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Did you know that you don't need a garden to provide a habitat for bees and other beneficial insects? Even a small balcony can be made bee-friendly by cultivating appropriate plants. The great thing about this is that the selection of plants for an insect-friendly balcony is extremely large and varied. You can find an overview of the most popular and at the same time bee-friendly plants for the balcony here!
Bee friendly balcony
Ideally, balcony plants are not only decorative, but also bee-friendly. This means that their flowers contain valuable nectar or pollen for the bees to feed on. The plants should bloom at different times, if possible, so that the useful little helpers can help themselves to the food source at any time. A wide variety of plants are suitable for this, because there are both early and late bloomers. Planting that is as varied as possible is also an advantage for eager nectar collectors. A bee-friendly balcony is characterized by the following features:
- early and late flowering plants
- different plant species
- Balcony plants with a high nectar value
Balcony plants for bees from A - B
Adonis
Adonis are characterized by their early flowering, which already takes place in February. Bees and other nectar collectors are particularly happy about this, because they are supplied with nutritious nectar at the beginning of the year. The Adonis can stand on a sunny as well as on a partially shaded balcony. It should be noted that the location preferences of the more than 20 species can vary. For example, while the Adonis vernalis has a sunny and warm place, the Adonis amurensis prefers it cool and semi-shady.
- Latin name: Adonis amurensis
- Flower color: yellow
- Flowering time: February to April
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
notice: Adonis are highly poisonous!
heather
Common heather can often be found in fields and meadows in the wild. There it represents an important food source for numerous insects, because its nectar value is very high. The common heather is not only insect-friendly, but also very pretty to look at. Their grape-like inflorescence blooms - depending on the species - in a wide variety of colors. They appear particularly decorative when differently colored heathers are cultivated together. Larger balcony boxes are best suited for this sunny locations to be placed.
- Latin name: Calluna vulgaris
- Flower color: violet, yellow, orange, pink, red, white
- Flowering period: July to November
- Location: sunny, semi-shady
notice: The common heather is used to obtain heather honey.
blackberries and raspberries
Those who like to eat berries are well advised to try blackberries and raspberries. The two shrubs can easily be cultivated on the balcony, as long as it is exposed to the sun. The plants begin to flower as early as May and attract bees thanks to their high nectar and pollen content. Early bloomers like these are a welcome source of food for insects, especially at the beginning of spring, as few plants are still blooming at this time.
- Latin name: Rubus sect. Rubus and Rubus idaeus
- Synonyms: forest berry, blackberry, dewberry, thornberry
- Flowering period: May to August
- Location: sunny
Bee-friendly plants for the balcony from G - L
Common stone quenelle
The common cinnamon is an upright and bushy perennial that forms a large number of small flowers. These are usually only about one centimeter in size, but contain valuable nectar. This is a welcome source of food for numerous insects, such as bees and hoverflies. The common stone quenelle is therefore considered to be insect-friendly and supplies the beneficial insects with nectar until October.
- Latin name: Calamintha nepeta
- Synonyms: Small-flowered Calamint, Glandular Calamint
- Growth height: 30 - 50 cm
- Flower color: white, violet
- Flowering period: July to October
- Location: sunny
catnip
It is primarily interesting for cats, because they like to sniff the plant. However, the lemon-like smell is not only interesting for furry friends, but also for insects. Because catnip is ideal for a bee-friendly balcony. Bees in particular are magically attracted to the scent and find nutritious nectar in the flowers. Catnip is considered to be quite undemanding and also copes well with drought. Only in winter does it require a little more attention, because in the cold season it should be equipped with frost protection.
- Latin name: Nepeta
- Flower color: blue-violet or white
- Flowering period: May to September
- Location: sunny
Balcony plants for bees from L - M
lavender
Lavender is one of the most popular balcony plants and versatile. It can be cultivated as a decorative eye-catcher on the balcony, but can also be used in the kitchen and as a remedy. On top of that, it is bee-friendly and provides the insects on the balcony with food. While bees are drawn to the scent of lavender, mosquitoes and other pests stay away. This makes lavender a true all-rounder that has also proven useful in pest control.
