Planting for Bees and Butterflies - How to Attract Pollinators
Planting for Bees and Butterflies:
How to Create a Pollinator-Friendly Garden
There’s something incredibly calming about watching busy bees and butterflies moving from flower to flower, with the soft hum of summer all around you.
And whether it’s a buzzing balcony, a full wildflower bed, or a couple of pots by the kitchen door, planting for pollinators is an easy way to attract bees and butterflies to your space, helping you quietly reconnect with nature in an otherwise busy world.
World Bee Day is on 20th May, so now is the perfect time to grab some supplies. And if you’re sowing for the first time, this guide will help you create a beautiful garden that supports pollinators and your wellbeing.
Why do bees and butterflies matter?
Bees, butterflies and other pollinators play a vital role in our ecosystem. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, more than 75% of global crops depend on animal pollination. In the UK alone, it’s estimated that bees contribute over £500 million a year to agriculture through the pollination of crops and plants.
But pollinators are under threat. Habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change have led to declining populations in many areas. There’s good news though, you can help! Because when you’re planting for bees and butterflies, you don’t need a huge space - even the smallest wildflower patch will help.
What to plant for bees and butterflies
When choosing plants for bees and butterflies, it helps to understand what they’re looking for.
Some bees have long tongues, perfect for reaching into tubular flowers like foxgloves or honeysuckle. Others have shorter tongues and prefer open, single flowers with easy access to nectar and pollen, like daisies or marigolds.
They’re also drawn to simple flowers (like sunflowers), which are made up of lots of tiny florets, a bee buffet in one bloom! Conical flowers can be attractive too, especially for bees that like to cling while feeding.
The colour of the bloom matters. Bees are especially attracted to blue, purple and yellow flowers, these colours are easiest for them to see.
Butterflies prefer plants they can land on easily, so flatter flower heads or broad petals are ideal. They’re particularly fond of pink, red and purple flowers that produce nectar in the sunshine. Plants with flat leaves, like Nasturtium, are perfect for butterflies to lay their eggs on, and the foliage becomes the caterpillar's food. It’s like a bed and breakfast for pollinators!
When choosing plants for bees and butterflies, aim for pollen and nectar-rich varieties that range in colour and bloom time, so that your pollinators keep coming back throughout the season.
Some of the best plants for bees and butterflies include:
- Cornflower
- Pot Marigold (Calendula)
- Poppy (Common & California varieties)
- Safflower
- Forget-Me-Not & Chinese Forget-Me-Not
- Heavenly Blue (Ipomoea tricolor)
- Chrysanthemum
- Cosmos
- Morning Glory (Convolvulus Dwarf)
- Yarrow (Achillea)
- Dragon's Head (Dracocephalum)
- Candytuft (Iberis)
- Scented Stocks (Matthiola)
- Red Army Amaranthus
- Catchflies (Silene)
- Soapwort (Saponaria)
- Basil, Dill, Coriander & Lovage
- Borage & Buckwheat
- China Aster
- Caraway
- Honesty (Lunaria)
- Large-flowered Mallow
These varieties are included in our Wild Flower and Pollinator Mixed Seed Packs, making it super easy to get a wildlife-friendly garden; everything you need is in one box.
And don’t forget herbs! As well as being useful in the kitchen, they provide late-season food for pollinators if you leave them to flower. The scents can also attract moths and other essential nocturnal pollinators.
Wildflower Spotlight: White Clover Seed for Eco-Friendly Lawns
If you’re looking for something low-maintenance, sustainable and pollinator-friendly, check out our White Clover Seed (Trifolium repens).
This flowering ground cover is a brilliant addition to any bee and butterfly garden. Its nectar-rich blooms attract pollinators, while the dense green growth helps suppress weeds. It will improve your soil health, and it thrives in a range of conditions.
White clover is ideal if you’re after a softer, flowering lawn alternative or a mixed-use patch that looks good and does good. It enriches the soil by fixing nitrogen, reduces the need for fertiliser and creates a natural habitat for beneficial insects.
How and when to sow wildflower seed
The best time to sow wildflower seeds in the UK is early spring (March to May) or early autumn (late August to October) when the soil is warm and moist.
Here’s a quick guide:
- Wait until the last frost has passed.
- Choose your spot, a sunny area works best.
- Clear the ground of grass or weeds.
- Loosen the soil to a crumbly texture.
- Scatter the seeds evenly on the surface.
- Press the seeds in using a board or your feet.
- Water if dry, but avoid overwatering.
Pronto Seed Top Tip: Avoid fertilisers, wildflowers thrive in poor quality soil. And keep the area weed-free while the seeds establish.
Pronto Seed wildflower mixes come in two formats:
- An easy shake box with bran filler
- A pure seed mix without filler
Whichever you choose, both are designed to support pollinators and bring a broad variety of long-lasting colour to your outdoor space.
Where to plant and how to make your space pollinator-friendly
One of the most important things you can do for pollinators is avoid using chemical treatments like weedkillers or pesticides. These products can be harmful, even fatal, to bees and butterflies.
You don’t need a huge garden - here are a few simple ways to get started:
- Create a mini meadow
- Use potted wildflowers
- Mix herbs with veg and flowers
- Leave part of the garden wild
- Choose perennial pollinator plants
And if you’re not sure where to start, Pronto Seed kits make it easy.
Simple Wildflower Projects for Kids
Make Wildflower Seed Shakers
Let little ones mix and sprinkle wildflower seeds. Great for messy fun and pollinators!
Build a Butterfly Café
Use fruit and flat stones to attract butterflies and let kids decorate a café sign.
Create a Bee Water Station
Fill a shallow dish with pebbles and water for bees to safely drink.
Make Wildflower Seed Bombs
You’ll need:
- Wildflower seeds
- Peat-free compost or garden soil
- Flour or powdered clay
- A little water
Instructions:
- Mix dry ingredients.
- Add water until dough-like.
- Form small balls.
- Dry for 24–48 hours.
- Throw onto bare soil.
Other ways you can help
Try a FIT Count
Join the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme to count insects in a flower patch.
Get involved with Bees’ Needs Week
Support Defra’s annual campaign: Bees’ Needs Week
Use a Nature App
Log wildlife sightings with iRecord and help track pollinator trends.
A small patch, a big impact
Whether it's a meadow or a windowsill pot, your planting helps pollinators thrive.
Shop our full range: meadow garden seeds | cottage garden seeds
Sources:
https://www.fao.org/world-bee-day/en/
https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/POST-PN-348/POST-PN-348.pdf