perennials-are-brilliant-for-biodiversity: they welcome insects

Perennials are brilliant for biodiversity: they welcome butterflies, bees & birds with open arms!

If you dream of a garden filled with butterflies, bees and bumblebees, use flowering perennials to create a wonderful garden that is buzzing with life. And you will boost biodiversity at the same time. Way to go!

Mix & match

The more variety in plants, the more life in the garden. Perennials offer so much variety: different types, colours, shapes, heights and flowering times. If you have flowers in your garden from early spring until well into autumn, there will be plenty of nectar to go around for butterflies, bees and other insects. What’s more, birds will eat the seeds of various flowering plants. Even more life in your garden!

10 great nectar providers

Many flowering plants make excellent nectar sources. Here are ten great ones:

yarrow (Achillea),
knotweed (Persicaria),
stonecrop (Sedum),
Michaelmas daisy (Aster),
catmint (Nepeta),
thoroughwort (Eupatorium),
bugleweed (Ajuga reptans),
lavender (Lavandula),
sage (Salvia)
and purple coneflower (Echinacea).

Low maintenance, lots of joy

Perennials are easy plants: they come back every year and require very little maintenance. Fast-growing perennials and groundcovers are real must-haves if you don’t want to spend too much time on garden maintenance. These plants cover the ground quickly, giving weeds little chance. If you introduce lots of variety in your plants, you will make your garden more resistant to pests and diseases.

Tips

Leave perennials alone in winter (cut them in spring). This allows insects to hibernate between the leaves and stems. And you will be able to enjoy the winter silhouette; ornamental grasses and umbelliferae in particular are beautiful when covered in a layer of frost.
Not enough space? Remove a few tiles and create a façade garden with several perennials. Even small gardens contribute to more biodiversity in the area. And they brighten up the neighbourhood!