What plants and flowers are best to attract bees and butterflies?

Discussion in 'NEW Gardeners !' started by Scattyjan, Oct 4, 2015.

  1. Scattyjan

    Scattyjan Apprentice Gardener

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    We've been putting lots of colourful stuff in the garden, but my mum's polycantha (I think) seemed to attract far more bees than we did this year without any flowers on it. Thank you!
     
  2. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    Can't go too far wrong with Buddleja and Cabbage [​IMG]
     
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    • Fern4

      Fern4 Total Gardener

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      The best plants in my garden for attracting them seem to be cotoneaster, buddleja, liatris spicata, agastache foeniculum, linaria, nasturtiums, cosmos and hebes.
       
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      • redstar

        redstar Total Gardener

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        Joe Pye weed out shines the butterfly attraction over butterfly bush.
         
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        • NigelJ

          NigelJ Total Gardener

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          Thymes, lavenders and Sedums are also quite good. Also they are more likely to frequent plants with the sun on them.
           
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          • Scattyjan

            Scattyjan Apprentice Gardener

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            Brilliant, thank you so much everyone!
             
          • strongylodon

            strongylodon Old Member

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            Zigs, I don't think Scattyjan is a caterpillar collector!!:rolleyespink:

            Butterflies normally prefer open single flowers not doubles so all the above apply.
             
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            • Dips

              Dips Total Gardener

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              my agapanthus are very popular with bees and my mums echinops were covered with bees

              I also grew leeks last year and let some of them bolt and flower and the bees absolutely loved them they were covered in them

              i second buddleia, sedums, lavender, hebes are all really good too
               
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              • Scattyjan

                Scattyjan Apprentice Gardener

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                I'll hit OH with all these later - thank you! He'll wonder if I've been at the herbs ;)
                 
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                • Dips

                  Dips Total Gardener

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                  I missed off salvia hot lips as the bees love them but i guess most salvias would be good too
                   
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                  • tangham

                    tangham Gardener

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                    Buddleja for butterfly's sedums for bees if your put of bye the size of buddleja go for the buzz type.

                    I've been getting lots of hummingbird hawk moths this year which are great to sit and watch really did think I had hummingbirds in my garden.
                     
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                    • Trunky

                      Trunky ...who nose about gardening

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                      I would add winter flowering honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) to that list. On any reasonably mild day in winter, a few bees always appear around my winter honeysuckle plant, I like to think it helps to get them through the hard times and that my reward is a garden full of bees in spring and summer. :)
                       
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                      • Scattyjan

                        Scattyjan Apprentice Gardener

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                        The list grows ever longer - thank you! I might see if I can make a 'found' poem out of it. I've got to write something with 'fragrantissima' in it!
                         
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                          Last edited: Oct 9, 2015
                        • shiney

                          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                          The two most popular plants in our garden for bees (with dozens of different ones that attract bees) are:-

                          Phlomis Russelliana
                          P1170293.JPG


                          But the clear winner is always
                          Veronicastrum
                          P1170827.JPG
                           
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                          • Cacadores

                            Cacadores ember

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                            [​IMG]
                            Our delphiniums and hollyhocks attract bees and butterflies all summer.
                             
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