Following on from a previous page about wildflowers for bees, I thought it was time to add further information, following a number of queries about what to plant where, in particular species for environments often regarded as more challenging for plants and gardeners. Common questions have included:
Having done some research, I came up with the following lists of wildflowers for bees and butterflies, for some particular conditions. However, please note, I haven’t tested all of these myself!
Some species appear to be quite adaptable in terms of their environment, whilst others appear to be more fussy! There are some great resources available on the internet – see my links below to plant databases where you can search for ‘plants by postcode/zipcode’.
In the meantime, here are my lists:
When considering your options for a shady spot, think of
the flowers found in the dappled sunlight of woodlands (as in the image below), and wildflowers beneath hedgerows for inspiration.
You may struggle with very heavy shade, however, to attract bees and other pollinators.
Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria)
Wood avens
Hedge Bedstraw
Nettle-leaved bellflower (Campanula trachelium)
Betony
Meadow buttercup
Foxglove
Red Campion
Ramsons / wild garlic (Allium ursinum)
Teasel
Tufted vetch
Columbine
St John’s Wort
Bush vetch
Wood sage
Hedge woundwort
Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum)
Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria)
Betony
Bird’s Foot Trefoil
Black Medick
Meadow Buttercup
White Campion
Cowslip
Greater Knapweed
Lady’s Bedstraw
Meadowsweet
Oxeye Daisy
Think of the flowers you naturally see when you are on holiday by the beach or close to the coast (in your own country, of course).
Sea Campion
Evening Primrose
Corn marigold
St John’s wort
Toadflax
Viper’s Bugloss
Kidney vetch
Common restharrow
Jack-go-to-bed-at-noon (Tragopogon pratensis)
Common Cat's-ear (Hypochaeris radicata)
Salad Burnet
Field Scabious
Selfheal
Wild Carrot
Teasel
Wild Clary
Yarrow
Yellow Rattle
Here are some ideas:
Create a
lawn for bees
If you found this page helpful or interesting, I'd really be grateful if you would share it with others - if not this page, perhaps another, such as Gardening For Bees.
Thank you so much :) .