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.Â
Iâve searched the internet for places that sell plants or seeds recommended by Butterfly Conservation, for those that I couldnât Iâve 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 Iâm not able to walk very well.
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 â Iâm going to be trying this one in my garden
Buddleia / Buddleja
butterfly bush Buddleja âLochinch’
butterfly bush Buddleja davidii âWhite Profusion’
butterfly bush Buddleja davidii âBlack Knight’ â I really like this one
Butterfly Bush Buddleja davidii âRoyal Red’ â RHS Perfect for Pollinators
Buddleia Nanho Purple 1 Plant 3 litre | Buy Plants, Shrubs and Trees Online | Shrubs
Ice Plant
ice plant Sedum spectabile â(Brilliant Group) Brilliant’
Lavender
lavender Lavandula Ă intermedia âGrosso’
Scented Lavender Collection 6 plants | Perennial Plants
Lavender Angustifolia Vera 2L | Garden Bargains
Michaelmas daisy
michalmas daisy Aster Ă frikartii âMönch’
Marjoram
marjoram Origanum laevigatum âHerrenhausen’
pot marjoram seeds Origanum vulgare â seeds
Red valerian
red valerian Centranthus ruber
Aubretia
aubretia F1 Aubretia âPurple Cascade (Cascade Series)’ â very nice purple!
Aubretia Royal Red 12 Plants | In the papers
Field scabious
field scabious Knautia arvensis
butterfly collection Butterfly âSeed collection’ â Butterfly Seed Collection
Scabious
sweet scabious Scabiosa atropurpurea âFata Morgana’
Macedonian scabious Knautia macedonica
sweet scabious Scabiosa atropurpurea âBlack Knight’
Bramble
blackberry blackberry âOuachita’
blackberry blackberry âOregon Thornless’
French marigold
40 plus 20 FREE large plug plants Marigold âFrench Fancy’
Marigold Melody 50 Plants +20 FREE | Garden Ready Plants
Hebe
veronica Hebe âChampagne’
hebe Hebe âHeartbreaker’
Hebe Collection 3 Plants 9cm Pot | Shrubs
Candytuft
candytuft Iberis âMasterpiece’
Lobelia
lobelia Lobelia Ă speciosa âHadspen Purple (PBR)’
Lobelia Trail Away 100 Plug Plants + 60 FREE | Plug Plants
Honesty
honesty Lunaria annua
Mint
alpine mint bush Prostanthera cuneata â alpine mint bush
peppermint seeds Mentha piperita â peppermint
herb collection â mint, rosemary, thyme, parsley & sage or lavender Herb Collection â(6 Mixed Herbs)’ â mixed herbs
Tasty Herb Collection 12 Jumbo Ready Plants | Garden Vegetables | Jersey Plants Direct â mixed herbs
Hemp agrimony
Eupatorium capillifolium AKAÂ hemp agrimony
Phlox
phlox Phlox divaricata âClouds of Perfume’
Phlox Phlox paniculata âBlue 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 âJack Frost (PBR)’
wildflower plug plant collection Wildflowers for âattracting bumble bees’ â a great bumblebee collection!
