Leamington and Warwick Living Jul - Aug 2023

SAVE THE BEES
THE BEST POLLINATOR PLANTS
The team at the UK’s largest-family run group, British
Garden Centres look at the 10 best plants that grow
easily and attract pollinators in your garden from early
spring to summer...
LAVENDER - Bees’ favourite during the summer months is
lavender. It is known for its wonderful scent and pollinating
insects that draw nectar from its dark purple flowers. Lavender is
a durable and highly versatile perennial herb that can be used in
borders and containers to form fragrant bushes.
FOXGLOVES - Plants like foxglove have magnificent spikes of
purple, pink, white and blue flowers. The flowers of this cottage
garden classic attract solitary bees, and it thrives in light shade
with well-drained soil. Native to Britain, foxgloves are perfect for
wildlife gardens and can be used as cut flowers.
WILDFLOWERS - You can buy wildflower mixes in your local
British Garden Centres, which will bring the buzz to your garden.
This type of planting requires little maintenance and will help
feed Britain’s bees by creating urban wildflower meadows in your
backyard. They are a fantastic habitat, food source and pollinator
for bees, birds, butterflies and insects.
POPPIES - Poppies are an excellent pollen source with their
open petals inviting pollinators to feast on nectar. Your outdoor
space will be filled with bursts of red, white, purple, pink and blue
flowers that entice insects. Poppies thrive in good sunlight and
loose soil conditions.
VERBENA - Verbena with its round clusters of bright, lilac
flowers is a favourite with both bees and butterflies. An
outstanding addition to the back of a summer border, the high
stems attract pollinators who take turns to feast all over the year,
because of its extended flowering period.
DAHLIAS - There is no better late nectar source for pollinators
than dahlias. Most nectar will come from single-flowered flower
bulbs or tubers with noticeable stamens. Bees and butterflies
are attracted to these beautiful flowers, which bloom throughout
summer and early autumn.
ROSEMARY - Rosemary has extremely fragrant leaves and
is prized for its cooking and medicinal uses, but did you know
it’s helpful to pollinators too? Bees’ affection for the scent and
nectar-rich flowers brings them in large numbers to forage the
nectar which they can take back to the hive to make honey.
For more great gardening tips, visit:
www.britishgardencentres.com
38 | www.minervamagazines.co.uk