WHY GROW ‘PEPPERMINT’ AND ‘FRENCH LAVENDER’ FOR BEES

PEPPERMINT AND FRENCH LAVENDER FOR BEES

Copyright © 2025-2035 by Simone Chamberlin & Blake Reichert, Wild West Succulents, All rights reserved

ESTIMATED READ TIME: 7 MINUTES

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Discover key features about peppermint, and French lavender to attact bees.

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INTRODUCTION

Bees adore gardens filled with color, fragrance, and variety and a few plants are more inviting than peppermint and French lavender.

These two herbs not only offer delicious scents and soothing beauty, but they also provide a rich source of nectar and pollen for your buzzing visitors.

Even better, they pair wonderfully with Sempervivum (hens and chicks), adding texture and charm to your garden beds or containers.

In this post, I’ll share how to grow peppermint and French lavender with ease, plus why they make the perfect companions to your Sempervivum plants in a bee-friendly garden.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED FOR YOUR GARDEN

• PEPPERMINT
• FRENCH LAVENDER

WHAT YOU’LL NEED FOR YOUR BEVERAGE

FOR A MINT JULEP

• PEPPERMINT LEAVES
• SUGAR, AGAVE SYRUP, HONEY OR SIMPLE SYRUP
• BOURBON
• CRUSHED ICE
• COLD WATER OR SODA WATER

FOR A MOCKTAIL MINT JULEP

• PEPPERMINT LEAVES
• SUGAR, AGAVE SYRUP, HONEY OR SIMPLE SYRUP
• GINGER ALE OR SPARKLING WATER
• CRUSHED ICE
• LEMON JUICE (OPTIONAL)

WHAT WE’LL COVER

• DO YOU WANT TO SUPPORT WILD WEST SUCCULENTS IN A SIMPLE WAY?
• INTRODUCTION
• WHAT YOU’LL NEED FOR YOUR GARDEN
• WHAT YOU’LL NEED FOR YOUR BEVERAGE
• FOR A MINT JULEP
• FOR A MOCKTAIL MINT JULEP
• WHAT WE’LL COVER
• WHY GROW PEPPERMINT AND FRENCH LAVENDER?
• HERE’S WHY:
• RICH NECTAR SOURCE
• EXTENDED BLOOMING PERIOD
• SUPPORTS POLLINATION
• AROMATIC ATTRACTION
• FOR BEAUTY
• LOVELY BLOOMS AND FOLIAGE
• VERSATILE USES
• LOW MAINTENANCE
• WHY IN A CONTAINER?
• PEPPERMINT LOVES TO SPREAD
• FRENCH LAVENDER PREFERS GOOD DRAINAGE
• PERFECT FOR BEES
• EASY TO PAIR WITH SEMPERVIVUM
• MOVE THEM AS NEEDED
• WHY ORGANIC HEIRLOOM PLANTS?
• WHY BEES LOVE MINT!
• WHY I LOVE MINT!!
• MY FAVORITE MINT JULEP RECIPE
• MOCKTAIL MINT JULEP
• ALL ABOUT PEPPERMINT
• ALL ABOUT FRENCH LAVENDER
• ADDITIONAL HELPFUL HINTS
• CONCLUSION
• AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
• JOIN US TODAY!

WHY GROW PEPPERMINT AND FRENCH LAVENDER?

GROWING PEPPERMINT AND FRENCH LAVENDER IS A FANTASTIC CHOICE FOR BOTH BEES AND BEAUTY IN YOUR GARDEN.

HERE’S WHY:

RICH NECTAR SOURCE

• BOTH PLANTS PRODUCE ABUNDANT NECTAR, ATTRACTING HONEYBEES, BUMBLEBEES, AND NATIVE POLLINATORS

EXTENDED BLOOMING PERIOD

• FRENCH LAVENDER BLOOMS FOR A LONG SEASON, WHILE PEPPERMINT FLOWERS IN SUMMER, ENSURING A CONTINUOUS FOOD SOURCE

SUPPORTS POLLINATION

• A BEE-FRIENDLY GARDEN ENCOURAGES BETTER POLLINATION, LEADING TO HEALTHIER PLANTS AND INCREASED YIELDS FOR NEARBY FLOWERS, HERBS, AND VEGETABLES

AROMATIC ATTRACTION

• BEES LOVE THE STRONG FRAGRANCE OF THESE PLANTS, MAKING THEM NATURAL POLLINATOR MAGNETS
• BOTH PEPPERMINT AND FRENCH LAVENDER ADD SCENTS TO YOUR GARDEN

FOR BEAUTY

LOVELY BLOOMS AND FOLIAGE

• FRENCH LAVENDER’S SOFT PURPLE FLOWERS AND PEPPERMINT DELICATE BLOOMS CREATE A VISUALLY APPEALING SPACE

VERSATILE USES

• YOU CAN DRY BOTH LAVENDER FLOWERS AND PEPPERMINT LEAVES FOR HERBAL TEAS

LOW MAINTENANCE

• THESE PLANTS ARE HARDY, DROUGHT-RESISTANT, AND EASY TO GROW, MAKING THEM PERFECT FOR THE GARDEN

WHY IN A CONTAINER?

