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Best bee/butterfly border plant.

Justin Doherty2Justin Doherty2 Posts: 205
in Plants

Hi guys,

Does anyone have any recommendations for bee/butterfly attracting border perennials, please? Preferably ones that are ok in shade or semi-shade

Thanks,

Justin

Posts

  • LesleyKLesleyK Posts: 4,029

    Centaura Montana will grow in semi-shade and the bees seem to love it as it's covered with them all summer.  

    Sorry I've not been able to find you any more lichen Justin but the Council are building a road so can't get near the area.  I could send you a Centaura seedling I've dug up thoughimage

  • TantyTanty Posts: 59

    I have dwarf/compact rhodies and azaleas and they seem to attract lots of bees and some of them are quite happy in partial shade.

  • ShadoweaverShadoweaver Posts: 70

    Monarda, Scabious (eg Blue Bedder), Foxgloves: great for beesimage

    Sedum Spectabile (Ice Plant) is brilliant for butterflies.

    Many more suggestions will be coming to keep you busy, I'm sureimage

    Rgds

    Adam

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Hi Justin, there are loads to choose from. For dampish ground Heucheras and Tiarellas have flower spikes which are great for bees and hoverflies. Polemonium (Jacob's Ladder) - blue flowers and a white variety too, many hardy geraniums and Astilbes will be happy there. Early flowering native primulas are a great asset as well as spring bulbs - daffs and narcissus are more than happy in semi shade -- because they provide early food for bees. If you have room Acteas (used to be called Cimcifuga) are large, clump forming plants with tall flower spikes of scented flowers which insects love. image

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



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ShadoweaverShadoweaver Posts: 70

    Polemonium!! Good call! 

    Just noticed an error (ahem). I said Scabious 'Blue Bedder'. I meant Echium 'Blue Bedder' ..... Oops. I've got the giant Scabious..... Can't recall the varietyimage

    A good Bee shrub is a Ceanothus! When mines in flower its usually covered in bees.... You can hear it buzzing!

    rgds

    Adam

  • Justin Doherty2Justin Doherty2 Posts: 205

    Thanks guys! Lesley I'd love the centaura, please!

     

  • LesleyKLesleyK Posts: 4,029

    I'll sort it out for the beginning of next week to avoid a weekend in the post Justinimage.

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