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I have just bought some wild flower seeds in Morrisons for £1. They come in a small tub/propagator and i have sown them, so hopefully I will have some lovely flowers to attract butterflies to my small garden.
Are there any flowers, which are cat and dog friendly, that I can plant to attract more? I have just bought Peonies and Freesias, merely because I love the flowers, but don't know if they're attractive to them or not!
JustJayne01 said: I have just bought some wild flower seeds in Morrisons for £1. They come in a small tub/propagator and i have sown them, so hopefully I will have some lovely flowers to attract butterflies to my small garden. Are there any flowers, which are cat and dog friendly, that I can plant to attract more? I have just bought Peonies and Freesias, merely because I love the flowers, but don't know if they're attractive to them or not!
Hi Jayne,
Recommending plants is quite dependant on the size of your garden so without knowing the exact size it's difficult to say....
I am fortunate to have a large garden so can grow a good variety of different size plants. From my humble experience these are the plants which have worked well for me when trying to attract bees and butterflies....
Just a small selection of my favourites, also remember to keep an area a bit untidy with some stinging nettles if you can as the butterflies will lay their eggs on them (if your garden is small maybe a 'controlled' patch of stingers under the hedge?
Here's a picture of my 'colourful' butterfly border from last year which was planted in the spring!....
I also found Dahlias really good for butterflies but you have to protect them from the slugs!....I planted mine in an old wheelbarrow which I found under my hedge!....a possible idea for a small garden....
I hope this gives you some ideas?
Cheers
Higgy
Hi Jane
Buddleia davidii is usually known as the butterfly bush, but beware because it grows very quickly and will become very leggy if not hard pruned every year after flowering. It will even grow back if pruned down to the ground every year.
You might be able to find a smaller growing hybrid that is more manageable
Best wishes Chris
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Hi Higgy and wow! What a lovely garden you have!
Thank you for all the suggestions, I have quite a small garden but everything there will fit in! I can't plant nettles as I have a grandson (16 months) but there are some in the field at the other side of my wall, sadly no bushes and the rest of my area is tarmac :0(
But, I have lots of ideas now thanks to you!
Jayne
Hi Chris,
Thank you for the advice, having seen Buddleia I intend on buying one!
JustJayne01 said: Hi Chris, Thank you for the advice, having seen Buddleia I intend on buying one! Jayne
You can get dwarf buddleia from Thompson & Morgan - a pack of 3 is £14.99 so great value. They can be kept in pots on the patio or planted into bordered and only grown to a small size so perfect for smaller gardens :-) I've ordered some for my own garden lol
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
Hi what a lovely idea, planting in a barrow, one of our friends, used thier old walking boots and welies, they look great with a load of bedding plants. Alan
i say always look on the bright side of life, as you cannot see anything on the other ?
KatTai said: Hi Chris, Thank you for the advice, having seen Buddleia I intend on buying one! Jayne
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Brilliant! Thanks Chris I shall order some.
Unknown said: hi jayne last year i bought 3 small shrubs called agastache the purple variety for around £15 and the bees loved them..they have survived this harsh weather and are already putting out new growth..i also took cuttings from them and if they all take will have around 12 new plants...also have a lovely licquorice smell and i think you can use the leaves in tea.
hi jayne last year i bought 3 small shrubs called agastache the purple variety for around £15 and the bees loved them..they have survived this harsh weather and are already putting out new growth..i also took cuttings from them and if they all take will have around 12 new plants...also have a lovely licquorice smell and i think you can use the leaves in tea.
They sound wonderful Doggie, thank you!
Try some of the catmint family, certainly are cat friendly but bees and butterflies love the flowers. I have had some success with Nepeta faasenii
Buddleias do attract lots of butterflies but i would recommend searching around for Buddleia globosa which has very attractive orange blooms that are irresistable to bees and many moths and butterflies and less invasive than davidii varieties.
Warden Intern at Otmoor.
Ian H said: Try some of the catmint family, certainly are cat friendly but bees and butterflies love the flowers. I have had some success with Nepeta faasenii Buddleias do attract lots of butterflies but i would recommend searching around for Buddleia globosa which has very attractive orange blooms that are irresistable to bees and many moths and butterflies and less invasive than davidii varieties.
Thank you Ian, I do actually have a cat, so dual purpose with that! And the other type of Buddleia sounds great for my small garden.