Garden bumblebee
Bombus hortorum
Bee
The garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum) is a widespread European bumblebee distinguished by an exceptionally long tongue - typically around 15 mm, reaching up to 20 mm - that enables it to reach nectar in deep tubular flowers inaccessible to shorter-tongued species. It is the principal pollinating visitor to common foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) in UK populations, accounting for 82–92% of insect visits in a North Yorkshire study, and regularly forages on comfrey, vetches, deadnettles, and red clover. The species ranges across Europe north to 70°N, through northern and central Asia to western Siberia, and was introduced to New Zealand in 1885. Gardeners who grow foxglove, comfrey, or other deep-flowered plants are likely to attract this bee, which uses a trap-lining foraging strategy and visits flowers with high frequency.
Conservation
Not regarded as being of conservation concern in Britain or across most of its European range (BWARS). Populations may be locally affected by grassland habitat loss and pesticide exposure, but the species remains one of the eight most common and widespread UK bumblebees.
Plan for this species
Location-fit plant set for Chicago, IL: host and specialist plants first, then nectar, fruit, seed, foliage, and shelter plants that still fit the current and mid-century climate read.
0 essential relationships / 6 supporting plants
Host/specialist links: 0
Forage/pollination links: 6
Shelter links: 0
Relationship roles: 2
Common foxglove
Supporting / Plants this species pollinates
The principal pollinator of common foxglove (Digitalis purpurea): a North Yorkshire study recorded it as 82–92% of all insect visits, its long tongue reaching the deep corolla.
Yellow flag iris
Supporting / Plants this species pollinates
Bombus hortorum has the longest tongue of the common British bumblebees and is documented entering the flower and feeding the way the structure intends, pushing under the style arm and picking up pollen on its thorax on the way through. The iris flower is effectively three separate one-bee tunnels, one per fall, which is why a single large clump can occupy several bumblebees at once.
Comfrey
Supporting / Nectar plants
Comfrey's (Symphytum) deep tubular flowers selectively admit long-tongued bees; B. hortorum is a documented forager.
Field scabious
Supporting / Nectar plants
Field scabious is a common grassland nectar source for long-tongued bumblebees; a plausible but not species-documented visit.
Siberian iris
Supporting / Nectar plants
Bombus hortorum is the long-tongued specialist of the British and European bumblebee fauna, and an iris hides its nectar at the base of a long perianth tube behind the style arm - the deep-flower niche this species exists to work. Plausible on the same footing as the entry above: tongue length and flower depth, not a published record on this plant.
Sweet iris
Supporting / Nectar plants
Bombus hortorum has the longest tongue of the common European bumblebees, which suits a deep tunnel flower, and it is on the wing through the May to June bloom. Same caveat as above - this is mechanism and phenology, not a published feeding record on Iris pallida.
Plants in the catalog
Plants this species pollinates · 2
The principal pollinator of common foxglove (Digitalis purpurea): a North Yorkshire study recorded it as 82–92% of all insect visits, its long tongue reaching the deep corolla.
Bombus hortorum has the longest tongue of the common British bumblebees and is documented entering the flower and feeding the way the structure intends, pushing under the style arm and picking up pollen on its thorax on the way through. The iris flower is effectively three separate one-bee tunnels, one per fall, which is why a single large clump can occupy several bumblebees at once.
Nectar plants · 4
Comfrey's (Symphytum) deep tubular flowers selectively admit long-tongued bees; B. hortorum is a documented forager.
Field scabious is a common grassland nectar source for long-tongued bumblebees; a plausible but not species-documented visit.
Bombus hortorum is the long-tongued specialist of the British and European bumblebee fauna, and an iris hides its nectar at the base of a long perianth tube behind the style arm - the deep-flower niche this species exists to work. Plausible on the same footing as the entry above: tongue length and flower depth, not a published record on this plant.
Bombus hortorum has the longest tongue of the common European bumblebees, which suits a deep tunnel flower, and it is on the wing through the May to June bloom. Same caveat as above - this is mechanism and phenology, not a published feeding record on Iris pallida.
Range
Native to Europe (from the northern and central Iberian Peninsula north to Scandinavia, east through temperate Asia to western Siberia); introduced to New Zealand in 1885. Also present in southwest Iceland, likely via human-mediated dispersal rather than natural range. Found throughout the British Isles including Orkney and Shetland.
Sources & citations
Cite this page
Use this citation for the Plotwright wildlife record. Use the source cards below to explore the references that informed its taxonomy, range, conservation, host plants, foraging, and habitat.
Plotwright. (n.d.). Garden bumblebee (Bombus hortorum). Retrieved 2026, August 20, from https://plotwright.com/wildlife/garden-bumblebee
Sources used for this record
This record is compiled from the sources below.
Garden bumblebee - Bumblebee Conservation Trust
Long-tongued specialisation, deep-flower foraging, nesting, and UK status.
Bombus hortorum - BWARS
British range, conservation status (not of concern), foraging, and nesting biology.
Bombus hortorum - Wikipedia
Taxonomy, European-to-Siberian range, the 1885 New Zealand introduction, and named forage plants including comfrey.
GBIF: Bombus hortorum
GBIF matches Bombus hortorum as an accepted species (usageKey 1340542).
iNaturalist: Bombus hortorum
iNaturalist taxon 121989 is the active species Bombus hortorum, the garden bumble bee.