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Writer's pictureMarcus Bergin

Attracting Bees to Your Garden in Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham: 8 Essential Plants

Creating a bee-friendly garden in Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham, is beneficial for the environment and enhances the beauty and health of your outdoor space. Marcus Bergin Gardening highlights eight essential plants perfect for attracting bees and promoting a vibrant, eco-friendly garden.


Essential Plants for Attracting Bees


Blue Blooms for Early Pollinators


  • Pulmonaria 'Blue Ensign': Thrives in partial shade in Bishops Cleeve, offering blue flowers that are a magnet for bees.

  • Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’: A fragrant and long-lasting plant, ideal for pots and borders in Cheltenham gardens.

  • Ajuga reptans ‘Atropurpurea’: Provides excellent ground cover in local gardens, with striking deep blue flowers.


Bee-attracting plants in Bishops Cleeve garden
Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’

Vibrant Flowers for a Summer Buzz


  • Cornflowers: Easy to grow in Cheltenham's climate, cornflowers bring a stunning blue hue to your garden.

  • Borage: Noted for its vivid blue star-shaped flowers, borage is simple to cultivate and perfect for summer gardens in Bishops Cleeve.

  • Cerinthe Major ‘Purpurascens’: Offers unique purple and blue flowers, adding a touch of uniqueness to your garden.


Eco-friendly garden design by Marcus Bergin
Cerinthe Major ‘Purpurascens’

Year-Round Interest for Bees and Aesthetics


  • Eryngium spp: These long-lasting architectural plants provide winter interest in Bishops Cleeve Gardens.

  • Teasel: While attracting bees, teasels also bring birds like goldfinches, adding more wildlife to your garden.


Teasel with a bumblebee feeding
Teasel

Bee-Friendly Shrubs and Perennials


  • Ceanothus ‘Puget Blue’ AGM: A bee-attracting shrub that thrives in Cheltenham's climate.

  • Scabious, Nepeta, and Geranium spp: Beloved by bees, these perennials, especially Geranium phaeum var ‘Samobor’, have a prolonged flowering period.


Herbs That Double as Bee Magnets


  • Rosemary spp and Lavandula angustifolia Varieties: These herbs, particularly 'Hidcote Blue' and 'Munstead', are excellent for bees and culinary use.


Blue blooms in Cheltenham gardens
Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote Blue'

Maximising Blue Hues in Garden Design


Incorporate these blue flowers into your garden design to create a tranquil and spacious feel reminiscent of bluebell woods. This approach attracts bees and brings a serene ambience to your Bishops Cleeve garden.


Frequently Asked Questions


Q1: What plants can I add to my Bishops Cleeve garden to attract bees in early spring?

A1: Early bloomers like Pulmonaria and Erysimum are perfect for attracting bees as they emerge in spring.


Q2: Are there any bee-friendly plants particularly suited to Cheltenham’s climate?

A2: Plants like Borage, Cornflowers, and Cerinthe thrive in Cheltenham’s climate and are excellent for attracting bees.


Q3: How can I create a bee-friendly herb garden?

A3: Incorporate herbs such as Rosemary and Lavender, which are not only beloved by bees but also useful in the kitchen.


For personalised gardening advice and professional services in Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham, contact Marcus Bergin Gardening. Our expertise in creating bee-friendly gardens will help you transform your outdoor space into a thriving, eco-conscious haven.


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