Just one plant/shrub/tree for Bees Butterflies and Moths

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by wanlock dod

If I was just adding a single plant for wildlife I would probably go for elder as it seems to have a relatively long flowering period, and will also produce a good crop of fruit later in the year which birds will eat.

Elder certainly ticks many wildlife benefit boxes, however from a vegetable gardening perspective there is the consideration of the high aphid load that Elder carries - this is great from a wildlife perspective but may have consequences for pest management if aphid vulnerable crops are grown.

CM

[basquesteve]

I would recommend Verbena especially V. bonariensis, see this Verbena - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia I have photographed at least 30 species of butterfly on this plant in the garden It will grow happily in the U.K.

Here are a few examples

[artdemole]

A red flowered Heuchara is the one for me,Mine has been flowering nearly 4 months.the bees are always on it.

[Madmills]

I would say, every single time, that the best plant to choose would be one of the dwarf Scabious - they are a magnificent perennial for attracting bees and butterflies.
Just one plant is good but if you planted in groups of 3's or 5's it's a truly fantastic sight of colour but more especially the visitors !

[Dave_Gibson]

You could have a go at planting a Globe Artichoke as the bees will be all over that when it flowers gorging on the pollen and nectar!

I would personally go for any of the perennial cottage garden flowers and just pack them into any space you can find in the garden; most garden centre's sell them at £10 for 4 plants.