Plants for

wildlife-friendly gardens

English Nature is the

Government agency
that champions the
conservation of wildlife and
geology throughout
England.
This is one of a range of
publications published by:
External Relations Team
English Nature
Northminster House
Peterborough PE1 1UA
www.english-nature.org.uk
© English Nature 2003 Front cover photographs:
Top left: Cowslips.
Paul Glendell/English Nature 25,309
Printed on Evolution Bottom left: Rowan berries.
Satin, 75% recycled Peter Roworth/English Nature 22,875
Main: Tending flower beds.
post-consumer waste paper, Paul Glendell/English Nature 25,301
Elemental Chlorine Free.
ISBN 1 85716 708 2
Catalogue code CORP1.31
Designed and Printed by
Status Design & Advertising,
working today
20M, 10M. for nature tomorrow

Plants for
wildlife-friendly gardens
This leaflet gives an indication of garden plants which provide good
habitats for wildlife. Plants that occur naturally in England generally
provide the best conditions for wildlife in gardens but many
cultivated varieties are good too.
Trees and shrubs
Large trees
Ash Fraxinus excelsior
Beech Fagus sylvatica
Elm Ulmus procera
Oaks Quercus robur and Q. petraea
Small-leaved lime Tilia cordata
White willow Salix alba
Wild cherry Prunus avium
Plants for under trees
or shady areas
Archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon
Betony Stachys officinalis
Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scriptus
Bugle Ajuga reptans
Foxglove Digitalis purpurea
Ground ivy Glechoma hederacea
Lily of the valley Convallaria majalis
Lords-and ladies/cuckoopint
Arum maculatum
Nettle-leaved bellflower
Campanula trachelium
Medium/small trees Primrose Primula vulgaris
Alder Alnus glutinosa Sweet violet Viola odorata
Aspen Populus tremula Wild daffodil Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Honeysuckle flower. Derek Ratcliffe/English Nature 14,736
Crab apple Malus sylvestris Wood avens Geum urbanum
Field maple Acer campestre Foxglove. Peter Wakely/English Nature 18,879 Climbers
Holly Ilex aquifolium Bramble Rubus fruticosus
Rowan Sorbus aucuparia Dog rose Rosa canina
Silver birch Betula pendula Field rose Rosa arvensis
Yew Taxus baccata Ivy Hedera helix
Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum
A combination of shrubs and climbers Wild privet Ligustrum vulgare
can make attractive native hedges of
great benefit for wildlife, as well as Exotic shrubs for nectar,
providing an attractive boundary. Beech
pollen or fruits
and holly also make good hedges.
Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
Native shrubs Butterfly bush Buddleja davidii
Blackthorn Prunus spinosa Japanese quince Chaenomeles japonica
Dog wood Cornus sanguinea Creeping cotoneaster
Elder Sambucus nigra Cotoneaster frigidus
Guelder rose Variegated cotoneaster
Viburnum opulus Cotoneaster horizontalis
Hawthorn Mahonia Mahonia spp.
Crataegus monogyna Mock orange Philadelphus spp.
Hazel Corylus avellana Firethorn Pyracantha coccinea
Lilac Syringa vulgaris
Dog rose.
Bodant viburnum Viburnum bodnantense
Peter Wakely/English Nature 607 Laurustinus Viburnum tinus
Plants for wildlife-friendly gardens 3
 Harebell Campanula rotundifolia Cultivated plants for borders
Herb-robert Geranium robertianum Grecian windflower Anemone blada
Lady’s bedstraw Galium verum Angelica Angelica archangelica
Marjoram Origanum vulgare Aubretia Aubretia deltoidea
Meadow cranesbill Geranium pratense California poppy
Common mallow Malva sylvestris Eschscholtzia californica
Oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare Candytuft Iberis sempervirens
Primrose Primula vulgaris Christmas rose Helleborus niger
Red campion Silene dioica Cosmos Cosmos bipinnatus
Red deadnettle Lamium purpureum Evening primrose
Snowdrop Galanthus nivalis Oenothera biennis
Spiked speedwell Veronica spicata Fleabane Erigeron spp.
Tansy Tanacetum vulgare Forget-me-not Myosotis spp.
Teasel Dipsacus fullonum French marigold Tagetes spp.
Toadflax Linaria vulgaris Globe thistle Echinops ritro
White campion Silene alba Grape hyacinth Muscari botryodes
White dead-nettle Lamium album Hollyhock Althaea rosea
Wild thyme Thymus drucei Honesty Lunaria rediviva
Meadow cranesbill. Peter Roworth/English Nature 22,902 Yellow loosestrife Lysimachia vulgaris Ice plant Sedum spectabile
Wildflowers Lenten rose Helleborus orientalis
Wild thyme. Peter Wakely/English Nature 18,825
Tree mallow Lavatera spp.
Native wildflowers for borders Michaelmas daisy Aster spp.
Agrimony Agrimonia eupatoria Mint Mentha rotundilfolia
Betony Stachys officinalis Perennial cornflower
Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scriptus Centaurea montana
Chicory Cichorium intybus Perennial sunflower
Chives Allium schoenoprasum Helianthus decapetalus
Common poppy Papaver rhoeas Phlox Phlox paniculata
Corncockle Agrostemma githago Poached-egg plant
Cornflower Centaurea cyanus Limnanthes douglasii
Corn marigold Chrysanthemum segetum Red valerian Centranthus ruber
Cowslip Primula veris Snapdragon Antirrhinum majus
Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis Spring crocus
Dame’s-violet Hesperis matronalis Crocus chrysanthus and hybrids
Dandelion Taraxacum officinale Sweet alyssum Lobularia maritima
Devil’s-bit scabious Succisa pratensis Sweet bergamot Monarda didyma
Field scabious Knautia arvensis Sweet William Dianthus barbatus
Foxglove Digitalis purpurea Tobacco plant Nicotiana affinis
Germander speedwell Veronica chamaedrys Wallflower Cheiranthus cheiri
Goldenrod Solidago virgaurea White arabis (single) Arabis alpina
Great mullein Verbascum thapsus Winter aconite Eranthis hyemalis
Greater knapweed Centaurea scabiosa Yellow alyssum Alyssum saxatile
Teasel, with frost. Peter Wakely/English Nature 15,620

