From our perspective, the answer is a resounding yes, we are exceptionally adept at attracting bees. Our flowers are specifically engineered for them. We produce a generous supply of sweet nectar, a high-energy fuel source vital for pollinators. Our flat, open-faced blossoms with a shallow corolla tube present an ideal landing platform. Bees, particularly honeybees and bumblebees, can easily access our rewards without complex maneuvers. We do not hide our nectar deep within a spur; it is readily available, making us a highly efficient and reliable foraging stop. Our vibrant colors, especially our brilliant pinks, corals, reds, and purples, act as giant billboards visible to the bee's ultraviolet-sensitive vision, signaling a plentiful meal.
While we welcome all visitors, our relationship with butterflies is more nuanced. Butterflies, with their long, delicate proboscis, are adapted to feed from flowers with long, tubular structures that provide a perch, such as lantana or butterfly bush. Our flat, open flowers, while perfect for bees, do not offer an ideal feeding stance for most larger butterflies. They may occasionally stop by for a sip of nectar, especially if we are planted in massive, prolific groups, but we are not typically their first choice. We are considered a secondary source rather than a primary attractant for them. Our nectar is available to them, but our physical form is not tailor-made for their feeding mechanics.
Our strategy for attraction is one of sheer abundance. A single impatiens plant can be covered in dozens, even hundreds, of blooms at once throughout the entire growing season. This massive display creates a strong visual target and scent signature that is difficult for passing pollinators to ignore. For a bee, a large patch of us represents a predictable and dense concentration of resources, minimizing their energy expenditure spent searching for food. We bloom relentlessly from spring until the first frost, providing a consistent and reliable food source long after many other spring flowers have faded. This dependability is a key factor in our popularity with the local bee population.
We utilize a sophisticated system of color and scent to guide our guests. Our petals often have a faint, gentle fragrance that helps bees locate us from a shorter distance. More importantly, many of our varieties feature a contrasting-colored "nectar guide" or a faint dotted pathway at the center of the bloom. These patterns, sometimes visible only in ultraviolet light, direct the bee precisely toward the nectar-rich heart of the flower, ensuring a efficient transfer of pollen onto their bodies. This mutualistic exchange is our goal: we offer a nutritious reward, and in return, the bee inadvertently carries our pollen from flower to flower, ensuring our successful reproduction and the creation of next year's seeds.
