10 Flowers You Should Avoid If You Want To Support Bees

Bees are a crucial part of the global food supply, supporting nearly a third of the global crop production. Aside from food production, bees provide half of the world's fibers, oils, and other raw materials. At the local level, bees are at the foundation of the ecosystem, allowing plants to thrive, which feeds wildlife. Unfortunately, bare grass lawns and concrete expanses do nothing to support these essential insects. Excessive use of pesticides also puts local bee populations at risk of decline. Planting flowers in any space available, be it in a large garden or in pots on your balcony, is an excellent way to support your local bee populations.

Space, climate, and your preferred look should not be the only factors that determine the flowers you choose. Believe it or not, not all flowers support bees. Popular ornamental flowers, like baby's breath, offer little to no nectar. Some, like magnolias, are pollinated through wind or other insects. Others, like rhododendrons, are actually toxic to bees. If you want to make your garden a pollinator haven, avoid planting these 10 flowers.

Mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia) contains a toxic compound called andromedotoxin. Andromedotoxin, a type of grayanotoxin that is produced by several plants, is harmful to humans and animals, including bees. In bees, exposure to this toxin can impair navigational skills, making it difficult for them to forage. The honey that bees are able to produce from these flowers can also be toxic when consumed.

Carolina jessamine, also known as evening trumpet flower (Gelsemium sempervirens), a yellow-flowering vine, is unfortunately toxic to honeybees. All parts of the Carolina jessamine plant, including its nectar, contain strychnine-like toxic alkaloids. When bees ingest this plant's nectar, it can cause muscle weakness, disorientation, and death within 24 hours. Toxicity occurs in other pollinators, like butterflies, so this plant is a no-go for all pollinator gardens.

Sadly, California buckeye (Aesculus californica)'s clustered flowers contain glycosidal compounds that are toxic to most bees. The effects of this neurotoxin can be mild to severe, including muscle weakness, paralysis, and deformed larvae. The California buckeye is native to northwestern and central western California, the Cascade Range, the Sierra Nevada foothills, the Tehachapi Mountains, the Great Central Valley, the southwestern Mojave Desert, and southwestern Oregon. It is thought that bees native to these regions are immune. If you live in these areas, you may be in the clear.

The night-blooming cereus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum), also called queen of the night, has white, cup-shaped flowers that stay closed during the day while it soaks up the desert sun. At night, the night-blooming cereus reopens its petals. It relies on other nocturnal organisms, like moths and bats, for pollination. While these other pollinators are important, the night-blooming cereus does nothing to support a thriving hive of bees during their waking hours.

While it may look bright and inviting, forsythia produces a very low amount of pollen compared to other flowers. Forsythia's blooming time is also incompatible with bees' hibernation. These flowers bloom in your garden in early spring, around March and April. By the time Forsythia releases pollen, bees are just beginning to wake up from hibernation. They'll still get to collect some of the pollen, but this plant is not the most efficient choice for bees.

Summer titi (Cyrilla racemiflora)'s pollen causes a condition called purple brood. Purple brood, a disease that turns bee larvae purple before killing them, is detrimental to a hive. Don't confuse summer titi with spring titi (Cliftonia monophyla). Despite their similar names, the two are not related. Spring titi does not cause purple brood and is a flower that will bring bees into your yard.

Azaleas (Rhododendron) are often confused with the rhododendron flower. While they are both part of the rhododendron genus, they are different species. However, being so similar, it's no surprise they're just as toxic to bees as rhododendrons. Azaleas contain the same toxin, andromedotoxin, that disrupts bees' nervous systems. It's best to avoid both azaleas and rhododendrons to keep your garden bee-friendly.

Often the first flowers to bloom in spring, tulips (Tulipa) are seen as a symbol of new life. Unfortunately, these flowers offer very little nectar or pollen to bees. The small quantity of pollen they do have is tucked away in their trumpet-shaped petals and is difficult to access. For these reasons, bees are likely to pass tulips by on their search for pollen.

Geraniums are a beautiful addition to any garden. While their clustered flowers are well-loved by humans, they are not a favorite of bees. Geraniums give off a strong aroma that bees dislike. Geraniums do have different color varieties, but the common red variety is most frequently ignored by bees because they are generally unable to detect the color red.

As the name suggests, cardinal vine (Ipomoea x multifida), also called cardinal climber, features deep red flowers. Although these gorgeous flowers produce plenty of pollen, bees will still pass them by on the hunt for nectar. Bees lack the photoreceptors necessary to perceive the color red. They will see cardinal vine's flowers as black, a far cry from the blues and purples they love most.