SHIFTING ROOTS

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44 Pollinator Friendly Flowers and Herbs to Help Save the Bees

Creating a pollinator friendly garden is a win for both you and nature. You create habitat for the bees, which in turn pollinate your garden, which leads to delicious vegetables and better yields.

But what flowers are the best flowers to save the bees and other pollinators? I’ve researched and come up with a list of 44 annuals, perennials, and herbs you can grow in your backyard landscape to attract bees in your garden.

A quick disclaimer–I garden in zone 3b in the Canadian Prairies, so my suggestions reflect what grows here. If you know of another flower that bees love in another zone, please put it in the comments, along with what zone you’re in so we can all learn.

Alyssum

Sweet Alysum can also be grown as a cover crop between rows to help suppress weeds and add nutrients to the soil once it is worked in for the season.

Agastache (Anise Hyssop)

Agastache is a very drought resistant perennial and provides height in the landscape.

Apple Trees (Or really any fruit tree)

Okay, so this one is sort of cheating. But to be fair, have you ever seen a fruit tree in bloom that didn’t have tons of bees buzzing around it? Yes, many fruit trees need the bees to pollinate them, but not all. So plant those apple, cherry, plum, saskatoon berry, or any other flowering fruit free to encourage bees.

Related: 28 Hardy Fruit Trees for Zone 2 and Zone 3

Asclepias (Butterfly Weed)

Butterfly weed isn’t just for butterflies–bees love it too!

Aster

There are many varieties of asters to choose from, from the late summer blooming perennial, to the kind used as bedding plants or grown from seed in a cut flower garden.

For more native plant ideas to incorporate into your garden, check out this post.

Bachelor’s Buttons

Kids of all ages love bachelor buttons. They’re easy to grow from seed and bees can’t get enough of them.

Borage

Borage is an excellent companion flower in the garden and has medicinal purposes as well. In some climates it can get invasive.

Blanketflower

A stunningly beautiful native flower that’s also drought resistant. These are also great to plant in a spot that gets tons of heat

Calendula

Calendula is a workhorse in the garden. It’s easy to grow from seed, loved by pollinators, is a good companion plant for vegetables, and can be used as an ingredient is soaps and diy beauty products.

Related: 14 Companion Plants for the Vegetable Garden

Catmint

You might plant catmint for the bees, but your cats will enjoy it as well. I once planted catmint, but there were so many neighbourhood cats that got into it that it didn’t stand a chance and died shortly after.

Celiosa

Celiosa is a striking and more unusual addition to your flowerpots. You can also start it from seed as a cut flower.

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Clover

Clover is an excellent cover crop and can be used as an alternative to grass in a lawn.

Cosmos

Cosmos are an easy cut and come again flower that you can start from seed. They look beautiful in the garden and as part of floral arrangements.

Crocus

Crocuses are a welcome early-blooming flower and one of the first food sources for bees in the Spring.

Chives

A garden isn’t complete without perennial chives. I adore their purple blooms and use fresh chives in my cooking all season long. Here’s a simple chive soup that I like to make.

Echinacea (Coneflower)

Echinacea is drought resistant and a lovely native plant to use in both the garden and in landscaping.

Related: 5 Benefits to Landscaping with Native Flowers

Foxglove

Foxgloves are a gorgeous addition to the garden, but not a good choice if you have children or pets. Every part of the plant is poisonous and can be fatal if ingested.

Geranium (Cranesbill)

Not to be confused with the ones used as bedding plants! Cranesbill Geraniums are perennials.

Goldenrod

This late summer to fall bloomer is a native plant that is drought tolerant and perfect in cut flower arrangements.

Heliotrope

Heliotropes are very fragrant with a smell that both bees and humans find irresistible.

Lavender

Lavender is another fragrant choice. The flowers can be used in soaps or as a flavour in drinks and desserts. If you live in zone 3 like I do, Lavender is extremely difficult to grow and won’t overwinter.

Liatris

Blazing star liatris is an easy-to-grow, drought resistant and deer resistant perennial. A must in any landscape!

Related: How to Design a Low-Maintenance Flower Bed

Lupin

Lupins are a gorgeous choice in the garden, but also dangerous for kids and pets.

Marigolds

Marigolds are easy to start from seed and are a good companion plant in the vegetable garden. I love the taller cut flower varieties like Mary Hellen and Crackerjack.

