Not-so-perfect plants for bees

PLANTS sold by the Royal Horticultural Society as ‘ perfect’ for bees have been found to carry traces of pesticides harmful to insects.

The gardening society unveiled a ‘perfect for pollinators’ logo in 2011 to encourage gardeners to buy more flowering plants in the hope of tackling a decline in bees. But it seems the plants weren’t so perfect after all.

Research shows they contain residues of pesticides and fungicides, including neonicotinoids, which have been blamed for falling bee numbers.

Rather than scrapping the range, the RHS has now changed its logo to ‘plants for pollinators’, pictured.

Guy Barter of the RHS said: ‘Pollinators need flowering plants, and more flowering plants the better. We’re not convinced they’re perfect any more, but they’re still good for pollinators.’