Hi glaswegian!

There are a few things we need to know before we can help. Such as: Is the area in which you plan to grow the tall plant in sun or shade? Is the soil dry, moist, or somewhere in-between? What color you would like this plant to be? Any particular month you would like this plant to bloom in?
Once we know you will have tons of great suggestions! The people here are very good at helping a person with plant shopping!
CMK

Area = full sun

Soil = between dry and moist

Plants = various colours

Month of bloom = starting from spring onwards

What kind of bees are we talking about? I know some people think of all bees as a nuisance and fear them but if it is bumble bees they are really quite docile and harmless. In fact when I am trimming roses and working in my veggie garden the bumbles are definitely present but not the slighest bit interested in me.

As mentioned above it will depend on what you plant. On the back of our fence we have grown California poppies in the past and it is bee madness back there. I just let them alone and it works out great for everyone. I wait until the end of summer when its cold to cut the poppies down with the weed eater for next year and the bees have moved on for the season.

Hope this helps.

Kate

Flowering plants and bees go together - it is hard to have one without the other :-) Moreover, bees are pretty necessary as they are one of the primary means of pollination. As Kate has stated, I wouldn't overly worry about bees being present. Those that are attracted to flowering plants are not aggressive and if you don't bother them, they'll not bother you. Some plants are particularly attractive to them when in bloom and you might want to avoid those just to limit their numbers. Or if you or members of your family are allergic to bee stings, avoiding any flowering plants in this area is recommended, just to be on the safe side. Wasps and hornets are another matter - these tend to be very aggressive but they are attracted to food sources and scents rather than flowering plants - if you eat in the pergola or wear perfumes or have a compost pile nearby, you will attract them but you can hang traps to keep them at bay.

As to Japanese beetles, they are pretty much a fact of life in many parts of this country. While they can devastate some plants, they are not of any concern to humans - you could easily coexist if you can tolerate the plant damage. Some of the perennials they tend to avoid are threadleaf coreopsis, rudbeckia, liatris, chelone, iris, peonies, hosta, heucheras, yarrow, shasta daisies and asters. A vine climbing on the pergola would be a nice addition - try clematis, wisteria or honeysuckle.

You can also limit the J. beetle activity in your garden by hanging pheromone traps for the adults or treating with milky spore for the larvae. Both are considered natural (non-chemical pesticide) controls.

Here is a link that might be useful: managing Japanese beetles

I'm not sure how you're defining "tall", but here's a few that are usually greater than four feet:

Eupatorium
Heliopsis
Miscanthus
Rudbeckia
Thalictrum

For most of the above, some varieties are taller than others, so keep an eye on that.

The Thalictrum might not appreciate the full sun location. The others would make a nice combination however.

Finally, I don't think there's too many perennials, if any at all, that are "tall" and flowering in the spring (April-May). The earliest (greater than 4') might be some of the Lilies flowering in June.

As mentioned by someone else, most of these will still be visited by the bees, but I don't think the JB will be a problem for these.

Cheers.

I didn't ask for a lecture on bees and jbs, I just wanted fast growing giant perennial suggestions period.

We have an 8months old baby, and it was uncomfortable last summer sitting in the back there. If anyone hasn't got a suggestion for what am asking, please refrain from answering!

I am in Canada, not the US, if that makes any difference? By tall I mean something that can be used as a "screen"

Cheers

Well then!

To be on the safe side re the bugs, and to create a screen, I would go with a planting of one of taller grasses such as Miscanthus 'Giganteus'.

glaswegian your response came across as rude, I hope it wasn't meant to be. Everyone is just trying to be helpful.

Well, excuuusssee me!! My, that was a lovely and gracious response....NOT! Forget the flowering plants entirely and go with a conifer or ornamental grass (nice suggestion btw, cpg).

FWIW, you don't get to choose who responds to your questions or with what information - that's the nature of a public forum. Obviously, it was thought the additional information would be of value to you. If not, feel free to ignore but you don't need to be rude about it.

I wasn't being rude, and am sorry if it came across as that! I just thought people could have concentrated on the info I gave and what I asked for, rather than the lecture about bees.

These plants by the way, are for the front lawn side of the house and along the fence in the backyard, something to look at when we sit out.

By tall, i Meant 4-6ft in height

I'll leave the plant suggestions to others but what I have done is made a couple of pseudo wasp nests out of a stuffed T Shirt bag (taped into the shape of a wasp's nest) spray painted grey and hung in our sitting areas. This has helped keep the yellow jackets away. Yellow jackets seem to be the only ones around here that give us a problem. A

Your rudeness is possibly the worst I've seen on this forum.
Maybe you should just do a search for your answer so you don't have to interact with people.

