We are closely following the planting trends at RHS Chelsea Flower Show this week and it is interesting to see the number of plants that are pollinator friendly within the show gardens.
For our Plant Hope campaign this year, we are encouraging our customers to find little ways to be more sustainable. One great way to do this is to support wildlife in your garden by providing them with a perfect place to thrive. Adding some flowering perennials for pollinators is a great way to start.
With Chelsea as inspiration, our Plant Area team has picked out their top eight favourite plants for pollinators.
Lupins
Kathleen has chosen lupins as they remind her of childhood memories. They attract plenty of bees with their colourful flower spikes and are a cottage garden favourite.
Verbascum
Photo taken when in flower (2021)
Verbascum is an extremely striking plant with its tall flower spikes and green foliage. They come in a range of colours including white, yellow, orange, blue, and purple. You can grow verbascum in moist but well-drained soil in full sun.
Geum
Our Plant Buyer Zoe has chosen geums. This plant is a must have in everyone’s garden! She loves the plant as it just ‘keeps giving’ all the way from April to the end of the summer. It’s perfect for adding height to borders and compliments other many other garden favourites.
Foxglove
Stuart likes foxgloves, a perennial that returns each year. With their bell-like flowers and great height, they work well against ferns for a more cottage style meadow garden. Bees absolutely love them and we see many of these insects busy at work in our Plant Area.
Salvias
Cheryl likes salvias as they are available in many different colours and flower for ages. The bees love them and they make great companion plants to go alongside roses, they can help keep away black spot and mildew.
Plume thistle
Plume thistle is an upright perennial with tall stems and deep red/purple flower heads. They look great mixed with other greenery and add a pop of colour to garden borders. Plant in moist but well-drained soil for best results.
Lavender
Megan has chosen lavender as her favourite because bees absolutely adore it! Lavender is an English garden classic with a wonderful fragrance to enhance the garden and culinary lavender has many uses such as flavouring baked cakes.
Astrantia
Tanya has chosen astrantia as it flowers all summer long in your garden. It can be placed in dappled shade so perfect if an area doesn’t get as much sunlight.
Our Plant Area has an extensive range of plants that pollinators will love. There is ongoing evidence that the population of bees and other pollinators is in decline. This could have serious implications for biodiversity and food production in the future. It’s super important to attract these busy insects into your garden, if we all make a small addition, together we can make a big change.
Look out for more Perrywood news about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022!