Mint

Every garden needs a mint plant, but keep it in a pot, as it is highly invasive.

Related: 28 Perennials You’ll Regret Planting

Mondara (Bee Balm)

It’s called bee balm–enough said.

Oregano

Another herb that is loved by both bees and humans.

Nasturtium

Nasturtiums are edible flowers with a peppery taste, and their seeds are easy to collect and grow.

Pansy

A beautiful and very hardy bedding plant. Pansies often survive a light frost or two.

Peony

Planting a peony bush? Just make sure you keep it farther away from the house so ants aren’t encouraged to come through your doors. Learn more about growing peonies here.

Phlox

Phlox makes a good ground cover in a rock garden and can be grown underneath a tree if there is enough light.

Poppies

Poppies are another easy-to-grow flower that often re-seed themselves.

Rosemary

We love rosemary for it’s deliciousness in cooking. Bees love rosemary for the little blue-ish flowers.

Related: How to Dry Herbs so They Still Taste Good!

Roses

Roses can be tricky to grow in zone 3. Stick to the Morden series of roses for the best success. Tea roses or anything fancy will not survive our winters.

Rudbeckia (Black-Eyed Susan)

A staple perennial of the late summer garden.

Sage

Sage has a lovely smell and is also a beautiful filler piece for flower arrangements.

Salvia

Scabiosa

The unusual blooms of scabiosa make a statement in the garden.

Snowdrops

Plant snowdrop underneath a tree or in the shade by your house for best results.

Stonecrop (Sedum)

There are so many types of sedum to chose from. To keep it bee-friendly, choose flowering varieties like Autumn Joy.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are also fun to plant with kids around. Compare their height to the sunflowers!

Thyme

Bees love the delicate purple flowers and you’ll love the fresh taste in your cooking.

Related: How to Grow a Mini Outdoor Herb Garden

Yarrow

I personally adore yarrow because it is a perennial with a long bloom time, it works well in flower arrangements, and it’s drought tolerant.

Zinnia

Every garden needs some cheerful zinnias! Zinnias are good companion flowers and cut flowers.

More Tips for Creating a Garden to Attract Bees

As I mentioned before, this list is definitely not exhaustive to all zones! There’s also a few general tips you can use to decide if a flower would encourage bees to your yard or not.

Use Organic Gardening Methods & Avoid Hybrids

Avoid using pesticides, herbicides, or insecticides as much as possible–even ones marketed as organic. They can contain ingredients that are harmful to pollinators.

Hybrid flowers are bred to have benefits to gardeners, but unfortunately they often have less pollen and nectar–bad news for bees. While I don’t think you should avoid all hybrids, maybe keep them to only a few favourites if you’re trying to attract bees.

Prioritize Native Flowers and Colourful Flowers

Native flowers have so many benefits to them, including being good for the bees. For ideas, go to your local library and pick up a book on plants native to year area, or google [your province or state] + native flowers for ideas. Some native flowers in my area that I like are goldenrod and asters.

Bees love colourful flowers! While all colours will work, bees prefer yellow, white, and blue/purple. While there are tons of flowers to choose in these colours, I like marigolds for yellow, alyssum for white, and bee balm & delphiniums in the blue/purple family.

Fragrant Flowers and Herbs

Fragrant flowers were meant to attract bees. Some of my favourites are lily of the valley, citronella geranium, and lilacs. Herbs such as chives, mint, sage, and lavender are also good choices.

Long blooming Flowers 

Gardeners love long blooming flowers because they provide colour for more of the growing season. Bees love long blooming flowers because they provide a good food source for a longer amount of time. Try planting yarrow, rudbeckia, and daisies.

Early Blooming Spring Flowers 

Even thought I’m personally not a fan of dandelions, I’ll leave them all of May because they’re one of the few sources of food for bees in early Spring. Try planting some early varieties of tulips, crocus, and daffodils.

Plant More Than One of Each Flower and Have Something Blooming in Every Season

While one bee-friendly plant is better than no bee-friendly plants, it’s better to have more than one of each type of flower you’re planting. Your landscape should also contain flowers that bloom in early-Spring, late-Fall, and everything in-between so there’s always a food source for the bees.

Have a Variety of Shapes and Sizes

Different bees have different shapes and lengths of tongues. Therefore, you need a variety of flowers to make sure that your garden can benefit as many bees as possible.

