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What wildlife can I attract with these heather plants I just planted?

deadendwaterfalldeadendwaterfall Posts: 70
in Wildlife gardening
For example, do butterflies of any type tend to take any particular interest? 


Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    They will be loved by bees and butterflies.   You can buy a range that bloom at different times so always some in flower. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    At this time of the year not very much about to be that interested. Maybe late bees or late butterfly or two ,flies maybe but that’s probably it .
  • tigerburnietigerburnie Posts: 131
    Is the soil acidic, if not you need ericaceous compost or they probably perish.
  • deadendwaterfalldeadendwaterfall Posts: 70
    tigerburnie said:
    Is the soil acidic, if not you need ericaceous compost or they probably perish.
    I presume so, the spruces and goldcrest conifers I planted close by are absolutely thriving and I know they need acidic soil. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Many 'heathers' are tolerant of alkaline soil [the ericas]  but it always pays to make sure what type you have, and also what soil pH you have, before planting any. The site and drainage are important factors though  :)
    Bees of varying kinds will use them - heather honey is world famous after all, but the type of butterfly you get is also dependent on what butterflies are already present in your area. That's what matters when choosing any plants.
    There would be no point in me planting things that attract the holly blue butterflies for example, because they don't exist in this part of the UK.  :)

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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