I'm afraid that you're going to be disappointed with what you can grow, if colorful flowers are what you really and truly want. All those kinds of plants are insect pollinated. The grasses (there are some interesting ornamental grasses) are wind pollinated.

You'll have to think in terms of colorful foliage, ornamental grasses, or cool plants that don't flower.

Feverfew

Good job, Byron!!!! I never knew this...and will remember it as this question comes up fairly frequently. Thanks for the information!

You are correct, botanybob, but this situation, in particular, needs a bit of individual attention. One, the mail person may not appreciate having to drive up to a buzzy mailbox. Two, it is well documented that CO2 (exhaust) incites more aggressive behavior. Three, other and less benign pollinators will be attracted to said flowers. Four, mail person (s) may be fearful or allergic to insect venom.

Thus, planting a flowering vine or flower bed at the foot of the mailbox is a crummy idea, period.

Me? I spray a sugar solution on my arms just to have the bees and wasps spend a few moment with me. Have never been stung in my many years of working amongst these wonderful insects, but know when they should be not be introduced into a particular area.

Bees are not attracted to red flowers, however, if they are perfumed they may find them. A lot of very ruffled double flowers are not very attractive to bees either because they can't find their way in.

So, if you can find a red, double, non-perfumed flower, you are in business!!

They are not particularly attracted to geraniums and dianthus either.

I was thinking of red flowers also. Long-tubed red flowers typically are pollinated by hummingbirds, not bees. Scarlet gilia and some of the Penstemons would be good, such as P. barbatus, P. eatonii.

they dont attract to tulips roses or lillys