Thomas’s Favourite 50
List Curated by Thomas McBride From research data collected and collated at the National Botanic Garden of Wales
NB: Butterflies and Moths are not studied at the NBGW so any data on nectar plants beneficial for them is taken from Butterfly Conservation Map Maps depict the native area of the plant (in green) Guide to using these pages: They also show areas the plant is naturalised (in purple)
Latin Binomial All maps shown Name are derived from ‘Plants of the Common World Online’; English courtesy of Kew Name Gardens
Flowering Period Photograph (this is when it is good of the plant for pollinators!) in flower
Plant Family
Insect groups known to Growing habit favour the and mature size nectar of this of the plant plant
Useful knowledge or warnings about the plant RHS AGM cultivars of this species (or a related species occasionally) i Key to these Pages Warnings
Additional information on these garden plants
This plant would The flowers only be suitable for and/or leaves meadow-style have a Pleasant Plant tissue is highly planting scent toxic if ingested
The plant has edible parts that are Sap may cause irritation Plant is often used in commonly eaten or (Wash hands after touching traditional Herbal Remedies used in cooking or avoid touching)
ii Temperature RHS Hardiness Scale
Some of the plants listed in our Top 200 are not fully H1a - Above 15ºC hardy in all or some parts of the United Kingdom. H1b - Minimum 10ºC Plants without a thermometer symbol are fully hardy in the severest UK Winter; equating to H5 or hardier. H1c - Minimum 5ºC Plants with a coloured thermometer symbol are hardy to varying degrees as follows: H2 - Minimum 1ºC
H3 - Minimum -5ºC
H4 - Minimum -10ºC
H5 - Minimum -15ºC Almost Hardy Half-Hardy Not Frost Hardy Not Hardy (H4) (H3) (H2) (H1) iii Pollinators Our data on pollinators has been collected from studies spanning over a decade. Pollinator symbols appear when plants are proven to be good nectar (a) (b) plants for certain insects. It should be noted that all bee and hoverfly data is ours but lepidoptera data is taken from Butterfly Conservation.
Our data spans a wide range of different insect species. For simplicity, these species have been condensed into six easy icons to represent them: (c) (d) a) Honeybees c) Bumblebees e) Moths b) Hoverflies d) Butterflies f) Solitary Bees (Includes Moths)
(e) (f) iv Althaea officinalis Afro-Eurasia Marsh Mallow
None Midsummer - Early Autumn
Malvaceae Mallow Family
6ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr by Gertjan van Noord Marshlands 1 Anemone nemorosa Wood Anemone
Europe
‘Allenii’ Spring . ‘Robinsoniana’
Ranunculaceae Buttercup Family
<1ft Tuberous
Photograph © Thomas McBride 2 Aquilegia chrysantha N. America Golden Columbine
‘Yellow Queen’ Late Spring - Early Summer
Ranunculaceae Buttercup Family
4ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) F D Richards 3 Argyranthemum frutescens N. America Marguerite Daisy
Macronesia
Ssp. canariae Early Summer - Mid Autumn ‘Cornish Gold’
Asteraceae Daisy Family
2ft Perennial
* Will not survive a frost, only half-hardy, Photograph from Flickr (CC) Peter Stenzel bring indoors in winter. Recommended pot4 plant. Armeria maritima Europe Common Thrift
‘Vindictive’ Late Spring - Midsummer
Plumbaginaceae Leadwort Family
1ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Derek Winterburn 5 Buddleja davidii China Common Butterfly Bush
‘Black Knight’ Summer . ‘Dartmoor’
Scrophulariaceae Figwort Family
Large Shrub
Photograph © Thomas McBride 6 N. America & Caltha palustris Eurasia Marsh-marigold
Species Spring .
Ranunculaceae Buttercup Family
1ft Perennial
Photograph © Thomas McBride Semi-Aquatic 7 Campanula persicifolia Eurasia Peach-leaved Bellflower
‘Pride of Summer . Exmouth’
Campanulaceae Bellflower Family
2ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Anita 8 Centaurea nigra Europe Common Knapweed
None Summer .
Asteraceae Daisy Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph © Thomas McBride 9 Cistus x purpureus Mediterranean Purple Rock-rose Cistus ladanifer x Cistus creticus
Cistus Cistus ladanifer creticus
-Hybrid- Summer . ‘Betty Taudevin’
Cistaceae Rock-rose Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Franco Folini 10 Corydalis flexuosa Chinese Blue Corydalis
China
‘Blue Panda’ Spring . ‘Purple Leaf’
Papaveraceae Poppy Family
2ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) M’s Photography 11 Dahlia imperialis C. America Tree Dahlia
None Summer .
