Forsythia in the garden: completely worthless for insects

Created: 04/01/2022, 02:00 p.m

By: Joana Lück

Great on the outside, disappointing on the inside: Forsythia looks beautiful with its yellow flowers, but offers no added value for insects.

Munich – As one of the first early bloomers, the forsythia with its lush yellow flowers is particularly tempting for insects.

But appearances are deceptive: the plant nicknamed goldbell has neither pollen nor nectar and is therefore completely useless for bees, bumblebees, wasps and butterflies.

However, that doesn't mean you can't plant the shrub in your garden.

Forsythia in the garden: completely worthless for insects

Forsythia has neither pollen nor nectar.

(Iconic image) © Andreas Haas/Imago

Especially when the supply of flowers is not very large in spring and the insects that have just hatched are looking for food, this ends in disappointment for the small creatures in the case of forsythia.

Because the dry flowers are just as inconspicuous as the scent of the small yellow shrub.

But even if insects cannot enjoy the yellow shrub, your garden will still benefit from the plant from the olive family.

• The plant is extremely robust and hardy.

• Forsythia makes little or no demands on the soil.

  It should not be too calcareous, otherwise there is a risk of leaf loss.

• Forsythia is inexpensive and can be cultivated wonderfully in a bucket.

• Since they are two to three meters high, they can be used as a privacy screen on terraces and balconies.

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The forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia), as they stand in the garden, are hybrid varieties of the two varieties Forsythia suspensa and Forsythia viridissima and are therefore particularly tough.

Forsythia in the garden: These are the most insect-friendly plants

Like forsythia, lavender, phlox and forget-me-nots are useless to bees.

On the other hand, you can do something good for insects by not mowing your lawn or only mowing it seldom.

Because in wild, natural meadows there is a high variety of plants, which not only bees, bumblebees and co. enjoy but also butterflies.

Lilacs are a true insect magnet.

City dwellers with less space can also turn their balcony into an insect oasis.