Put together balcony plants for bees into a beautiful arrangement with these ideas

More and more garden owners are opting for insect-friendly plants and insect hotels in their gardens. Above all, a bee-friendly garden is becoming more and more popular, because it is not only good for the insects, but also provides you with a multitude of bright spots of color and even herbs and spices. However, if you don’t have a garden, you don’t have to be sad. As long as you have at least one balcony, you too can put together great arrangements with which you do something good for the bees. So if you were planning to inquire about beautiful balcony plants and flowers anyway, you now have the opportunity to do so. In today’s article you will find out which balcony plants are particularly beneficial for bees and which attract them. We’ll also show you some inspiring plant and flower combinations for flower pots and boxes that you can easily replant once you have the necessary types of flowers. Soon you will be able to enjoy watching the bees at work and snacking on nectar.

Balcony plants for bees and suitable herbs

Not only typical potted plants are bee-friendly. Would you also have thought that some herbs and even strawberries can also magically attract insects. In general, it is advantageous to put together a variety of varieties instead of the usual monocultures, in which usually only one type of flower is used for all window boxes. This way you can be sure that there is something for everyone. You will not only attract bees, but also butterflies and other useful insects. And with a self-made bee trough, your bee-friendly balcony will be complete.

Some typical flowers for balconies and pots attract bees because of their scent, but are not a source of food. You should avoid such flowers or at least not choose them as solitary plants. The popular geraniums, for example, are one of these plants and are not suitable balcony flowers for bees. Instead, or as a combination, you can also find many other balcony plants for bees that will simply look wonderful on your balcony. Some of such flowers can be found below:

Bee-friendly plants list

• Convertible rose
• Daisies
• Hydrangeas
• sunflowers
• Clematis
• Verbenas
• phlox
• Nasturtiums
• Bluebells
• Splendid candle
• Verbena
• Petunias
• Bee herb
• Rock butterwort
• White and red stonecrop
• Hot stonecrop
• Zinnias

Also, do not underestimate the effects of the sedum plant and other sedum species. When these reach the edge of the plant container, they quickly transform into hanging specimens and decorate the box in a particularly beautiful way. If, on the other hand, the plants become too long for your taste, they are simply shortened. Of course, the plants from the list above are by no means all that can be used and be good for the bees.

There are numerous seed mixtures from wildflowers on the market, which especially attract wild bees and are also suitable for the balcony. But be sure to pay attention to the content and make sure that really insect-friendly flowers are included, because this is not always the case. In addition to a mix of wild flowers and seeds, the poppy can also be a wonderful way to add red color accents to bees in the midst of other balcony plants. The beautiful wine rues (Ruta graveolens) are also suitable as balcony plants for bees and bumblebees.

herbs and spices

Can’t plant and harvest herbs because you don’t have a garden? Thought wrong! Spice and herb plants can also thrive in pots and are also the perfect balcony plants for bees. The herbs are particularly popular with bees: thyme, chives, lemon balm, mint, oregano, basil, coriander, sage, borage, savory, hyssop, ornamental leek, catnip and lavender. You can use them to create beautiful insect-friendly flower boxes. And just don’t think these are boring green plants. That is by no means the case. Apart from the fact that they pamper us with a pleasant scent, herbal plants also bloom extremely beautifully.

Use herbal plants as balcony plants for bees either in the form of arrangements made entirely of spices or combine them with colorful flowers. This way you can create interesting color combinations and textures. Strawberries and mint in a box are also a great idea, and the bees will thank you for it!

Arrangements of balcony plants for bees

You can use any container for this modern and pleasant plant arrangement of balcony plants for bees. In a metal plant pot, however, the pink and purple colors come into their own, as we think. The following plants were combined:

• Carnation (Armeria maritima ‘Vesuvius’)
• Blossom sage (Salvia Sensation Deep Rose ’)
• Carnation ‘Düsseldorfer Stolz’ (Armeria maritima ‘Düsseldorfer Stolz’)
• Garden flower sage (Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’)
• Bellflower (campanula)
• Garden Whitsun Carnation ‘Fire Witch’ (Dianthus Fire Witch)
• Magnificent sedum plant ‘Herbstfreude’ (Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’)
• Snapdragons (Antirrhinum)
• Lavender (Lavandula)

All of these balcony plants for bees can withstand full sun and can therefore also thrive on south and west balconies. Make sure that the soil is well drained to avoid waterlogging. To do this, mix them with sand and small stones. This creates the perfect drainage and for any bee forage plant from the list above.

Hanging basket

• Verbena
• Silver herb (Lobelia maritima)
• Vanilla flower (Heliotropium arborescens)
• Scented stone rich (Lobularia maritima)
• Magic bells (Calibrachoa)
• petunia
• Two-toothed teeth (Bidens aurea)
• Elven spur (Diascia)
• Moss and branches of conifers

This mix of flowers is a paradise for different insects. Moths and butterflies, but also small species of wasps, will feel at home here. And of course there are also perfect balcony flowers for bees. So if you are looking for balcony plants for bees and butterflies, this hanging basket is the ideal choice. The basket can first be covered with plenty of conifer branches and moss. Then fill your planting basket two-thirds full with compost, soil and fertilizer to encourage growth after planting. Then start with the planting, and more precisely with the center of the basket, where the upright varieties find their place. These include, for example, the vanilla plant and the verbena. Plant all hanging specimens around them. Fill in the gaps with compost. Now hang up the basket and only then pour it, otherwise it will be too heavy to carry and you could get wet.

