We love gardens. We love wildlife. And with good planning we can have both.
All plants are useful to something or other, but some are better than others. It’s not just a question of whether the plant is a British native or not: while native plants may be more use to more insects, to restrict your garden palette in that way is to lose the incredible, exciting range of gardening opportunities from around the world.
Pollinators and other visiting insects:
BB-bumblebee, HB–honeybee, HF–hoverfly, B–butterfly,
SB–solitary bee, L–ladybird, F–fly, M–day flying moth,
W–wasp, Be-beetle
| |
January |
|
Helleborus (apart from multi petalled cultivars) | BB, HB |
| Coronilla valentina subsp. glauca 'Citrina' | BB |
| Sarcococca | BB, HB, HF |
| February | |
| Eranthis hyemalis | HB, HF |
| Crocus spp. | BB |
| Cyclamen coum | BB, HB |
| March | |
| Scilla bifolia | HB, SB, HF |
| Primula vulgaris | B (brimstone) F (bee-fly) |
| Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii | L, F, HF |
| Anemone blanda | HB |
| April | |
| Pulmonaria spp. | SB (hairy-footed flower bee) F (bee-fly) |
| Muscari spp. | F (bee-fly) |
| Aubrieta spp. | HB, F (bee-fly) |
| Skimmia x confusa ‘Kew Green’ | F, BB, HB, HF, L |
| Corydalis cava/solida | BB |
| Ajuga spp. | F (bee-fly) |
| Smyrnium spp. | F (St Mark's fly) |
| May | |
| Darmera peltata | F (dance fly) |
| SB (hairy-footed flower bee) | |
| BB | |
BB, HB, B (small tortoiseshell) | |
Myosotis sylvatica | F, HF B (green hairstreak) |
| Euphorbia margadaliana | F, HF, L, Be (two-spot malachite beetle) |
| Cotoneaster spp. | BB, HB, B (green hairstreak) |
| June | |
BB, HB, M (hummingbird hawk-moth) | |
BB, HB, HF, SB, W | |
| HF | |
M (hummingbird hawk moth, silver Y) BB, HF, HB, SB (green-eyed flower bee) | |
| Galactites tomentosa | BB, HF, HB |
| July | |
Scabiosa/Cephalaria spp. | BB, HB, HF, SB, W |
| HF | |
| HF | |
F, Be (thick-thighed beetle) | |
| BB, HB | |
BB, HB, HF | |
BB, HB, HF | |
| Stachys byzantina | BB, HB, SB (wool carder bee) |
| August | |
| HF, BB | |
| Buddleia davidii/crispa | M (hummingbird hawk-moth) B, BB, HF (hornet hoverfly) |
| Salvia 'Blue Spire' | BB, HB, M (hummingbird hawk-moth) |
| Verbena bonariensis | HB, HF, B (painted lady, red admiral) |
| Eutrochium spp. | BB, W, HF, B |
| September | |
BB, HB, B (small tortoiseshell) M, Be (rose chafer) | |
BB, HF, B (comma, red admiral) | |
| Bistorta amplexicaulis | HF, HB, F |
| October | |
Hedera helix | W (incl. hornet) HB, SB (ivy bee) B (red admiral) HF (incl. hornet hoverfly) |
HB, B (holly blue) F | |
| Symphyotrichum spp. | HB, B (red admiral, painted lady, small tortoiseshell) HF |
| November |
|
HB, B (red admiral) HF | |
| BB, HB | |
| Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’ | BB, HF |
| December | |
| Mahonia spp. | BB, HB |
| Clematis cirrhosa | BB |
Dr Chris Gibson
Thank you
Thank you
Am already working my way through and discovering where the gaps are in my garden.
Best wishes