Bees, butterflies and the like are not only happy about flowers, there are also numerous shrubs and perennials that are suitable for insects. We introduce you to 20 insect-friendly perennials.
Insects are an important part of our ecosystem and, as pollinators, also play an extremely important role in our garden. However, so that the useful animals feel comfortable with us, it is important to give them one as possible insect friendly garden to offer. In order to achieve this, you should not only avoid chemical pest control, but also design your garden as close to nature as possible: Piles of leaves, dead wood and wild plants provide a perfect habitat for insects and can make a major contribution to maintaining biodiversity Afford. Those who also use insect-friendly perennials and shrubs will soon create an oasis for beneficial insects.
Insect-friendly perennials and shrubs
If you want to support the beneficial insects in your garden, you can already achieve a lot with insect-friendly hedges and perennials. It is important to use native plants in particular. Many beneficial insects - such as wild bees and butterflies - are only specialized in a few native species and unfortunately cannot do anything with exotic species. Domestic insect-friendly plants include, for example, the following:
1. Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria): Late bloom from July to September. Particularly popular with diurnal butterflies, while moths use the insect-friendly perennial as a forage plant for their caterpillars.
2. Nettle (Urtica): Important caterpillar forage for numerous species of butterflies.
3. blackberry (Rubus fruticosus): Generous nectar and pollen dispenser with flowering from June to August. Numerous species of bees and flies are attracted to the insect-friendly shrub.
4. ivy (Hedera helix): Late flowering in September to October, making it one of the last suppliers of food before winter.
5. Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula): Nectar-rich blooms from May to June. It is considered the most important forage crop for the lemon moth caterpillars.
6. Common horn clover (Lotus corniculatus): Important caterpillar forage for a number of butterfly species. Particularly insect-friendly perennial thanks to long, nectar-rich flowers from May to September.
7. Common adder head (Echium vulgare): High quality nectar supplier for numerous beneficial insects. Insect-friendly perennial with extremely long flowering from May to October.
8. Common soapwort (Saponaria officinalis): Particularly popular food plant with moths. Long flowering from June to October.
9. Bell heather (Erica tetralix): Late flowering from June to September, is approached by bumblebees and butterflies. Important plant for the group of bladder feet ("thunderstorm worms").
10. hazelnut (Corylus avellana): Flowering time from March to April and thus one of the first early bloomers and thus an insect-friendly wood. However, it only provides pollen and no nectar.
11. raspberry(Rubus idaeus): Flowers from May to August, particularly rich in pollen and nectar. The insect-friendly shrub also feeds around 30 different species of butterflies with its leaves.
12. Buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticus): As a forage plant for numerous caterpillars as well as nectar and pollen donors, it is one of the most valuable insect-friendly woody plants. Blooms from May to June.
13. liguster (Ligustrum vulgare): Insect-friendly hedge with nectar-rich flowering from June to July. Caterpillar food for some species of moths.
14. Purple sedum (Sedum telephium): Late bloom from July to September. The insect-friendly perennial is particularly popular with butterflies such as the peacock butterfly.
15. Willow (Salix caprea): Food supplier for almost 500 indigenous insect species, including bumblebees, bees and butterflies. The insect-friendly wood is food for many caterpillars and, with its early flowering from the beginning of March, an important food source for pollinators.
16. sloe (Prunus spinosa): Important source of nectar thanks to early flowering from March to April. Egg-laying location for around 70 species of butterflies.
17. Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna): Nectar-rich blooms from May to June. Is approached by 170 insect species and also serves as a food supplier for caterpillars.
18. Meadow sage (Salvia pratensis): Insect-friendly perennial with flowers from May to August. Nectar and pollen plant especially for butterflies and bumblebees.
19. Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): Blossom from June to September, which is used as food for numerous beneficial insects.
20. Wild Mallow (Malva sylvestris): Particularly nectar-rich blooms from June to September.
More tips on how to make your Make the garden insect-friendly and thus increase biodiversity, can be found in our special article.
These trees do not like insects
Not all perennials and shrubs are suitable for insects. The following plants in particular are of little use to our insect world:
1. Farm hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla): Hydrangeas are often sexless and therefore produce neither nectar nor pollen.
2. Lilac (Syringa vulgaris): Produces extremely bitter nectar, which is of no interest to beneficial insects and is therefore not accepted.
3. Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia): A sterile hybrid that offers insects neither nectar nor pollen despite the splendor of flowers.
4. Conifers (Coniferales): Conifers are not dependent on beneficial insects and therefore offer little or no food for them.
5. Cultivated Roses (pink): Lure insects with their scent. However, due to the filled flowers, these cannot get to nectar and pollen. Insect-friendly alternative: Wild roses.
Tip: If you want to create an insect-friendly garden, seed mixtures can be a great alternative. Of the Plantura beneficial insect magnet combines numerous insect-friendly plants that will soon turn the garden into a true paradise for beneficial insects.