Drought resistant summer flowering garden plants are needed in greater number to support pollinators, says the RHS, as it publishes its updated Plants for Pollinators list.
Warm, dry weather has been a boon for pollinators but a lack of rain this year has meant that many summer flowering favourites such as oxeye daisy, rudbeckia and phlox have reached only roughly half their average size with a reduced number of blooms or else blooms which have rapidly ‘gone over’ in the heat. This has impacted on plants’ provision of nectar meaning a broad spectrum of flowers that thrive in dry conditions has never been more important.
Alongside drought tolerant favourites salvia and lavender, the charity is also recommending sea holly, euphorbia, helianthus and marjoram that a comprehensive review of its Plants for Pollinators now includes in greater number. Plants for Pollinators, which first launched in 2011, highlights plants that gardeners can grow to support the UK’s 6,000 pollinating insects. The 2025 updated list now includes nearly 10,000 plants which equates to roughly 15% of all plants available to buy in the UK. This includes 19 recently elevated to genus level – a grouping of closely related species of plant. Those plants include Eryngium (sea holly), Origanum (marjoram), Lavandula (lavender), Prunus (cherry/laurel), Euphorbia (spurge) and Campanula (bellflower).
While Plants for Pollinators has expanded, 14 plants have been removed from the list as a result of a new methodology that incorporates literature reviews and working group observations. Those removed include spider flower (Cleome hassleriana), cigar plant (Cuphea ignea), Cupid’s dart (Catananche caerulea) and sweet sultan (Amberboa moschata). These all still provide sought after summer colour but alternatives that will marry colour and carry the pollinator-friendly logo include hollyhock (Alcea rosea), cornflowers (Centaurea spp), California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) and single-flowered forms of China aster (Callistephus chinensis).
Posted On: 30/07/2025
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