Whether you keep bees or not, you can help out your local pollinators - honey bees, butterflies, and other types of native bees - by planting nectar-rich flowers. Some flowers native to your area might provide more nectar or grow better in your local soil, but Betterbee sells a variety of flower seeds that we find generally advantageous for honey bees across the country. Below are the prepping and planting tips for all of the seeds that we sell.
We also offer a “How to Grow Flowers for Pollinators” trifold brochure that summarizes all of this information in a quick-hitting format. Download that brochure here to share with your network, or reach out to us at support@betterbee.com for bulk orders of these printed brochures.
How to plant Autumn Beauty seed mix
Autumn Beauty Sunflower Mix boasts a range of annual sunflowers in warm shades of orange, yellow, bronze, and red. These multi-branched plants provide dramatic contrast as a tall border in flower and vegetable gardens. Blooms are strong-stemmed and range from 4-6" across on plants that grow 4 to 6 feet in height.
This mix provides an attractive variety of sunflowers in your garden that are hardy and make for great cut flowers, while also attracting an array of beneficial insects to the garden, such as butterflies, bumblebees, hummingbirds, honey bees.
Prepping the site for planting: Choose a site with full sun. Sunflowers grow long taproots that do not enjoy waterlogged soil. It is recommended to check your sowing area for hard, compacted soil prior to sowing. Amend any hard, compacted soil with a mixture of compost. Sunflowers will enjoy an area of full sunlight for the majority of the day and should be watered daily so that the soil is kept moist until germination has occurred.
When to plant: Plan to directly sow after the last frost.
How to plant: Sunflowers are not particularly fond of being transplanted, but if started indoors, sow in peat pots, 6 to 8 weeks prior to the last frost. Sow at a depth of 1/2” under the topsoil. Transplant entire pots into the garden, or direct sow when the weather is warm and all danger of frost has passed. Stakes may be necessary to support your sunflowers, only until the stems become strong enough to stand on their own. Spread seed at 2 ounces per 1000 square feet.
Betterbee sells SEEDSUN4 in 4 oz. packs.
How to plant Borage flower seeds
Borage is an annual herb/ornamental plant boasting clusters of bright starlike blue/purple flowers. It is a self-seeding annual that grows to 2 to 3 feet in height. The benefits of planting borage include repelling pests like hornworms, while attracting pollinators, and aiding any plants it is interplanted with by increasing resistance to pests and disease. It is also helpful to, and compatible with, most plants — notably tomatoes, strawberries, and squash. It also has a long blooming period.
Prepping the site for planting: Grow borage in well-drained but moisture-retentive soil rich in organic matter. Add aged compost to the planting bed and turn it under to 12 inches before planting.
When to plant: Plant in late spring up until the end of May.
How to plant: Sow seeds directly into the garden after the last date of frost. Plant seeds ¼ to ½ inch under the soil in rows 12 inches apart. Thin the borage herb to at least 1 foot when the plants measure 4 to 6 inches tall. Spread at about 5-7 ounces per 1000 square feet.
Betterbee sells SEEDBOR4 in 4 oz. packs.
How to plant Japanese Buckwheat flower seeds
Japanese Buckwheat is a spindly, broad-leafed plant with small heart-shaped leaves and hollow stems. It is an annual that can grow as tall as 2 to 4 feet in height. The plant produces many small white or pink flowers that, when pollinated, quickly produce seeds. The seeds are triangular in shape and change from a green color to a red-brown.
Buckwheat is a fast grower that provides excellent weed control while attracting beneficial insects and pollinators with its abundant blossoms. It is easy to kill and extracts phosphorus from soil better than most grain-type cover crops. It is also a great green manure crop and nectar source.
Prepping the site for planting: Pick any sunny site with good drainage. When using buckwheat to improve very poor soil, mixing a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil before planting will give better results.
When to plant: Sow buckwheat from late spring to late summer, whenever a bed will be unused for more than three weeks.
How to plant: Broadcast seed by hand into the desired area so that the seeds are about 2 inches apart and 1/2 inch deep and cover by lightly raking the sown area. Spread seed at 2-3 pounds per 1000 square feet.
Betterbee sells SEEDBUCK1 in 1 lb. packs.
How to plant Native Wildflower seed mix
This native wildflower mix includes a variety of native wildflowers with a focus on improving native bee habitat. It is a mix of 48% annual and 52% perennial wildflowers.
This mix is designed to provide a plant mix that will provide pollen and nectar over an extended blooming period. It is best suited for planting in full sun to partial shade.
Prepping the site: If the site is heavily compacted, shallow tillage is recommended. Avoid deeply disturbing the soil as this will bring up more dormant weed seeds. If the soil does not require tillage, rake the soil to loosen the top one to two inches. Try to avoid wet or low areas which may accumulate weed seeds.
When to plant: Annual wildflowers must be planted in the spring, or as a dormant seeding in the late fall. These plants need to re-seed for growth the following year. Planting too late in the spring or summer will not allow enough time for these plants to mature and develop viable seeds.
How to plant: After weed control, seeding can be started. Seed can be sown by hand like chicken feed or with the use of a spreader. Mixing your seed with an inert compound such as sand, cornmeal, or even sawdust will make even distribution simpler and allow for the small seeds to feed through a spreader easier. After application, lightly rake the seed into the soil. Do not seed deeper than 1/8 to 1/2 inch. Keep soil moist until seedlings are 4 to 6 inches tall and in very dry conditions, water occasionally. Spread at 4 ounces per 1000 square feet.
Betterbee sells SEEDNAT4 in 4 oz. packs.
