Plants for attracting wildlife, Butterfly Conservations top 100!

I know this site is dedicated to birds but one of the important things for birds is their food and a great way to help wildlife and hopefully attract more birds in to your garden is by increasing the number of insects. The fantastic people at Butterfly Conservation (savebutterflies on twitter) have put together a brilliant list of plants that are nectar rich and perfect for insects many not just for butterflies but bees, moths and some berry producing ones great for many birds.

Plants for attracting butterflies, bees and birds. 

I’ve searched the internet for places that sell plants or seeds recommended by Butterfly Conservation, for those that I couldn’t I’ve linked to suggested searches on ebay. I will be trying to grow many of these to attract as much wildlife to the garden as possible to help the wildlife and in the hope of being able to photograph birds, mammals and insects from home while I’m not able to walk very well.

Painted Lady on Sunflower Vanessa cardui on Helianthus
Painted Lady on Sunflower
Vanessa cardui on Helianthus

Sadly I lost all the links to where you could buy the plants, I hope to fix this once my new gardening website is up and running.

Mini Meadow
Mini wildflower meadow Empathy mini wildflower meadow – I’m going to be trying this one in my garden

Buddleia / Buddleja
butterfly bush Buddleja ‘Lochinch’
butterfly bush Buddleja davidii ‘White Profusion’
butterfly bush Buddleja davidii ‘Black Knight’ – I really like this one
Butterfly Bush Buddleja davidii ‘Royal Red’ – RHS Perfect for Pollinators
Buddleia Nanho Purple 1 Plant 3 litre | Buy Plants, Shrubs and Trees Online | Shrubs

Ice Plant
ice plant Sedum spectabile ‘(Brilliant Group) Brilliant’

Lavender
lavender Lavandula × intermedia ‘Grosso’
Scented Lavender Collection 6 plants | Perennial Plants
Lavender Angustifolia Vera 2L | Garden Bargains

Michaelmas daisy
michalmas daisy Aster × frikartii ‘Mönch’

Marjoram
marjoram Origanum laevigatum ‘Herrenhausen’
pot marjoram seeds Origanum vulgare – seeds

Red valerian
red valerian Centranthus ruber

Aubretia
aubretia F1 Aubretia ‘Purple Cascade (Cascade Series)’ – very nice purple!
Aubretia Royal Red 12 Plants | In the papers

Field scabious
field scabious Knautia arvensis
butterfly collection Butterfly ‘Seed collection’ – Butterfly Seed Collection

Scabious
sweet scabious Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Fata Morgana’
Macedonian scabious Knautia macedonica
sweet scabious Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black Knight’

Bramble
blackberry blackberry ‘Ouachita’
blackberry blackberry ‘Oregon Thornless’

French marigold
40 plus 20 FREE large plug plants Marigold ‘French Fancy’
Marigold Melody 50 Plants +20 FREE | Garden Ready Plants

Hebe
veronica Hebe ‘Champagne’
hebe Hebe ‘Heartbreaker’
Hebe Collection 3 Plants 9cm Pot | Shrubs

Candytuft
candytuft Iberis ‘Masterpiece’

Lobelia
lobelia Lobelia × speciosa ‘Hadspen Purple (PBR)’
Lobelia Trail Away 100 Plug Plants + 60 FREE | Plug Plants

Honesty
honesty Lunaria annua

Mint
alpine mint bush Prostanthera cuneata – alpine mint bush
peppermint seeds Mentha piperita – peppermint
herb collection – mint, rosemary, thyme, parsley & sage or lavender Herb Collection ‘(6 Mixed Herbs)’ – mixed herbs
Tasty Herb Collection 12 Jumbo Ready Plants | Garden Vegetables | Jersey Plants Direct – mixed herbs

Hemp agrimony
Eupatorium capillifolium AKA hemp agrimony

Phlox
phlox Phlox divaricata ‘Clouds of Perfume’
Phlox Phlox paniculata ‘Blue Evening’
Perennial Phlox Collection 6 Jumbo Ready Plants | Perennials
Phlox Blue Paradise 1 Plant 2 Litre | Perennials

Forget-me-not
forget-me-not Myosotis sylvatica
Siberian bugloss Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost (PBR)’
wildflower plug plant collection Wildflowers for ‘attracting bumble bees’ – a great bumblebee collection!

Aster
aster Aster ‘Little Carlow (cordifolius hybrid)’
michalmas daisy Aster pyrenaeus ‘Lutetia’

Sweet rocket
sweet rocket Hesperis matronalis

Runner bean
runner bean
Runner Bean Scarlet Emperor | Vegetable Seeds

Knapweed
knapweed Centaurea ‘Jordy’
mountain knapweed Centaurea montana ‘Alba’
greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa
butterfly collection Butterfly ‘Seed collection’

Privet
oval leaf privet Ligustrum ovalifolium
oval leaf privet – Hedging Range Ligustrum ovalifolium

Purple Loosestrife
loosestrife Lythrum virgatum ‘Dropmore Purple’
purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria ‘Blush’

Verbena
verbena Verbena bonariensis ‘Lollipop’
verbena Verbena bonariensis

Alyssum
Alysum Dilly Dilly 50 Plants + 20 FREE | Garden Ready Plants

Common fleabane
Pulicaria dysenterica – Common Fleabane | Wild Flowers | Species | Emorsgate

Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale – Dandelion | Wild Flowers | Species | Emorsgate Seeds.

