Using Mint To Attract Bees

07/27/2009
Serious home gardeners know that bumblebees are a distinct asset to their gardens. A garden with bees reaps the benefits of pollination, which makes for sturdier, more abundant crops. While keeping your own hive is growing in popularity, for many home gardeners this is not a viable option.

Another way to increase the number of bees in your garden is to plant crops which attract them. On our farm, the applemint, peppermint and spearmint stands which we use for herbal bouquets are currently in bloom, and they are all swarming with bees! The large numbers of bees attracted to our mints also benefit the cutting flower beds, the vegetable garden and the medicinal herb beds as well.

Mints are not the only herbs which you can plant to attract bees to your garden. Anise hyssop, rue, bee balm, fennel, catnip and tansy are also greatly favored by bees. All of these herbs have the added benefits of being extremely heat and drought tolerant, as well as being freeze hardy perennials.