Rosemary plant and bees

Question

We are seeking a hardy shrub to plant in a sunny location. We are considering the Rosemary plant because it can withstand drought and has some color when flowering BUT our dog is allergic to bee stings. Does the Rosemary plant attract bees? If so, do you have any other suggestions?

Answer 1

Any plant that flowers is going to attract bees, as they are important pollinators and this is what they are supposed to do. As long as the dog isn’t bothering the bees, the likelihood for stings is actually rather low; however, if you are concerned with bees, you may want to consider planting non-flowering shrubs as an alternative. Many of these can be just as attractive and low maintenance. Some good choices include: boxwood, yew, burning bush, juniper, and yaupon.