Perennials for Pollinators
Our preference for self-seeding perennials might suggest we're lazy gardeners; on the contrary – we find self-seeding plants so much more characterful and audacious than their rather fussy F1-hybrid kin. Self-seeders clothe the garden with unexpected treasures and generously offer their nectar to passing insects in exchange for pollination. They bring life and vibrancy to the garden and constant surprises too. We also occasionally offer self-seeded annuals and biennuals such as poppies and honesty because they're so abundant.
Aquilegia Vulgaris – Granny's Bonnet
There's nothing vulgar or common (which is what the Latin 'vulgaris' denotes) about this aquilegia. Its first dainty leaves appear in early spring even before the snowdrops flower, and are so delicate they remind me somewhat of the maidenhair fern. As the days get longer and warmer, aquilegia vulgaris puts on a growth spurt and before you know it, is knee-high. Then dark purple flowering stems rise prominently to four or five feet in height, setting the flower heads above many other garden perennials, making them eye-catching as they dance in the wind. Bees and other insects love their easy-to-access nectaries and so they are very attractive to all pollinators. I find the seed heads of aquilegias almost as beautiful as the flowers. They stand plump and upright, their ovaries swelling until they're rusty brown in colour and fit to burst, whereupon they do burst and catapult their seeds far and wide. For this reason, if you don't like self-seeders, this plant is not for you. Their seeds tend to settle into difficult corners and in-between spaces where it's hard to cultivate, bringing a softness to parts of the garden that may otherwise look quite naked. Aquilegias die back underground in late autumn, so always label where a dormant plant lies.
Centranthus Ruber – Red Valerian
Red valerian can also be randomly white or pink, so there's no guarantee that your plant will be the vibrant red in the photograph – however, whatever colour the blooms, they are all lovely to behold. Though individual flowers are tiny at around 2mm across, they combine en masse to create large, showy inflorescences. Red valerian is a garden escapee that has naturalised in the UK countryside, growing by choice out of walls and cracks in the pavement – so don't mollycoddle this plant: treat it mean, by which I mean, a gritty compost, a weekly water and only an occasional feed, and it will grow well and reward you with copious flowers from late May until October. It is a perennial plant, growing sturdily from a rootstock that dies back below ground in autumn but can withstand all that winter throws at it – and it self-seeds prolifically, so once established, you will always have it. But, it can be difficult to get going because it does like stony, windswept promontories, which not all gardens can provide. This plant is one of the best nectar plants for the delightful hummingbird hawk moth, an insect whose numbers are declining, and so planting this beauty will give you and the little moth great pleasure throughout the summer.
Echium Pininana – Blue Fountain
Beloved of bees, echium pininana – also known as 'tree echium or tower of jewels' – is related to our native wildflower, viper's bugloss (echium vulgare). This species hails from the Canary Islands and as might be expected, is tender, so it needs protection from frosts. It doesn't do well in pots, so should be planted in the garden in a sheltered position, where its red roots spread far and wide, anchoring it firmly. You may notice your echium droops alarmingly once removed from its pot and planted, but with plenty of water and sunshine, it will soon pick itself up. It can handle all but the most fierce of gales, although winds will blacken the foliage. Damaged leaves can be cut off; leaves that turn orange are indicative of drought. Echiums form a handsome basal plant in their first year, reaching around 3ft in height and width. In the second year (sometimes third if the weather has been inclement), the plant reaches for the sky, sending out a flowering shoot that can be 8-10 ft high. Once the bees have pollinated the pretty pinky-blue flowers the plant will begin to set seed, scattering its lower seeds to the four winds before the upper flowers have even opened. Echiums are self-fertile so once you've planted a specimen in your garden, you'll have them forever.
Vinca Minor – Lesser Periwinkle
This is a little beauty, a real treasure. The Lesser Periwinkle is a perennial ground cover plant that roots from nodes underneath any leaf joint that touches the soil. It can spread in dry shade as easily as a sunny bank and will reward you with a carpet of lilac-blue flowers in early spring, sometimes flowering sporadically throughout the year. It's small ovate leaves are glossy and attractive so even when not in flower, it is a handsome plant. Its flowers offer a source of nectar for early pollinators. Vinca Minor, the Lesser Periwinkle is less invasive than its cousin Vinca Major, and so is more suited to gardens as it can be easily kept in check. In fact, wherever the plant roots, it can be dug up and potted on to create new plants for other parts of the garden. I love to see it at the base of hedges and on sunny banks. It has a cheerfulness that is lacking in other more stately plants, and it really does bring a smile to my face whenever I see it – perhaps because it is so tough and hardy, and can withstand anything the weather throws at it. It feels like a friend, who some call Creeping Myrtle. I have found that variegated versions of periwinkle, though attractive to the eye, never do as well as this one and can even struggle to take hold.