Plants for encouraging pollinators in small spaces

Create a striking display in even the smallest of spaces with our selection of plants – perfect for urban and community gardeners

Top tips for supporting pollinators in small spaces:

  1. When space is tight, sneak some pollinator-friendly bulbs such as ornamental alliums into your pots
  2. ​Have a bare wall? Cover it with a honeysuckle for the bees and moths
  3. Let ivy flower on walls and trees for a late-season pollen and nectar bonanza
  4. Save a patch of bare soil for solitary bees to nest in
  5. A 1 x 1 metre square of long grass is enough room for a bumblebee to make a nest
  6. Welcome hoverflies by making a hoverfly lagoon from an old plastic milk carton 

Patio pots or containers (in a sunny spot)

Wallflower ‘Bowles’s Mauve’

Erysimum ‘Bowles’s...

Italian aster ‘Veilchenkönigin’

Aster amellus ‘V...

Alpine mint bush

Prostanthera cuneata AGM

Sage ‘Royal Bumble’

Salvia ‘Royal Bumble’...

Balkan clary ‘Amethyst’

Salvia nemorosa &lsquo...

Hebe ‘Wiri Charm’

Veronica ‘Wiri...

Wallflower ‘Bowles’s Mauve’

Erysimum ‘Bowles’s...

Italian aster ‘Veilchenkönigin’

Aster amellus ‘V...

Alpine mint bush

Prostanthera cuneata AGM

Sage ‘Royal Bumble’

Salvia ‘Royal Bumble’...

Balkan clary ‘Amethyst’

Salvia nemorosa &lsquo...

Hebe ‘Wiri Charm’

Veronica ‘Wiri...

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Patio pots or containers (in shade)

Skimmia ‘Fragrans’

Skimmia japonica ‘Fragrans’

Sweet box ‘Purple Stem’

Sarcococca hookeriana var. digyna ‘Purple Stem’ AGM

Lungwort ‘Diana Clare’

Pulmonaria ‘Diana Clare’ AGM

Plants for hanging baskets

Dalmatian cranesbill

Geranium dalmaticum AGM

Aubrieta ‘Red Cascade’

Aubrieta ‘Red Cascade’...

Mountain rock cress ‘Schneehaube’

Arabis alpina subsp.&n...

Nasturtium ‘Tutti Frutti Mixed’

Tropaeolum majus &lsqu...

Trailing bellflower ‘Lisduggan Variety’

Campanula poscharskyana&nbs...

Dalmatian cranesbill

Geranium dalmaticum AGM

Aubrieta ‘Red Cascade’

Aubrieta ‘Red Cascade’...

Mountain rock cress ‘Schneehaube’

Arabis alpina subsp.&n...

Nasturtium ‘Tutti Frutti Mixed’

Tropaeolum majus &lsqu...

Trailing bellflower ‘Lisduggan Variety’

Campanula poscharskyana&nbs...

Dalmatian cranesbill

Geranium dalmaticum AGM

Aubrieta ‘Red Cascade’

Aubrieta ‘Red Cascade’...

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Plants for window boxes

Armenian grape hyacinth

Muscari armeniacum AGM

Allium ‘Farreri’

Allium cyathophorum va...

English lavender ‘Hidcote’

Lavandula angustifolia ...

Bugle ‘Catlin’s Giant’

Ajuga reptans ‘C...

Catmint ‘Summer Magic’

Nepeta grandiflora &ls...

Fuchsia ‘Tom Thumb’

Fuchsia ‘Tom Thumb’ AGM

Armenian grape hyacinth

Muscari armeniacum AGM

Allium ‘Farreri’

Allium cyathophorum va...

English lavender ‘Hidcote’

Lavandula angustifolia ...

Bugle ‘Catlin’s Giant’

Ajuga reptans ‘C...

Catmint ‘Summer Magic’

Nepeta grandiflora &ls...

Fuchsia ‘Tom Thumb’

Fuchsia ‘Tom Thumb’ AGM

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Plants to create edible containers

Thyme ‘Pink Chintz’

Thymus serpyllum &lsqu...

Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

Raspberry ‘Yummy’

Rubus idaeus BonBonBer...

Sage ‘Icterina’

Salvia officinalis &ls...

Compact oregano

Origanum vulgare &lsqu...

Strawberry ‘Cambridge Favourite’

Fragaria × ananassa

Thyme ‘Pink Chintz’

Thymus serpyllum &lsqu...

Chives

Allium schoenoprasum

Raspberry ‘Yummy’

Rubus idaeus BonBonBer...

Sage ‘Icterina’

Salvia officinalis &ls...

Compact oregano

Origanum vulgare &lsqu...

Strawberry ‘Cambridge Favourite’

Fragaria × ananassa

Thyme ‘Pink Chintz’

Thymus serpyllum &lsqu...

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Plants for filling cracks and gaps in paving

White stonecrop ‘Coral Carpet’

Sedum album ‘Cor...

Aubrieta ‘Blue Cascade’

Aubrieta ‘Blue Cascade’

Glaucous-leaved fleabane

Erigeron glaucus

Tussock bellflower

Campanula carpatica AGM

Thrift ‘Splendens’

Armeria maritima &lsqu...

White stonecrop ‘Coral Carpet’

Sedum album ‘Cor...

Aubrieta ‘Blue Cascade’

Aubrieta ‘Blue Cascade’

Glaucous-leaved fleabane

Erigeron glaucus

Tussock bellflower

Campanula carpatica AGM

Thrift ‘Splendens’

Armeria maritima &lsqu...

White stonecrop ‘Coral Carpet’

Sedum album ‘Cor...

Aubrieta ‘Blue Cascade’

Aubrieta ‘Blue Cascade’

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Seeds to ‘scatter and leave’ for low maintenance impact

Slender vervain

Verbena rigida AGM

Viper’s bugloss

Echium vulgare

Poached egg flower

Limnanthes douglasii AGM

Mexican fleabane

Erigeron karvinskianus AGM

Creeping baby’s breath ‘Rosea’

Gypsophila repens &lsq...

Love-in-a-mist

Nigella damascena

Slender vervain

Verbena rigida AGM

Viper’s bugloss

Echium vulgare

Poached egg flower

Limnanthes douglasii AGM

Mexican fleabane

Erigeron karvinskianus AGM

Creeping baby’s breath ‘Rosea’

Gypsophila repens &lsq...

Love-in-a-mist

Nigella damascena

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