No one is lecturing you on bees, but trying to get the message across that if you plant a flowering plant, you get a bee. They're pollinators and that's their job. If I understand you correctly, these plants are going to be used some distance away. So I'm baffled why you're having problems under your pergola. Perhaps there is something nearby that is attracting them to you. Wasps can be more of an annoyance and they can have nests where you don't even see them. Bees don't bother me on the patio at all. They're attracted to the plants nearby and that's it. You should check out the area to see what's going on.

If your husband (or wife), you or your baby are using scented hairspray, perfumes, lotions, etc., that can attract insects. Also, certain colors of clothing can attract them. You can't avoid bees or other insects with flowering plants, vines or shrubs, and those are the most interesting plants. No matter how fast growing the plant, it will take time to reach 4 - 6 feet in height. You won't find anything like that in the spring. I'm in Rochester, just south of you and it takes perennials at least until mid-late July to get that tall. For no bee activity, you'd have to plant evergreen shrubs or use screens and those are pretty boring.

Do you like birds? Put up a few bird feeders, bird houses and baths/fountains. I like the hummingbirds that visit and your baby would really enjoy that. You can easily put up a hummingbird feeder. You'll have something fun to look at without worrying about insects in your face. I enjoy bird watching all year round and the babies that come in summer. Happy gardening.

Will throw this out for what it's worth since others have hinted - if you want a perennial screen that is nice to look out at while sitting out and not be bothered by bugs, think in terms of conifers. For your zone, there are enough varieties, textures, colors, shapes, and sizes to please virtually anyone and compliment any yard. Well thought out conifer arrangements can be every bit a piece of eye candy as a bed of blooming perennials.

Gardengal's and other's posts seem completely innocuous to me. I agree that the most interesting and beautiful plants have flowers and pollinators go with the territory. I just love all the butterflies, bees, etc. and grow flowers purposely to attract them.

In my experience, bees and wasps are not at all aggressive while they are pollinators flowers - they are aggressive if you get near their nests. The only time I was badly stung, was stumbling across a Yellow Jacket nest while working out back in a brushy area. Ouch! It's a good idea to keep an eye out for where those buggers are nesting, and avoid the area or deal with the nest.

The flowers that seem to attract the least pollinators include most bulbs, Irises, Peonies, Daylilies, Lilies and Hostas. Pretty much what's been mentioned here. Maybe some nice Lilacs? A dwarf variety would not grow too large. The only thing I've ever seen pollinating a Lilac is Swallowtail butterflies, and those are gorgeous. JB's are not a problem here .

I'm in zone 8 so most of what I'm used to is very different but I have had a bed that I look out on and really enjoyed having red-twigged dogwood there (hedgerow's gold). It's variegated so has interesting foliage and the twigs are pretty in the winter. I'm also crazy for Acanthus mollis but I don't think it can grow in your zone.
Wish I could be more helpful, it's an interesting puzzle.
Lex

Although I haven't paid attention to those plants that DON'T have bees on them, here's some suggestions as to what NOT to plant:
AVOID a garden mum. Although they tend to be the one thing that is LEFT near the end of the season, they are always covered in bee activity- especially on those warmer end-summer days when you want to be outside.
Monarda/Bee Balm- lots of activity there, too.
Centaurea Montana- Mountain Bluet: Attracts hornets.
Gaillardia also is an insect/bee magnet.

In my experience as a relatively new gardener, the poofier/fluffier and more colorful the flower, the more insects love it. Zinnias, marigolds, calendula, that sorta thing.

Daylilies might be the "perfect perennial" for you, since they are available in so many colors, heights & bloom times that you can literally have color from late spring to near frost. Someone already mentioned their lack of pollinators; I typically only find a stray ant in there. They aren't especially fast-growing, though, so if you can find a daylily farm nearby to get you started, that might be your best bet for some instant offerings. Or you can find inexpensive ones on eBay. That's what I did when I first got started; found several 'Lots' from sellers which gave me a good start to fill my spaces.

Mixed in with the evergreens, you might find a nice combination with the DLs. Personally, I find evergreens to be incredibly boring LOL.

Will you be planting 'under' your pergola? If there's a little shade under there, or even still some sun, Coleus might be a nice filler for under there to give some color. It's obviously an annual, but no insects to worry about. There are some varieties that will tolerate sun these days. Check out Rosy Dawn Gardens (dot com) for their offerings, as they carry a lot more than you'll find in your local garden center.

Another thing you might consider is to email the 'powers that be' over at someplace like Bluestone Perennials, who might know exactly what to suggest for you.

