Turning your garden into a haven for wildlife isn’t just a trend—it’s an essential move toward supporting biodiversity and offering refuge to species facing habitat loss. The beauty of creating a wildlife-friendly garden is that it doesn’t need to be complicated or require exotic, high-maintenance plants. In fact, some of the best plants for attracting wildlife are those that have been growing in the UK for centuries. These native plants offer everything local wildlife needs, from food to shelter, and can transform even the most modest garden into a vibrant ecosystem.
In this guide, we’ll explore five of the best native UK plants for attracting wildlife, each with its own unique benefits. We’ll dive into why these plants are fantastic choices, how to plant and care for them, and what wildlife they will invite into your garden. Plus, if you’re looking to mix things up, we’ll suggest some alternative plants for each.
Don’t Forget…
I’ve written a whole other blog post about Creating a Wildlife-Friendly Garden: Simple Steps for UK Gardeners. Be sure to have this as your next read!
1. Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
Why Choose Hawthorn?
Hawthorn, also known as the “May tree,” is a staple of the British countryside and an absolute must-have for a wildlife garden. Its beautiful white or pink flowers bloom in spring, providing a critical early food source for pollinators. In autumn, it produces red berries (haws) that are a feast for birds, especially during colder months when food is scarce. Beyond food, Hawthorn also offers fantastic shelter for birds and small mammals due to its dense, thorny branches.
Benefits of Hawthorn
Hawthorn is incredibly versatile and can be planted as a standalone tree or as part of a hedge. It’s drought-resistant, hardy, and tolerant of most soil types. Its deep root system makes it an excellent choice for erosion control, and it requires minimal maintenance once established. Plus, Hawthorn has long been associated with folklore and is said to bring good luck—an extra bonus if you’re into that kind of thing!
How to Plant Hawthorn
Hawthorn is best planted in autumn or early spring, giving its roots time to establish before the growing season kicks off. Dig a hole that’s twice the width of the root ball and deep enough to accommodate the roots without crowding them. Hawthorn isn’t fussy about soil types but prefers well-drained soil. Position your tree or shrub in full sun for best results.
How to Maintain Hawthorn
Once established, Hawthorn is incredibly low-maintenance. Water it regularly during the first year to help it establish, but after that, it will mostly take care of itself. If you’re using Hawthorn as a hedge, trim it back in late summer or early autumn to maintain its shape. Avoid cutting in spring when birds may be nesting.
Wildlife Benefits
- Birds: The red haws are a vital food source for birds like thrushes, blackbirds, and redwings in autumn and winter.
- Insects: Pollinators like bees and butterflies are attracted to the spring blossoms.
- Mammals: The dense branches provide shelter for small mammals, and the thorns offer protection from predators.
Alternative Suggestions
If space is tight or you’re looking for something a little different, consider planting Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Like Hawthorn, it provides excellent shelter and food for wildlife but produces sloes instead of haws—perfect for a bit of homemade sloe gin.
2. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
Why Choose Foxglove?
Foxgloves are iconic native plants that provide vertical interest and bursts of colour in any garden. With their tall, tubular flowers in shades of purple, pink, and white, Foxgloves are highly attractive to bees—especially bumblebees. Their bell-shaped blooms provide a perfect landing pad for pollinators, and the flowers are rich in nectar, making them a prime feeding spot throughout the summer.
Benefits of Foxglove
Foxgloves are biennials, meaning they spend their first year growing leaves and roots, and then burst into flower in their second year. They’re self-seeding, so once you plant them, you’ll likely have new Foxgloves popping up every year without much effort. Their ability to thrive in partial shade makes them an excellent choice for borders, woodland gardens, or any area of your garden that doesn’t get full sun.
How to Plant Foxglove
Foxgloves thrive in well-drained, moist soil. They prefer partial shade but can tolerate full sun as long as they’re kept well-watered. Sow seeds directly into the ground in late summer or early autumn, or plant young seedlings in spring. Plant them about 30 cm apart to give them room to grow, and water them regularly in their first year.
How to Maintain Foxglove
Foxgloves are generally low-maintenance. Once they’ve established themselves, they’ll self-seed, so you don’t need to replant them. After flowering, you can leave the seed heads on the plant to encourage self-seeding, or you can cut them back to control where they spread. Foxgloves are toxic, so handle with care and ensure pets or children don’t munch on the leaves.
Wildlife Benefits
- Pollinators: Bumblebees are particularly fond of the tubular flowers, but honeybees and other pollinators will also visit.
- Butterflies and Moths: The flowers attract various species of butterflies and moths.
Alternative Suggestions
If you’re looking for a similar look but something a little safer, try Campanula rotundifolia (Harebell). It’s not toxic and offers similar bell-shaped flowers that attract bees and other pollinators.
3. Common Knapweed (Centaurea nigra)
Why Choose Common Knapweed?
Common Knapweed, also known as Black Knapweed, is a wildflower that thrives in meadow-style gardens. Its purple, thistle-like flowers are a magnet for butterflies and bees, offering a rich source of nectar throughout the summer and into early autumn when other nectar sources may have diminished. This makes it an essential plant for keeping your garden buzzing late into the season.
Benefits of Common Knapweed
Knapweed is a hardy perennial that can grow in most soil types, making it an easy addition to your garden. It’s particularly effective in wildflower meadows or more informal garden settings, adding a splash of colour and texture without requiring much maintenance. Plus, it’s great for erosion control due to its deep root system.
