Shrubs up For wildlife
Encouraging insects, birds and beasts into your garden is a simple way of boosting biodiversity
IT’SWONDERFUL creating a garden space we can enjoy ourselves – but its even better if there’s an abundance of wildlife, too. Incorporating shrubs and plants that attract birds and insects is a no-brainer. Shrubs provide shelter and food with their flowers, foliage and fruits during different seasons and one of the sure signs of spring is the pink and white blooms of blossom.
Prunus trees are perfect for pollinators during spring – their flowers are nectar- and pollen-rich.Then, come autumn their fruit goes down well with birds. Prunus avium is commonly known as wild cherry, and the second part of its botanical name, ‘avium’, refers to birds who help spread seeds by eating the cherries.
For smaller gardens, try Prunus pendula ‘Pendula Rosea’, a small weeping cherry, and Prunus amanogawa which has a tall and thin growth habit, making it a great focal point for a tight space. Berberis darwinii (Darwin’s barberry) similarly has fantastic floral displays during spring that are enjoyed by pollinators.
The foliage puts on a show all year round with glossy evergreen leaves. In summer, dark blue-black berries are popular with birds. In addition, they are a fantastic choice for hedging and screening, and Japanese barberry ‘Atropurpurea Nana’, with its thorny stems, provides a safe nesting site for birds.
The easiest way to attract pollinators like butterflies and bees to your garden is to grow their favourite blooms. Pick a variety of plants that flower at different times of the year to ensure there is enough food to keep them happy from early spring to late autumn.
As its name suggests, the butterfly bush or Buddleia is a great choice for our flying friends. It is a fantastically fast-growing deciduous shrub that adds colour and scent to your garden.The long cones of purple flowers are very attractive to butterflies and bees.
Grow in a sunny or partially shaded space with any moist but well-drained soil and the butterfly bush will grow happily and attract peacocks, small tortoiseshells and red admiral butterflies.
ANOTHER purple flowering plant for pollinators is the ever-popular lavender. It’s an ideal choice for window boxes and containers. Plant lavender in full sun, near to your windows, balcony or patio, where you can readily appreciate its richly fragrant flowers and foliage.
Keep it looking neat and compact by pruning each year to stop the plant from going leggy. It can quickly grow out of control if not managed properly.
Bees and other pollinating insects will flock to plants like lavender and Echinops ritro (globe thistle) when they flower in spring and summer.
Use these plants to invite wildlife to your garden and increase the biodiversity of your space.
With plants that have pollen and nectar rich flowers and tasty fruits for birds, you’ll have a whole host of visitors through the year.
For vibrant displays of stems that are very versatile in the garden, look no further than Cornus alba (dogwood).
Although they are popular for their bare stems in winter that can be found in fiery tones of orange, red, and yellow, they have great colour all year round.
‘Sibirica’ has red stems that are borne with green leaves that turn reddish in autumn before falling, and white flowers in spring and summer. Perfect for a lowmaintenance garden, they don’t ask for much in return for their stunning colour, though some varieties prefer acidic soil conditions.And, finally, the richly-scented flowers of Philadelphus
(mock orange) are bound to bring your garden joy. ‘Beauclerk’ is a stunning variety, with white, bowl-shaped flowers with maroon markings near the centre.
Tolerant of any soil type, it prefers a sunny or partially shaded spot and will grow to around 2.5 metres tall. It’s another low maintenance pick that will suit any garden type from coastal gardens to woodland settings.