Top Wildlife-Friendly Plants for UK Gardens
Our gardens are a prime spot for wildlife all year round, but especially in the early Spring and Summer when flowers start to bloom; attracting this wildlife and ensuring it has space to thrive is so important!
When picking flowers to plant, go with native garden plants. They offer food and shelter, and are used to our climate - so they have a better chance at surviving.
This blog post will explore the top wildlife friendly plants for UK wildlife gardens, explaining why they're essential, how they benefit various species, and how you can incorporate them into your own space.
Why Native Plants Are Important for UK Wildlife
Native plants are well adapted to the UK’s climate, soil conditions and ecosystem, meaning they’ll survive, and are perfect for the wildlife they encounter. It also helps to reduce the need for fertilisers and pesticides, maintaining a healthier environment in our wildlife friendly gardens.
For our local wildlife, they provide much needed natural food, shelter and even nesting sites for birds, insects and small mammals; helping local creatures thrive.
In addition, native plants help maintain the balance of the ecosystem by supporting pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hoverflies. By planting these species in your green space, you can create a haven providing shelter for wildlife.
Top Wildlife-Friendly Plants for UK Gardens
-
Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Hawthorn is a powerhouse in the plant world, offering berries that birds, such as blackbirds and thrushes, rely on for food (especially during winter!). It has dense, thorny branches and also provides cover for many species of small mammals and birds.
Hawthorn supports over 300 species of insects with its nectar rich plants, making it an excellent choice for biodiversity as it encourages wildlife into our gardens.
It thrives in most soil types, and prefers full sun, but can survive in partial shade. This will attract butterflies, blackbirds, thrushes, bees, and small mammals.
2. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
With their tall, bell shaped flowers, the Foxglove is a great addition to any garden. The main attraction of this plant is the Bumblebees' love for it; they find the tubular flowers an excellent source of nectar.
Thriving in woodland areas, these are great if you have a shaded spot in your garden - you’ll soon be seeing Bumblebees and lots of other pollinators.
3. Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)
Known for its fragrant, trumpet-shaped flowers, honeysuckle is a favourite of both Moths and Bees. In the autumn, its berries provide much-needed food for birds like Thrushes and Warblers. Honeysuckle is also a great climber, making it ideal for covering fences, trellises, or woodland edges.
It grows well in woodlands, hedgerows, shrubs and along fences or trellises.
4. Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
The rowan tree, also known as the mountain ash, produces vibrant red berries that are a staple food source for birds such as Blackbirds and Waxwings. The tree’s nectar rich flowers also provide food and attract a variety of pollinators.
5. Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)
Teasel is a distinctive plant with spiky, globe-shaped flowers that attract a wide range of pollinators. The seed heads of teasel are an excellent food source for Goldfinches during the winter months, making it a great plant for year-round wildlife support. Teasel thrives in meadows and wildflower gardens.
6. Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare)
Not only is wild marjoram a fantastic addition to your herb garden, but it also plays an important role in supporting pollinators - giving you the best of both worlds! Its nectar rich flowers attract bees and butterflies, while the plant’s aromatic leaves are beneficial for a variety of beneficial insects.
7. Bird’s Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
Bird’s Foot Trefoil is an essential plant for supporting Butterfly larvae, including the larvae of the Common Blue butterfly. This low-growing perennial is also a valuable nectar source for bees and other pollinators. It’s ideal for sunny, dry spots and is perfect for growing in meadows or grassy areas.
8. Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus)
Guelder Rose is a beautiful shrub that offers both nectar rich flowers in spring and bright red berries in autumn. These berries are a vital food source for birds, while the flowers attract Bees and Hoverflies. Guelder Rose is ideal for damp, fertile soils, making it perfect for woodland edges or hedgerows.
9. Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
Evening Primrose is an invaluable plant for attracting nocturnal pollinators like Moths, as its large, fragrant flowers bloom in the evening. Additionally, its tiny seeds, are a favourite of Finches during the winter months. It’s a hardy, low-maintenance plant that thrives in dry, sunny locations.
10. Hedge Garlic (Alliaria petiolata)
Hedge Garlic is a vital food plant for the larvae of the Orange-tip Butterfly. In addition to supporting butterflies, this plant offers ground cover and attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies. Hedge Garlic thrives in damp, shady areas.
11. Field Scabious
Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis) is an excellent addition to a wildlife-friendly garden. This hardy wildflower produces beautiful, long-lasting flowers in shades of pink and purple, which are particularly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators as they provide nectar.
Field Scabious thrives in poor soil and full sun, making it an ideal choice for meadows or areas that don’t require much maintenance.
How to Incorporate These Plants into Your Garden
When adding these wildlife-friendly plants to your garden, consider a few key strategies to maximise their impact.
Mix shrubs, trees, and flowering plants to create a varied, layered garden that provides food and shelter at different heights. You can also use hedgerows, climbers, and plants along fences to create a corridor for wildlife to move through your garden.
It’s best to plant a variety of species to ensure that nectar, berries, and seeds are available throughout the year. Let areas of your garden grow wild by reducing mowing and leaving seed heads for winter-feeding birds.
By choosing native, wildlife-friendly plants for your garden, you can help create a thriving environment for local wildlife. Start small by adding a few of the plants mentioned here, and soon you’ll have a beautiful, biodiversity-rich space.