And for the record, please don't knock those who would offer you additional information. There are many folks who simply love to teach and inform, and you will find several on every board here. Had you stated in your original post that you realize there will likely be some bee activity but you are trying to limit it because you simply aren't looking to create a Bee Haven in your yard, it would have been better than snapping that those who provided the information as a courtesy to you.

glaswegian - I do get where you're coming from as I'm more thab a little "afraid of bees, wasps, and flying thingees" in general. And, although in my case, it's not about a baby, my paranoia (read illogical fear) turns me into a bigger baby than most. So, yeah, when someone is scared, it's pointless for those who are not to explain that they are harmless as fear is senseless. However, perhaps, your words of "a lecture on bees" had a bit of a biting sting to it, in itself :) Funny thing is, I came upon this forum in my search for fragrant flowers that do not attract bees! and, yes, I live in montreal, quebec, so I share your zone in ways. Though, as a montrealer, i swear there is no place colder in the world than Quebec.

you did get some good suggestions on planting options. at this point, your baby is a toddler (!) and either running away from insects (learned behavior), or loves them (a brilliant thing, in my opinion). I adore gardening and the outdoors and my paranoia is a royal pain. yet, i've figured out how to enjoy my hammock, eat outdoors without a netted hat (!), and not run in circles in front of guests - too often !!!! Here is what i found in my search; tall or otherwise, please do your own further research with these varieties, should you wish it. lots of love in the garden - in the outdoors - in the shade and in the sun - with the birds, bees, the flowers and the trees !

Flowers that are RED (bees can't see red and buzz past)

Flowers that have dense petals as opposed to wide flat surfaces

Flowers that have long tubular shapes. (bees have short tongues and couldn't be bothered - or so they say !)

Flowers that are natural insecticides. (bees can't tolerate the aromatic oils)

Flowering Tobacco (evening fragrance), Fuchsia (hanging baskets), Geranium (musky fragrance - butterfly love), Roses (red with dense petals), Feverfew (natural insectiside, plant everywhere), Hyssop (tubular petals - hummingbird love)

Chrysanthemums and Carnations

Marigolds

Foxglove and Datura (check into the toxicity of these with pets and little humans!)

Perhaps if you want plants that are tall in spring you should look into mixing in some flowering shrubs.

I'll risk my 2 cents worth. I notice that plants that attract butterflies also attract bees and they always have pollen and are all in the obvious categories -- for example the asteraceae family.

On the other hand, plants that attract hummingbirds & hawk moths (hummingbird moths) have nectar and don't seem to attract bees. It would be lovely to have a pergola with plants that attract hummingbirds as an added attraction.

The list is long & I'm not going to take the time to list all the plants that attract hummingbirds in that zone, its easy enough to find online, they have tubular shaped flowers-- too deep and narrow for a bee's butt to get into.

I didn't read through all those long posts so if I am repeating info, I'M SORRY.

Although I am a bit reluctant about responding to this thread again, there's some confusing info that's being presented that may give those who are fearful/allergic to bees some misleading advice. Bees are attracted to flowers by scent, by their pollen content, by the amount of nectar they contain, by their shape and to a far less degree, their color.

As to bees ignoring red flowers, that is not necessarily true. Bees do not see the color red (or rather they see it as black) but they can still be attracted to red colored flowers provided other necessary factors (those listed above) are present. Bees visit my monarda Jacob Cline, red salvias and crocosmia for the very same reason hummingbirds do - they are excellent nectar sources. Same with my Digiplexis 'Illumination Flame' and Cuphea 'Vermillionaire' - while not necessarily red-red, they seem to attract as many bees as they do hummers, so I'm not sure just eliminating red colored flowers or those attractive to hummingbirds is going to solve the bee problem.

I will amend my comment too. Hummingbird favorites with flowers such as those on Flame Acanthus or Hesperaloe are very narrow, too narrow for a honeybee to pollinate, they can't get to the stuff.

However, they will and often do attract wasps. Outdoor is outdoors. There are mosquitos, ants, bees, hornets, centipedes, snakes, stinkbugs, gnats etc. There is no 100% solution.

Some flowers I grow for bees attract flies and its sort of disconcerting to see flies pollinating. Seems you just can't win a contest with Ma Nature.

I wonder nowadays how we less protected kids ever survived childhood. We used to play with bugs, got bee stings on clover growing in untreated yards but somehow we made it into adulthood.

I agree ;-) Bugs are part of life - tough to have any sort of a garden and not attract some insect activity. Even conifers, although they do not produce plant parts necessarily attractive to bees or J. beetles, have their own share of insect visitors including spiders, bag worms (ick!!) aphids/adelgids and scale. It's nature, folks - deal with it or stay indoors!!

