Isn’t it wonderful, watching the bees and butterflies amongst our flower beds, collecting nectar and pollen from the flowers, flying from plant to plant?

Pollinators – such as bees and butterflies – are essential to our environment, and with the population of these insects in decline, it’s crucial we invite them into our gardens. To do this, we have created a small list of pollen and nectar rich plants which will help to attract them into our outdoor spaces.

Amy has made a video about this which you can find on our social media pages, which will show you the plants we are listing & some added benefits of each!

A small selection of plants to add to your garden can be :

• Nepeta. It’s an easy to grow perennial, sometimes more commonly known as “catmint”. Their aromatic leaves are popular with cats (hence the name catmint) however their small purple & blue flowers attract bees and other beneficial pollinators such as butterflies & moths. 
• Scabious can sometimes be referred to as pincushion flower for its nectar rich blooms, which are a great addition to attract the bees & butterflies into our gardens. These can tolerate partial shade but will thrive mostly in full sun.
• Salvia is one of our favourites. They flower for months on end and offer tall, spiked flowers which are like a magnet for bumble bees! These can be planted in most locations (beds, borders, containers) however do prefer a sunny position. Salvia is ornamental sage so many also have aromatic foliage. 
• Finally, Armeria is certainly one to attract pollinators into your garden. With their unique ball shaped blooms, plant in a sunny spot for summer long flowering.

To make it easier to know which plants will bring the bees, butterflies & other pollinators into your garden, ask our knowledgeable staff when you’re in the Garden Centre, or even look out for the RHS Plants for Pollinators logo on some of the plant labels!