Herbs: a Simple, Easy, Low-Water Bee Garden

Sep 22, 2014

Herbs: a Simple, Easy, Low-Water Bee Garden

Sep 22, 2014

Here at the Haven we're all about providing ideas to make bee gardening easy.  We just want you to do it!  One simple way to create a bee garden is to plant an herb garden. Not only will you help the bees, you'll have fresh herbs for cooking the food that bee pollination has provided.  Let your herbs flower and you're all set; cut the flowers off as they fade to ensure repeat bloom. An added benefit is that many common Mediterranean-climate herbs are fairly low water users.

While herbs generally bloom in the summer and early fall, rosemary and borage bloom in the winter and early spring, respectively.  Include these in your bee herb garden to maximize the resources you are providing. Herbs currently flowering at the Haven include basil, oregano, catnip, calamint, and rosemary.

Honey bee on licorice basil
Honey bee on licorice basil

Honey bee on 'Mozart' rosemary
Honey bee on 'Mozart' rosemary


By Christine Casey
Author - Academic Program Management Officer III