Best NC Summer "bang for the buck" plant

[Specialkayme]

I live in central NC, and if you are familiar with the climate you know that once Tulip Poplar flow is over, that's just about the only flow you get for the year. And it doesn't last very long, and comes fairly early. This makes for a long summer dearth to deal with. So I was hoping to do some planting for the bees, something that can give off some decent nectar for them to deal with (not to harvest) that blooms mid to late summer.

Problem is, I don't have fields to plant it in. I have flower beds (two 18'x4' raised beds) to plant in, with the option of building more if need be. Any ideas on what plant I could give them that would produce the most nectar during the summer, without needing a giant field, that grows in central NC?

[heaflaw]

Check out Borage.

[North Bend Honey]

I would recommend Russian Sage or Blue knight Caryoptaris. Both are perennials that would fill in your flower beds nicely. Each plant needs to be spaced about 3 feet apart. They both develop woody stems that die back in the winter. The russian sage stems have a white color to them once the frost hits. Just cut them down to 12" or to the ground the spring. They should do the trick. Look them both up on a garden site on the web to answer the questions you may have about them. You may also want to contact your State extension service to see what they recommend for your state, your local college agriculture department and Your State department of Agriculture. If you have a county/state bee inspector drop them a e-mail. They always seem to have some great advise, seeing they are out and about seeing what others have done.

[Countryboy]

I would try seeding down any nearby ditches with some white dutch clover or sweetclover.

[caribou0_0]

Creeping Red Sedum, spreads very fast and blooms from about May through October here. it is very good bee plant and they love it. You can't kill this stuff wants it starts in your flower beds. It will grow any where. You can get it from Burgess Seed and Plant Company

[heaflaw]

Check out Borage.

It is an annual that reseeds itself easily. Either don't or barely cover the seeds. It blooms around 6 weeks after seeding. 2' tall & 2' diameter. NC does not list it as invasive. A number of blooms on each plant. Keep watered well. Lasts till first frost. Bees love it.

[caribou0_0]

Any of the Sedums or Stone Crop Plants are great for bees. Fast growing and need very little attention.

[kenny61]

I too am in central NC and i agree with the white clover...buy a #20 bag of seed and walk the neighborhood! Im in wake forest so you can come here and plant some too...thanks

[woodhinge]

Well, I do have pleanty of acerage to plant, but even so, we need to be careful about what seed we sow. I'm planting large strips of buckwheat. It blooms in about 4 weeks and you can continue to resow it all year.
Some of the late bloomers like Aster and Goldenrod will produce great amounts of honey BUT, the honey also crystalizes in the hive and is no use to the bees after that happens.
I have planted 7 acres of Dutch White clover this year, so I'm expecting some good results from that. Those with home-hives might consider planting their yards with clover.

[Ted n Ms]

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