Summer Gardens, Ten Herbaceous Perennials, Pollinating Insects

Pollinating insects figured in last week’s blog about Bees Needs and National Pollinator Week. One of the items in the blog was a short list of plants suitable for pollinators for each of the four seasons. Those lists included a range of plant types. Shrubs, evergreens, herbs, flowering bulbs and herbaceous perennials.

This got me thinking that the plant suggestions were possibly not as helpful as they could be, because of being so short a list, and lacking in description. I was also reminded of a conversation that highlighted that many people, whilst loving to have flowers and flowering plants in their garden are sometimes not aware that plants are often suitable for more than one ‘task’. For example…

Whilst we were discussing planting for her new borders, a client asked if I could include some bee friendly plants. She wanted an easy maintenance planting design as she has a busy job, but was keen to include some that were beneficial to wildlife. I looked at the initial plant lists I had suggested. We were okay there I told her, the easy maintenance planting scheme had herbaceous perennials perfect for ground cover to minimise weeding. It also had plenty of summer flowering herbaceous perennials that are loved by pollinating insects.

So this blog suggests ten herbaceous perennials that are easy to look after, have most of their flowers during the summer months and are much loved by pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies. The selection of flowers shapes ensures that they’ll be a flower to suit most pollinating insects, so you should get a good number visiting your garden, for their food source and your enjoyment.

Achillea

Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, is the British native species with pretty white flower heads, held in flat clusters surrounded by feathery foliage.
A reasonably tall plant, there are many Achillea cultivars. Flower colours range through yellow, pink and bronze; for example, Achillea ‘cloth of gold’.
Butterflies and hover flies like the flat flower heads of Achillea.

Aquilegia

Columbine, granny’s bonnets. A cottage garden favourite as well as a pollinators’ favourite! Whites, pinks, purples and even yellow flowers are possible, as are bi-coloured forms. Aquilegia will suit most garden styles except the very modern or Japanese gardens.

Centaurea

Knapweed. There are different types, varieties and cultivars, all popular with bees, pollinating wasps and butterflies. Most respond to being cut back as the flowers die by producing fresh growth and masses more flowers. One of the National Collections of Centaurea is held by Special Perennials in Cheshire. Centaurea dealbata has bronze buds open into deep rose pink cornflowers.

Centaurea montana – also known as perennial cornflower, usually found with blue flowers. But there are also white, purple and the delightful Centaurea montana ‘purple heart’ with white outer petals surrounding a purple centre.

Coreopsis

Tickseed, as the seeds are shaped like a tick. Much loved by butterflies, flowers may be yellow /white or right yellow, all with fine, feathery foliage. A very long flowering period and general cheerful manner makes them an easy maintenance choice for those who also want to help pollinating insects.

Echinops

Also known as Sea holly. This is a wonderful architectural plant with varieties large and small. The seed heads are a further bonus for you and the garden birds. Personally, I find Echinops fascinating in bud, in flower and in seed, adding interest to the flower border in all stages.

Geranium

The ever useful border geranium, with its open flowers, not all carry good supplies of nectar, but Geranium pratense the meadow cranesbill does. Blue / purple flowers are scattered over large clumps of soft green foliage. Or you could try the cultivar ‘Ann Folkard’ with magenta pink petals and a black centre.

Geranium sanguineum, a smaller leaved geranium perhaps offers better ground cover for a smaller garden. Pale pink, bright pink and white flowers from sanguineum.

Knautia macedonica

Also known as Macedonian scabious, and Scabiosa rumelica, the Knautia has similar flower heads to Scabiosa. Knautia ‘red knight’ has a bright red flower which sings at you on rainy summer days. Knautia are good for human interest as they have a long flowering period; and good for pollinating insects for the same reason!

Nepeta

Nepeta, the catmint or catnip family, has plants which are mainly silver leaved with blue / lilac / purple flowers. If space is at a premium, look for Nepeta ‘kit kat’, one of the dwarf varieties. Nepeta ‘Six Hills Giant’ is larger and more sprawling. All these complement rose bushes and cottage garden planting schemes.

Salvia

The herbaceous salvias, such as Salvia nemerosa ‘Caradonna’, a particular favourite with its royal purple flower spikes held on red-black stems. Salvia nemerosa are also known as Balkan clary sage, and all have mildly aromatic foliage.

Scabious

Scabiosa or pin cushion flower. Pin cushion heads of flowers in white, pale pink and blue, dark red and purple can lend themselves to cottage garden and contemporary garden styles, Scabiosa ‘Chile black’ is highly dramatic.

The giant scabious is actually not a Scabious but Cephalaria gigantea. Nevertheless, the buttermilk yellow flowers of this architectural herbaceous perennial are much loved by pollinating insects

And if you’re wondering why we need to provide for pollinating insects in our summer gardens, the reason is simple. Between 1932 -1984 we lost about 90 % of lowland grassland, along with all the wild flowers that grew there.

Gardens matter. Gardeners and garden designers can ensure that gardens contain flowers for pollinators without creating high maintenance planting schemes for people with busy lives.