This plant guide was kindly compiled for our Wilderhood Watch Pollinator Highway project by local garden designer and St Albans Friends of the Earth member, Amanda Yorwerth.
Amanda has taken into account how easy the plants are to grow, as well as their drought-resistance, and has ensured that they aren’t invasive species. There are lots of other pollinator friendly flowers such as scabious, thistle, vipers bugloss, catmint, wild geranium and a wide variety of herbs, so please keep an eye out for where the bees forage in your garden, and look after the plants they particularly like. Having a variety of plants that flower in different seasons provides food for pollinators all year round.
All of these plants are relatively easy to swap, either by dividing, taking cuttings, or growing from seed. Some, like sedums, hellebores and hawthorn, often self-seed, so swapping seedlings or saplings is another great option. Sharing plants with your neighbours is almost always preferable to buying them – you can guarantee they’ll be chemical free, and in our experience, grow much better than anything you’ll buy in a garden centre!
Beautiful flowers are popping up in wildflower meadows we’ve recently planted in several residents’ gardens (May 2020). Hopefully next season we’ll be able to keep planting in gardens, schools and around our Buzz Stops!
How many species from our 2019 Pollinator Highway survey can you see in your garden?