- Latin name: Lavandula angustifolia
- Synonyms: real lavender, small speik
- Growth height: 60 - 100 cm
- Flower color: violet, pink or white
- Flowering period: June to August
- Location: sunny and warm
daisies
There are around 42 types of the popular daisies, all of which are native to Europe. The flower is not only pretty to look at, but also bee-friendly. Because their large, white flowers are easily accessible and provide food for bees from May to October. On the balcony, the plant is happy about a sunny spot, but can also cope with partial shade.
- Latin name: Leucanthemum
- Synonyms: daisy, large daisy, meadow marigold
- Growth height: 30 - 70 cm
- Flower color: white, yellow
- Flowering period: May to October
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
notice: The marguerite is not only edible, but is also considered a medicinal herb.
Planting from P - S
Purslane
Purslane are particularly decorative balcony plants, because their flowers shine intensely in a wide variety of colors. It grows overhanging, which is why it is very suitable for traffic lights or balcony boxes. As beautiful as these balcony plants are, they are also easy to care for. However, it is important that the plants are placed in a sunny location. There their flowers develop best, which attract numerous insects and provide them with food.
- Latin name: Portulaca grandiflora
- Flower color: pink, white, red, yellow, orange, violet, multicolored
- Flowering period: June to August
- Location: sunny
marigold
Marigolds bring color to the balcony, because the plants shine in different colors. This not only pleases people, but also bees and insects. Because marigolds are bee-friendly and provide the animals with valuable nectar until autumn. In order for the marigold to bloom as intensively as possible, it should be placed in a sunny location.
- Latin name: Calendula officinalis
- Growth height: 20 - 60 cm
- Flower color: yellow, orange, carmine
- Flowering period: May to October
- Location: sunny to off-sun
notice: The flowering of the marigold is particularly intense in the first six weeks. After that it forms more flowers, but these are usually a little smaller.
jewelry basket
The decorative basket also inspires people and insects alike: the ornamental plant forms one Variety of colorful flowers, which are not only decorative but also rich in nectar. It blooms into September and provides beneficial insects with food throughout the summer. The flowers are also edible for us humans, which taste slightly sweet and make a wonderful decoration on salads and desserts.
- Latin name: Cosmos bipinnatus
- Synonyms: Cosmea
- Flower color: red, pink, white
- Flowering period: July to October
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
Balcony plants for insects from T - W
thyme
Thyme is a popular kitchen spice that can also be easily grown on the bee-friendly balcony. There, many insects enjoy the nectar it contains, because the nectar value of thyme is extremely high. That is why thyme is particularly important for wild bees and butterflies. If you want to make your balcony insect-friendly, you are well advised to use thyme in every respect.
- Latin name: Thymus vulgaris
- Synonyms: periwinkle, Roman thyme, real thyme
- Flower color: white, pink
- Flowering period: May to September
- Location: full sun and warm
thyme, thymus
notice: Thyme is perennial and can be overwintered. For this purpose, however, it should always be protected from frost.
vanilla flower
With the vanilla flower, not only a decorative plant pulls onto the balcony, because it is also insect-friendly. Both bees and butterflies are attracted to the flower's scent. This is also perceptible for humans, because the vanilla flower smells - as the name suggests - pleasantly of vanilla. Despite all its special features, the plant is considered to be very easy to care for, only long dry periods should be avoided.
- Latin name: Heliotropium arborescens
- Synonyms: shrubs solstice
- Growth height: up to 60 cm
- Flower color: dark purple, blue
- Flowering period: May to September
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
notice: All plant parts of the vanilla flower are highly poisonous!
Wild Wine
Not only flowers and herbs are among the bee-friendly plants for the balcony, because climbing plants are also rich in nectar and pollen. One of these plants is Virginia creeper, which is great for planting on walls and trellises. The climbing plant is considered very easy to care for and has no specific requirements for the location. Because Virginia creeper can be cultivated in the sun as well as in the penumbra or shade.
- Latin name: Parthenocissus quinquefolia
- Flowering period: July to August
- Flower color: white
- Location: sunny, semi-shady or shady
