shrub that seems to like moisture, with masses of blue -lilac flowers just loved by stingless bees for the high yield of pollen it produces.

Largerstroemia (Pride of India)

Deciduous small tree, stands cutting back. The flowers of various colours are worked by various bees including leafcutters and stingless bees.

Grewia occidentalis

A scrambling, multi-trunked shrub with lilac flowers that are likes by an assortment of solitary bees including carpenter bees, resin bees, leafcutters.

Gazanias

A tough, low growing edging plant that provides good forage for many types of native bees, solitaty and stingless

Arctotus

A Sth African flowering plant that is used by stingless bees, but of more note, the silver leaves provide fibres for the nests of the introduced carder bee, also from Southern Africa.

Escholtzia

Small showy annuals, loved by stingless bees.

Zygocactus

These are liked by stingless bees, good for hanging baskets, vertical gardens

Buddleya

Known to be attracting to butterflies, it is called butterfly bush, this is also popular with the Amegilla bees, especially the BBB.

Nasturtium

This plant self seed, rarely stops flowering, and almost never without stingless bee visitors.

Meterosiderus
(NZ Christmas Bush)

Liked by stingless bees

Abelia

Liked by stingless bees, and BBBs

Raphiolepsis Indica (Indian Hawthorn)

This shrub can be obtained in a low fruiting strain to lessen its weed potential, and is very popular with stingless bees

Zephyranthes

Polygalis

Liked by carpenter bees

Leucophyllum frutescens

Perennial Basil

Perennial basil is a very long flowering herb, and it is VERY popular with many solitary and stingless native bees.

HERBS

Many of the herbs are enthusiastically worked by stingless bees. Vegetables that run to see like rocket, and the Brassicae, lettuce, even carrot, radish are well worked by stingless bees.

VEGETABLES

The Blue Banded Bee is a buzz pollinator and as such is an excellent pollinator of vegetable crops such as tomatoes, eggplant, and capsicum. The BBBs have actually bee developed for commercial use in greenhouses, to replace the mechanical vibrators that are used now. They offer great potential commercial, and are certainly of great value for this group of plants in the home vege garden.

Gamolepsis chryanthemoides (Paris Daisy)

Photo by Marc Newman

Chinese Plumbago (Ceratostigma willmotttianum)

Liked by BBBs and Teddy bear bees, both Amegillas

Photo by Marc Newman

Prunus avium (Cherry)

Leafcutter making good use of a cherry leaf, at Ballandean

Photo by Marc Newman

Ceanothus (Blue Pacific)

Attractive exotic shrub that is loved by bees wherever it grows. That includes in Canada

Photo by Marc Newman

Nandina domestica (Japanese Bamboo)

Photo by Marc Newman

Bulbine spp

Popular with stingless and solitary bees.

Salvia spp

These come in many varieties, and a huge range of sizes and colours. Some are very valuable, long flowering bee plants. There will be one or more for every garden There is one self seeding Salvia that does become somewhat of a weed, Salvia coccinea that does keep reseeding in a garden. This ensures a supply of flowers for stingless bees which love it. Just remove the plants in inconvenient locations. S var, Indigo Spires is a great and popular variety for all bees.