If you want to create a garden that supports bees, butterflies and other pollinators, one of the simplest ways to start is by growing flowers from seed.
Many wildlife-friendly flowers are surprisingly easy to grow and will reward you with colour, movement and life in the garden throughout the season.
At Bee & Bloom, the goal is to grow flowers that support wildlife first, while also producing beautiful blooms for the garden. These are some of the flowers I’m sowing this season that are particularly loved by pollinators and beginner friendly for new gardeners.
1. Cosmos
Cosmos are one of the easiest flowers to grow from seed and they produce masses of open, daisy-like blooms that bees and butterflies love.
They flower continuously through summer and are also perfect for cutting.
2. Cornflowers
Cornflowers are brilliant for pollinators and incredibly easy to grow. Their vibrant blue flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects, and they work beautifully in natural, cottage-style gardens.
3. Nigella (Love-in-a-Mist)
Nigella is a delicate, airy flower that adds a soft, romantic feel to the garden. Bees frequently visit the flowers, and later in the season the seed pods become beautiful dried stems.
4. Sunflowers
Sunflowers are loved by pollinators while they’re in bloom and later provide seeds for birds. They’re easy to grow and make a wonderful focal point in the garden.
5. Borage
Borage is one of the best plants you can grow for bees. Its star-shaped blue flowers are constantly visited by pollinators, and the plant will happily self-seed once established.
6. Marigolds
Marigolds are cheerful, easy to grow and great for attracting beneficial insects to the garden. They’re also helpful in vegetable gardens as companion plants.
7. Sweet Peas
Sweet peas are loved for their scent and soft, climbing flowers. While they’re often grown for bouquets, pollinators also enjoy visiting them.
8. Teasel
Teasel is a fantastic plant for wildlife gardens. Its striking architectural seed heads provide food for birds later in the year and habitat for insects.
9. Candytuft
Candytuft produces clusters of small flowers that attract early pollinators and works well in borders or cottage-style planting schemes.
10. Stock
Stock flowers are wonderfully fragrant and produce dense clusters of blooms that attract bees and add height and texture to garden beds.
Growing a Garden for Wildlife
Creating a wildlife-friendly garden doesn’t require a huge space. Even a few containers or a small patch of soil can provide valuable food for pollinators.
By choosing nectar-rich flowers and allowing some plants to set seed, you can create a garden that supports bees, butterflies and birds throughout the year.
At Bee & Bloom, the garden is still in its early stages, but this season I’m beginning with flowers like these plants that not only bring beauty to the garden, but also help create a thriving habitat for wildlife.
Because sometimes the smallest flowers can make the biggest difference.
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