Combine geraniums with bees flowers on the balcony

If you don’t want to do without the classic geraniums entirely, simply combine them with bee-friendly specimens to make up for the geraniums’ lack of food source. This arrangement, for example, is very pretty, for which you need the following plants:

A: 3x loyal to men, also called blue lobelia (Lobelia erinus),

B: 1x petunias

C: 2x geraniums ‘Fantasia’ in salmon color

D: 2x pansies in purple

E: 1x pink petunias

You can see the arrangement of the listed balcony plants for bees in the picture above. The arrangement of the flowers is of course only an idea and can be changed as desired. Make sure that the tall flowers are in the back of the box and the hanging ones in the front. The bee plants predominate in this combination, but the colors were chosen so that the salmon-colored geraniums can come into their own and create a contrast. You can also set up this box in a sunny location without any problems.

Ideas for box and round container

A: Decorative sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

B: Lackritz straw flower (Helichrysum petiolare)

C: Petunias in pink

D: Verbenas in pink

E: Snapping mouths, also Torenie (Torenia)

Q: Sage in red

G: Petunias in white

H: Petunias in white with a pink or purple center

A: eucalyptus

B: Vanilla flower (Heliotropum)

C: fragrant geranium (pelargonium)

D: Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

E: Scented stone rich (Lobularia maritima)

Q: Plectranthus ciliatus

G: Faithful to men (Lobelia erinus)

You already know a large part of these balcony plants for bees from the previous arrangements and of course they are also suitable for numerous others, as these two planters prove. While the first idea is intended for a flower box, the second, as shown, is more suitable for a round flower pot or tub. But of course you can take any plant container you like and then plant it individually and according to its shape.

The variant in the box consists of delicate and light colors such as pink and white. Only the sage with its red color stands out a bit more in the background. The combination of standing (for the background) and hanging (for the foreground and the sides) balcony flowers creates a lush arrangement that looks very attractive not only on the railing, but also on the windowsill. The arrangement with the basket is actually a pot that was simply placed in a basket at the end. The selected balcony plants for bees emit pleasant scents and pamper you too.

Colorful balcony plants for bees

A: Sage in pink, purple, or pink

B: Zinnias in pink and orange

C: Kapmergerite, also Cape basket (Osteospermum)

D: Scented stone rich (Lobularia maritima)

E: Hussar button (Sanvitalia)

F: Faithful to men (Lobelia erinus) in lavender or violet

This colorful arrangement of balcony plants for bees consists of the plant species listed above and creates a particularly beautiful blaze of colors on your balcony. It looks much more summery and will soon attract the first bees and butterflies. Don’t forget to drain it here either. A layer of pebbles about 2.5 cm thick should be sufficient for this. A sunny to partially shaded location is also suitable for this arrangement.

Three-tier arrangement for the corner on the balcony

A: Red-leaved pearl millet ‘Purple Majesty’ (Pennisetum glaucum)

B: Magnificent candle (Gaura lindheimeri)

C: Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

D: purple bells ‘Quicksilver’ (Heucherella)

E: Colored ornamental sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

F: Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)

G: Green and yellow ornamental sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

H: Lantana

If you arrange the balcony plants for bees as shown in the picture, they can come into their own and harmonize with each other. For this purpose, it is best to use a round or rectangular flower pot, which you can put on display in a corner of the balcony. Plant the pearl millet at the very back (or in the middle if you have a larger pot). In the row in front of it (or around it) distribute the milkweed, which is particularly popular with butterflies, the splendid candle and the purple bell. The lowest specimens are placed in the front row and these are all the other balcony plants for bees from the list. The result is an interesting arrangement with a nice texture and subtle colors that not only the bees will be grateful for.

Herbs, vegetables and flowers combine for an edible arrangement

A: mini rose (pink)

B: Dill (Anethum graveolens)

C: grape tomatoes

D: mint (mentha)

E: Zinnias (Zinnia)

F: parsley (Petroselinum crispum)

G: Carnations (Dianthus)

H: Nasturtium (Tropaeolum)

I: Ornamental sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)

J: Sage ‘Tricolor’ (Salvia)

K: pansy (viola)

A really diverse mix of balcony plants for bees can be found in this flower box. Not only do the beautiful flowers delight, but also the fragrant herbs. And by the way, you can even harvest small tomatoes from a certain point in time. In general, all specimens are edible. The flowers of the flowers can be used to decorate dishes. And while you do this, you kindly feed the bees as well. Use any plant container for this plant combination. We particularly like the idea of ​​the wooden box, but any other container is also suitable. Sunny south-facing balconies are ideal, but the western one can be chosen for these plants.