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.

79 products

    79 products
    Leptospermum scoparium | Manuka Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Manuka (New Zealand Tea Tree)

    Leptospermum scoparium | Manuka

    £15.99
    1
    Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis 'Meteor' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Soft-leaved Mahonia (Oregon Grape)

    Mahonia eurybracteata subsp. ganpinensis 'Meteor'

    £34.99
    1
    Geranium maderense | Giant Herb-Robert Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Giant Herb Robert (Madeira Cranesbill)

    Geranium maderense | Giant Herb-Robert

    £18.99
    1
    Hardenbergia violacea 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Purple Coral Pea (Happy Wanderer)

    Hardenbergia violacea

    £9.99
    1
    Passiflora caerulea 15cm / 1.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Blue Passion Flower

    Passiflora caerulea

    £14.99
    1
    Fatsia japonica 'Spiders Web' 14cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GrowTropicalsSale

    Fatsia japonica 'Spiders Web'

    £13.99 £14.49
    1
    Oscularia deltoides Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Pink Ice Plant (Dassievygie)

    Oscularia deltoides

    £7.99
    1
    Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Black Lace Elder 'Eva' PBR

    Sambucus nigra 'Black Lace'

    £16.99
    1
    Mahonia x media 'Charity' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Winter-Flowering Mahonia 'Charity'

    Mahonia x media 'Charity'

    £19.99
    1
    Aristea ecklonii (Blue Stars) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Blue Stars (Blue-eyed Iris)

    Aristea ecklonii (Blue Stars)

    £7.99
    1
    Diosma hirsuta 'Pink Fountain' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Confetti Bush (Breath of Heaven)

    Diosma hirsuta 'Pink Fountain'

    £16.99
    1
    Tulbaghia 'Hazel' 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Society Garlic

    Tulbaghia 'Hazel'

    £8.99
    1
    Fuchsia 'Lady Boothby' 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Climbing Hardy Fuchsia

    Fuchsia 'Lady Boothby'

    £7.99
    1
    Campsis radicans 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Trumpet Vine

    Campsis radicans

    £19.99
    1
    Actinidia deliciosa (Golden Kiwi) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Golden Kiwi

    Actinidia deliciosa (Golden Kiwi)

    £19.99
    1
    Hibiscus syriacus 'Duc de Brabant' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Rose of Sharon 'Duc de Brabant'

    Hibiscus syriacus 'Duc de Brabant'

    £11.99
    1
    Trachelospermum jasminoides 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Star Jasmine (Confederate Jasmine)

    Trachelospermum jasminoides

    £21.99
    1
    Hibiscus syriacus 'Red Heart' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Rose of Sharon 'Red Heart'

    Hibiscus syriacus 'Red Heart'

    £11.99
    1
    Hibiscus syriacus 'Hamabo' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Rose of Sharon 'Hamabo'

    Hibiscus syriacus 'Hamabo'

    £11.99
    1
    Sarcococca confusa 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Sweet Box, Christmas Box

    Sarcococca confusa

    £16.99
    1
    Abutilon megapotamicum Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Trailing Abutilon (Brazilian Bell-flower)

    Abutilon megapotamicum

    £8.99
    1
    Dietes grandiflora 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Fairy Iris (Wild Iris)

    Dietes grandiflora

    £9.99
    1
    Mahonia x media Winter Sun Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Oregon Grape, Winter Sun

    Mahonia x media Winter Sun

    £16.99
    1
    Clianthus puniceus Maximus 19cm / 3L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Kaka Beak (Lobster Claw)

    Clianthus puniceus Maximus

    £19.99
    1
    Acacia pravissima 19cm / 3L (Collection Only) Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Ovens Wattle (Wedge-leaved Wattle)

    Acacia pravissima

    £21.99
    1
    Kniphofia 'Flamenco' (Red Hot Poker) 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Red Hot Poker (Torch Lily)

    Kniphofia 'Flamenco' (Red Hot Poker)

    £8.99
    1
    Fatsia japonica 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Japanese Aralia, Paper Plant

    Fatsia japonica

    £17.99
    1
    Brunnera macrophylla 'Silver Heart' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Siberian Bugloss 'Silver Heart'

    Brunnera macrophylla 'Silver Heart'

    £14.99
    1
    Kniphofia rooperi Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Rooper's Red Hot Poker

    Kniphofia rooperi

    £14.99
    1
    Albizia julibrissin 'Ombrella' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Silk Tree (Persian Silk Tree)

    Albizia julibrissin 'Ombrella'

    £24.99
    1
    Actinidia arguta Issai Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Hardy Kiwi, Kiwiberry (self-fertile)

    Actinidia arguta Issai

    £16.99
    1
    Tricyrtis 'Gilt Edge' 9cm / 0.5L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Toad Lily

    Tricyrtis 'Gilt Edge'

    £8.99
    1
    Canna 'Cannova Red Shades' 12cm / 1L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Canna Lily

    Canna 'Cannova Red Shades'

    £11.99
    1
    Canna 'Kreta Red' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Canna Lily

    Canna 'Kreta Red'

    £16.99
    1
    Hibiscus syriacus 'Speciosus' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Rose of Sharon 'Speciosus'

    Hibiscus syriacus 'Speciosus'

    £11.99
    1
    Wisteria sinensis 'Prolific' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Chinese Wisteria 'Prolific' (Blue Wisteria)

    Wisteria sinensis 'Prolific'

    £30.99
    1
    Eryngium bourgatii Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Mediterranean Sea Holly

    Eryngium bourgatii

    £13.99
    1
    Vitex agnus-castus 'Blue Diddley' 19cm / 3L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Chaste Tree (Dwarf Chaste Tree)

    Vitex agnus-castus 'Blue Diddley'

    £24.99
    1
    Wisteria floribunda 'Rosea' 17cm / 2L Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
    Pink Japanese Wisteria ('Hon-beni')

    Wisteria floribunda 'Rosea'

    £30.99
    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.