Plants for Wildlife & Pollinators


Plants for pollinators and garden wildlife in UK gardens. Nectar-rich hardy perennials, wildlife-friendly climbers and pollen-heavy exotic bulbs that feed bees, butterflies and hoverflies through spring, summer and autumn.

157 products

    157 products
    Mahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Soft Caress Mahonia

    Mahonia eurybracteata 'Soft Caress'

    £16.99£19.99Save 15%
    1
    Citrus trifoliata | Poncirus trifoliata 23cm / 5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Hardy orange

    Citrus trifoliata | Poncirus trifoliata

    £25.79£35.99Save 28%
    1
    Mahonia leptodonta x eurybractea Seedling Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Fine-toothed Mahonia

    Mahonia leptodonta x eurybractea Seedling

    £28.99
    1
    Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Black Lace Elder 'Eva' PBR

    Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace'

    £16.99
    1
    Wisteria floribunda 'Black Dragon' 15cm / 1.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Double Black Dragon Japanese Wisteria ('Yae-kokuryu')

    Wisteria floribunda 'Black Dragon'

    £30.29£31.99Save 5%
    1
    Punica granatum (Pomegranate) 15cm / 1.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Pomegranate

    Punica granatum (Pomegranate)

    £13.79£16.99Save 18%
    1
    Kniphofia rooperi Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Rooper's Red Hot Poker

    Kniphofia rooperi

    £13.29£14.99Save 11%
    1
    Asplenium scolopendrium 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Hart's Tongue Fern

    Asplenium scolopendrium

    £18.99
    1
    Fatsia japonica 'Spiders Web' 14cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GrowTropicalsSale

    Hardy exotic

    Fatsia japonica 'Spiders Web'

    £13.99£14.49
    1
    Crocosmia 'Carmine Brilliant' 11cm / 0.75L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Vermilion Montbretia 'Carmine Brilliant'

    Crocosmia 'Carmine Brilliant'

    £7.79£8.99Save 13%
    1
    Mahonia eurybracteata 'Volcano' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Oregon Grape

    Mahonia eurybracteata 'Volcano'

    £26.29£34.99Save 24%
    1
    Crocosmia masoniorum 11cm / 0.75L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Giant Montbretia

    Crocosmia masoniorum

    £8.99
    1
    Geranium maderense | Giant Herb-Robert Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Giant Herb Robert (Madeira Cranesbill)

    Geranium maderense | Giant Herb-Robert

    £15.29£18.99Save 19%
    1
    Helleborus foetidus 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Stinking Hellebore

    Helleborus foetidus

    £7.99
    1
    Oscularia deltoides Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Pink Ice Plant (Dassievygie)

    Oscularia deltoides

    £6.29£7.99Save 21%
    1
    Phygelius x rectus 'Candy Drops Tangerine' (Cape Figwort) 11cm / 0.75L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    1
    Prunus incisa 'Kojo-no-mai' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Dwarf Fuji Cherry

    Prunus incisa 'Kojo-no-mai'

    £21.99
    1
    Crocosmia 'Red King' 11cm / 0.75L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Montbretia 'Red King'

    Crocosmia 'Red King'

    £7.49£9.99Save 25%
    1
    Eucalyptus gunnii 'Azura' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Cider Gum 'Azura'

    Eucalyptus gunnii 'Azura'

    £27.99
    1
    Actinidia deliciosa (Golden Kiwi) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Golden Kiwi

    Actinidia deliciosa (Golden Kiwi)

    £19.29£19.99
    1
    Indigofera heterantha 19cm / 3L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Himalayan Indigo

    Indigofera heterantha

    £19.99
    1
    Sarcococca ruscifolia (Fragrant Sweet Box) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Fragrant Sweet Box

    Sarcococca ruscifolia (Fragrant Sweet Box)

    £14.99£19.99Save 25%
    1
    Prostanthera cuneata 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Alpine Mint Bush

    Prostanthera cuneata

    £14.29£19.99Save 28%
    1
    Brunnera macrophylla 'Mega Heart' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Siberian Bugloss 'Mega Heart'

    Brunnera macrophylla 'Mega Heart'

    £13.99
    1
    Sarcococca ruscifolia var. chinensis 'Dragon Gate' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Dragon Gate Sweet Box

    Sarcococca ruscifolia var. chinensis 'Dragon Gate'

    £13.99£19.99Save 30%
    1
    Passiflora caerulea 15cm / 1.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Blue Passion Flower

    Passiflora caerulea

    £13.79£14.99Save 8%
    1
    Hibiscus syriacus 'Admiral Dewey' 13cm / 1L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Rose of Sharon 'Admiral Dewey'

    Hibiscus syriacus 'Admiral Dewey'

    £8.29£11.99Save 30%
    1
    Napaea dioica Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Glade mallow

    Napaea dioica

    £29.99
    1
    Salix gracilistyla 'Melanostachys' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Black pussy willow