How to Plant Common Knapweed
Sow seeds directly in spring or autumn in well-drained soil. Knapweed prefers full sun but will tolerate partial shade. If you’re aiming for a wildflower meadow, simply scatter the seeds in an area with low competition from other plants. Space plants about 30-45 cm apart and water them well until they establish.
How to Maintain Common Knapweed
This plant is pretty much set-and-forget. Once it’s established, you can let it grow with minimal intervention. Deadheading flowers will encourage more blooms, but leaving some seed heads will allow the plant to self-seed, ensuring future generations.
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees and Butterflies: The flowers are rich in nectar, making them a favourite among pollinators, especially butterflies like the common blue and painted lady.
- Hoverflies: These often-overlooked pollinators are also regular visitors to Knapweed.
Alternative Suggestions
If you want to try something a little different, consider Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis). It’s another excellent nectar source for pollinators and adds a softer look to wildflower meadows with its delicate, lavender-hued flowers.
4. Dog Rose (Rosa canina)
Why Choose Dog Rose?
The Dog Rose is a charming climbing shrub that offers plenty to both gardeners and wildlife. It blooms with delicate, pale pink or white flowers in early summer, which are a hit with pollinators. After the flowers fade, bright red rose hips appear in autumn, providing an important food source for birds like finches and blackbirds. The thorny branches also make it a great shelter for small birds and mammals, offering protection from predators.
Benefits of Dog Rose
As a climber, Dog Rose is perfect for covering fences, walls, or trellises, providing height and texture to your garden. It’s hardy and low-maintenance, making it an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. The rose hips aren’t just good for wildlife—they can also be harvested for making rose hip syrup, which is packed with vitamin C.
How to Plant Dog Rose
Plant Dog Rose in full sun or partial shade. It’s adaptable to most soil types but prefers well-drained soil. If you’re planting it to cover a structure, make sure it has something to climb on, like a trellis or fence. Water regularly during the first year, especially during dry spells, to help it establish.
How to Maintain Dog Rose
Once established, Dog Rose requires very little maintenance. Prune in late winter to remove any dead or damaged branches and to keep it in shape. If you’re growing it as a hedge, trim it back in late summer after the birds have finished nesting.
Wildlife Benefits
- Birds: Rose hips provide food for birds during autumn and winter, while the dense, thorny branches offer excellent nesting sites.
- Pollinators: Bees and other insects love the simple, open flowers.
- Small Mammals: The thorns offer protection from predators, making it a good shelter plant for small mammals.
Alternative Suggestions
If you prefer a more formal look, try Rosa rugosa. This tough rose has larger, fragrant flowers and
even bigger hips, making it just as wildlife-friendly but with a slightly more polished appearance.
5. Common Ivy (Hedera helix)
Why Choose Common Ivy?
Common Ivy is one of the most underrated plants when it comes to supporting wildlife. It may not have the showiest flowers, but it blooms in late autumn, providing a crucial nectar source when most other plants have long stopped flowering. Its dense foliage offers shelter for birds, insects, and small mammals, and its berries are a valuable food source for birds in winter.
Benefits of Common Ivy
Ivy is practically indestructible. It grows in full sun, partial shade, or even deep shade, and it doesn’t mind poor soil. It’s an excellent climber, making it ideal for covering unsightly fences, walls, or trees. Despite its reputation for being invasive, Ivy can be easily managed with occasional pruning, making it a fantastic low-maintenance option for adding greenery year-round.
How to Plant Common Ivy
Plant Ivy in autumn or spring in well-drained soil. It’s incredibly adaptable and will grow in almost any location, though it prefers moist, fertile ground. Ivy is best planted near a structure it can climb, but it will also spread horizontally if given space.
How to Maintain Common Ivy
Ivy requires very little maintenance. Once established, it will grow happily without much attention. However, you should prune it back annually to keep it under control, especially if it’s growing up a tree or building. Late winter or early spring is the best time for pruning.
Wildlife Benefits
- Birds: Ivy berries provide food for birds like thrushes and blackbirds, while the dense foliage offers excellent shelter and nesting sites.
- Pollinators: Ivy flowers bloom in autumn, making them a vital late-season nectar source for bees.
- Small Mammals: Ivy-covered areas offer shelter and protection for small mammals like hedgehogs.
Alternative Suggestions
If Ivy’s vigorous growth is too much for you to handle, consider Lonicera periclymenum (common honeysuckle). It’s also a climbing plant with beautiful, sweet-smelling flowers that attract bees and birds, but it’s a little easier to keep in check.
Building a Wildlife Haven
Creating a wildlife-friendly garden is not only rewarding for nature, but it also adds life and beauty to your space. By choosing native plants like Hawthorn, Foxglove, Knapweed, Dog Rose, and Ivy, you’re inviting bees, birds, butterflies, and other creatures to make your garden their home. These plants are easy to care for and offer year-round benefits to wildlife, from early spring blooms to autumn berries. So, dig in, get planting, and watch as your garden comes to life in ways you never imagined. If you need further guidance, check out this handy guide from the National Trust.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll soon find yourself more emotionally invested in the well-being of a bumblebee than in the success of your own flowerbeds. And that, my friend, is what makes gardening for wildlife so wonderfully addictive.