Feeling inspired to add a few bee-friendly favourites to your garden? Which ones will you add?

Indoor Seed Starting Schedule for Easy Vegetables & Flowers

Starting seeds indoors is fun, but it can quickly get complicated when you’re trying to figure out when to start flowers, vegetables, and herbs indoors. There’s no one-size-fits-all general guidelines, and many plants have a range of weeks that they can be started.

In this post I’ll break it down and show you the best (read: easiest) seeds to start indoors, when to start them indoors, and keep it easy with pretty charts for each week.

A few disclaimers before we start–I personally garden in zone 3, so my seed starting schedule will best suit zones 2, 3, 4, and 5, because we share a similar shorter growing season.

In zone 3 it is very difficult to stagger seed and have dedicated plantings for spring and fall crops. Because of the short amount of time, most plants get planted all at once or just a few weeks apart. However, the amount of time the seed needs to be started indoors before the last frost date should work for you, no matter where in the world you garden.

I’m going to assume that you already know the basics of seed starting indoors with a grow light. If you don’t have a grow light and need to start from a window, read this post. If you don’t have decent light or space in your home, you might enjoy trying this unusual method of seed starting.

With that out of the way, let’s figure out your indoor seed starting schedule!

Is it too late to start seeds indoors?

To find the answer to that question, you’ll need to know your last Spring Frost date. You can find yours in Canada here, or in the US here. From that date, you’ll count backwards to whatever date it currently is that you’re reading this post. For example, if your last frost date is May 21st, and you’re currently reading this on April 1st, you have 7 weeks left, and can probably start most of the plants you’re hoping to start, with a few exceptions.

Some plants like broccoli, cauliflower, zinnias, and marigolds can be both seed started and direct sown, and have a lot of flexibility in timing. Other plants like peppers, tomatoes, artichokes, and others that love heat and require a long growing season are much less flexible and can be direct seeded only in the very warmest growing zones.

My friend Julia from Julia Dimakos, Gardening Girl, has a wonderful seed starting chart that you can personalize to wherever you live.

This is me with most of the seeds I started in Spring 2019.

What are the best seeds to start indoors?

I’m going to answer this question by not answering it–instead, I’ll tell you the seeds that you really shouldn’t start indoors. Every other vegetable (and most flowers) can likely be started indoors.

Do not seed start. . . .

  • Corn
  • Beets
  • Carrots
  • Turnips
  • Radishes
  • Peas
  • Beans
  • Amaranthus
  • Spinach
  • Potatoes

In general, root vegetables should not be started indoors, with the exception of onions if you are starting them from seed and not bulbs. I do not recommend complete beginners start onions from seed, as it’s a very long 2 year process. Please save yourself the headache and buy onions in the little bulb form instead.

Okay, But What Are the Easiest Vegetables to Start Indoors?

Beginner gardeners can have good success with seed starting peppers and tomatoes. As for flowers, you can’t go wrong with marigolds, zinnia, cosmos, and calendula.

I personally have found it very difficult to start cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. It has taken me 4 years of trying to finally grow decent seedlings, and even then, they were more stretched out than I would have liked.

Seed Starting Timelines

Here are some fun graphics I’ve created to help you know exactly when to start some of the most common vegetables and flowers.

I also go into more detail about when to start vegetables in my Growing Roots Gardening Guide, and when to start cut flowers in Cut Flowers Made Simple.

In general, the flowers and vegetables that need to be started at 10 weeks, 8 weeks, and 6 weeks, can not be direct seeded successfully in colder climates with short growing seasons. Or it they are successful, they will only bloom/ripen at the very tail end of the season.

The flowers and vegetables listed in the 4 weeks section could all be direct seeded.

It’s also okay to start these seeds the week after they are listed. For example, it’s okay to start Week 10 seeds in Week 9, Week 8 seeds in Week 7, and so on.

I hope this little seed starting guide helps you on your gardening adventures. What will you be seed starting this year?

DIY Seed Starting from Your Window

When I was a little girl my Grandmother started marigolds every winter in a little modified milk garden planter with her seeds from last year’s crop.  I loved those marigolds in her brick planters and still think of her every time I see a marigold.

You really don’t need a grow light or other expensive equipment to start seeds. Seed starting from your window is relatively easy, but there are some limitations.

