Begonia semperflorens "Cocktail Brandy" (IMAGE)

Entomological Society of America

Begonia semperflorens "Cocktail Brandy"

Caption

While wildflowers and perennials are a must for supporting pollinators, there's no denying the popularity of many annual flowers for their colorful, visual appeal. A new study suggests choosing the right varieties can give annual flowers a role in nourishing bees and other pollinating insects in home gardens. Researchers observed pollinators visiting the six most popular annual flower species in the U.S., finding significant variation in pollinator attractiveness between cultivars, even within the same flower species. Two begonia cultivars, "Cocktail Brandy" (shown here) and "Ambassador Rose Blush," and the impatiens cultivar "Accent Coral" drew in the most pollinating insects among all those tested. 

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Benary

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