Dahlia
dahlia tuber Dahlia ‘Bishop of Auckland’
dahlia tuber Dahlia ‘Bishop of Dover’

Wallflower
wallflower Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’
wallflower Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’

Bowles mauve wallflower
wallflower Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’
wallflower Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’

Ivy
Persian ivy Hedera colchica ‘Dentata Variegata’

Heather
Cantabrian heath Daboecia cantabrica ‘Amelie (PBR)’
winter heath Erica carnea f. alba ‘Whitehall’
Heather Promotion – 6 pack Heather ‘6 Pack’

Shrubby cinquefoil
shrubby cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa ‘Marian Red Robin = ‘Marrob’ (PBR)’

Ragwort
Western mugwort Artemisia ludoviciana ‘Valerie Finnis’

Cranesbill
cranesbill Geranium ‘Melinda (PBR)’ – RHS Perfect for Pollinators
cranesbill Geranium × oxonianum ‘Wargrave Pink’

Primrose
evening primrose Oenothera biennis

Tree mallow
tree mallow (syn. L. olbia ‘Rosea’) Lavatera × clementii ‘Rosea’
tree hollyhock Hibiscus syriacus ‘White Chiffon’

Chives
chives chives
Edible Flowers Plant Combination ‘Edible Flowers Plant Combination’ – Edible Flowers plant collection

Thyme
thyme Thymus vulgaris ‘Silver Posie’
thyme Thymus ‘Doone Valley’
thyme – organic seeds Thymus vulgaris

Catmint
mountain knapweed Centaurea montana ‘Alba’
catmint Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’
catmint Nepeta × faassenii
Chilean potato tree Solanum crispum ‘Glasnevin’ African Marigold
Marigold African Sun Mix 50 Plants + 20 FREE | Garden Ready Plants

Pansy
heartsease Viola tricolor

Black eyed Susan
black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia ‘Little Gold Star’
black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Early Bird Gold (PBR)’
black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Early Bird Gold (PBR)’

Hydrangea
hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata ‘Diamant Rouge = ‘Rendia’ (PBR)’
climbing hydrangea Hydrangea anomala subsp. ‘petiolaris Silver Lining’

Golden Rod
solidaster / golden rod Solidago × luteus ‘Lemore’

Ox-eye daisy
ox-eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare

Sweet William
30 Sweet William Rouge Blush Plants + 15 FREE | Garden Ready Plants

Shasta daisy
shasta daisy Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Snowcap’
shasta daisy Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Phyllis Smith’
shasta daisy Leucanthemum ‘Banana Cream’
shasta daisy Leucanthemum ‘× superbum Sunny Side Up’
shasta daisy Leucanthemum ‘Sante’

Hyssop
hyssop Agastache ‘Black Adder’

Rock rose
rock rose Cistus × purpureus

Honeysuckle
mandarine honeysuckle Lonicera ‘Mandarin’
early Dutch honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum ‘Belgica’
English wild honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum ‘Heaven Scent’

Daisy
shasta daisy Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Snowcap’
shasta daisy Leucanthemum × superbum ‘Phyllis Smith’
fleabane Erigeron ‘Sommerneuschnee’
black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia ‘Little Gold Star’
coneflower Echinacea purpurea ‘Kim’s Knee High (PBR)’
coneflower Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’
coneflower Echinacea purpurea
coneflower Echinacea purpurea ‘Vintage Wine (PBR)’
New England Aster Aster novae-angliae ‘Violetta’ – I really like this one.
coneflower Rudbeckia hirta ‘Autumn Shades’
pot marigold Calendula officinalis
feverfew – organic seeds Tanacetum parthenium
shasta daisy Leucanthemum ‘Banana Cream’
shasta daisy Leucanthemum ‘× superbum Sunny Side Up’
shasta daisy Leucanthemum ‘Sante’

Teasel
teasel Dipsacus fullonum – be very good to get goldfinches in the garden!
sea holly (syn. Blue Dwarf) Eryngium planum ‘Blauer Zwerg’
Nyjer / Thistle seed – Nyjer / Thistle seed

Sneezewort
sneezewort Achillea ptarmica ‘(The Pearl Group) The Pearl (clonal)’

Chrysanthemum (single)
corn marigold (syn. Chrysanthemum segetum ) Glebionis segetum

Cosmos, Cosmea
cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Rubenza’
cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Sensation Picotee’
cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Purity’
cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Dazzler’
40 plus 20 FREE large plug plants Cosmos ‘Sonata White’
RHS perfect for pollinating insects ‘RHS perfect for pollinating insects’ – perfect for pollinators mix

