Bee loving flowers

Not purple but they love the poached egg plant.

Are you after perennials or annuals? Lavender might be bit big but is loved by bees.

'erbs   

Oregano - after seeing all the bees coming to it, I let it grow into a permanent strip along the edge of my edge of my veg patch. Will attract lots of bees, including all the normal bumble bees.  Purple/mauve flowers. Flowers over a long period too, there are always some late flowers into Autumn.  Easy to grow, just tidy it up by cutting down the stalks when it's finished flowering.

Thyme - I let it grow between cordon fruit trees, and along edges. Low growing ground-cover with small pale purple flowers that the bees like. 

Don't forget a lot of bees make their nests in tunnels underground, so they need undisturbed ground.  Try to let these herbs grow undisturbed each year. I don't dig near the oregano anymore, or I'd turn up bees with each spadeful.

G&R,  a sandgrown'un...

Most annuals don't come into flower until late June unless they've been advanced in a greenhouse. I'd look at the continuous flowering annual Lobelia 'Crystal Palace'.

Since you want short plants I'd also consider perennials such as Campanula poscharskyana or Campanula carpatica. The same applies to Campanula Cochlearfolia 'Elizabeth Oliver' which has double flowers of light violet. All of these flower in June and July, and if you cut them back after flowering they will give another flush in August/Sept. I'd also consider the perennial geraniums with their various shades of blue, purple and magenta.Their main flowering period (depending on variety) is May - July, but if cut back most will flower again. The bees love all of these.

The main one that springs to mind is Echium (annual borage). Grows about a foot high but may seed itself around - not sure. Try Giggling bee-loving annuals etc and see what you can find.

.  Would that be the been annual then . . .

The bees here amass around the garlic chives and lavender when in flower.

Quote from: RubyR3d on January 04, 2015, 22:10

Quote from: Goosegirl on January 03, 2015, 12:27

The main one that springs to mind is Echium (annual borage). Grows about a foot high but may seed itself around - not sure. Try Giggling bee-loving annuals etc and see what you can find.

.  Would that be the been annual then . . .

.  Oops how embarassing I meant the beeno annual

Ha-ha! That's fine and Dandy then!!   

Many many thanks for this, really appreciate all your advice.