Aster
aster Aster âLittle Carlow (cordifolius hybrid)’
michalmas daisy Aster pyrenaeus âLutetia’
Sweet rocket
sweet rocket Hesperis matronalis
Runner bean
runner bean
Runner Bean Scarlet Emperor | Vegetable Seeds
Knapweed
knapweed Centaurea âJordy’
mountain knapweed Centaurea montana âAlba’
greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa
butterfly collection Butterfly âSeed collection’
Privet
oval leaf privet Ligustrum ovalifolium
oval leaf privet â Hedging Range Ligustrum ovalifolium
Purple Loosestrife
loosestrife Lythrum virgatum âDropmore Purple’
purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria âBlush’
Verbena
verbena Verbena bonariensis âLollipop’
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 âBishop of Auckland’
dahlia tuber Dahlia âBishop of Dover’
Wallflower
wallflower Erysimum âBowlesâs Mauve’
wallflower Erysimum âBowlesâs Mauve’
Bowles mauve wallflower
wallflower Erysimum âBowlesâs Mauve’
wallflower Erysimum âBowlesâs Mauve’
Ivy
Persian ivy Hedera colchica âDentata Variegata’
Heather
Cantabrian heath Daboecia cantabrica âAmelie (PBR)’
winter heath Erica carnea f. alba âWhitehall’
Heather Promotion â 6 pack Heather â6 Pack’
Shrubby cinquefoil
shrubby cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa âMarian Red Robin = âMarrobâ (PBR)’
Ragwort
Western mugwort Artemisia ludoviciana âValerie Finnis’
Cranesbill
cranesbill Geranium âMelinda (PBR)’ â RHS Perfect for Pollinators
cranesbill Geranium Ă oxonianum âWargrave Pink’
Primrose
evening primrose Oenothera biennis
Tree mallow
tree mallow (syn. L. olbia âRoseaâ) Lavatera Ă clementii âRosea’
tree hollyhock Hibiscus syriacus âWhite Chiffon’
Chives
chives chives
Edible Flowers Plant Combination âEdible Flowers Plant Combination’ â Edible Flowers plant collection
Thyme
thyme Thymus vulgaris âSilver Posie’
thyme Thymus âDoone Valley’
thyme â organic seeds Thymus vulgaris
Catmint
mountain knapweed Centaurea montana âAlba’
catmint Nepeta âSix Hills Giant’
catmint Nepeta Ă faassenii
Chilean potato tree Solanum crispum âGlasnevin’ African Marigold
Marigold African Sun Mix 50 Plants + 20 FREE | Garden Ready Plants
Pansy
heartsease Viola tricolor
Black eyed Susan
black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia âLittle Gold Star’
black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia fulgida âEarly Bird Gold (PBR)’
black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia fulgida âEarly Bird Gold (PBR)’
Hydrangea
hydrangea Hydrangea paniculata âDiamant Rouge = âRendiaâ (PBR)’
climbing hydrangea Hydrangea anomala subsp. âpetiolaris Silver Lining’
Golden Rod
solidaster / golden rod Solidago Ă luteus âLemore’
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 Ă superbum âSnowcap’
shasta daisy Leucanthemum Ă superbum âPhyllis Smith’
shasta daisy Leucanthemum âBanana Cream’
shasta daisy Leucanthemum âĂ superbum Sunny Side Up’
shasta daisy Leucanthemum âSante’
Hyssop
hyssop Agastache âBlack Adder’
Rock rose
rock rose Cistus Ă purpureus
Honeysuckle
mandarine honeysuckle Lonicera âMandarin’
early Dutch honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum âBelgica’
English wild honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum âHeaven Scent’
Daisy
shasta daisy Leucanthemum Ă superbum âSnowcap’
shasta daisy Leucanthemum Ă superbum âPhyllis Smith’
fleabane Erigeron âSommerneuschnee’
black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia âLittle Gold Star’
coneflower Echinacea purpurea âKimâs Knee High (PBR)’
coneflower Echinacea purpurea âWhite Swan’
coneflower Echinacea purpurea
coneflower Echinacea purpurea âVintage Wine (PBR)’
New England Aster Aster novae-angliae âVioletta’ â I really like this one.
coneflower Rudbeckia hirta âAutumn Shades’
pot marigold Calendula officinalis
feverfew â organic seeds Tanacetum parthenium
shasta daisy Leucanthemum âBanana Cream’
shasta daisy Leucanthemum âĂ superbum Sunny Side Up’
shasta daisy Leucanthemum âSante’
Teasel
teasel Dipsacus fullonum â be very good to get goldfinches in the garden!
