Planting to attract interesting insects

[Bruce Williams]

We are just about to completely replant about 60x40 foot of garden. Any recommendations as to shrubs or perennials that will attract insects?

Couple of points:

I'm not a youngster so need to plant for the relatively near future - so very slow growing plants are probably out for us.

We have quite a few mature buddleia already .

Bruce

[GrayB]

Bruce,
I read somewhere that Hawthorn attracts more insects than any other plant, but how true this is, i wouldn't like to say.
Good luck.
Gray.

[JRsbugs]

Great idea Bruce!

I have a Clematis flammula which attracts certain bugs, it's quick growing and dies back for winter growing completey new from the ground. This year I found all the tops had been eaten off so hoping it gets going again!

Green and yellow variegated leaves are good too, I have a Forsythia 'Fiesta' which attracts a lot of flies.

Ceanothus Pershore Zanzibar is very quick growing, I get a lot of flies and other things on that too. This year there was lots of male Andrena bees buzzing around it.

Hydrangea with white lacecap flowers is another which attracts all sorts. I got a cheap plant years ago at Morrisons, it's a good long flowering plant. Insects like white flowers!

Species Dahlias are very quick, seed mix from T&M, mine have been in the ground for years and never deteriorate. They fill a bed with other plants amongst, don't flower until later but keep going until the frosts. Bees love them! They grow to around 5 feet tall and need no staking!

Geranium robertianum is a favourite with some bumbles. I have Geranium Rozanne and it flowers for a long time, attracts a lot of tiny bees, also G. Ann Folkard. G. versicolor is another which will attract some, and G. sylvaticum hybrids.

Aquilegia is good for bumblebees in May, the older garden types are preferable.

Campanula species are quick from seed, I got a mix from Fothergills, Megachile willughbiella comes every year for those, starting off with Lupins.

Some food for thought for starters!

Janet

[Jenny W]

I always try to keep it native when planting in the garden to be honest - although I appreciate that this won't be everyone's cuppa tea! After all our native insects are adapted to feeding/breeding on our native plants so they are often going to attract the most species.

As has been said Hawthorn is great. A few more suggestions - Blackthorn, Purging or Alder Buckthorn, Dogwood, Holly, Crab Apple, Spindle, Honeysuckle - all great wildlife plants and can be bought as larger specimens rather than small whips that would take years to get to a decent size.

You can also buy wild flower seed mixes, all native species, that are fantastic for insects and once sown give results the next summer.

Again, not everyone will like this, but I also keep a border completely wild. Just don't cut it at all and see what turns up and we have quite a variety of plant species in this area (it's only a very small part of the garden but thankfully we have tolerant neighbours who don't seem to mind!).

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks for all those ideas Gray, Janet and Jenny.

Gray, I have a mature (red flowered) hawthorn tree that (as you say) is home to many insect species (it's one of my favourite hunting grounds ).

My other "favourite" source for insects are the many out-of-control geraniums dotted around the garden (names long since forgotten).

I have a lot of bare fencing (new fence put up last year) so I also want to plant some vigourous growing (flowering) climbers - so honeysuckle(s) will definitely figure. I was also thinking of the Clematis montana group - anyone any experience with this climber insect wise?

Bruce

[ron1863]

Apart from plants Bruce, have you given any thought to leaving a couple of rotted tree stumps or branches to attract beetles etc.

[Fauna]

Ivy is a good one to plant, i grow mine along a chainlink fence (in direct sun) making it easy to manage. It offers necter before hibernation and can be very busy on the milder days.

[aeshna5]

Cotoneasters for bees, lavender, Erysimum "Bowle's Mauve", Verbena bonariensis, various scabious, Red Valerian, Hemp Agrimony, species roses (or at least singl-flowered)- just a selection there.

[nutmeg]

I find that fennel is brilliant for flies and predatory wasps in particular.

Other herbs, such as lavender, marjoram, thyme, hyssop, mint and rosemary, are great.

I always have areas of nettles, dead nettles, red campion, poppies, brambles, forget-me-nots. I also have a 'lawn' full of weeds, some of which I don't mow during the summer.

I'm always on the look out for plants that seem to be popular with insects, so find myself checking them out for insect activity when I visit garden centres, nurseries, other people's gardens etc.

[aeshna5]

Originally Posted by nutmeg

I find that fennel is brilliant for flies and predatory wasps in particular.

Other herbs, such as lavender, marjoram, thyme, hyssop, mint and rosemary, are great.

I always have areas of nettles, dead nettles, red campion, poppies, brambles, forget-me-nots. I also have a 'lawn' full of weeds, some of which I don't mow during the summer.

I'm always on the look out for plants that seem to be popular with insects, so find myself checking them out for insect activity when I visit garden centres, nurseries, other people's gardens etc.

I see I'm not the only one who's checking out plants at shows, garden centres, etc for insect attraction! Some good selections there. Main thing is to avoid doubles + overbred plants.