Wildlife-friendly plants to grow from seed

l ECHIUM VULGARE ‘BLUE BEDDER’

This native viper’s bugloss cultivar produces endless bright blue open flowers, loved by bees. Sow direct into gaps in flowerbeds, or start them off in pots.

l HELIANTHUS ANNUUS (SUNFLOWER)

Children’s favourite for its fast-growing happyface flowerheads. Seeds are of value for wildlife and the nectar is much prized by insects. H1-4m (3-13ft) S60cm (2ft)

l ECHINACEA PURPUREA (CONEFLOWER)

Butterflies sup nectar to their hearts’ content while wandering happily around the flowers’ cone-like centre. H90cm (3ft) S45cm (18in)

l LOTUS CORNICULATUS (BIRD’S-FOOT TREFOIL)

Yellow-flowered native grassland perennial and a foodplant of common blue caterpillars. Plant plugs in a lawn. H20cm (8in) S60cm (2ft)

l EUPATORIUM CANNABINUM (HEMP AGRIMONY)

Tall perennial, bulking up quickly each year, with hemp-like leaves and fluffy pink flowers loved by nectaring butterflies. H1.5m (5ft) S60cm (2ft)

l VERBENA BONARIENSIS (PURPLE-TOP)

Brilliant for butterflies and goldfinches perch on heads to take seed in winter. Freely self-seeds once established. H1.2m (4ft) S30cm (12in)

l BORAGO OFFICINALIS (BORAGE)

Hardy, robust annual, with bristly leaves and blue flowers loved by bumblebees. Dot around beds or add to an annual cornfield mix. H75cm (30in) S45cm (18in)

l CERINTHE MAJOR (HONEYWORT)

Purple flower heads emerge from between steely-blue upper leaves on this front-of-border annual that’s a hit with bumblebees. H30cm (12in) S20cm (8in)

l CENTAUREA SCABIOSA (GREATER KNAPWEED)

Glorious wildflower that’s one of our best for pollinating insects with pinkish pom-pom flowerheads. H90cm (3ft) S45cm (18in)