PLANTS FOR
WILDLIFE GARDENS

A wildlife garden is a great way to improve the biodiversity of your outdoor space, as well as providing a haven for British wildlife. By including the right plants in your garden, you can attract all sorts of creatures, from hedgehogs and butterflies to birds and bats. In this blog post, we will discuss how to create a wildlife garden, as well as highlighting some of the best plants for attracting wildlife. So why not get started today?.

How to make a wildlife garden

There are a number of things to consider when creating a wildlife garden. Firstly, it is important to think about the layout of your garden. You will need to provide a mixture of habitats, including open spaces, dense vegetation, hedges and trees. It is also important to make sure that there are plenty of nooks and crannies. This can be done by including features such as log piles and stone walls.

Another key factor in creating a wildlife garden is to use the right plants. There are a number of plants that are particularly beneficial for attracting wildlife, including summer-flowering bulbs, ericaceous plants, corms, tubers, climbers, shrubs and trees. Some plants, such as lavender and thyme, are also great for creating a bee-friendly garden.

If you want to create a wildlife-rich garden this year, then be sure to include some of the plants listed below. Not only will you be rewarded with an abundance of British wildlife, but you will also enjoy watching all the different species that come to visit.

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General Plants for Wildlife Gardens

• Alcea rosea (Hollyhock)
• Aster
• Bergenia (Elephant’s Ears)
• Calendula officinalis (Pot Marigold)
• Campanula
• Centaurea montana (Perennial cornflower)
• Erica carnea (Winter Heather)
• Eranthis hyemalis (Winter aconite)
• Galium odoratum (Sweet woodruff)
• Geranium
• Helianthus annus (Sunflower)
• Lycesteria formosa (Himalayan honeysuckle)
• Mahonia x media (Oregon Grape)
• Nepeta (Catnip)
• Primula veris (Cowslip)
• Papaver (Poppy)
• Pulmonaria
• Scabiosa (Pincushion flower)
• Sambuca nigra (Elderflower)
• Sedum spectabile
• Silene dioica (Red campion)
• Verbena bonariensis
• Thalictrum aquilegiifolium (Meadow Rue)
• Tellima grandiflora

Summer-Flowering Bulbs, corms and tubers for Wildlife Gardens

• Dahlia
• Begonia

Shrubs and Trees for Wildlife Gardens

• Berberis darwinii
• Cornus alba (Dogwood)
• Corylus avellana (Hazel)
• Cotoneaster horizontalis
  Ilex aquifolium (English holly)
• Lavandula angustifolia (Lavendar)

Climbers for Wildlife Gardens

• Lonicera (Honeysuckle)

Spring-Flowering Bulbs, corms and tubers for Wildlife Gardens

• Allium
• Crocus vernus
• Eranthis hyemalis (Winter aconite)
• Hyacinthoides non-scripta (English bluebell)
• Muscari (Grape Hyacinth)

Ericaceous plants for Wildlife Gardens

• Calluna vulgaris
• Rhododendron