    Salix gracilistyla 'Melanostachys'

    £22.99
    1
    Castanea henryi 23cm / 5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Henry's chestnut

    Castanea henryi

    £59.99
    1
    Salix purpurea Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Purple willow

    Salix purpurea

    £22.99
    1
    Sarcococca Winter Gem Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Sweet Box (Christmas Box), Winter Gem

    Sarcococca Winter Gem

    £14.99
    1
    Edgeworthia chrysantha grandiflora 19cm / 3L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Paperbush

    Edgeworthia chrysantha grandiflora

    £32.99
    1
    Kniphofia 'Sunningdale Yellow' 11cm / 0.75L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Red Hot Poker (Torch Lily)

    Kniphofia 'Sunningdale Yellow'

    £6.79£8.99Save 24%
    1
    Kniphofia 'Royal Castle' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Red Hot Poker (Torch Lily)

    Kniphofia 'Royal Castle'

    £6.49£8.99Save 27%
    1
    Banksia integrifolia 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Coast Banksia

    Banksia integrifolia

    £14.99£16.99Save 11%
    1
    Helleborus niger 'Praecox'

    Early Christmas Rose

    Helleborus niger 'Praecox'

    £8.99
    1
    Mahonia nitens 'Cabaret' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALSSale

    Mahonia

    Mahonia nitens 'Cabaret'

    £18.79£26.99Save 30%
    1
    Chaenomeles cathayensis Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS

    Chinese Quince

    Chaenomeles cathayensis

    £11.99
    1

    The GrowTropicals Guide to Plants for Pollinators

    What are the best plants for pollinators?

    The best pollinator gardens have three things: long flowering season, single (rather than double) flowers, and diversity of shape. Bees, butterflies, hoverflies and moths each favour different flower forms, so the more variety, the more wildlife. Even a small UK garden can support a serious pollinator population if it flowers from March through October. Exotic-looking pollinator plants (Passiflora, Actinidia, hardy Salvia relatives) do double duty: bold visual impact and heavy nectar. Read our honest guide to what to expect from hardy exotics through the seasons before ordering.

    Care essentials for pollinator plants

    • Position: Most pollinator plants prefer full sun for maximum flowering. A sunny sheltered border also warms up faster in spring, extending the season for early bees.
    • Diversity: Aim for at least six different flowering species, staggered so something is in flower every month from March to October.
    • No pesticides: Avoid systemic insecticides on and around any plant flowering while pollinators are active. Neonicotinoids in particular are lethal to bees.
    • Flower form: Choose single flowers over double or ruffled cultivars. Doubles look full but usually give pollinators nowhere to land and little nectar reward.
    • Leave stems: Delay cutting back hollow-stemmed perennials until spring to give overwintering insects shelter.

    Explore the pollinator range

    Combine pollinator plants with hardy perennials, hardy climbers and exotic bulbs for a year-round nectar calendar. See the full Hardy Exotics range for more.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Nectar-rich, single-flowered plants that bloom over a long season are best for bees and butterflies. The plants in this collection are chosen to feed pollinators while bringing a bold, exotic look, so the garden works for wildlife and for you.

    Absolutely. A few nectar-rich plants in pots on a balcony or patio provide a valuable feeding stop for bees and butterflies, especially in towns where flowers are scarce. Even a small container display makes a difference.

    Plant pollinator favourites in groups, aim for flowers from spring to autumn, avoid pesticides, and provide a range of flower shapes. Leaving some seedheads and stems over winter also shelters insects through the colder months.

    No single plant does, but planting a mix gives a long succession of flower from spring to autumn, which is what pollinators need. Choosing early and late bloomers as well as summer flowers extends the feeding season.

    Yes, the pollinator plants in this collection are hardy and chosen to be easy to grow in UK gardens, in borders or pots. Each is labelled with its needs so you can place it where it will flower and feed best.

    Plants that feed bees and butterflies

    A garden full of pollinators is a garden full of life. The plants in this collection are chosen to feed bees, butterflies, hoverflies and other beneficial insects with nectar and pollen, while still bringing the bold, exotic look you are after. Helping wildlife and having a beautiful garden are the same job.

    Pollinator pots for balconies and patios

    You do not need a meadow to help pollinators. A few nectar-rich plants in pots on a balcony, patio or doorstep become a vital pit stop for passing bees and butterflies, especially in towns and cities where flowers can be scarce. Even a small container display makes a real difference.

    A border buzzing with life

    In a border, plant pollinator favourites in generous groups so insects can feed efficiently, and aim for a long season of flower from spring to autumn. Combining different flower shapes suits different insects, and leaving some seedheads and stems standing over winter shelters wildlife through the cold months.

    Care

    Grow pollinator plants in the position they prefer, avoid pesticides that harm beneficial insects, and let the garden be a little wild in places. Healthy, well-grown plants flower better and feed more, so the basics of good planting are the best thing you can do for wildlife.