Early flowering insect attractors

[Africa]

What a useful post! - thanks again for the tip Susie - After reading all the replies, the only plants that came to mind that were not mentioned were:
Lithodora diffusa, "Heavenly Blue" beautiful blue flowers and a favourite of the solitary bee Anthophora plumipes. Also, it is an effective ground cover on sunny sites.

Broom Cytisus x racemosus, loved by all sorts of bees, bumblebees, moths, shield bugs, snails..and its got a very long flowering season May-October.
Good luck!

[Susie]

Thanks, Africa, and now I have learned something too! I shall have to look up the first one. Great stuff.

[Susie]

I just wanted to add another success for the garden. The garlic mustard and honesty I planted in the garden both have orange tip eggs on. They are both a good nectar source and a larval food plant (plus they are pretty and nice in a herbaeous border) .

[Kayleigh]

I had two big bay trees the male flowers were covered in insects the smell was so sweet too...
Till He....OH........decided...........HE.......Don't want a tree any more
HE........wants a shrub.....lol.....
So.....HE........hacked them both.....lol.......

Sorry....had to get that off my chest.......

Honestly.....MY BAYS were my pride and joy and WAS full of insects......NOT ANY MORE..........

HE only does things to get at me...