Comments on: Native bee attracting plants

By: Ann TREE

Ann TREE — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 09:16:31 +0000

I live in South Gippsland, it is colder than Melbourne (further South-East) and I can say yes we do have Native Bees here. Maybe not in the quantities’ like in other places. We did have a Tribe of young Male Black Stingless (30) set up home on our petunia on the Veranda, spring/summer 2013. Exciting! I emailed Ann Dollin with pics and she was able to ID them for us and said they were probably young males new out of the hive and looking for their own place. I am an Organic Gardener who gardens for a living and I am venturing more and more into wholistic practice. This Forum reminds me just how beautifully everything co-exists when left alone or with our encouragement. Many people have degraded the natural world so I am happy to give nature and people, a helping hand to learn and re-establish. I am not saying this is perfect but we have done a lot of damage. I fit Insect Hotels for gardeners and do ‘Bird and Bee attracting’ plantings, amongst other things. There are also many small bush animals here that need habitat, like the S. E. Bandicoot. I help create Frost barriers as we can get some mean frosts here, but they do pass. I love the way many are embracing the beauty and diversity of our home and recognising the need to care for it. WE need to!
I will never forget my encounter with my first ever Blue Banded Bee. That was a magical moment.
Thank you to all the lovely commenters.

By: Michael

Michael — Tue, 19 May 2015 09:16:38 +0000

Mike; the ones here in Sydney don’t live further south than Nowra, NSW. Yes, there are native bees further south but I think they may mostly be solitary bees, not the ones which nest together like the ones I have. There has to be some bee experts at the Melbourne Botanic Gardens – perhaps you can ask them? Just my thoughts, Michael

By: Mike CCCCC

Mike CCCCC — Sun, 17 May 2015 10:58:44 +0000

Are there any native bees in melbourne i have read it’s too cold for them but i also saw a utuber who claims he has them in his yard at geelong????

By: Metalman

Metalman — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 23:42:28 +0000

Great information. Drilling holes in timber and fence post so they have a safe home near their food supply helps too..

By: bruce whish-wilson

bruce whish-wilson — Wed, 18 Feb 2015 06:49:36 +0000

Hope above recommendations for native bees and various other types apply equally as well to my honey bees !

Also frustrated by all websites describing their plants and flowers omit to grade them for their bee-attractiveness ! many more urban owners now keeping a hive in their garden, and state of flowers’ nectar quality is important value.

By: Suzie Pearce

Suzie Pearce — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 05:31:21 +0000

Thanks Maree,
Loved this information. We had some of these species on our nursery list but we able to add a few more and some extra information for our customers. Great to see an extensive list of native plants. Great work. Thanks again Suzie

By: Maria O'Brien

Maria O'Brien — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 12:48:20 +0000

Native bees (Trigona spp) will also use and pollinate mango and avocado flowers and I have seen them in a Pemberton -bred musk rose ” Penelope”. Also in apricot and plum flowers , varieties unknown. I have had a hive of these bees in my garden for 40 years at first with only a couple of acacias and a Geralton Wax as native food sources. Over the last 30 years I have added more natives as have the neighbours. The bees don’t go more than 200 m from water which point you do not mention. Water is vital for life for bees As for other spp. Don’t be too precious in the prescription of plants as non- natives are still valuable and most grow over wider environmental ranges than the natives you recommend. Not many of the plants you suggest will withstand heavy frosts.

Blue banded bees will use Agapanthus and they look spectacular together !