4 Plants for wildlife-friendly gardens 5

Ponds and marshes Plants for the pond Margins/pond edges
For a good wildlife-friendly
Water is important for wildlife, even a Submerged plants pond and natural look,
small area can attract birds, insects and These provide oxygen and cover for make shallow sloping
other animals and creates a nice feature. secretive pond life. edges (to help animals get
The following list indicates plants which in and out) and add
provide suitable habitats for wetland Curled pondweed Potamogeton crispus plants to provide cover
wildlife. Hornwort Ceratophyllum demersum and interest.
Other pondweeds Potamogeton spp.
Plants for marshy areas Mare’s-tail Hippuris vulgaris Bogbean
Also suitable for pond edges. Spiked water milfoil Menyanthes trifoliata
Myriophyllum spicatum Brooklime
Bugle Ajuga reptans Water starwort Callitriche spp. Veronica beccabunga
Hemp agrimony Bur-reed
Eupatorium cannabinum Floating plants Sparganium erectum
Marsh marigold Caltha palustris These provide some shade and interest; Flowering rush
Marsh woundwort Stachys palustris you need a balance of floating and Butomus umbellatus
Meadowsweet Filipendula ulmaria submerged plants to ensure some light Greater spearwort
Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria gets to underwater areas. Ranunculus lingua
Ragged robin Lychnis flos-cuculi Lesser reedmace
Water avens Geum rivale Amphibious bistort Typha angustifolia
Water forget-me-not Persicaria amphibia Lesser spearwort
Myosotis scorpoides Broad-leaved pondweed Ranunculus flammula
Water mint Potamogeton natans Water mint
Mentha aquatica Duckweeds Lemna spp. Mentha aquatica
Water violet Fringed waterlily Water plantain
Hottonia palustris Nymphoides peltata Alisma
Yellow flag Frogbit plantago-aquatica
Bogbean. Peter Wakely/English Nature 836
Iris pseudacorus Hydrocharis
morsus-ranae
Water crowfoot
Ranunculus aquatilis Warning
White waterlily
Nymphaea alba A number of plants can take over your See our Warning - Invasive Alien Pond
Yellow waterlily pond and are damaging to our native Plants leaflet for more detail.
Nuphar lutea plants in ponds lakes and rivers. Watch Please remember, always buy from a
out for and avoid the following: water reputable supplier (information available
fern, parrot’s feather, floating pennywort, from English Nature Enquiry Service,
Australian swamp stonecrop. If you 01733 455101). Never take plants from
already have these, get rid of them by the wild - it is illegal to uproot any wild
Marsh marigold. composting or burning. Don’t throw plant. See also our leaflet on
Paul Glendell/English Nature
25,293 them out as it might spread the problem. wildlife-friendly gardening.

Plants for wildlife-friendly gardens 7

 Plants for
wildlife-friendly gardens

English Nature is the

Government agency
that champions the
conservation of wildlife and
geology throughout
England.
This is one of a range of
publications published by:
External Relations Team
English Nature
Northminster House
Peterborough PE1 1UA
www.english-nature.org.uk
© English Nature 2003 Front cover photographs:
Top left: Cowslips.
Paul Glendell/English Nature 25,309
Printed on Evolution Bottom left: Rowan berries.
Satin, 75% recycled Peter Roworth/English Nature 22,875
Main: Tending flower beds.
post-consumer waste paper, Paul Glendell/English Nature 25,301
Elemental Chlorine Free.
ISBN 1 85716 708 2
Catalogue code CORP1.31
Designed and Printed by
Status Design & Advertising,
working today
20M, 10M. for nature tomorrow