Low Shrubs That Do Not Attract Bees & Wasps

Boxwood (Buxus cvs.)

• There are many types of boxwood to choose from in various sizes and colors. Pick a variety that is compatible with your climate as boxwoods can suffer from winter burn if not chosen carefully. Korean boxwood (Buxus microphylla) is appropriate for cold climates while English boxwood (Buxus sempevirens) is more suited to warmer climates. Hybrids of the two species also exist and offer the best features of both species. Boxwood grows in full sun or partial shade and likes average, well-drained soil. Note they may attract bees for a very short period, but if you time your annual shearing properly, you can avoid the tiny flowers completely.

Japanese Falsecycpress (Chamaecyparis pisifera "Mops")

• "Mops" is an attractive evergreen shrub that adds a lot of color and texture to your garden. It will grow slowly to 5 feet tall, but it can easily be pruned to keep it at a lower height. It has a weeping habit and bright yellow to chartreuse needled foliage. The more sun it gets the more yellow the foliage will be. It prefers moist, well-drained soil but is adaptable to most soil types. It grows well in most of the country but may not be suited to extremely cold or hot climates. "Mops" may sometimes be referred to as "Goldmop."

Dwarf Globe Blue Spruce (Picea pungens 'Glauca Globosa')

• Globe blue spruce is a striking accent plant with bright bluish-green foliage. It grows about 4 feet high and wide. It grows in average, well-drained soil and requires full sun to grow well. The new spring growth has the brightest blue color.

Globe Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis)

• There are several cultivars of Arborvitae that are low-growing; "Mr. Bowling Ball," "Hetz Midget" and "Little Gem" are a few. Thujas do best in full sun but can be grown in partial-shade. Heavy snow may affect them and cause splaying, but they usually recover in spring.

Forsythia "Gold Tide"

• This plant flowers very early in the spring before bees are active and may be a good choice. It has low-arching branches that grow about 3 to 4 feet tall. The foliage is a bright lime green and is a nice addition to the garden. It can spread wide in time but is easily controlled to limit its size. It is adaptable to any soil type.

Weigela "Midnight Wine"

• This low-growing shrub has purple foliage and is attractive in a sunny location. It does produce small pink tubular flowers occasionally, but it is known infamously for its poor flowering habit. Also, bees are not usually attracted to tubular flowers, so this may be a plant to consider.