May 5, 2025, 12:31 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
For years, the declining population of wild bees and other insects has been observed, largely due to the fact that they struggle to find enough food. However, it’s not necessary to stand by and watch helplessly — everyone can do something about it. One way is by choosing the right plants for your balcony.
Lavender, sage, columbine, and nasturtium are wonderful plants for the balcony. Not only are they nice to look at, but they also provide a good food source for insects. Unfortunately, there are also plants that offer nothing to wild bees and other insects. Often, people don’t know them because no plant seller would label their goods as “insect-unfriendly.” In a myHOMEBOOK survey from spring 2025, we found that interest in insect-friendly plants is high. Therefore, we have selected five plants that you should avoid on the balcony.
1. Double Dahlias
With dahlias, it’s important to distinguish between double and single varieties. Single dahlias are quite interesting for insects. Double dahlias, however, while looking impressive, do not provide insects access to pollen or nectar. Too many petals “block” the way, and bees or other insects must fly away hungry.
2. Mini Petunias or Million Bells
Million Bells are found in garden centers, supermarkets, and discount stores. They are a wonderful choice for the balcony if you only consider their appearance. However, their insect-friendliness is uncertain. There was a time when they were considered insect-friendly, but many new varieties have been bred in recent years, and many are no longer deemed insect-friendly. Aside from breeding and hybrids, the trumpet-like shape of the plants is not necessarily the best for accessing pollen or nectar.
3. Geraniums
Geraniums are the epitome of a planted balcony. White, pink, or red, their blooms evoke vacation thoughts. But you should avoid these plants on the balcony. Unfortunately, geraniums are of no use to insects. “Geraniums are free of nectar,” explained Cornelis Hemmer from the Foundation for People and the Environment and the “Germany Buzzes!” initiative in a previous interview.
4. Begonias
Begonias are colorful, compact, and easy to care for — making them seemingly perfect for balcony boxes. However, you should avoid these plants on the balcony. They are of no value to insects. There are double and single varieties, but that’s not why they are uninteresting to insects. The reason is that they have virtually no pollen and nectar. The small begonias typically used for balconies are bred to eliminate pollen production.
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5. Mophead Hydrangeas
A mophead hydrangea on the balcony is a real eye-catcher. Large double blooms make them a highlight. But that’s precisely the problem — their blooms. These are double and, therefore, offer no access to insects. Additionally, mophead hydrangeas usually have sterile blooms, meaning they produce no nectar and little to no pollen.