Urban beekeeper Doug Purdie is on a mission to get backyard gardeners to "think like a bee" and grow more flowers, arguing the insects are essential for plant biodiversity and food production.

"Without pollinators we wouldn't have so much of the food we eat," Mr Purdie told 720 ABC Perth.

"You might think: 'What has that got to do with my backyard?'

"But many of us want to grow pumpkins or zucchinis or strawberries in the backyard and they don't produce fruit unless they get pollinated."

Mr Purdie said people should take a step back, look at their gardens and think about what is on offer to bees.

"Bees see things differently to the way we do, they see colours differently."

He said colour and variety was important and even the small flowers produced by herbs like basil and rosemary were helpful.

People with small balconies in high-rise buildings should also get planting, Mr Purdie said.

"I know someone who lives on level 27 of a building and they have a hedge that flowers every year.

"Bees that I have on level one make their way up to level 27 to go and visit those flowers."

Stinging fear

People who are afraid that growing flowers will lead to bee stings for them and their pets should not be unduly concerned.

"Bees aren't actually out to get you," Mr Purdie said.

"Bees that are out foraging in the garden aren't looking for you, they are looking for flowers.

Bees and flowers need each other to survive. ( Supplied: Megan Halcroft/Bee Business )

"Generally the only time you might get stung is if you tread on one.

"They will do their own thing and help your plants grow."

Urban beekeeping burgeoning in Australia

Backyard hives and home honey production is just beginning to take off in Australia.

Mr Purdie said every little thing counted when it came to bees' survival.

"Bees will forage up to eight kilometres from the beehive, so you can make a massive difference," he said.

But he said the threats to bees could not be underestimated; the bee killing parasite Varroa jacobsoni has recently been detected in Queensland and numerous insecticides used in Australia continue to threaten the bee population.