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Bee-friendly Berries – 10 Native Shrubs With Berries That Wild Bees And Insects Love

Bee-friendly Berries – Edible, Native Shrubs With Berries That Insects Love

Are you looking for insect-friendly berry bushes that native wild bees, beetles, butterflies and other insects love? Then you've come to the right place! Most people actually plant berries in their own garden to eat them later.

But very few people know that some shrubs with berries are not only ideal for the snack garden, but are also particularly valuable for the local environment. Biodiversity as they provide food and shelter for numerous wild bees and other insects.

Taking a closer look at the berries in your garden or on your balcony offers you a great opportunity to do even more for endangered bees with simple means in your own garden and to help the bees. Counteracting insect mortality in a targeted manner.

In this article, I would therefore like to introduce you to the most important bee-friendly berry plants that provide both (edible) berries and a new habitat for insects. Let's go!

1. blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)

The wild blackberry is not only extremely hardy, undemanding and fast-growing, it also has numerous, pink flowerswhich bloom well into the summer and provide a habitat for a variety of pollinators.

Both the berry itself and Leaves, as well as nectar and pollen of the bee-friendly berry bush are popular with wild bees, butterflies, beetles and other insects. But many arachnids also like the thorny, dense plant.

If you want to do something for the bees, then you should definitely find a place in your garden for the blackberry. As they also suitable for pots you can alternatively place them on the terrace or balcony.

You can buy the native blackberry from professional plant markets or here online at the Horstmann nursery*.

Key facts about the bee-friendly blackberry:

  • Insects: Good for wild bees, caterpillars, butterflies, hoverflies and beetles
  • Flowering time: May, June, July and August
  • Dimensions: about 1-2 meters high and 1-3 meters wide
  • Location: Sun to partial shade
  • Other: Also an important bird protection and bird food tree

Attention! There is also the Armenian blackberry (Rubus armeniacus), which is an invasive neophyte and is not native to Germany. It even displaces native species and harms biodiversity. So make sure you use the correct botanical name when buying plants: Rubus fruticosus.

2. red currant (Ribes rubrum)

Red currant as a bee-friendly berry bush in the garden

Wild bees pollinate a large proportion of wild plants and crops - if they die out, we will have a serious food problem. Planting edible redcurrants in your garden can help!

This is because the bee-friendly berry blooms in spring and is therefore an important first food source for many insects. If it grows in your garden, you will be helping numerous Sand bees - but also caterpillars, flies and butterflies.

You can find red currants in nature-oriented garden centers or here online at the Horstmann nursery*.

Key facts about the bee-friendly red currant:

  • Insects: Good for wild bees, caterpillars and hoverflies
  • Flowering time: April and May
  • Dimensions: about 1-1.5 meters high and about 1-1.2 meters wide
  • Location: Sun
  • Other: Also an important bird protection and bird food tree

Tip: I have already given you a good reason for this here, Why we need to protect wild bees. In the linked blog article, I explain further reasons that should motivate us all to protect bees.

3. gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa)

When it comes to berry bushes for bees, the sweet and sour tasting gooseberry should not go unmentioned. Its green-yellow or pink flowers bloom in spring and magically attract many species of wild bees.

But also numerous Moths and hoverflies settle on the pot-suitable, insect-friendly shrub.

Gooseberries are available from environmentally conscious nurseries and plant markets - or here online as a variety at the Horstmann nursery*.

Key facts about the bee-friendly gooseberry:

  • Insects: Good for wild bees, caterpillars, butterflies and hoverflies
  • Flowering time: April and May
  • Dimensions: about 0.6-1.5 meters high and 0.5-1 meter wide
  • Location: Sun to partial shade

4. black elderberry (Sambucus nigra)

For us humans, the berries and juice of the black elderberry (also known as lilac berry) are only edible in boiled or fermented form - But bees and numerous other pollinators can also do something directly with the large berry bush.

This is mainly due to the fragrant, creamy white umbels of the plant, whose pollen and nectar are particularly popular with hoverflies and wild bees.

You can buy the black elder locally in good plant centers or here online at the Horstmann nursery*.

Key facts about the bee-friendly black elderberry:

  • Insects: Good for wild bees, caterpillars, butterflies, hoverflies
  • Flowering time: May, June and July
  • Dimensions: about 4-6 meters high and 3-5 meters wide
  • Location: Sun to partial shade
  • Other: Also an important bird protection and bird food tree

Good to know: There are several elderberry species! Red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa) and dwarf elderberry (Sambucus ebulus), for example, are also native and insect-friendly. However, you should steer clear of blue elderberry (Sambucus cerulea) as it is a neophyte and has little ecological value.

5. raspberry (Rubus idaeus)

Bees and bumblebees love raspberries in the garden

Even if you don't like raspberries, you should definitely plant what is probably the most insect-friendly berry bush in your garden or on your balcony. This is because it has an extremely high nectar value and attracts an incredible number of wild bees and caterpillars with its beautiful white flowers.

In my opinion, the raspberry is definitely a absolute must for all bee lovers!

You can usually find them in any plant center or even here online at the Horstmann nursery*.

Key facts about the bee-friendly raspberry:

  • Insects: Good for wild bees, caterpillars, butterflies, hoverflies, beetles
  • Flowering time: May and June
  • Dimensions: about 0.6-1.5 meters high and 0.8-1.2 meters wide
  • Location: Sun to partial shade
  • Other: Also an important bird protection and bird food tree

Tip: The raspberry is of course also ideal for the best possible Bird friendly garden suitable. I will be happy to show you what else you can do at home for your local birds in the linked blog post.

6. blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum)

The blackcurrant also joins the bee-friendly berries in the garden. The Nectar and pollen from their fragrant, yellowish flowers provides important food for many wild bees and other pollinators.

As the berry bush is Not endangered but only moderately common occurs in Germany, you are doing the insects a great favor by planting them in your own garden or on your balcony.

You can buy blackcurrants in well-stocked plant markets or also in here online at the Horstmann nursery*.

Key facts about the bee-friendly blackcurrant:

  • Insects: Good for wild bees, caterpillars and hoverflies
  • Flowering time: April and May
  • Dimensions: about 0.8-1.5 meters high and 0.8-1.2 meters wide
  • Location: Sun to partial shade

7. bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum)

Another bee-friendly berry, which I don't think is very well known, is the bog bilberry. It is also known as the bog bilberry and is also suitable for the garden or for a planter on the balcony. The berry bush is available in spring via really beautiful, white to reddish bell-shaped flowers and is particularly popular with bumblebees and other wild bees.

In my opinion, the bog bilberry is a great addition to a bee friendly garden represent. Also, as it occurs only moderately frequently and is already on the "early warning list" for endangered species of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), you can make an ecologically valuable contribution to the fight against insect extinction by planting them.

You can find bog bilberries in truly nature and environmentally conscious plant markets and nurseries.

Key facts about the bee-friendly smoky berry:

  • Insects: Good for wild bees, caterpillars, butterflies and hoverflies
  • Flowering time: May and June
  • Dimensions: about 50-90 centimeters high and 50-80 centimeters wide
  • Location: Sun to partial shade

8. cranberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea)

If you want to help wild bees and are still looking for a suitable shrub with berries for your garden, then the cranberry is just right for you! The nectar-rich, delicate, pink-white flowers of this robust plant serve as an important food source for countless insect species in spring.

Especially Sand bees, furrow bees, mason bees and also Butterflies are magically attracted to the insect-friendly berry bush.

You can find lingonberries in almost every plant center or even here online at the Horstmann nursery*.

Key facts about the bee-friendly cranberry:

  • Insects: Good for wild bees, caterpillars and hoverflies
  • Flowering time: March, April, May and June
  • Dimensions: about 10-30 centimeters high and 20-30 centimeters wide
  • Location: Sun to partial shade

9. blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)

Blackthorn is one of the first shrubs to bloom in spring. Its white, dense flowers provide food for an incredible number of insects. Wild bees, caterpillars and butterflies in particular love the plant.

The opaque, thorny berry bush also provides insects - as well as birds - with a safe haven. The tart and sour tasting fruits are also a valuable source of food for insects - but also for birds and small mammals. And they can also be eaten raw by us humans.

You can buy blackthorn in professional plant stores or also here online at the Horstmann nursery*.

Key facts about bee-friendly blackthorn:

  • Insects: Only for wild bees, beetles, caterpillars, butterflies and hoverflies
  • Flowering time: March, April and May
  • Dimensions: about 1.5-2.5 meters high and 2-4 meters wide
  • Location: Sun to partial shade
  • Other: Also an important bird protection and bird food tree

Tip: If you also want to provide food and shelter for garden birds, you can plant a number of berry bushes as well as numerous native and Bird-friendly trees plant. You can find out which trees are recommended in the linked article.

10. blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus)

Blueberry is one of the berry bushes for bees

The blueberry (also known as bilberry) not only tastes good to us humans but also good for many wild bees and other insect species.

It is above all the small, bell-shaped, white to pink flowers in spring, which attract them as a source of food. But the dense growth of the plant is interesting because it serves as a shelter and nesting place.

If you plant the bee-friendly wild berry in your garden, you can look forward to, among other things, buzzing Bumblebees and humming Sand bees, wasp bees and narrow bees look forward to.

You can find blueberries at any plant market. But please pay attention to the exact designationso that you don't accidentally buy the non-native American blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum).

Key facts about the bee-friendly blueberry:

  • Insects: Good for wild bees, caterpillars and hoverflies
  • Flowering time: April, May and June
  • Dimensions: about 70 centimeters high and 40-50 centimeters wide
  • Location: Sun to partial shade
  • Other: Also an important bird food plant

Plant and enjoy bee-friendly berries in your garden!

You can even enjoy the buzzing wild bees, flies, butterflies and beetles attracted by the insect-friendly berries in a double sense! Just listen and watch their goings-on in your natural garden - and snack on one of the berries every now and then 😉.

I hope that I have been able to help you with this article, your garden into a paradise for endangered wild bees and other pollinators - and thus make a valuable contribution to the fight against global warming. species extinction to perform.

"Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."

Albert Einstein (more under Nature Quotes)

Do you have any questions, suggestions or do you know of other bee-friendly berry bushes for the Natural garden? Then write me a comment.

Stay bee-friendly and close to nature,

Christoph from CareElite - Plastic-free living

PS: I have also provided you with a clearly laid out List of the best trees for insects compiled. So be sure to check it out if you want to do more for wild bees.

Coffee box Suggestions for improvement

* Links with asterisks are so-called affiliate links. If you click on it and buy something, you automatically and actively support my work with CareElite.de, because I get a small share of the sales revenue - and of course the product price does not change. Thank you for your support and best regards, Christoph!

Christoph Schulz

Christoph Schulz

I am Christoph, an environmental scientist, activist and author, and here at CareElite I am committed to tackling the environmental problems of our time and to promoting the most conscious and sustainable way of life possible in our society.