Plants for wildlife

There are so many benefits to attracting wildlife into your garden. Apart from saving the decline of our native species, garden wildlife also acts as a natural pest control, preventing the need to spray harmful chemicals all over your garden. If you grow fruit and vegetables, you’ll need the help of bees to pollinate many of your crops. Contrary to popular belief wildlife gardens needn’t be messy! Well-maintained hedges and shrubs are perfect for nesting birds and insects, and a flowing herbaceous border will attract all sorts of beneficial insects to your garden. You could even create a container garden for wildlife with some of the plants listed below! Planting a wildlife garden couldn’t be easier; read on for more ideas on how to make a wildlife garden.

Plants for bees

The number of bees in the UK is declining at an alarming rate, yet there are few explanations. It's suggested that the decline in native and wild flower rich grassland could be a cause. Bees play a key role in pollinating many crops and some 35 per cent of our diet depends on pollination of crops by bees! Bees are active between February and October and it is crucial they have enough food during this time to help them through the winter and early spring. You can help by creating a wildlife garden and choosing a selection of the plants for bees listed below. For more information on how you can help bees take a look at our ‘Save the Bees’ article.

Plants for butterflies

There are 58 species of butterfly native to the UK and many of these are under threat of extinction. Recent reports have shown, however, that recent conservation efforts have given some of our most threatened species a boost. You can do your bit to help the butterflies by planting nectar-rich flowers in your garden. Take a look at the list below for inspiration. For more information on helping butterflies take a look at our ‘Helping to conserve the UK’s butterflies’ page.

Plants for birds

Birds are welcome visitors to the garden and will eat aphids, caterpillars and slugs for you! You can attract birds into your garden by installing a bird bath and by putting out extra food throughout the harsh winter months. You can also grow a wide range of plants for birds, which produce berries, seeds or nuts at the end of the season. Plants can also be used to provide shelter or nesting sites for birds, protecting them from cats and other predators.

For more simple ideas on how you can attract wildlife to your garden take a look at our article about wildlife gardening.

Top tips when planting for wildlife:

1. Choose single-flowered varieties of plants. Bees and butterflies can’t access double flowers for pollen and nectar.
2. Leave some of your culinary herbs to flower - they are a rich food source for bees and butterflies and will leave your garden buzzing on warm days!
3. Leave your autumn clear up until the spring. The dead remains of plants provide valuable shelter for over-wintering insects.
4. Try not to spray your plants with insecticides as these will kill beneficial insects too. Be patient and the pests will often be eaten naturally by ladybirds, lacewings, spiders, small mammals and birds.

Other 'Plants for a Purpose' articles:

• Back to 'Plants For A Purpose' Hub
• Trees for small gardens
• Plants for shade
• Plants for sunny, dry borders
• Drought resistant plants
• Plants for containers
• Plants for different soil types
• Plants for coastal gardens and exposed sites

Spring flowering plants for attracting wildlife

Spring flowering plants for attracting widlife	Attracts	Attracts	Attracts	Interesting Features
Fruit trees e.g. Apple, Cherry, Plum, Pear and Almond trees
Crab apple
Quince
Blackcurrants/Redcurrants
Gooseberries
Alyssum ‘Golden Queen’
Aquilegia
Aubrieta
Berberis
Bergenia
Bluebells
Crocus
Daphne mezereum
Flowering Currant
Forget-me-not
Hawthorn
Holly
Honesty
Muscari
Pyracantha
Pulmonaria
Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape)
Heather
Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan)
Snowdrop
Wallflower
Wisteria

Summer flowering plants for attracting wildlife

Summer flowering plants for attracting widlife	Attracts	Attracts	Attracts	Interesting Features
Raspberries/blackberries
Broad beans
Runner beans
Alyssum
Allium
Borage
Campanula
Chives
Cornflower
Echium
Fennel
Foxglove
Geranium
Hebe
Helenium
Heliotrope
Lavender
Lime tree
Lupin
Marigold
Monarda
Monkshood
Phacelia
Phlox
Rosa canina & Rosa rugosa
Stipa tenuissima (Mexican Feather Grass)
Sweet William
Verbena bonariensis
Sage
Rosemary
Thyme
Oregano

Late summer/autumn flowering plants for attracting wildlife

Late summer/autumn flowering plants for attracting wildlife	Attracts	Attracts	Attracts	Interesting Features
Aster ‘Composition’
Agastache foeniculum
Buddleja
Catmint
Dahlia (single-flowered varieties)
Echinacea
Eryngium
Escallonia
Echinops
Eupatorium maculatum
Hebe
Hollyhock (single-flowered varieties)
Ivy
Lavatera (Mallow)
Honeysuckle
Panicum
Scabious
Sedum
Sunflower
Teasel
Verbena bonariensis

Looking for more tips and tricks? Check out our 'gardening for wildlife' resources for advice on all things wild!

Teasel is a valuable source of nectar for bees and butterflies, as well as attracting many seed-eating birds.

Plants such as Buddleja are ideal for attracting butterflies.