I'm still trying to identify this fluffy bee. Spotted in the glorious wildlife garden at Pensthorpe.
The plant is a purple coneflower, Echinacea purpurea. Recommended on the RHS Perfect for Pollinators list.
Echinacea fact file:
Common name: hedgehog plant, coneflower
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Echinacea. Clump forming, rhizomatous perennials with simple, pinnately-lobed leaves. Long-stemmed daisy-like flowers with prominent conical centre.
Height: 0.5-1.5m with a spread of 0.1-0.5m There are some low-growing varieties such as Kim's Knee High (60cm). See RHS info link here.
Grows in: Full sun, tolerates some shade.
Aspect: Prefers south facing. Can cope with sheltered or exposed conditions. Any really well-drained soil.
Propagate: From seed. Available from Chiltern Seeds. Or divisions in spring.
Recommended: Elton Knight, Magnus, Ruby Giant, Pallida (drooping petals), White Swan, Green Envy and Green Jewel (lime). I haven't found the orange, yellow and apricot-coloured hybrids to be very long-lived.
Tips: Avoid damp spots for planting and don't heavily mulch over the crown in the winter. Add plenty of grit when planting to improve drainage. The cold weather doesn't seem to bother them, it's the mild, prolonged wet spells that kills them.
Anyone know the name of my bee?
Bramble Garden 
Great pictures and delighted you visited Pensthorpe! We think it’s a White-tailed Bumblebee or a Buff-tailed Bumblebee.
The Pensthorpe Team
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Thank you Jo. We had a wonderful visit to Pensthorpe. We will be back soon. Thanks again for getting in touch and for the bee information 🙂
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Wonderful pictures. xx
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Thank you Mike. Hope you are having a good week. Bit overcast here today. xx
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You’re welcome. I’ve had a bit of an up and down week. Okay here this morning, but showery since lunch-time. xx
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Hope you’ve had a better weekend. Sunny here at mum’s today. We’ve been out to lunch to Wyvale and bought some bargain plants. Have a good week xxx
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Donald?
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Great pictures. I agree with Robin, looks like a buff-tailed. This chart is helpful: https://bumblebeeconservation.org/about-bees/identification/common-bumblebees/
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Beautiful coneflower pictures. Do you have bumblebees there?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumblebee
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Absolutely stunning!
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Thank you Lisa. I love my camera phone. It’s always in my pocket. Provides a snapshot of my daily life. All the best. Karen
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You and me both! Almost never use the phone part! Hah! 💕
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Fantastic photos!
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Thank you for reading and for getting in touch Anne. Much appreciated . Karen
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Karen I’m so sorry but I do not know the name of that bee so precious eating the Echinacea. That you are lucky to find out. Greetings from Margarita.
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Fab photos, Karen 🙂
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Thank you Kate 🙂
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He looks a little bee-draggled.
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Isn’t he/she adorable. Would love to know what type it is.
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I follow quite a few bee lovers who would be likely to know. One of the first who springs to mind is https://murtaghsmeadow.wordpress.com
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Thanks Susan. I’ll try there.
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Hedgehog plant seems like the perfect name for this! 🙂 The bee sure does like it! He is fluffy!
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Fluffiest bee I have ever seen!
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