Repost from fotb.ca: The Friends of the Bees have selected interesting annuals we recommend you try for the year of 2025! Consider trying these varieties which provide both stunning looks, and help assist your pollinator friends. Growers celebrating with the Friends of the Bees will often offer FOTB annuals of the year for you to view or purchase. Enjoy!
1. Fiesta del Sol – Tithonia
Some might know tithonia as “Mexican Sunflowers” – but they’re no sunflowers at all! Fiesta del Sol is a compact variety that stays under 3 feet. Other varieties such as Torch can easily reach 6 feet. Fiesta del Sol is much more manageable, and simpler to integrate into more areas of your garden. You can even plant them in larger pots.
Why they’re recommended?
Bright orange flowers with the intensity from Fiesta del Sol are quite uncommon. The photo above is a great representation for what you can expect your flowers to look like. Tithonia are extremely welcoming to a variety of garden friends, especially butterflies, of which several breeds will lay eggs. As the flowers die and produce seed, small birds love to visit to pick at them.
What friends will they bring?
monarchs, painted ladies, eastern tiger swallowtails, black swallowtails, queens, gulf fritillaries, red admirals, buckeyes, cloudless sulphurs, bees, hummingbirds, parasitic wasps, hoverflies, ladybugs, lacewings, predatory beetles, dragonflies
2. Suntastic – Sunflower
Everyone loves sunflowers, and for some, getting them to successfully flower can be quite the task! Between bunnies and squirrels enjoying the sprouts, or even severe thunderstorms, there are several challenges revolving around successfully growing sunflowers. Suntastic is a super dwarf, super branching sunflower! Each individual plant typically produces 3 bursts of flowers for a total of over 20 cute blooms. It will be the earliest sunflower on the block!
Why they’re recommended?
Lots of garden friends enjoy the presence of sunflowers. Some bees in particular have been known to travel great distances to return to sunflowers due to the high value nectar they produce. These Suntastic sunflowers will serve as early summer beacons for your garden, welcoming all to visit!
What friends will they bring?
monarchs, painted ladies, eastern tiger swallowtails, black swallowtails, gulf fritillaries, bees, bumblebees, honeybees, hummingbirds, goldfinches, chickadees, nuthatches, parasitic wasps, hoverflies, ladybugs, lacewings, predatory beetles
3. Disco – Marigold
Marigolds are a staple part of every garden – almost a requirement! If bees and butterflies are your target beneficial insects however, many of the double and crested marigolds actually provide tricky access to what the bees are after most. Disco marigolds have a slightly different structure, producing more airy open plants. They come in several different shades and colours, offering impressive customizability to common combinations.
Why they’re recommended?
Like the name suggests – “Disco” produces open topped “disc” shaped flowers that almost resemble some cosmos varieties more than marigolds. They are much more welcoming to bees compared to other standard varieties.
What friends will they bring?
bees, hoverflies, parasitic wasps, ladybugs, lacewings, tachinid flies, predatory beetles, spiders, nematode-eating insects