Bees have a sense to them and a preference for gardens, they are usually attracted to gardens that they prefer as they tend to avoid gardens that they do not prefer.
There has been a trend of late where individuals with home gardens have become more conscious of the dwindling bee population in the world and seek to contribute to preserving the population of bees.
If you are one of such people then you are in the right place. A very good way to achieve this is goal is by cultivating Gardens that are rich in high pollen and nectar plants.
One category of plants that are high in nectar and pollen is vines, specifically vines that bloom.
If you can enrich your garden with plants (including the vines we are going to discuss) that are filled with nectar and pollen, and manage to not use pesticides in your garden then you would be rendering a great service to the preservation of bees.
This way you would get various collections of bees coming to your garden for sustenance.
Why You Should Plant Vines in Your Garden
If you are unfamiliar with vines you might wonder why should you bother to plant them in your garden, this question can be easily answered when you finish reading our article.
Flowering vines can be a great source of nectar and pollen to bees, even though by their nature you would think that they do not have enough pollen and nectar to attract bees and sustain them.
There are a number of vines that flower and are rich in these resources that can sustain bees and other pollinators.
Related: Here is an article I wrote showing how bees affect other animals
How Many Vines is Ideal for a Garden?
You might want to know the number of vines that you should plant in your garden.
This question is not easily answered ask the answer to it Is different from one person to the other, however, it is advisable that you have at least 10 vines, vegetables, and flowers in your garden.
When you have this mixed variety of vines and flowers, bees would be more attracted to your garden.
It has been observed that bees tend to go to gardens with more variety of flowers, vines, and plants compared to those with fewer varieties of plants. So according to us, the magic number is 10.
This magic number is what we are going to work with in this article, so without further ado let’s delve and discuss 10 vines that are best for bees.
1. Anemone clematis
This vine is also known as C. Montana, it is a vigorous vine that blooms its fragrantly smelling flowers towards the end of spring.
This vine is semi-evergreen but sometimes evergreen, it does not need much to grow, it mostly requires well-drained soil and a lot of sunlight.
Try to help the root remain moist and cool.
It has star-shaped flowers that bloom along the vines, the flowers could be purple, pink, or blue.
We advise that you prune it after it flowers to encourage growth. Its sweet scent is vanilla-like and very attractive to bees.
2. Evergreen clematis:
This vine is scientifically known as “C. Armanii”.
The flowers of this vine are usually pink or creamy white, the leaves are massive, evergreen with a leathery feel.
The flowers are also shaped like stars and blooms in clusters. We do not advise that you plant this vine in a container because it grows big.
It emits a sweet-smelling fragrance that is good for the outdoors and great for attracting bees. This vine blooms in spring.
3. Lilac vines:
This vine can be scientifically identified as “Hardenbergia spp.” It is one of the vines in that family.
This vine is native to the Australian region, it blooms in spring and its flowers are usually purple, white, or pink.
You can plant it in containers but they would have to be large.
These vines are very tolerant to drought, the soil you plant them in should be well-drained, you don’t need to water them often so that the soil can dry out well, the vines require full sunlight and grow well in summer.
If you plant this vine in summer make sure to position it so that it would get some shade during the day.
Cultivating this vine is no small task, it requires tending to and pruning since it can grow to be fifty feet tall, it creeps on everything around it if you do not keep it in check.
When planting this vine be careful to pick a site that would give the vine enough space to grow.
If you want the vines to creep up, make a structure that would be strong enough to carry the weight, if you want it to spread then leave enough space for it to spread wide.
After it blooms in spring you can prune it massively in order for it to not overwhelm the space for it to grow.
Also check out this article I wrote on the best nectar plants for bees
4. Carmel Creeper:
Also known as “Ceanothus griseus horizontalis” this is a vine that is native to California, it is a wild lilac that can spread up to fifteen feet wide.
Its flowers are blue in color and blooms in clusters.
This vine grows easily and naturally, It is not very selective of soil it does not require much to grow, what you need to do is water it two times weekly during summer.
5. Chinese wisterias:
This vine is scientifically known as “Wisteria sinesis”
It is a kind of vine that grows to massive proportions.
This vine just as the name implies is native to China and its environs.
It blooms in clusters and the flowers are colored purple/lilac.
It is a perennial plant that can live for up to one hundred years, this is particularly good because generations of bees can feed off of 1 plant.
It blooms in spring and its flowers are delicious for bees.
It can grow to around twenty-five feet. They grow fast but can take up to twenty years to mature.
6. Lavender Trumpet Vine:
This vine is scientifically known as “Clytostoma callistegioides”.
It derives its name from the shape of its flowers. It is a plant native to Argentina, it blooms in summer, it is very accustomed to warm climates.
It grows very fast but still requires delicate attention, it blooms in spring, and in summer it is a very good source of nectar and pollen for bees as it blooms with a lot of flowers.
7. California honeysuckle:
Scientifically called “Lonicera hispidula” with flowers uniquely colored yellow, purple, rose, and pink.
It grows up to twenty feet and blooms with a ton of flowers that are loaded with nectar that is loved by bees.
California honeysuckle like the name implies is majorly native to the California region, it can also be found in some parts of Washington.
This plant loves sunlight and is very tolerant of drought, and grows well in clay.
This vine Is loved by bees, it is filled with nectar, it is full of pollen, and smells very attractive to bees.
8. California wild grape:
Scientifically known as “Vitis californica”. It is a vine that is very attractive to bees, it is native to the California region and easy to grow.
It has berries that are cherished by other animals apart from bees.
9. Autumn Clematis:
Scientifically known as “Clematis terniflora” it has fragrant leaves, that are white and bloom in summer, the vines can grow up to twenty feet.
10. Golden clemetis:
This vine scientifically called “C. Tangutica” originated from Mongolia, the vines grow up to ten feet and are laced with beautiful golden flowers that are rich sources of food to bees.
Conclusion
With all the vines we have explored in this article, you are sure to be well informed about the best vines for bees.