I was extremely disappointed by the Rudbeckia Submentosa this year... Almost zero pollinator activity! :(

The rudbeckia nitida herbstonne was far more satisfying... Absolute magnet for activity!

http://gardens-in-the-sand.blogspot.com/2015/07/triple-digit-heat.html

Personally... I want the bees and wasps...

If you want a dead zone... Maybe check those new cross generic hybrids they're touting... Useless! No seeds for the birds... No way to reproduce... Yuck!

I've just realised we are adding to a 6 year old thread. The baby will be in school by now and perhaps has grown used to, or even interested in, insects.

I hadn't noticed how old the thread is either, I was too busy getting blinded by the caustic remark. No wonder the OP is MIA. Still its an interesting subject about pollinators. Many people want to attract them & considering the ecological benefits and loss of native habitat any efforts in this direction is a small way of creating island habitat area to help preserve native plant species and beneficial insects.

The city where I live is depressingly full of dead zones. Deserts of bermuda or fescue lawns, ground cover plants, non flowering clipped hedges and shrubs, hybrid plants and too many trees creating too much shade where nothing much grows underneath. Once upon a time it was vast prairie teaming with wildlife and hardly a tree in sight.

Hello, I live in New York and I have a pergola attached to my home. I also want to plant some type of ivy to grow up and make a “roof” on top of my pergola. I also don’t want anything that flowers because we don’t want the bees buzzing around us when we eat there. The ivy seems to grow very slowly. Can anyone recommend a green type of plant that will adhere to my pergola but grow fast? Remember, it needs to be cold hardy... it gets cold here in the winter. The pergola gets sun. Thanks

Judith, on my pergola I went with a wisteria. In the spring, huge purple pendants of flowers hang down through the "ceiling" which is lovely. Oddly enough, I've never really noticed any bees there (although they are plentiful in other areas of my garden). Since you ask for fast-growing, wisteria is one of the fastest-growing (think like a weed) I've done. (I have also grown honeysuckle, but that is not fast-growing & it attracts bees like crazy.) While you did ask for non-flowering, the flowers do not last very long, so for that week you will have flowers, but for the rest of the season, you will have green shade, which may be worth the tradeoff for the fast growth.

What about something like Virginia Creeper? Fast growing, minimal flowers, great red color in the autumn.

Judith,

What do you mean adhere? It sounds like you mean a vine, that part I get, but there are different types of ways they hold on. There are clinging (ivy and Virginia creeper), tendrils, and scrambling. Do you want only clinging vine suggestions?

Dutchman's Pipe comes to mind. There are several species, but Aristolochia macrophylla (a.k.a. Isotrema macrophyllum) might be the one for NY.

It flowers, but the flowers are fairly inconspicuous and are not bee-pollinated. It can grow quite large and is often used to cover structures like pergolas, etc. If you're lucky (from my point of view), pipevine swallowtail butterflies will use it as a host plant:

https://the-natural-web.org/2012/06/29/pipevine-swallowtail-butterflies-and-their-host-dutchmans-pipevine/

9 yr old thread.....

even if it is old, there was a new question on it and/or people still want to know the answers, which is how it got resurrected :)

Since wisteria has been recommended, you need to know that the support structure/arbor/pergola needs to be really stout - 4"x4" supports won't suffice. They also tend to seed around, send out underground shoots, and tend to need a fairly large amount of pruning, so if you plant one be aware that it may be a good amount of work. Grown within reach of a building they may lift shingles.

Check out Boston ivy/Parthenocissus tricuspidata or Virginia creeper, both of which may also need a fair amount of trimming, but IME don't tend to seed around as aggressively as wisteria. Either will need a flat surface (such as the side of a 6'x6") to climb so if your pergola is metal, it may have difficulty gripping.

WoodsTea's suggestion of Aristolochia is also a good suggestion. It grows by twining and so would do better on a narrow support.

Grapes are a possibility as well. Very little flowering and relatively early. Then you have the benefit of an edible (or drinkable) pergola cover :-) Fast growing, easily trained/pruned and often with stunning fall color. A bit of a Mediterranean approach - grape covered arbors and pergolas are common in Italy and in wine producing areas.

If you can't be bothered with the fruit, there are some gorgeous ornamental grapes you could plant instead.

Grapes attract a LOT of bees and insects, especially around ripe time.

What about actinidia kolomikta? Such pretty foliage - I wish I had a place to grow it. I know that it is dioecious, and have also read that it is insect-pollinated, so maybe fewer bees? (and get a male plant so, even if a neighbor DOES have a female, you won't get fruit, which could be messy.)