Long before celebrity chefs began to garnish their plates with delicious herbs, there was an ancient art called herbalism. Herbalism is having a resurgence as many households are learning the health benefits of the herbs they are consuming in their food. Not just for ourselves, but for our beautiful furry pollinators, the bees.Planting your own herb garden is an achievable option for anyone that has some room for pots or backyard. The benefits of growing your own herb gardens have a fourfold effect;
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Less cost and an abundant supply of herbs to flavour your food.
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Key herbs can help prevent illness, and supplement your tea drinking rituals
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Beautify your space, with beautiful scents and colours
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Save the bees!
If you are purchasing ready grown herb plants, please try to purchase from an organic supplier. Insecticides are toxic for bees and of course for ourselves.
What Herbs are Best to Plant for Bees?
Research indicates that some herbs are more beneficial to bees than others. I am happy to say that we are using a good portion of these herbs in our Byron Bay Tea Company blends!
Mints (Mentha)
A natural aromatic decongestant that helps to break up phlegm and mucus. Mint is a calming and soothing herb that has been used for thousands of years to aid with upset stomach or indigestion.
Bees love the mint flowers, but I have read that some beekeepers apply mint oil diluted with water to their beehives to deter wax moth.
Lemon Balm
Shown to possess antiviral properties, lemon balm extract has been found to have antiviral activity. Lemon balm may also be used to help reduce anxiety and help sleep.
In the past, beekeepers would rub a handful of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) inside the hive after hiving a new swarm, in order to help the swarm settle and to encourage them not to leave the hive. Rubbing hands with the leaves is also claimed to help prevent bee stings!
Fennel
The fiber, potassium, folate, vitamin C, vitamin B-6, and phytonutrient content in fennel, coupled with its lack of cholesterol, all support heart health. Fennel contributes to digestion, building and maintaining bone structure and strength.
Bees love Fennel, also popular with seed-eating birds and hoverflies.
Comfrey
Comfrey is one among the miraculous herbs found in nature. It has great healing benefits to bones, sprains and skin. Consumed as tea or made as a poultice
Another excellent flower for bees – refills with nectar approximately every 45 minutes.
Hyssop
Attracts bees and butterflies.
Lavender
Choose different varieties for a prolonged season.
Sage
The sage family of plants are wonderful for bees and other pollinators.
Thyme Marjoram/Origanum
Thyme can also be used to create a small patch of lawn. Bees and butterflies like a variety of thymes.
Angelica
Pretty herb loved by a variety of bees and hoverflies.
Wild Bergamot
Long tongued bees especially enjoy this pretty herb.
Woundworts
Woundworts have pretty flowers loved by bees.
Betony
Another great bee and butterfly plant.
Myrtle
Gorgeous shrub loved by bees and other insects.
Rosemary
Excellent early food source for bees.
Our Digest tea contains Peppermint, Lemon Balm, Fennel seeds so we consider it as our “Bee Saving tea”. Now you have another good reason to enjoy some home-grown herbs.
Happy herb planting!