Osteospermum
African daisy Osteospermum jucundum
African daisy Osteospermum ‘Snow Pixie’

Clover
white clover – green manure Trifolium repens Globe thistle
globe thistle Echinops bannaticus ‘Blue Globe’
globe thistle Echinops ritro ‘Veitch’s Blue’

Marguerite
dyer’s chamomile Anthemis tinctoria ‘E.C. Buxton’

Pot marigold
pot marigold Calendula officinalis ‘Indian Prince’
pot marigold Calendula officinalis

Escallonia
escallonia Escallonia ‘Iveyi’
escallonia Escallonia ‘Apple Blossom’

Everlasting flower – Helichrysum
Helichrysum Forever Mix Seeds – Suttons Seeds and Plants

Lilac
lilac Syringa ‘Red Pixie’

Cornflower
cornflower Centaurea cyanus
cornflower Centaurea cyanus ‘Black Ball’
mountain knapweed Centaurea montana ‘Alba’

Hyacinth
‘prepared’ hyacinth bulbs Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Pink Pearl’
garden hyacinth bulbs Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Miss Saigon’

Lychnis coronaria – Campion
Lychnis coronaria – Red Rose Campion, 200 Seeds

Red campion
red campion Silene dioica

Nasturtium
nasturtium Tropaeolum ‘Alaska’

Ceratostigma
hardy plumbago Ceratostigma plumbaginoides

Statice
statice seeds

Cone flower / Coneflower
coneflower Echinacea purpurea ‘Vintage Wine (PBR)’ – very nice flower!

More Plants for attracting butterflies below, here’s a photo from my garden of a Red Admiral Vanessa Atalanta on Echinacea.  

Senecio
senecio Brachyglottis ‘(Dunedin Group) Sunshine’

Onions – I’ve chosen ornamental onions, but obviously there are great benefits from standard onions – like being able to eat them!
giant ornamental onion Allium giganteum
ornamental onion Allium schubertii

Virginia stock
virginia stock seeds

Petunia – make sure they’re single flowered as often the double aren’t great for wildlife.
40 plus 20 FREE large plug plants Petunia ‘Fantasia Mixed’
Petunia Surfina Classic (Trailing) Red 24 Jumbo Ready Plants | Ready Plants

Busy Lizzie
Impatiens Jigsaw 70 Plug Plants plus 35 FREE | Plug Plants

Coreopsis
tickseed Coreopsis ‘Limerock Ruby’ – very nice!
tickseed Coreopsis verticillata ‘Moonbeam’

Bluebell
bluebell bulbs Hyacinthoides non-scripta – try very hard to keep these away from Spanish bluebells.

Yarrow
yarrow Achillea ‘Credo’
yarrow Achillea filipendulina ‘Cloth of Gold’
yarrow Achillea ‘Moonshine’
yarrow Achillea ‘Wesersandstein’

Birds-foot-trefoil
bird’s foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus

Everlasting pea
spring vetchling Lathyrus vernus

Cardamine pratensis / lady’s smock / cuckoo flower
lady’s smock / cuckoo flower Cardamine pratensis

Feverfew
feverfew – organic seeds Tanacetum parthenium

Inula
Inula seeds

Pinks
pink Dianthus amurensis
pink Dianthus ‘Mrs Sinkins’

Sneezeweed, Helenium
sneezeweed Helenium ‘Biedermeier’
sneezeweed (syn Indian Summer) Helenium ‘Indianersommer’
sneezeweed Helenium ‘The Bishop’

Flos flower, Ageratum
Ageratum seeds

Corn marigold
corn marigold (syn. Chrysanthemum segetum ) Glebionis segetum

Sea holly
sea holly (syn. Blue Dwarf) Eryngium planum ‘Blauer Zwerg’
sea holly Eryngium bourgatii ‘Picos Amethyst’

Grape hyacinth
grape hyacinth bulbs Muscari latifolium
grape hyacinth bulbs Muscari armeniacum

Cotoneaster – these are great for birds too, I had a few small plants in my old garden and a fieldfare came and devoured all the fruit in one day. Was happy to see it!
cotoneaster Cotoneaster frigidus ‘Cornubia’
cotoneaster Cotoneaster dammeri

Buttercup – 4000 seeds can cost around £5:
buttercup seeds

Viola
heartsease Viola tricolor
violet (syn. Viola Boughton Blue) Viola ‘Belmont Blue’

Ceanothus
Californian lilac Ceanothus ‘Burkwoodii’

Musk mallow
Musk mallow seeds

Heliotrope
Heliotrope seeds

Eranthis hyemalis – winter aconite
winter aconite – In The Green Eranthis hyemalis Buddleia is by far the best nectar plant and is first favourite with 18 species: Brimstone, Comma, Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Green-veined White, Holly Blue, Large Skipper, Large White, Meadow Brown, Painted Lady, Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Copper, Small Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, Speckled Wood and Wall Brown.

Check ebay for more great wild flower and meadow plants & seeds:
wildflower

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