Ferns do not attract bees for pollination because they belong to an ancient lineage of non-flowering plants. The biological relationship between a flowering plant and a bee is a reproductive transaction that ferns cannot offer. Understanding the fern’s unique life cycle and the specific needs of a foraging bee reveals why these two organisms have no natural interaction.
How Ferns Reproduce Without Flowers
Ferns are vascular plants that evolved before the development of flowers and seeds. The fern most people recognize is the sporophyte, which produces reproductive spores instead of pollen or seeds. On the underside of the fronds, tiny clusters of spore cases, called sori, house millions of microscopic spores.
When mature, these spores are dispersed by the wind or through water, a process that does not require any animal intermediary. If a spore lands in a moist location, it grows into a tiny, heart-shaped structure called a gametophyte. This short-lived stage produces the male and female sex cells, which require a film of water for the sperm to swim to the egg and complete fertilization. The reproductive cycle is completed without the need for a colorful petal or a sweet fragrance.
The Specific Rewards Bees Look For
Bees visit plants because they are driven by the need to collect two primary resources: nectar and pollen. Nectar is a sugary fluid produced by specialized plant glands called nectaries, serving as the bee’s main source of carbohydrates and energy. This sugar is converted into honey to fuel the adult bees and the hive’s activities.
Pollen is rich in protein, lipids, and other nutrients, making it the primary food source for developing larvae. Flowering plants advertise these rewards using showy petals, scents, and often ultraviolet patterns called nectar guides. Ferns lack nectaries, pollen, and the floral structures that signal their presence, making them biologically invisible and unrewarding to a foraging bee.
Planting Alternatives That Support Pollinators
Gardeners who wish to support bee populations should focus on planting species that produce nectar and pollen. A diverse selection of native flowering plants provides sustenance across the entire growing season, from early spring to late autumn. Plants with simple, open flower structures, such as those in the daisy family, make the rewards easily accessible for a wide range of bee species.
Highly effective perennial options include Catmint (Nepeta), Coneflowers (Echinacea), and Bee Balm (Monarda), which are prolific nectar producers. Herbs such as Lavender (Lavandula) and many types of Salvias are also magnetic to bees due to their characteristic strong scents. Planting in large groups, or drifts, makes the floral resource more visible to foraging insects and encourages them to visit the garden repeatedly.