In the Garden: 10 plants that will ensure insects thrive

The garden has benefited from some rain over the last few days, which is going some way to freshening growth and aiding parched plants.

During August, the garden can start to become a little tired as growth has peaked and flowers continue but not at such as pace as previously. It is a gentle time in the garden when we can take in our hard work and take our foot off of the accelerator for a while as things slow down.

The sunlight starts to change subtly in August too, it is a little lower in the sky and the hue a bit deeper, richer and oranger. The starlings start to fly together in numbers, practicing before they take a long flight to over-winter in warmer climes.

I do believe that some starlings have started to overwinter in Ireland in warmer coastal or urban locations where they have found shelter and heat. Birds are adapting when they can to changing conditions.

It was interesting to read John Dolan’ s article last week (see here) about the notable lack of insects this summer, and it got me thinking about what flowers do help to attract insects to the garden with their offerings of nectar and pollen, and that really these are the more worthwhile plants to grow in these days of falling insect numbers.

There are a number of things that we gardeners can do to help insects. Cutting out the use of insecticides and herbicides in the garden is a huge contributor to restoring insect numbers, as is turning to more traditional practices like companion planting, using netting and good housekeeping to control pests and disease.

Becoming less concerned about cutting back before winter, and leaving vegetation and stems in place in some areas as shelter for over-wintering eggs and insects - an informal bug hotel, if you like - will help also.

We can also be more mindful of the plants that we introduce into our gardens and try to favour the use of native plants.

This can be challenging, depending on the size of the garden and the effect that we are trying to achieve, but thoughtful planting will result in an insect-rich habitat which will in turn encourage birds to frequent the garden also.

With this in mind, these are what I consider to be ten of the best perennials for providing food for insects and bringing a buzz to the garden later in the summer.

Coneflower or Echinacea have daisy-like flowers that are rich in nectar. Their dried seed heads provide a food source for birds in the autumn and winter months also.

Buddleja or the butterfly bush do exactly what they say on the tin, being covered in butterflies once the nectar- laden flowers appear in late summer. The flowers have a distinctive honey fragrance. It’s important to prune these shrubs hard in springtime as they flower on new growth and will be more floriferous when pruned regularly.

Sedum, ice plant or stonecrop, now known and Hylotelephium, produce nectar-rich flowers that appear in late summer and are covered in bees and butterflies. They can benefit from a ‘Chelsea Chop’ in May or June if grown in nutrient-rich soil as they may get too tall and need staking before flowering.

Aster, now known as Symphyotrichum, have nectar-rich flowers produced late in summer into autumn, which are important for bees, butterflies and moths. Purple is the most common colour, with shades of pink, white and blue available also.

Anemone japonica or Japanese windflowers have simple white or pink flowers rich in nectar and pollen and are a useful food source for insects in late summer. They light up the garden in autumn but some can be a little invasive so choose your planting spot carefully.

Autumn flowering crocus or Colchium autumnale appear from their slumber in autumn. They are a bulbous plant that are summer dormant. Their flowers are a rich source of nectar and pollen and they rise to the surface in autumn with the foliage appearing in spring.

Monarda or bee balm, as the common name hints, are attractive to bees, with aromatic foliage and an unusual, tubular petal spidery-shaped flower. Insects love these flowers and they bring great texture and colour to the late summer garden.

Verbena bonariensis is a great self seeder and introduces an airy presence to the garden as well as pollinator friends as its flowers produce easily accessible food in the form of nectar.

Single-flowered dahlias are good for insects as their simple flowers make nectar and pollen more accessible than the double varieties.

Marjoram is nectar rich and covered in bees, butterflies and all manner of insects when it is in flower.

If you want to contribute further to helping to understand pollinator numbers in different areas, then you can work with the All Ireland Pollinator Plan (A.I.P.P.) in helping to map pollinator activity in your garden.

They have the F.I.T. Count (Flower Insect Timed) App, which aims to monitor 50cm square area for 10 minutes to observe what and how many (if any) insects visit.

Guidelines are provided as to insect types, etc, and it is beneficial if it can be done at different times from April to October at the same location.

Check out more information about the A.I.P.P. on www.pollinators.ie

Take some time this week to stand and observe flowers growing in your garden to decipher what is good for pollinators and providing valuable food sources for insect life in your garden.

Happy insect spotting!