What Is The Best Clover For Honey Bees?

[@kevinmccoy3653]

For me, in California, red clover is the only one I wouldn't grow again-- beautiful, but I never see any bees coming to it. White clover did attract many native bees in early spring, and sweet clover attracted lots of bees in summer and bloomed a long time.

[@clarabell60z]

We are several years into backyard bee hives--hobby only. And first had a dried flower garden business, than morphed into a butterfly garden (raised them) but want to switch to bee "plants" and for all the lists made for plants that are "bee magnets" I am now super skeptical. Not to kibosh all talk but like my dog who chooses a cardboard box over a $10 chewie; the bees pass by all the plants I purchased and go to our weeds ie native plants. T.M.I.

[@kevinmccoy3653]

@@clarabell60z I don't think I mentioned it-- but my bee standouts this last summer were Frost Aster, Texas Thistle, and Spanish Needles. All of these are U.S. native, and I simply can't describe in words how attractive to ALL pollinators they were. I'm trying as many species of these genera I can find.

[@clarabell60z]

@@kevinmccoy3653 Thanks Kevin. Great tips. Also Clover is a winter crop correct? I should wait until fall ‘23 to try again I think.

[@NicolasPrince-lv5nv]

White clover, Dutch clove

[@clarabell60z]

Tried a Deluxe Bee Lawn Mix from Twin City Seed that I planted in the fall--pretty disappointed so far--seems to be mostly grasses. I tried Crimson Clover one season and it came up gangbusters--in spots--took a long time to bloom--just came up too sporadically. I want a clover that has a good germination rate here in NE Florida. See Berseem is mentioned for Florida. Could you share if Clover has to be planted in the Fall? If I plant now is it too late for my area?

[@jamesbarron1202]

The seeds need to be inoculated with the proper type of rhizobia for the species your planting. It’ll grow much better.