I have planted an area in one of my plots for pollinators. I have the most beautiful fountains of flowering feverfew daisy-like flowers, the best I have ever seen, with a lovely honey scent whenever I pass by them.
To my chagrin, I have read that feverfew smells very bitter, and bees shun them. I know that the leaves smell bitter, but the flowers??? Are they really avoided by bees? I have a huge bush of the yellow leaved type and another of the green leaved type. I am hoping they will seed themselves and smother weeds, but if bees avoid them, this seems pointless. Any opinions?
Had a quick google, and it seems that some people report it repelling bees, others say they aren't repelled at all. So who knows?
It is very pretty and great for headaches or mild migraines. Rub a leaf between your fingers and smell it, and somehow it just clears your head within a few minutes. I have an idea it attracts hoverflies.
I'll keep an eye on what visits the feverfew (Bachelors Buttons when I was little in Scotland), as hoverflies are very useful - but I am discouraged by seeing masses of insects in the gloaming 15 years ago, and hardly any except midge type things these days.
I always let a few parsnips flower and they seem to attract all sorts.
I was watching the moths starting to flutter about, and the martins were darting and diving around for something. We have bats around too and they must be feeding on something. Never saw a bat when I was young.
-Borage
Easily grown and eagerly sought by bees and other insects on my plot
I planted feverfew in my previous garden and it spreads everywhere...I ended up in my small garden (it was a flat) with about 7 different patches all around. :glasses9: I liked seeing the flowers though.
I love feverfew. It had taken over quite a bit of my plot this spring, but it's easy enough to pull up. I was told it was the first plant to flower after the bomb in Hiroshima.
Quote from: caroline7758 on June 25, 2014, 17:59:16
I love feverfew. It had taken over quite a bit of my plot this spring, but it's easy enough to pull up. I was told it was the first plant to flower after the bomb in Hiroshima.
apparently that and
Panic Grass :(