Flowers to attract beneficial insects

Here is a list of flowers and herbs to attract beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies and find more on attracting useful predators in our gardening for wildlife section:

Flowers for Honey Bees

Rock cress (Arabis, brassicoideae); Borage (Borago officinalis); Blackberry, raspberry and hybrid berries; Candytuft (Iberis); Dog rose (Rosa canina); Heather (Erica); Mignonette (Reseda oderata); Parsnips (Pastinaca sativa); Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia); Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis); Rosebay willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium); Verbascums; Vervain (Verbena officinalis); Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquifolia); Wallflowers (Erysimum); Woad (Isatis tinctoria)

Flowers for bumble bees

Anise hyssop (Agastache anisata); Bergamot (Monarda); Bird’s foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus); Clover, red and white (Trifolium); Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus); Dhalia; Globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus); Goldenrod (Solidago); Geranium (Geranium species); Green alkanet (Pentaglottis sempervirens); Horehound (Marrubium vulgare); Honeysickle (Lonicera); Knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa); Marjoram (Origanum); Lobelia cardinalis; Lungwort (Pulmonaria saccharata); Perennial cornflower (Centaurea montana); Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia); Poppy (Papaver species); Red valerian (Centranthus ruber); Russian comfrey (Symphytum x uplandicum); Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum x superbum); Sage (Salvia officinalis); Vipers bugloss (Echium vulgare); Yarrow (Achillea vulgaris)

The British Bee Keepers’ Association list of pollen and nectar-rich plants by season and this friendly little poster to encourage us to Bee Friendly!

Flowers for hoverflies and other beneficial insects

Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa); Brambles (Rubus fructicosus); Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum); California poppy (Eschscholzia californica); Carrots and carrot family (Apiaciae); Convolvulus annual (Convolvulus tricolor); Corn marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum); Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus); Coriander (Coriandrum sativum); Cosmos; Cow parsley (Anthriscus sylvestris); Dog rose (Rosa canina); Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare); Figwort (Scrophularia); Hawthorn (Cretaegus monogyna); Ivy (Hedera helix); Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia); Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima); Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Flowers for adult butterflies

Aubretia; Buddleja; Candytuft (Iberis umbellata); Hebe; Field scabious (Knautia arvensis); Honesty (Lunaria annua); Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis); Hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum); Ice plant (Sedum spectabile); Irish heath (Erica erigena); Ivy (Hedera helix); Lady’s smock (Cardamine pratensis); Lavender; Marjoram (Origanum); Mint (Mentha); Michelmas daisy (Aster x frikartii); Small scabious (Scabiosa columbaria); Sweet rocket (Hesperis matronalis); Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus)