Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
Bright yellow flowers on fine trailing stems with delicate ovate leaves. The flowers like fairy slippers form a semi-circle. The pea pod like seed cases are groups of three and look like a birds foot. An excellent source of nectar for bees and butterflies.
Borage (Borago officinalis)
Perfect indigo blue stars atop hairy stems, the blooms of borage can be seen in July, attractive to bees and moths plus lots of other pollinators. The flowers are edible.
Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra)
Also know as 'Hardheads', the thistle-like flowers were an English meadow staple and are adored by bees and pollinators. A great addition to any garden. Knapweed is a firm favourite of our pollinating insects, being a source of good quality nectar. And as well as supporting our bees, butterflies and beetles its seeds provide food for many birds.
Common Poppy (Papaver rhoeas)
The striking scarlet blooms of this ethereal flower are marvellous magnets to bees. Bumblebees love to collect pollen, shaking it loose from the anthers with their buzzing vibrations. This is called buzz pollination! You can dead-head the flowers to keep the plant producing more. The pepper-pot shaped seed pods are pretty too.
Common Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris)
Yellow and orange spires of flowers start to appear in June and by July are flowering, the orange lip of the flower acts as a nectar guide for the bees to lead to the plants pollination. Look closely to see if they are hosting the pretty caterpillar of the Toadflax Brocade Moth.
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
A cornfield annual, the bright blue open-faced flowers with ruffled edges and curly stamens sit at the end of delicate grey green stems. Loved by bees. The flowers are edible too.
Corn Marigold (Glebionis segetum)
A golden daisy-like flower, the stems are quite fleshy with frilly leaves that grow up it. Part of the aster family, these sunny blooms were once a common wildfl'ower in cornfields, often referred to as 'gold in place names of old. We love them in a pot or garden border. Insects love them too.
Daisy (Bellis perennis)
These cute little wildflowers spring up in lawns if left uncut for 6-8 weeks. The downy seemed flowers appear in the centre of a rosette of spatula shaped leaves. Yellow centres give way to slim white petals that close at the end of the day and follow the sun, giving it the name Day's Eye.
Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis)
Ovoid crimson flower-bobbles sit atop tall stems looking not dissimilar to a lollipop. The highly created leaves reduce in size as the ascend the stem. The crimson flowers give way to green bract-like seedheads. Naturally grows in floodplain meadows - however these are a declining habitat.
Dandelion (Taraxacum oficinale)
The leaves of dandelion are jagged like a row of lions teeth, or dentes-de-lion as the French would say and can be eaten as a salad green. The hollow stems produce a milky sap that can stain hands. The pretty many-petalled yellow blooms are filled with pollen and nectar and can be used to make dandelion honey. Bees and pollen beetles adore this one. ,
Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
A tall stem green stem produces pinky-orange stalks that the large primrose-yellow flowers grow from. The flowers remain open in the evening when they give off a lovely scent to attract pollinators. For this reason it is fantastic for moths and therefore bats to the garden. Great planted near a seat for balmy summer evenings.
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Tall spire of pink flowers with speckled bases that guide the bees inside like landing strips! The flowers go to seed from the bottom up with the last ones opening at the top. Each pod holds a surprising amount of tiny seeds. The deep flower bells hold tow large tonsil-like lumps of pollen that bees brush against when the dive deep inside for ntheir nectar reward.
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
The heady fragrant sweetness of these flowers were once used to flavour the tipple mead. Meadowsweet will tolerate damp ground and slight shade and grows in most soil types.
Meadow Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)
A member of the Ranunculus family, Meadow buttercups are tall with bright shiny yellow flowers, about 2cm across. The rounded leaves have three to seven lobes. It prefers chalky soil but can tolerate most types. The flowers look like spots of sunshine in borders or pots. Gorgeous!
Meadow Cranesbill (Geranium pratense)
A striking wildflower of the geranium family, it is particularly pretty in garden borders and window-boxes. Its eye-catching floral display also attracts a wide variety of bees and other pollinators. The large purple flowers of Meadow cranesbill turn into pointed, bill-like seed pods, which give the plant its common name.
Musk Mallow (Malva moschata)
The stem branches from the base, each carrying a single rose-pink flower, as the leaves grow up the stem they become more deeply cut whereas the basal ones are not. Bees love to visit the open flowers and collect pollen.
Night Flowering Catchfly (Silene noctiflora)
Pale pink flowers on an erect stem with a slightly fluffy flower back (calyx). The flowers attract night-flying moths and insects. so this is a great one to add to a wildlife-friendly border.
Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
Large daisies on erect multi-stems will grow in most soils types. These jolly blooms attract many pollinators from flower-beetles to honeybees. Dead-head for longer flowering times and collect seeds. Look fabulous in a border.
Red Campion (Silene dioica)
These pretty pink flowers have been flowering since May and will have started to go to seed, if you deadhead you can keep them flowering for longer. Lots of insects are attracted to the seed pods such as the chevron caterpillars of the Campion moth, which climb inside the cups to feed on the seeds safely hidden within.
Scabious (Knautia arvensis)
Starting to bloom in July, the pom-pom like flowers of lilac-mauve bob at the end of long stalks, giving rise to its other common name, Lady’s pincushions. Scabious will carry on flowering until the end of summer.
Self Heal (Prunella vulgaris)
This little wildflower is often found in lawns. A perfect purple pollinator-friendly plant. The tiny flowers are a draw for smaller solitary bees as well as bumblebees and honey bees. The squarish head had deep red bracts with nectar filled flowers protruding from each. A small plant great for tapestry lawns and the front of a border.
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Tall slender spires of pinky purple flowers adored by butterflies. This flower can take boggy or damp ground and is often found growing by fresh water rivers. The flowers have six petals and surround the stalk in a circle. The smallish leaves appear all the way up the stem. Can grow to 1.5m.
Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca)
A beautiful showy wildflower forming clusters of eye catching purple blue flowers. It grows happily in shade, under and around hedgerows as well as in lawn or on the edges of flower beds, they look lovely in hanging baskets. Its violet flowers are attractive to bumblebees, butterflies and moths.
Vipers Bugloss (Echium vulgare)
Part of the borage family, this wild schism has bright blue flowers marching up the length of its soft hairy stem. Pink stamens protrude from the flowers encouraging pollinators in for a nectar drink and turn white as the flowers fad. An absolute magnet for bees, it produces blooms all summer long, which makes for very happy bees.
Wild Carrot (Daucus carota)
Lacy white blooms sometimes tinged with pink. Sumptuous in a flower border with the added bonus that insects adore the white umbelliferous flowerheads. Also know as Queen Anne's lace as the central floret can appear as red, like a drop of blood on lacework from a prick finger!
Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare)
This pretty herb is adored by bees and butterflies, and will be buzzing with activity all summer long. The fresh leaves can be used in cookery too.
White Campion (Silene latifolia)
White campion has 5 petals each deeply notched. At dusk the flowers almost glow with light and emit a heady scent that attracts moths to pollinate. The stem and oval leaves are hairy. Can grow up to a metre tall. Fab for a wildlife garden.
White Clover (Trifolium repens)
The latin ‘repens’ means creeping, which is what this little flower will do if given the chance, loved by bees and pollinators, look out for four-leafed clovers for luck! White clover will continue flowering until November. Great as part of a green roof or in wildflower lawn.
Yarrow (Alchillea millefollium)
The white flowers of yarrow will be opening in July. The ferny stems are tougher than they look and will die back in winter and come back again next summer. Many insects love the flowers of yarrow, making it great for wildlife and the plant has medicinal uses too.
