I have seen many articles on rockery plants but not (as yet) any specifically aimed at choosing flowering rockery plants for bees and pollinating insects. This blog is my first offering to redress that omission.
It also occurred to me that the habitat of a rockery and that of a small green roof often have similarities. By a small green roof, I am referring here to those which cover recycle boxes and bin stores; bicycle sheds; compost bins and wormeries; bug hotels; dog kennels; even some garden sheds and potting sheds.
Perhaps it’s as a designer that I easily see the ability of plants to be suitable for more than the obvious place. And so the 5 rockery plants for bees that I’m suggesting are suitable for small rockeries and the sort of green roof you would have over a bin store. And most of the photos are from front garden bin store roofs that Plews has created for clients.
However, these flowering plants would also work in a raised bed, sink garden, or trough. Because my aim was to enable even those gardeners with ‘just’ a balcony or window box to join in and provide food for bees and pleasure for themselves.
A few Definitions and Notes
Rockery plants and alpine plants are often used as synonymous terms, but they are not necessarily the same thing. For the purposes of our little garden, we do not need to be as tightly focussed as considering only alpine flowers or only rockery plants for bees. There are other small flowering plants which will also suit our purpose, and I have used one.
Flowers, even on plants that bloom over a long period, are generally more transitory than foliage. But for pollinating insects, the leaves are irrelevant, except perhaps as a landing stage! And so, in this planting idea, flowers are most definitely the focus.
You’ll also notice that scent also forms an important part of the selection. There are two reasons form that. Firstly, it helps to attract the pollinating insects – important if your balcony is many stories high! Secondly, humans can enjoy the fragrance too as its more likely to be at nose height. And wouldn’t you like to have a waft of clove scent from the Dianthus when you’re putting out the recycle bins?
5 Rockery Plants for Bees and Small Green Roofs
Arabis blepharophylla ‘Rose Delight’
Arabis ‘Rose delight’ is a small, mat-forming evergreen perennial, the leaves form joined rosettes which are attractive when the plant is not in flower. The richly coloured purple-pink flowers are held on stems above the foliage. And the bonus is that they have a light, sweet scent. Plus, cutting them back before seeds form may encourage a second flush beyond the late spring, early summer blooming period.
Sedum spathulifolium purpureum
Okay, so I said the flowers were the focus, but this sedum is one of those plants that is divine year-round. Also known as purple spoon leaved stonecrop it is another mat-forming perennial. The fragrant yellow star-shaped flowers in summer are not only a draw to the bees but contrast deliciously with the purple foliage. This latter is evergreen, silver tinged in the warmer months, darker in winter. So you have colour in the winter too, it looks a treat peeping through a light dusting of snow.
Dianthus
I could – and frequently do – rave about Dianthus. There are over 300 species and cultivars, and very few lack scent. This makes the smaller varieties perfect for nose level small green roofs on top of recycle boxes. If you plant a range of varieties, both you and the bees can enjoy Dianthus flowers from late spring through to early autumn. Their clove scented flowers come in single, semi-double and double forms. Generally speaking, single flower forms are best for bees, but in my experience, the semi-double Dianthus don’t seem to be a problem.
Pratia glabra
The stunning blue flowers of this perennial alpine plant will give you a wonderful contrast to the pinks and yellows, without clashing. Well, you would hope as a garden designer that I would make sure of that if they’re flowering at the same time! Pratia glabra, syn. Pratia pedunculata, blue star creeper, will also help keep weeds down as it matures. This plant spreads rather than forms a mound, useful if you have a larger area to cover, such as a green roof on a shed. Like other spreading plants it can sometimes be a nuisance if planted in the border. Kept in a trough, its kept in check as its primary means of propagation is through the spreading stems taking root.
Helianthemum ‘Wisley pink’
Helianthemum, syn. Rhodanthe Carneum, also known as rock rose and sun rose, is a favourite with many gardeners. This particular cultivar has silver-green foliage and soft, salmon-pink flowers. The saucer shaped single blooms are popular with bees and butterflies, although not particularly scented. It is a shrubby perennial, evergreen in most areas of the UK. And a bonus if you’re bothered by rabbits or deer is that it does not seem to be particularly palatable to them! It will flop attractively over the edge of a raised bed or rockery border, cutting back the stems after flowering keeps it neater.
5 Rockery Plants for Bees and Small Green Roofs – further thoughts
The rockery plants I’ve suggested for you should give you, the bees, butterflies, hoverflies and pollinating wasps flowers to enjoy from mid-spring through to early autumn. Depending, of course on variables such as the British weather, your soil, the location they’re planted in and so on. The plants named above do differ slightly in the amount of sun and shade they will tolerate, but if you have a spot which catches the morning sun and then has light but not direct sunlight for the afternoon you should find that they will all be happy. More critically, avoid planting where they will be dripped on over winter. Neither the Dianthus, Sedum nor Arabis will be happy with a wet crown.
Providing subtle contrasts of foliage, flower shape and colour will give you plenty of interest throughout much of the year. Keeping to a small selection of plants but planting more than one of each enables you to play around to find the pattern of planting that suits the plants, fits the space available and appeals to your eye. Of course, if you’re not sure, you know who to ask to create a planting design for you. Remember too, that we can do this as a long distance service, if your budget or scheme is small.
And finally
In 2018, the famous shopping area of Carnaby Street in London changed its name to Carnabee Street in celebration of bees and in support of Defra’s campaign. Adding bee friendly planting is especially important for urban and inner city areas where the availability of forage is not reliable.
Whatever you do, enjoy your garden and if Plews can help you with anything, please do get in touch. For example Our Garden Consultancy & Advice Visits may help with some of your issues.
Do you have a birthday coming up? Plews bespoke Gardening Lessons, where your classroom is actually your own garden make a wonderful and practical gift. You could learn how to grow an orchard of citrus fruits in your conservatory! We help you with both gardening basics and more ‘expert tasks’, depending on what you need. Have a read through this pdf download for info.
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Plus get your local garden club, allotment, WI, U3A or other group to ask me along to give a talk (and bring plants 😉)
Gardening articles you may enjoy from our Award Winning Blog
Wildlife Gardening
Creating Small Wildlife Habitats in Your Garden
Bees Needs, National Pollinator Week and Your Garden
Rockeries and Raised Beds
Rock Gardens – Plants and Ideas
5 Alpine Plants for Easter Gardens
Garden Visits
Holehird Gardens – Alpine house
