Help our pollinating wildlife - the bees, butterflies, wasps and moths. Anything that we can do in the garden in the mid to late season will help.
Choose late flowering plants:
Pollinating wildlife is attracted by planting in or around the pond.
A specially prepared Moist area near a pond is a water-effective way of adding a different range of plants to the pond surroundings.
Create the moist area with a punctured liner as we suggest in Tips and Advice and water this area from a water butt or with a watering can. The water will remain in the area for the plants and not be wasted.
Moist Plants:
The Moist Plants growing near a pond can be both British Native and Non-Native and both types are good as 'Plants for Pollinators':
- March/April - Darmera peltata, Primula veris.
- May/July - Geum rivale, Filipendula ulmaria, Iris ensata, Iris robusta Dark Aura, Primula beesiana & Primula japonica, Lychnis flos-cuculi & Lychnis flos-cuculi White Robin - Ragged Robin.
- August/September/October - Eupatorium cannabinum, Ligularia dentata Desdemona, Lychnis flos-cuculi, Lychnis flos cuculi White Robin, Primula florindae, Succissa pratensis.
- Or choose our 3 plant selection of Moist Plants for bees and butterflies
Pond plants:
Through the season you will have had many British Native shelf pond plants in flower for the pollinating insects
- March/April - Caltha palustris
- May/June - Iris pseudacorus, Myosotis scorpioides
- July/August - Alisma plantago-aquatica, Butomus umbellatus, Lythrum salicaria, Mentha aquatica, Nymphaea alba and Ranunculus flammula
Later in the season Non-Native Shelf Pond Plants are most useful in extending the pollinating plant year further:
- coloured waterlilies.
- Mentha cervina and Mentha cervina alba.
- Pontederia cordata, Pontederia cordata Albiflora (white) and Pontederia cordata lancifolia - both are particularly good for Bumble bees.
Click to find a list and images of all good pollinating plants or choose our Pond Plants for Pollinators.
These plants will all help bees, wasps, hoverflies, moths and butterflies throughout the season.
- Beekeepers know that a lack of pollen and nectar bearing flowers is having an impact on bee populations.
- Bees also need to drink. Having pollen and nectar bearing plants near the water where they will come to drink is ideal.
- Avoid using pesticides. And never spray over open flowers.
You can have plants in or near your pond for bees and butterflies flowering at all times throughout this later part of the season even in a small pond.
Think how you can encourage bees and butterflies to your whole pond area in late season.
