Provide year-round nectar
Provide your bees, bumblebees and insects with year-round nectar by choosing a selection of flowering plants.
These plants flower at different times of the year, providing year-round nectar for those oh-so-important pollinators:
Note: these plants have been selected for Scottish and Northern-England climates, you can grow these further south too, but they may flower at slightly different times of the year.
Winter
Aconites
A yellow flowering early spring bulb
Hamamelis (Witchhazel) pictured
flowers as early as January, a yellow flowering shrub
Snow drops
who doesn't know what they look like?!
Winter flowering heather
look for Erica carnea, which flowers from December until early March
Helleborus
Flowers from January until February
Spring
Primrose
native to the UK, it flowers in late winter and early spring
Crocus
Of course, the crocus can't be forgotten!
Pulmonaria (Lungwort)
early, purple flowering plant, ideal for the emerging solitary bees
Summer
Bistort
Native to the UK, pink flowers on spires, attracts masses of bumblebees
Sunflowers
Tall, medium or small sunflowers, all of them are good for pollinators and provide seeds for birds. Double bonus!
Teasels
Native to UK, pink flowers on attractive head. The seed heads provide seeds for finches in winter
Sedum
pink flowers and when left overwinter, provides you with really nice frosted seed heads
Autumn
Heleniums
oranges, yellows and reds, colours of Autumn and attractive to bees
Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susan)
bright yellow flowers which last until October
Agastache
Purple flowers on spires flowering until October