sea holly (syn. Blue Dwarf) Eryngium planum âBlauer Zwerg’
Nyjer / Thistle seed â Nyjer / Thistle seed
Sneezewort
sneezewort Achillea ptarmica â(The Pearl Group) The Pearl (clonal)’
Chrysanthemum (single)
corn marigold (syn. Chrysanthemum segetum ) Glebionis segetum
Cosmos, Cosmea
cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus âRubenza’
cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus âSensation Picotee’
cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus âPurity’
cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus âDazzler’
40 plus 20 FREE large plug plants Cosmos âSonata White’
RHS perfect for pollinating insects âRHS perfect for pollinating insects’ â perfect for pollinators mix
Osteospermum
African daisy Osteospermum jucundum
African daisy Osteospermum âSnow Pixie’
Clover
white clover â green manure Trifolium repens Globe thistle
globe thistle Echinops bannaticus âBlue Globe’
globe thistle Echinops ritro âVeitchâs Blue’
Marguerite
dyerâs chamomile Anthemis tinctoria âE.C. Buxton’
Pot marigold
pot marigold Calendula officinalis âIndian Prince’
pot marigold Calendula officinalis
Escallonia
escallonia Escallonia âIveyi’
escallonia Escallonia âApple Blossom’
Everlasting flower â Helichrysum
Helichrysum Forever Mix Seeds â Suttons Seeds and Plants
Lilac
lilac Syringa âRed Pixie’
Cornflower
cornflower Centaurea cyanus
cornflower Centaurea cyanus âBlack Ball’
mountain knapweed Centaurea montana âAlba’
Hyacinth
âpreparedâ hyacinth bulbs Hyacinthus orientalis âPink Pearl’
garden hyacinth bulbs Hyacinthus orientalis âMiss Saigon’
Lychnis coronaria â Campion
Lychnis coronaria â Red Rose Campion, 200 Seeds
Red campion
red campion Silene dioica
Nasturtium
nasturtium Tropaeolum âAlaska’
Ceratostigma
hardy plumbago Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Statice
statice seeds
Cone flower / Coneflower
coneflower Echinacea purpurea âVintage Wine (PBR)’ â very nice flower!
More Plants for attracting butterflies below, here’s a photo from my garden of a Red Admiral Vanessa Atalanta on Echinacea. Â
Senecio
senecio Brachyglottis â(Dunedin Group) Sunshine’
Onions â Iâve chosen ornamental onions, but obviously there are great benefits from standard onions â like being able to eat them!
giant ornamental onion Allium giganteum
ornamental onion Allium schubertii
Virginia stock
virginia stock seeds
Petunia â make sure theyâre single flowered as often the double arenât great for wildlife.
40 plus 20 FREE large plug plants Petunia âFantasia 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 âLimerock Ruby’ â very nice!
tickseed Coreopsis verticillata âMoonbeam’
Bluebell
bluebell bulbs Hyacinthoides non-scripta â try very hard to keep these away from Spanish bluebells.
Yarrow
yarrow Achillea âCredo’
yarrow Achillea filipendulina âCloth of Gold’
yarrow Achillea âMoonshine’
yarrow Achillea âWesersandstein’
Birds-foot-trefoil
birdâs foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus
Everlasting pea
spring vetchling Lathyrus vernus
Cardamine pratensis / ladyâs smock / cuckoo flower
ladyâs smock / cuckoo flower Cardamine pratensis
Feverfew
feverfew â organic seeds Tanacetum parthenium
Inula
Inula seeds
Pinks
pink Dianthus amurensis
pink Dianthus âMrs Sinkins’
Sneezeweed, Helenium
sneezeweed Helenium âBiedermeier’
sneezeweed (syn Indian Summer) Helenium âIndianersommer’
sneezeweed Helenium âThe Bishop’
Flos flower, Ageratum
Ageratum seeds
Corn marigold
corn marigold (syn. Chrysanthemum segetum ) Glebionis segetum
Sea holly
sea holly (syn. Blue Dwarf) Eryngium planum âBlauer Zwerg’
sea holly Eryngium bourgatii âPicos Amethyst’
Grape hyacinth
grape hyacinth bulbs Muscari latifolium
grape hyacinth bulbs Muscari armeniacum
Cotoneaster â 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 âCornubia’
cotoneaster Cotoneaster dammeri
Buttercup â 4000 seeds can cost around ÂŁ5:
buttercup seeds
Viola
heartsease Viola tricolor
violet (syn. Viola Boughton Blue) Viola âBelmont Blue’
Ceanothus
Californian lilac Ceanothus âBurkwoodii’
Musk mallow
Musk mallow seeds
Heliotrope
Heliotrope seeds
Eranthis hyemalis â winter aconite
winter aconite â 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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