PEPPERMINT LOVES TO SPREAD

• PEPPERMINT IS NOTORIOUS FOR TAKING OVER GARDEN BEDS
• IN A CONTAINER, YOU CAN ENJOY ITS FRESH SCENT AND LEAVES WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT IT CROWDING OUT YOUR OTHER PLANTS

FRENCH LAVENDER PREFERS GOOD DRAINAGE

• CONTAINERS LET YOU CONTROL THE SOIL MIX, ENSURING THE SHARP DRAINAGE LAVENDER NEEDS TO STAY HEALTHY AND AVOID ROOT ROT

PERFECT FOR BEES

• BOTH PLANTS THRIVE IN POTS ON PATIOS, PORCHES, OR NEAR SEATING AREAS, WHICH MEANS YOU’LL ATTRACT POLLINATORS UP CLOSE WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY WATCHING THEM

EASY TO PAIR WITH SEMPERVIVUM

• SUCCULENTS LIKE SEMPERVIVUM DO BEAUTIFULLY IN CONTAINERS, AND PLACING THEM ALONGSIDE PEPPERMINT AND LAVENDER CREATES A GORGEOUS MIX OF TEXTURES, COLORS, AND SCENTS THAT BEES ADORE

MOVE THEM AS NEEDED

• CONTAINERS LET YOU SHIFT PLANTS TO SUNNIER SPOTS OR SHELTER THEM IN EXTREME WEATHER, KEEPING THEM HAPPY YEAR-ROUND

WHY ORGANIC HEIRLOOM PLANTS?

• ORGANIC HEIRLOOM PLANTS ARE A WONDERFUL CHOICE BECAUSE THEY’RE GROWN NATURALLY, WITHOUT HARMFUL CHEMICALS THAT COULD HURT POLLINATORS LIKE BEES
• HEIRLOOM ALSO CARRY RICH HISTORY AND STRONGER FLAVORS, MAKING THEM MORE REWARDING FOR GARDENERS
• BY GOING ORGANIC, YOU’RE CREATING A SAFE, CHEMICAL-FREE GARDEN WHERE BEES CAN HAPPILY FORAGE

WHY BEES LOVE MINT!

• BEES CAN’T RESIST MINT BLOSSOMS!
• THE TINY PURPLE-WHITE FLOWERS ARE PACKED WITH NECTAR, BLOOMING OVER A LONG SEASON TO KEEP BEES WELL-FED
• PLUS, MINT FLOWERS RELEASE A FRESH, SWEET AROMA THAT ACTS LIKE A MAGNET FOR POLLINATORS

WHY I LOVE MINT!!

• MINT IS ONE OF THOSE PLANTS THAT JUST MAKES ME SMILE
• IT’S FRAGRANT, REFRESHING, AND SO VERSATILE I CAN USE IN TEAS, COOKING, OR EVEN JUST ENJOY THE SCENT WHEN I BRUSH PAST IT IN THE GARDEN
• BEST OF ALL, THRIVES WITH LITTLE FUSS AND ATTRACTS A CONSTANT BUZZ OF HAPPY BEES

MY FAVORITE MINT JULEP RECIPE

• 8-10 Fresh peppermint leaves (plus a sprig for garnish)
• 1 teaspoon sugar (or simple syrup)
• 2 oz bourbon
• Crushed ice
• Splash of cold water of soda water (Optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Place the peppermint leaves and sugar (or syrup) in a sturdy glass or julep cup
2. Gently muddle the leaves to release their oils-don’t mash them too hard
3. Fill the glass with crushed ice
4. Pour the bourbon over the ice and stir until the outside of the glass frosts
5. Add a splash of water or soda water if you’d like a lighter sip
6. Final step is to garnish with a big sprig of fresh peppermint for aroma and style

MOCKTAIL MINT JULEP

• 8-10 fresh peppermint leaves (plus extra for garnish)
• 1 teaspoon sugar, agave syrup, honey or simple syrup
• 1/2 cup ginger ale or sparkling water
• Crushed ice
• Optional: a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for brightness

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Place peppermint leaves and sugar (agave syrup, honey, simple syrup) in a glass
2. Gentle muddle to release the oil
3. Fill the glass with crushed ice
4. Pour ginger ale (sweeter) or spankling water (lighter) over the ice
5. Stir gently, garnish with a sprig of peppermint, and enjoy!

ALL ABOUT PEPPERMINT

• PEPPERMINT IS A COOL, INVIGORATING HERB WITH BRIGHT GREEN LEAVES AND A STRONG, CRISP SCENT
• IT’S A HYBRID BETWEEN WATERMINT AND SPEARMINT, MAKING IT ESPECIALLY FLAVORFUL
• IN THE GARDEN, IT GROWS QUICKLY AND PRODUCES PLENTY OF NECTAR-RICH BLOOMS THAT POLLINATORS ADORE

ALL ABOUT FRENCH LAVENDER

• FRENCH LAVENDER IS PRIZED FOR ITS LONG, ELEGANT FLOWER SPIKES TOPPED WITH ‘BUTTERFLY-LIKE’ PETALS
• IT’S MORE TOLERANT OF HEAT AND HUMIDITY THAN ENGLISH LAVENDER, AND IT BLOOMS FOR MONTH WITH WITH LITTLE CARE
• BEE LOVES ITS FRAGRANT PURPLE FLOWERS, AND GARDENERS LOVE ITS BEAUTY AND RESILIENCE IN POTS, BORDERS, OR ROCKY SOIL

ADDITIONAL HELPFUL HINTS

• TRY DIFFERANT LAVENDER PLANTS YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED
• LOOK FOR WHITE LAVENDER THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL
• ONCE ESTABLISHED, YOU CAN START NEW PLANTS BY MAKING CUTTINGS AND PLACING THEM IN WATER UNTIL THEY ROOT

CONCLUSION

Peppermint, French lavender, and Sempervivum are such a joyful mix-easy to grow, full of charm, and absolutely loved by bees.

Planting them together brings fragrance, beauty, and plenty of buzzing visitors, turning your garden inot a little haven for pollinators and a happy place for you, too.

Start small with a container of peppermint and lavender, then add Sempervivum for a fun twist.

Your bees and your garden will thank you!

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