Want to know which native Australian plants are best for attracting bees to your balcony? Great! You're in the right place. Today, we're sharing our fave native plants that thrive in CUP O FLORA self-watering pots and will get your balcony buzzin'.
1. Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)
Surprisingly, this isn't a floral - it's not the flowers of this gorgeous greenery that will attract bees to your balcony - it's the shade! Pop a beautiful bird's nest fern in one of our X-Large Self-watering Pots, set it up near some native florals, and your buzzy visitors will love you for it. It's important to note that these Bird's Nest Ferns need a lot of natural light so a slightly shaded balcony is the best place for them. You can also let them go for a few days without water in their outer pot as they enjoy a wet-dry cycle.
2. Native Violet (Viola hereracea)
Did you know that bees are actually attracted more to flowers of a certain colour? Blues, whites, yellows, pinks, and...you guessed it, violets, are bees' best buds! They are especially attractive to the early small bees that first appear when the ground begins to warm in Spring. These little florals are perfectly sized to thrive in our Small Self-watering Pots...but you can absolutely upsize as they grow and spread their roots - they would look absolutely stunning overflowing in our quirky Medium Tilt or Wall-mounted styles.
3. Bush Basil (Plectranthus graveolens)
This aromatic native herb attracts bees with its goregous smell and decorative blooms. Luckily for you, we have the perfect self-watering pots for herb growing in our CUP O FLORA range. Simply propagate your bush basil from a cutting or grow it from the seed and not only can you use it in the kitchen, but nearby bees will flock to it.
4. Native Orchids
Native Australian terrestrial orchids such as the Donkey Orchid (Diuris sp.) and the Austral Ladies' Tresses (Spiranthes sinensis) are absolutely gorgeous and will help attract pollinators to your urban balcony garden. Orchids need good drainage, so when planting them in our CUP O FLORA pots, we suggest leaving the wick in but don't add water to the outer pot as you normally would. The wick will be able to drain excess moisture from the inner cup.
BONUS: We have some fabulous new inners, perfect for orchid care, arriving in our online store soon!
5. Everlasting Daisy (Xerochrysum)
Finally, we have an incredible flower for attracting bees to your balcony. The petals of everlasting daisies are actually dry ‘bracts’ or modified leaves. The centre of the flower is where you'll find 100+ tiny individual flowers, all clustered together...which is a pollinator's dream!
Now, you're all set to create a beautiful balcony garden to attract bees with a taste for native plants...but what about the people without outdoor space or the ones who don't have optimal conditions on their balcony for growing plants?
Our new Bee Bud DIY Kit is the answer! If attracting real bees isn't a possibility, pick up a couple of our wooden bee kits and bring the buzz indoors.
Happy planting! 😊🌿🐝