Wildflower Hanging Baskets?

[Ilex]

Hi all,

This year I'd like to get away from expensive, showy and non-beneficial plants in my hanging baskets, etc. Ideally, I'd like to grow perennials that will benefit insects such as bees, butterflies & hoverflies. I'd still like the baskets to look pretty and it'd be great if an evergreen or two could be present for all year round interest. I don't mind annuals either, just looking to cut back a little on cost and maintenance.

I'd love to hear folks suggestions and ideas and I imagine there are a few others that've done the same or similar. Come to think of it, I'm sure I read something on here a while back but can no longer find it. Jez I think it was who had advised/experimented with this but wrongness follows me everywhere .

Thanks in advance,
Graeme

[loripo]

This one maybe?
Come on then you lot.... Help!!!

[Jez]

Yes Ilex It's something I'm going to do this year with wildflower plugs! Spring time sorrel to hang in an Eastily as it's a shady plant that flowers in the light before the trees do there thing! I'm going to add normal soil also just as I would if I was to plant wildflower plugs to my borders in a dome basket as wood sorrel is a low growing plant with those nice clover like leaves. I'm sure early bees will be attracted to them aswell as the other spring time flowers close at wing! I wanted to place bumble bee homes inside also and that Idea I'm still toying with ATM!

This follows after good results with herb robert and wood forget-me -not!!!

Jez

the link Loripo posted has a few other suggestions which I'm also going to do! Unless the plugs fail, you can't go wrong and once out of flower they'll come should come back the following year making them cheap as chips in the long term

[Ilex]

Excellent stuff, any ideas for trailing plants? Creeping jenny and ivies are about all I can think of thus far.

Cheers,
Graeme

[Jez]

I've seen small growing Travellers Joy so can't see why you can't plant them as long as you keep them in shape aswell as Ivy you mention and how about vetches which are also good nectar plants?

[Ilex]

Brilliant Jez! I've also had the thought that maidenhair or black spleenwort may well be attractive trailing from the underparts of a wall basket.

Been thinking of my wall basket first and the following: small scabious on the top, front and centre; corn chamomile on top to left of scabious; red deadnettle on top to right of scabious (slightly shadier); spleenwort beneath the deadnettle on the side; Horseshoe vetch beneath the chamomile to trail down; a greyish variegated ivy like 'Glacier' beneath the scabious. How does that sound? Would it be practical?

I also have a 14 inch heavy iron basket and like the idea of bloody cranesbill hanging down from the sides along with creeping jenny (would the yellow variety be just as good for wildlife as the plain green one which, I'm led to believe is more of a hooligan?) and more ivy perhaps with a crinkly leaf this time? Maybe a selfheal on the top in the centre with cheddar pinks and a wild strawberry trailing over the edge.

Just thinking out loud .

Graeme

[Jez]

Like the loud thoughts, and go with it!!! From my own experience on wildlife attraction to a hot summers day small scabious, ox eye, majoram, dark mullein, greater knapweed, meadow cranesbill, dropwort if you have the height and betony together pull the big crowds in!!!!! Red dead and lung wort for bees and bee flys

Though I really like what you have stated!

[loripo]

I am green with envy! I don't even have a windowsill - always used to do remote gardening in my daughters garden, but they have now moved to Wales and I haven't seen it yet, aprt from photos. Have supplied a small Bay tree, as the one I gave them before had reached about 10 feet in height and kept me in Bay leaves
Please can we have photos when your baskets are up and running.

[Ilex]

Will do but it'll be a while what with this ruddy weather! Snowing again but I'm itching to get out in the garden .

Have moved onto the these ideas with your suggestions, Jez. The bigger the draw the better.

Wall Basket: small scabious on the top, front and centre; birds foot trefoil on top to left of scabious; red deadnettle on top to right of scabious (slightly shadier); black spleenwort beneath the deadnettle on the side; ox eye daisy to trail down beneath the scabious and greyish variegated ivy like 'Glacier' beneath the trefoil.

Hanging basket: bloody cranesbill hanging down from the sides along with plain creeping jenny and more ivy (have spotted a new english ivy called Frederick which is rather pretty). Maybe a marjoram, dropwort and meadow cranesbill on the top?

Graeme

[artdemole]

Originally Posted by Jez

I've seen small growing Travellers Joy so can't see why you can't plant them as long as you keep them in shape aswell as Ivy you mention and how about vetches which are also good nectar plants?

beware of travellers joy as it is poisenouse and can cause rashes artedemole.