[Read more…]

The 36 Best Cut Flowers to Feed Your Floral Arranging Habit All Summer Long

If you’ve been reading this blog or following me on Instagram for awhile, you might have noticed that #ihavethisthingwithflowers.  I am obsessed.  To feed my obsession I need a garden filled with cut flowers that will hold up well in my various arrangements.

Here are my favourite plants to keep me in floral arrangements from June to September.  Pick at least three from each section to plant in your garden so that you can have cut flowers all season long too.

Yes! You can create a cut flower garden for floral arranging all season long. Here's the perfect flower ideas to design your garden, even if you're a beginner. Bonus! Most of the pics are perennials! #flower #garden #cut #ideas #forbeginners

Disclaimer: I am writing from USDA Hardiness zone 2-3, so all plants listed will grow in this location.  The good news is that if you live almost anywhere else, you should be able to grow these flowers.  The bad news is your success with these flowers can vary depending on your area’s growing and soil conditions.

Annuals vs. Perennials

A cut flower garden should have a nice mix of annuals and perennials to help ensure that there will be something to cut all season.  Annual flowers will not come back again the following year they are planted, but generally provide blooms all season long.  Perennials will come back every year once they are planted, but usually have a much shorter bloom time.

Annual flowers are cheaper to purchase, but you have to purchase them every year.  Perennial flowers are more expensive to purchase, but you usually only have to purchase them once.

A good portion of annual flowers meant for cutting will also need to be seed started anywhere from 4-10 weeks before you plant them outdoors. I go into more detail about the easiest annual flowers for beginners to grow here, and provide detailed growing information in my cut flower e-book.

With that out of the way, let’s get on to my favourite cut flowers!

Want to know how to start your own cutting garden on the cheap and what a professional flower farmer grows?  Click here to learn more!

All Season Cut Flowers

1. Daisy

Daisies are beautiful, simple, and look good on their own or with any colour flower.  They can have a spreading habit, so be ready to divide them up and pass them on to a friend or neighbour.

2. Gypsophelia

More commonly known as Baby’s breath.  They make a beautiful filler in any arrangement.

3. Marigolds

Larger varieties like the Mary Helen or Crackerjack varieties look better in floral arrangements.

4. Sedum

Even thought some sedums flower only in one part of the year, or even not at all, I love using them all year round for their interesting shapes and textures.

Spring and Early Summer Cut Flowers

5. Allium

6. Daffodil

7. Hyacinth

These grape hyacinths are the ones most commonly grown in zone 3.  I love them in a small teacup arrangement.  Warmer zones can grow many more and larger varieties of hyacinths.

Need help planning your backyard flower bed and more?  These printables will give you a place to organize your thoughts and plan your projects.  Click here for more information.

8. Iris

You’ll most commonly see irises in purple, but yellow (like these) or even blue are an unexpected choice.

9. Lilac

Lilacs are actually a shrub, and not a perennial.  However, I just had to include them, as spring wouldn’t be the same without a large bouquet of them sitting on my kitchen table.

10. Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley is fragrant and beautiful, but it spreads if left unchecked.  Worried about planting something you might regret later?  Check out my list of 28 perennials you’ll regret planting.

Get our easy beginner cut flower garden plan

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    11. Peony

    I am obsessed with peonies!  We have 8 bushes of them and I can’t bear to give any of them away. . . although I probably should.  Did you know that when you get a new peony plant it won’t bloom for 3 years!?!?  Learn what you need to know about taking care of peonies here.

    Related: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Peonies, plus fun DIY’s

    12. Tulip

    To me, tulips are the ultimate floral expression of spring.  I loved our simple yellow and red ones growing up.

    Summer Cut Flowers

    13. Asiatic Lilies

    Asiatic lilies are so easy to grow and come in an endless variety of colours.

    14. Bee Balm

    Makes a gorgeous filler plant and are great for attracting bees to your garden.

    15. Blanketflower

    Blanketflowers are a great choice on the prairies, as they’re a native plant and don’t require much water or care once established. Want to grow more native plants? Here’s some of my favourites!

    16. Blazing Star Liatrus

    Another gorgeous, easy to grow native plant. The varieties you buy in stores are likely naturalized ones, so to get a truly native plant, you’ll need to order from a specialty seed shop like Prairie Originals.

