Lavender is highly attractive to bees, serving as a reliable and high-value forage source. Its long flowering period, often spanning from late spring through summer, provides a sustained supply of nutrition when other floral sources may be scarce. This herb offers both energy-rich nectar and protein-providing pollen, supporting both the plant’s reproduction and the health of pollinator populations globally.
Why Lavender Attracts Bees
The primary draw for bees is the substantial reward offered by the lavender flower’s tubular corolla. Lavender nectar is produced in high quantities and is rich in sugars, providing the energy necessary for bee flight and colony maintenance. Lavender also supplies the pollen bees require for protein, which is essential for feeding developing larvae.
The plant’s vibrant color and powerful scent act as unmistakable chemical and visual signals. The intense purple and blue hues are highly visible to bee vision, which perceives color in the ultraviolet spectrum. Characteristic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like linalool carry on the breeze, guiding foragers directly to the flower clusters.
The physical structure of the lavender flower accommodates various bee species, though with differing efficiencies. Its small, tightly-packed tubular flowers are more accessible to long-tongued bees, such as many bumblebee species. Bumblebees can extract nectar quickly. Shorter-tongued honeybees must spend more time on each flower, pushing deeper to reach the reward, making them less efficient foragers on this plant.
Preferred Lavender Varieties for Pollination
Not all lavender plants offer the same bounty, and bee preference varies across species and hybrids. English Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) varieties, such as ‘Munstead’ or ‘Hidcote,’ are often preferred by honeybees. These varieties bloom earlier and are known for their high concentration of nectar, making them a valuable early-summer food source.
Lavandin (L. intermedia) cultivars, hybrids of English and Portuguese lavender, are also highly attractive to bees. Varieties like ‘Grosso’ or ‘Provence’ are larger plants that produce an abundance of flowers and are prized for their high nectar production. These hybrids generally bloom later than English varieties, extending the foraging season into the late summer months.
French or Spanish Lavenders (L. stoechas) are identified by the distinctive petal-like bracts atop the flowers. These types bloom very early, often before the other varieties, providing an initial source of food. While their flower structure is sometimes less ideal for the honeybee’s shorter proboscis, their early bloom makes them popular with long-tongued bumblebees.
Optimizing Lavender Plants for Bees
Gardeners can maximize the foraging value of lavender for local bee populations. Lavender should be placed in areas that receive full, direct sun, which encourages maximum nectar production. Planting lavender in large, concentrated drifts, rather than scattered plants, helps bees forage more efficiently by reducing travel distance between food sources.
Proper care ensures healthy, unstressed plants that yield more nectar. Once established, lavender is drought-tolerant and benefits from infrequent, deep watering rather than constant moisture. Pruning spent flower stalks, or deadheading, can encourage a second flush of blooms, prolonging the foraging season for late-summer bees.
It is necessary to avoid applying broad-spectrum insecticides or systemic pesticides, especially when the plants are in bloom. Bees can inadvertently carry these harmful chemicals back to their hives, threatening the entire colony. Ensuring a chemical-free environment promotes a safer, more sustained resource for pollinators.