Top 10 Bulbs For Pollinators
Top 10 Bulbs For Pollinators
Discover the 10 top bulbs for pollinators!
We've crafted a list of some of our favourites that will create a buzz for visiting pollinators in your garden. Plan now and plant from September to December to make the most of your spring to summer flowering paradise.
Colchicum
For a bright pop of colour in your autumn garden, look no further than this Colchicum. In variations of magenta to the purest white, they're sure to pack a punch in your garden whether planted under trees, amongst shrubs or along walk-ways. Hardy and durable, these beauties are so easy to grow which are the perfect choice for beginners.
Camassia
Camassia are a staple for cottage, prairie-style and modern planting schemes alike. Star-shaped blooms are help atop strong stems, each one opening one after another, creating weeks of colour from late spring onwards. Happy in heavy, poorly drained soils, they are so easy to grow and tolerant of most conditions, perfect for leaving to naturalise in borders too.
Erythronium
An unusual, easy-to-grow bulb that's excellent for both pollinators and shade! Watch with delight as these bright, open blooms emerge from early spring. Strapped foliage can be enjoyed throughout spring and summer months too. They will even tolerate a bit of clay too!
Galanthus
A sure sign that spring is on its way at last, in the depths of winter, their brilliant white blooms appear, bringing with them great delight. The common Snowdrop is loved by everyone and will quickly grow to form dense clumps in shady woodland areas, or they can be left to naturalise on a lawn. Perfect for providing the pollinators with a source of pollen and nectar when there are not many flowers around in the garden.
Winter Aconite
The bright buttercup blooms of Eranthis (winter aconite) are a welcome sight in the garden, where they are one of the first flowers to pop their heads above the ground. It’s been awarded both an AGM and has been listed in the RHS ‘Perfect for Pollinators’ list due to their reliable garden performance and how much the pollinators go crazy for them.
Chionodoxa
Each spring, a profusion of bright blue and white flowers will dazzle in your garden. Also known as Glory of the Snow as it is one of the very first bulbs to appear in spring, providing the pollinators with an early source of pollen and nectar whilst most other plants slumber. Perfect for planting under trees and shrubs where they will create a sea of blooms, brightening up those partially shady areas.
Crocus
Crocus flowers are a favourite for many during spring, whether planted in borders, containers or naturalising in lawns, they are the perfect draw for sleepy bees when they come out of hibernation from the winter months. Varieties like 'Tomassinianus' can appear as early as February whilst Crocus 'Lilac Beauty' blooming as late as May! Making these dainty delights an essential food source from winter to spring.
Iris reticulata
Looking for something to suit a small or patio garden? Why not try Iris reticulata? Reaching only 15cm tall, they range from the brightest purples, blues and white blooms that will pop at the front of borders, in containers or planted under shrubs. Blooming from February to March are an essential source of nectar for pollinators where flowers are more scarce this time of year.
Fritillaria
Fast becoming a popular must-have for UK gardens, Fritillaria come in a variety of shapes, sizes, forms and colour with blooming times varying from March to June. Bees flock to them and if you grow too many, then enjoy them as cut flowers indoors!
Allium
Alliums are some of the most majestic and stately plants, giving height and depth to your borders. With many varieties listed as a ‘Perfect for Pollinators’ plant by the RHS. Including the stunning and reliable summer flowering Allium Sphaerocephalon, simply the best bee magnet. Small spheres of flowers appear above upright stems, almost seeming to float above the foliage, they look especially spectacular planted amongst grasses too.