How to plant Rapini flower seeds
Rapini is a green vegetable in the Brassicaceae family. It is also known as broccoli raab and resembles small heads of broccoli and small edible flowers bloom amongst the buds. Rapini is a biennial in milder climates but is often planted as an annual.
Rapini has various health benefits including diabetes control by regulating glucose and insulin, improving bone strength, protecting heart health, and it contains sulfur, which aids in detoxification of the liver.
Prepping the site: Rapini doesn't require heavy fertilization but does appreciate a bit of a nutritional boost. This can be accomplished by amending soil with organic matter/compost which will aid in the lifecycle of the plant.
When to plant: Plan to plan rapini seeds in early spring through late summer.
How to plant: Direct seed (recommended): Sow 1-2" apart, ¼–½" deep, in rows 18–24" apart. Thin to 4–6" apart.
Transplant: From early spring to late summer, sow 2–3 seeds per cell (thin to one) in trays 3–4 weeks before transplanting to the garden. Rapini seeds enjoy warm soil to start in but quickly adjust and even grow better in slightly cooler conditions once sprouted. Ensure good air circulation and light. Transplant outdoors 6–12" apart. Spread seed at about 1 ounce per 1000 square feet.
Betterbee sells SEEDRAP2 and SEEDRAP4 in 2 oz. and 4 oz. packs, respectively.
How to plant White Dutch Clover flower seeds
White clover is an herbaceous perennial that only grows about 6 to 10 inches tall, branching from the base. It produces many small white flowerheads, approximately 3/4" across, on long stalks where each flowerhead contains 20-50 flowers in a round formation.
This perennial is a great option for "living mulch" and is excellent at protecting soil from erosion and suppressing weeds. They are a persistent, widely-adapted nitrogen fixer with hardy stems and a shallow dense root mass.
Prepping the site: About a week before planting, remove any weeds and rocks and break up clumps. Work in a 4-inch layer of aged compost into the soil to help promote drainage. Level the soil surface with a rake. If you're using white clover as a grass companion, mow the grass so it's low to the ground. The ground can also be prepared by shallow tilling and then packed firm. It is also recommended to rake or scratch the surface of your yard wherever you would like to grow the clover as a grass substitute.
When to plant: Sow in early spring, up to 40 days before the last frost.
How to plant: Seeds should be planted in a firm, weed-free seedbed at a depth of 1/8 to 1/2 inch. Seeds can be planted up to 2 inches deep but will take much longer to germinate than shallower planted seeds. Spread seed at a rate of 2-8 ounces per 1000 square feet.
Betterbee sells SEEDWCLO1 in 1 lb. packs.
How to plant Xerces seed mix
Due to the variety of seeds in this mix, the different flowering species in the Xerces seed mix will provide blooms throughout the entire growing season. The Xerces mix is made up of 39% annual and 61% perennial wildflowers.
This is an excellent mix of pollinator plants that appreciate full sun or partial shade and will grow in a variety of soil types. This mix will also benefit gardens throughout the growing season as it provides a mix of plants that will bloom over the course of the growing season.
Prepping the site: Try to eradicate the area of existing weeds. Covering the area with cardboard or newspaper is a good way to smother the existing vegetation prior to planting. Avoid deep tilling which will bring dormant weed seeds to the surface. Amend the soil with organic material if possible to improve overall plant growth and health. Also, try to avoid wet or low areas which may accumulate weed seeds.
When to plant: Annual wildflowers may be planted in the spring or as a dormant planting in late fall. These plants need to reseed for growth the following year. Planting too late in the spring or summer will not allow enough time for these plants to mature and develop viable seeds; however, they are a good candidate for fall seeding for the following year. Seeds may also be planted in late spring, a couple of weeks before the last frost.
How to plant: After weed control, seeding can be started. Seed can be sown by hand like chicken feed or with the use of a spreader. Mixing your seed with an inert compound such as sand, cornmeal, or even sawdust will make even distribution simpler and allow for the small seeds to feed through a spreader easier. After application, lightly rake the seed into the soil. Do not seed deeper than 1/8 to 1/2 inch. Keep soil moist until seedlings are 4 to 6 inches tall and, in very dry conditions, water occasionally. Seed at about 3-4 ounces per 1000 square feet.
Betterbee sells SEEDXER4 in 4 oz. packs.
How to plant Yellow sweet clover
Yellow clover is an annual/biennial but is also considered a short-lived perennial. Growth can range from two to seven feet in height. Large plants are branchy and bush-like. Shorter plants are less branched and lankier. The stems are sturdy and more or less erect, but they may also sprawl across the ground. This plant produces an abundance of small yellow flowers.
Yellow clover makes an excellent cover crop that will bring potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen to the surface of the soil. It is drought-resistant and is a vigorous grower, withstanding many conditions. It is an easy-to-grow legume that will produce large white blooms.
Prepping the site: About a week before planting, remove any weeds and rocks and break up clumps. Work a layer of compost into the soil to help promote drainage and level the soil surface with a rake. If you're using clover as a grass companion, mow the grass so it's low to the ground. The ground can also be prepared with tilling equipment and then the seedbed packed firm. It is also recommended to rake or scratch the surface of your yard wherever you would like to grow the clover as a grass substitute.
When to plant: Sow in early spring. Spring seeding allows for enough time for root growth to develop to sustain the plants through the winter months. For fall plantings, plant at least 6 weeks before the first frost.
How to plant: Seeds should be planted in a firm, weed-free seedbed at a depth of 1/8 to 1/2 inch. Seeds can be planted up to 2 inches deep but will take much longer to germinate than shallower planted seeds. Spread seed at about 6-8 ounces per 1000 feet.
Betterbee sells SEEDYCLO1 in 1 lb. packs.