    17. Clustered Bellflower

    Shopping for a bellflower plant?  Make sure to get the clustered variety and not the regular bellflower.  The regular kind is more weed than flower and can easily take over your flower bed in a few years.

    Related: 28 Perennials You’ll Regret Planting

    18. Coral Bells

    Coral bells can tolerate a bit of shade and make a stunning filler.

    19. Dahlia

    So many dahlias, so little time.  Dahlias come in practically every colour of the rainbow, and the sizes can range from 1 inch to the size of a dinner plate.  They’re a must have for the garden, although the bulbs must be dug out every fall and replanted in the spring. I’ve included everything you need to know about removing and storing dahlia tubers here.

    20. Delphinium

    An old fashioned favourite that’s easy to grow. I have found in my garden that they seem to need 5 years to really establish, although you’ll get blooms every year. Make sure you stake them, because they will be the first thing to break in a summer storm!

    21. Dianthus

    22. Glads

    Glads are a staple of late summer floral arrangements.  In colder climates you’ll need to dig the bulbs out every fall and replant in the winter.

    Gardening Newbie?  Here’s how to create a beautiful cut flower garden with ease–no fancy skills required!

    23. Hydrangea

    Be careful of what you purchase in zone 2 or zone 3!  Often the hydrangeas in the big box store will not be hardy enough for these climates.  Check on the tag that the plant is hardy to at least -30 degrees celsius.

    24. Lady’s Mantle

    25. Lupin

    Get our easy beginner cut flower garden plan

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      26. Coneflowers

      Some of my favourite coneflowers are echinacea and rudbeckia. They don’t only have to be yellow either! You can find many lovely shades of pinks and reds too.

      There are many type of coneflowers and all of them are good candidates for your next cut flower arrangement.  Check for black eyed susan’s in ditches along the road.

      27. Sweet Pea

      28. Veronica

      29. Yarrow

      Fall Cut Flower

      30. Aster

      Asters come in both perennial and annual varieties. This year I’m experimenting with the much larger annual varieties. The ones pictured here would work better as a filler flower.

      31. Annual Sunflowers

      Sunflowers come in so many different heights, and even in shades or orange, red, plum, brown, and almost white.  Plant at least one every spring for the children in your life.

      32. Brown Eyed Susan

      See coneflower above.

      33. Chinese Lantern

      Chinese lanterns can be invasive, depending on your soil. I have a problem with mine running wild, so this year I’m trying to grow Pumpkin On A Stick as an annual alternative.

      34. Chrysanthemum

      You know it’s fall when the pots of mums appear at the big box stores.

      Dahlia

      See dahlia above in the summer section.

      35.Goldenrod

      Golden rod grows wild where I live.  Hurray for free cut flowers!!

      36. Strawflower

      Strawflower is one of my new favourite flowers.  Light as air and super pretty! They last forever in and out of the vase and are very easy to collect seeds from.

      37. Zinnia

      Zinnas hold a special place in my heart and I go a little crazy each year planting them.  So worth it once they bloom!

      What is your favourite cut flower?  Let me know what I’ve missed!

      Ready to grow your own beautiful cut flower garden, without the hassel?

      I’ve taken all the guesswork out of creating a cut flower garden with my e-book, Cut Flowers Made Simple. It’s the perfect way for beginner and intermediate gardeners to start their own cut flower garden with or without seed starting, growing annual flowers.

      Click on the picture to find out more or get your copy.

      20+ Canadian Seed Companies & Nurseries to Order the Garden or Landscape of Your Dreams

      Are you a beginner gardener with no idea where to buy your seeds?  Whether you’re looking for flowers or vegetables, heirloom seeds, organic seeds, wildflower seeds for your xeriscape, or hardy fruit trees, you’ll find something in this list.

      Are you a beginner gardener with no idea where to start?  Whether you're looking for flowers or vegetables, heirloom seeds, organic seeds, wildflower seeds for your xeriscape, or hardy fruit trees, you'll find something in this list. Order early so you can try seed starting before it's gardening season! #gardening #seedstarting #seeds #startingseeds #flowers #vegetables #landscaping #seedcompanies
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      Welcome!

      Hi, I’m Kristen and I help new gardeners learn to grow their own vegetables and beautify their yards. I also share recipes that use all that delicious garden produce. Grab a coffee (and your gardening gloves) and join me for gardening tips, simple recipes, and the occasional DIY, all from the lovely city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

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