Most honeybees like roses far less than other flowers in your garden. Modern hybrid roses have too many petals that block access to nectar and pollen. Bees will visit them if nothing else blooms, but they won't seek them out first.
I tested this in my own garden last summer. I planted a hybrid tea rose bush right next to a patch of lavender. The bees ignored the rose blooms for weeks. They only landed on rose petals when the lavender stopped flowering in late August.
Double-petaled roses cause problems for bees because of how they're bred. Plant breeders packed extra petals into each bloom to make them look fuller. Those extra petals cover up the parts bees need most. The nectar and pollen sit deep inside where bees can't reach without wasting too much energy.
Bees prefer flowers with open access to their centers. They look for flat landing platforms and clear paths to food. They also rely on nectar guides which are patterns on petals that point toward the goods. Most fancy roses hide all these features behind layers of petals.
If you want roses for pollinators, you need to pick the right types. Single petal roses for bees work much better than double varieties. These old-fashioned blooms have just five to eight petals arranged in a flat circle. The center stays wide open so any bee can walk right in.
Virginia Rose
- Native range: Grows wild across eastern North America and suits gardens in zones 3-8.
- Bee appeal: Single pink blooms with bright yellow centers attract native bees and honeybees alike.
- Bonus feature: Rose hips in fall feed birds and provide visual interest in your winter garden.
Rugosa Rose
- Growing zones: Thrives in zones 2-9 and handles salt spray near coastal areas.
- Bee appeal: Large single flowers with strong scent draw bees from across your yard.
- Care level: Tough plant that needs little water once roots take hold in your soil.
Wild Prairie Rose
- Native range: Found across central North America in zones 4-9 prairie regions.
- Bee appeal: Light pink petals open flat to give bees easy access to pollen.
- Growth habit: Spreads to form natural hedges that shelter many bee species.
I switched half my rose bed to rugosa roses two years ago. The change was clear within weeks. Bees visited the rugosa flowers ten times more often than my hybrid teas. I counted them one afternoon just to be sure.
You don't have to give up all your fancy roses if you love them for cutting or display. Just add a few single-petaled types nearby so bees have options. Plant them in groups of three or more so foraging bees can spot them from a distance while flying past.
Native roses also need less care than hybrid types. You won't spray as many chemicals or prune as often. This helps bees even more since they don't have to deal with pesticide residue on the flowers they visit in your garden.
Read the full article: Best Native Flowers for Bees: Pollinator Plants