Asteraceae Daisy Family
6ft Tuberous Perennial
* This plant will struggle to survive below -5’c night Photograph from Flickr (CC) James Gaither temperatures so plant in a sheltered spot and wrap the stems/mulch the base during the winter12 period. Dianthus carthusianorum Europe Carthusian Pink
None Summer .
Caryophyllaceae Pink Family
2ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Xulesc G 13 Digitalis grandiflora Europe Yellow Foxglove
‘Carillon’ Summer . -Species-
Plantaginaceae Plantain Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Rikard Fröberg 14 Foeniculum vulgare Afro-Eurasia Common Fennel
‘Florence Fino’ Summer . ‘Florence Orion’
Apiaceae Carrot Family
5ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Katy Wrathall 15 Geranium x magnificum Caucasus Purple Cranesbill Geranium ibericum x Geranium platypetalum
Geranium ibericum Geranium platypetalum
- Hybrid - Summer .
Geraniaceae Cranesbill Family
2ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Hornbeam Arts 16 Gladiolus communis Eastern Gladiolus
Caucasus &
Mediterranean
Subsp. byzantinus Mid Spring - Early Summer
Iridaceae Iris Family
3ft Cormous
Photograph from Flickr (CC) John Winder 17 Hyacinthoides non-scripta Europe English Bluebell
None Spring .
Asparagaceae Asparagus Family
1ft Bulbous
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Peter O’Connor 18 Hypericum addingtonii Hypericum x hidcoteense Europe China Garden St John’s Wort Hypericum calycinum x Hypericum x cyathiflorum* S. Asia
Hypericum calycinum Hypericum hookerianum
‘Hidcote’ Midsummer - Early Autumn
Hypericaceae St Johns Wort Family
Medium Shrub
* Hypericum x cyathiflorum is a cross between Photograph from Flickr (CC) Allan Harris H. addingtonii and H. hookerianum19 Impatiens noli-tangere Yellow Balsam
N. America & Eurasia
None Summer .
Balsaminaceae Balsam Family
4ft Annual
Photograph © Thomas McBride Marshlands 20 Kalmia latifolia N. America Mountain-laurel
‘Freckles’ Mid Spring - Early Summer ‘Pink Charm’
Ericaceae Heather Family
Medium Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Nicholas A. Tonelli 21 Kerria japonica Japanese Marigold-bush
East Asia
‘Golden Guinea’ Late Spring - Midsummer ‘Pleniflora*’
Rosaceae Rose Family
Medium Shrub
* Double flowered cultivars are not good for most pollinating insects so try to buy single flowers when possible Photograph from Flickr (CC) A. Qiao 22 Knautia arvensis Eurasia Field Scabious
None Midsummer - Early Autumn
Caprifoliaceae Honeysuckle Family
4ft Perennial
Photograph © Thomas McBride 23 Laburnum anagyroides Europe Golden Chain
L. anagyroides x L. alpinum Late Spring Laburnum x - Early Summer watereri ‘Vossii’
Fabaceae Legume Family
Medium Tree
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Maja Dumat 24 Lathyrus odoratus Italia Sweet Pea
‘Lipstick’ ‘Bristol’ Midsummer - Early Autumn ‘Solway series’
Fabaceae Legume Family
6ft Climber Annual
Photograph by Thomas McBride * This plant, if sown early, should be sown inside during winter (cannot survive below -5’c night temperatures)25 Lavandula angustifolia Mediterranean English Lavender
‘Folgate’ ‘Hidcote’ Summer . ‘Miss Katherine’
Lamiaceae Mint Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Peter Taylor 26 Lilium martagon Eurasia Turk’s Cap Lily
- Species - Summer .
