Save Pollinators

Here in the Algarve we were asked to view a plot of land for an owner who had trouble producing a yield of citrus fruit on their trees. The land owner lives on quite a large block, and the citrus trees have been planted long enough to bear fruit. The obvious problem was not the citrus trees, it was the surrounding monoculture of olive trees. Due to the lack of colour, variety and diversity of the site there was no invitation of beneficial insects and pollinators to the land. Resulting in more presence from pests, lack of pollination and no quality fruit! 

Colour and variety is the key!

Where there are flowers, there are bees and other insects! (hopefully). Pollinators are of obvious importance in fertilizing the flowers that produce the fruit, vegetables and grains that we grow to survive. The guide to planting for pollinators is to cultivate an abundance of flowering plants and trees. A variety of colours, flower shapes, growth habits and time of flowering. This will ensure a steady population of visiting and resident pollinators, year round. Another benefit is that you will have a steady population of beneficial predatory insects ensuring the balanced health and stability of your garden ecosystem working to keep potential pests under control.

Bee Happy Plants

Incorporating flowering plants are a great way to improve the abundance and diversity of pollinators around your growing area, such as wild bees, bumblebees, butterflies and hoverflies. Wild varieties like bumble bees and other insects can be more productive in pollination than domesticated honey bees.

Please discover below the variety of plants we have used at Pomar Dos Sabores to attract all types of beneficial bugs to the garden!

Please find below a list of the plants we have used at Pomar dos Sabores (www.orchardofflavours.com) to attract all types of beneficial bugs (and lots of bees) to the Botanical Garden:

ACCA SELLOWIANA "TRIUMPH", ARBUTUS UNEDO "Atlantic", ARBUTUS UNEDO "Compacta", ARBUTUS UNEDO "Compacta", ARBUTUS, UNEDO "Dente", ARBUTUS UNEDO "Peace and Love", ARBUTUS UNEDO "Rubra", ARBUTUS UNEDO, ARBUTUS UNEDO X ANDRACHNOIDE "Marina", ARISTOTELIA CHILENSIS, CALLISTEMON VIMINALIS, CARICA PAPAYA "Alicia" Dwarf variety, CARICA PAPAYA "Intenza", CARICA PAPAYA "solo", CARICA PUBESCENS SERENA or VASCONCELLEA PUBESCENS, CEANOTHUS THYRSIFLORUS "Repens", CEIBA PENTANDRA, CITRUS BERGAMIA "Fantastico", CITRUS FORTUNELLA "Centennial Variegated", CITRUS FORTUNELLA "Fukushu", CITRUS FORTUNELLA "Marumi", CITRUS FORTUNELLA MARGARITA, CITRUS HYSTRIX ( COMBAVA), CITRUS ICHANGENSIS, CITRUS MAXIMA,
CITRUS MAXIMA "Red Madoka", CITRUS MEDICA DIGITATA, CITRUS TAVARES CITRUS x AURANTIIFOLIA "key lime" or CITRUS x LATIFOLIA "tahiti lime", COFFEA ARABICA, DELONIX REGIA, DYMONDIA REPENS ELAEAGNUS UMBELLATA "fortunella", ELAEAGNUS UMBELLETA "Amoroso", ELAEAGNUS UMBELLETA "Sweet and sour" , ELAEAGNUS UMBELLETA "Sweet Scarlet" , ELAEAGNUS X EBBINGEI "Chalef" , ERIOBOTRYA JAPONICA "Argelino" , ERIOBOTRYA JAPONICA "Golden Nugget" , ERIOBOTRYA JAPONICA "Tanaka" , HIBISCUS ROSA-SINENSIS, JASMINUM GRANDIFLORUM, LANTANA MONTEVIDENSIS , MACADAMIA INTEGRIFOLIA, MANGIFERA INDICA 'Kensington Pride', MANGIFERA INDICA "Ataulfo", MANGIFERA INDICA "Irwin", MANGIFERA INDICA "Kent", MANGIFERA INDICA "Osteen", MANGIFERA INDICA "Sensation", MANGIFERA INDICA "Tommy Atkins", MATRICARIA TCHIHATCHEWII, MICROCITRUS AUSTRALASICA "Pink", MUSA "Chini Champa", MUSA "Dwarf Orinoco" or "Dwarf Topocho", MUSA "Lep Chang Kut", MUSA "Pisang Awak", "Dwarf Namwah", MUSA ACUMINATA "Dwarf Cavendish", MUSA ACUMINATA "Red Dacca", MUSA DAJIAO, OSTEOSPERMUM (DIMORPHOTHECA) "Rampant", "Alba", PERSEA AMERICANA "Bacon", PERSEA AMERICANA "Fuerte", PERSEA AMERICANA "Hass", PERSEA AMERICANA "Reed", PERSEA Americana "Zutano", POTENTILLA NEUMANNIANA, PRUNUS ARMENIACA "Beliana", PRUNUS ARMENIACA "Bulida", PRUNUS ARMENIACA "Canino", PRUNUS DULCIS "Ferraduel" , PRUNUS DULCIS "Ferragnes", PRUNUS DULCIS "Guara", PRUNUS DULCIS "Marinada", PSIDIUM CATTLEIANUM SABINE", PSIDIUM CATTLEYANUM,PSIDIUM GUAJAVA (pink), PSIDIUM GUAJAVA (yellow), ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS "Prostratus", SCHINUS MOLLE, SCHINUS TEREBINTHIFOLIUS, SYZYGIUM AUSTRALE (Etna Fire), SYZYGIUM PANICULATUM "Newport", UGNI MOLINAE (MYRTUS UGNI).

This article was compiled by Miguel COTTON & Jackson KNIGHTS. If you have any questions or suggestions, do not hesitate to contact us. miguel@orchardofflavours.com