Native plants are vital for supporting the diverse range of wonderful wildlife we have in the UK. This page lists some species you might want to plant for supporting different pollinators, birds and small mammals.
You can find more information about how to grow these species by searching their names on the RHS website.
Native plants for pollinators
- Bird’s foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus
- Common knapweed Centaurea nigra
- Corn camomile Anthemis arvensis
- Corn marigold Chrysanthemum segetum
- Cowslip Primula veris
- Foxglove Digitalis purpurea
- Oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare
- Red campion Silene dioica
- Selfheal Prunella vulgaris
- White clover Trifolium repens
- Wild carrot Daucus carota
- Bird's foot trefoil, Lotus corniculatus
- Viper's bugloss, Echium vulgare
- Horseshoe vetch, Hippocrepis comosa
- Holly, Ilex aquifolium
- Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata
- Red clover, Trifolium pratense
- Bird’s foot-trefoil, Lotus corniculatus
- Common knapweed, Centaurea nigra
- Corncockle, Agrostemma githago
- Crested dog’s-tail, Cynosurus cristatus
- Hedge bedstraw, Galium mollugo
- Lady’s bedstraw, Galium verum
- Oxeye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare
- Quaking grass, Briza media
- Primrose, Primula vulgaris
- Selfheal, Prunella vulgaris
- Yarrow, Achillea millifolium
- Bladder campion, Silene vulgaris
- Common, knapweed Centaurea nigra
- Corn marigold, Chrysanthemum segetum
- Cowslip, Primula veris
- Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea
- Great mullein, Verbascum Thapsus
- Lady’s bedstraw, Galium verum
- Musk-mallow, Malva moschata
- Red campion, Silene dioica
- Honeysuckle, Lonicera periclymenum
- Nettle, Urtica dioica
- Comfrey, Symphytum officinale
- Mint Mentha, spp.
- Hop, Humulus lupulus
- Dog rose, Rosa canina
- Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa
- Willow, Salix spp.
- Dandelion, Taraxacum officinalis
- Hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna
Early
- Common alder Alnus glutinosa
- Pussy/goat willow Salix caprea
- English bluebells Hyancynthiodes non-scripta
- Forget-me-not Myosotis arvensis
- Dandelion Taraxacum officinale
- Hazel, Corylus avellana
- Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa
- Primrose Primula vulgaris
- White dead-nettle Lamium album
- Red dead-nettle Lamium purpureum
- Field maple Acer campestre
- Wild cherry Prunus avium
- Crab apple Malus sylvestris
Mid/late
- Honeysuckle, Lonicera periclymenum
- Ivy, Hedera helix
- Heather
- Bird’s foot-trefoil Lotus corniculatus
- Common knapweed Centaurea nigra
- Corn camomile Anthemis arvensis
- Corn marigold Chrysanthemum segetum
- Cowslip Primula veris
- Foxglove Digitalis purpurea
- Oxeye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare
- Red campion Silene dioica
- Selfheal Prunella vulgaris
- White clover Trifolium repens
- Wild carrot Daucus carota
Native plants for mammals and birds
These suggestions are taken from the RHS guide for planting for bats
- Wild cherry, Prunus avium
- Bird cherry, Prunus padus
- Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa
- Ivy, Hedera helix
- Primrose, Primula vulgaris
- Corylus avellana
- Field maple, Acer campestre
- Crataegus monogyna
- Verbascum thapsus
- Tanacetum vulgare
- Whitebeam, Sorbus aria
- Mountain ash, Sorbus aucuparia
- Blackberry, Rubus fruticosus
- Dog rose, Rosa canina
- Sweet briar rose, Rosa rubiginosa
- Wild marjoram, Origanum vulgare
- Musk mallow, Malva moschata
- Ox-eye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare
- Hemp agrimony, Eupatorium cannabinum
- Sea holly, Eryngium planum
- Dandelion,Taraxacum officinale
Plants that support night insects like moths are also good for supporting bats.
For birds
There are many ways plants can help attract birds to your garden: they provide shelter and nesting sites, berries and seeds for food, and attract insects that birds like to eat.
- Rowan, Sorbus aucuparia
- Hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna
- Holly, Ilex aquifolium
- Ivy, Hedera helix
- Honeysuckle, Lonicera periclymenum
Wildflowers for pollinators (p8) are also beneficial for birds.
Hedgehogs feed on a variety of insects, molluscs, and other invertebrates such as beetles, caterpillars, earth worms, slugs, and snails.
To help provide encourage invertebrates for hedgehogs to eat, plant a range of native wildflowers.
It's also important to create lots of microhabitats within your space, to encourage the bugs that hedgehogs like. For example, leave wood piles, leaf litter and long grass in place.
Have a read of the Wildlife Trusts hedgehog guide for more ideas!
If you live where there are still red squirrels, such as in Northern England and Scotland, the Isle of Wight, or Brownsea Island, why not cater your planting to support them! Native plants that squirrels love include:
- Brambles (Blackberry), Rubus fruticosus
- Raspberry, Rubus idaeus
- Dog rose, Rosa Canina
- Bird cherry Prunus padus
- Crab Apple Malus sylvestris
- Wild cherry Prunus avium
- Hawthorn, Crataegus monogyna
- Hazel Corylus avellana