Liliaceae Lily Family
4ft Bulbous
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Ralf Wimmer 27 Linaria purpurea Italia Purple Toadflax
Potentially ‘Canon J Went’ Early Summer - Early Autumn
Plantaginaceae Plantain Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph from Wikipedia (CC) C T Johansson 28 Lobelia x speciosa N. America Purple Cardinal Flower Lobelia siphilitica x Lobelia cardinalis*
‘Pink Elephant’ Midsummer - Early Autumn ‘Fan series’
Campanulaceae Bellflower Family
3ft Annual
* Natural hybrid between Red and Blue Cardinal flowers. Photograph from Flickr (CC) Alwyn Ladell Map shows the range crossover where the hybrid29 is native Lonicera periclymenum Europe European Honeysuckle
‘Graham Thomas’ Late Spring - Mid Autumn ‘Serotina’
Caprifoliaceae Honeysuckle Family
10ft+ Climber/Vine
Photograph from Flickr (CC) A. Qiao 30 Lychnis coronaria Rose Campion
Eurasia
- Species - Summer . ‘Alba’
Caryophyllaceae Pink Family
3ft Biennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) John Winder 31 Lythrum salicaria Afro-Eurasia Purple Loosestrife
‘Blush’ Midsummer - Early Autumn ‘Feuerkerze’
Lythraceae Pomegranate Family
4ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Xulesc G Marshlands 32 Meconopsis betonicifolia Tibet Himalayan Blue Poppy Syn. M. baileyi
- Species - Summer . ‘Mop Head’
Papaveraceae Poppy Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Tim Waters 33 Oenothera biennis N. America Common Evening-Primrose
None Midsummer - Early Autumn
Onagraceae Willowherb Family
5ft Biennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Andreas Rockstein 34 Paeonia lactiflora Chinese Paeony
East Asia
‘Bowl of Beauty’ Late Spring - Early Summer ‘Miss America’
Paeoniaceae Paeony Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph © Thomas McBride 35 Papaver cambricum Europe Welsh Poppy
None Mid Spring - Early Autumn
Papaveraceae Poppy Family
2ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Jill Catley 36 Passiflora caerulea S. America Blue Passionflower
- Species - Midsummer - Early Autumn ‘Constance Eliott’
Passifloraceae Passion Fruit Family
10ft+ Vine
* This plant will not survive below -10’c night temperatures, protect from very harsh winter nights Photograph from Flickr (CC) bvi4092 ** The fruit and flowers are edible but 37not commonly consumed. The leaves are poisonous when raw; containing cyanide. Pelargonium tomentosum Peppermint Geranium
South Africa
- Species - Summer .
Geraniaceae Cranesbill Family
Small Shrub
* Will not survive a frost, only half-hardy, Photograph from Flickr (CC) FarOutFlora bring indoors in winter. Recommended pot38 plant. Philadelphus coronarius Anatolia Sweet Mock-orange
‘Aureus’ Late Spring - Midsummer ‘Variegatus’
Hydrangeaceae Hydrangea Family
Medium Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Stanze Bla 39 Polemonium caeruleum Jacob’s Ladder
Eurasia
Related Cultivar: Late Spring ‘Northern Lights’ - Early Summer
Polemoniaceae Jacob’s Ladder Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Tim Waters 40 Polygonatum multiflorum Europe Solomon’s Seal
P. multiflorum x P. odoratum Polygonatum x Spring . hybridum
Asparagaceae Asparagus Family
3ft Bulbous
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Kerry Woods 41 Primula veris Europe Common Cowslip
- Species - Spring .
Primulaceae Primrose Family
1ft Perennial
Photograph © Thomas McBride 42 Rhododendron luteum Eurasia Yellow Azalea
- Species - Spring . (Possibly mildly invasive so AGM tentatively removed recently)
Ericaceae Heather Family
Large Shrub
Photograph from Wikipedia (CC) Chrumps 43 Ribes sanguineum N. America Red-flowered Currant
‘Koja’ Mid Spring - Early Summer ‘Pokey’s Pink’
Grossulariaceae Currant Family
Medium Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Andrew A Reding 44 Rosa gallica Eurasia Rosa-mundi, French Rose
var. officinalis Summer . ‘Versicolor’
Rosaceae Rose Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Tim Waters 45 Rosa odorata Scented Tea Rose
China
‘Mutabilis’ Midsummer - Early Autumn ‘Bengal Crimson’
Rosaceae Rose Family
Small Shrub
Photograph from Flickr (CC) A. Qiao 46 Silene dioica Europe Red Campion
None Mid Spring - Midsummer
Caryophyllaceae Pink Family
3ft Perennial
Photograph © Thomas McBride 47 Tricyrtis formosana Taiwanese Toad Lily
Taiwan
None Autumn .
Liliaceae Lily Family
3ft Rhizomous
Photograph © Thomas McBride 48 Tulipa saxatilis Candia Tulip
Anatolia
‘Lilac Wonder’ Spring .
Liliaceae Lily Family
2ft Bulbous
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Adrien 49 Verbena bonariensis S. America Purpletop Vervain
- Species - Midsummer - Mid Autumn
Verbenaceae Vervain Family
6ft Perennial
Photograph from Flickr (CC) Linda de Volder 50