NECTAR TOP 10 6 - 10

DEVIL'S BIT SCABIOUS
Succisa pratensis

6

A totally separate late-flowering species to the typical pincushion scabious varieties just described. This puts Michaelmas daisies and sedums into the shade when it comes to late summer/autumn nectar plants - in a sentence, this is the one. Nothing can top it. All species still flying when this plant flowers will flock to it. As with all herbaceous plants, grown en bloc is far preferable, and of course have them scattered throughout your garden. Prefers moist soil but not essential.

 

 

DANDELION
Taraxacum officinale

7

Yes, they are a troublesome nuisance, and I suppose I have to resort to calling them a weed. After all, a weed is merely a plant growing where you don't want it to, and with dandelions being so prolific, they do tend to do just that. They are impossibly difficult to control but in our case, living where we do, there is no point because the dyke banks are full of them anyway, so we - and everyone else - will get our fair share. But they are the best nectar plant in spring and can look dramatically pretty in the right setting. I'm glad we have them but I must confess to wishing they were controllable.

DAME'S VIOLET
Hesperis matronalis

8

Some people may still remember this plant under it's old name of Sweet Rocket. It is a v.i.p., the Green-veined White and Orange Tip regularly use it as a larval foodplant as well as major nectar source. It's only drawback is that it is so short-lived, being more of a short-lived perennial than a true biennial, and some years it hardly puts in an appearance. It comes in two colour forms - white and mauve, plus an inbetweeny if you're lucky, and it's aroma in the evening is heavenly. As a late spring nectar source it is superb, especially for the Whites and Brimstone.

 

ICE PLANT
Sedum spectabile

9

This is a well deserved regular in books informing us how to attract butterflies to our garden, but is well surpassed by #6 devil's-bit scabrous. The regularly available form of this autumn flowering sedum is Autumn Joy: this is nowhere near as good as the true ice plant which has pure pink flowers, as opposed to crimson/maroon. Alas, this true from is harder to find. Look out for one sold under the name 'brilliant' - this is a good variety. Ice plants do attract good numbers of butterflies but the range is limited, notwithstanding it's late flowering time when fewer species are still around.

 

RED VALERIAN
Centranthus ruber

10

More a moth plant than a butterfly one, but it does have it's moments, being something of a hit and miss affair as a butterfly attractant. However, the fact that it has made it into the top ten means that when it's performing well it performs very well. In three colour forms: red, white, and pink, it spreads rapidly, seeding in nooks and crannies, but is not a problem to control. You will see what I mean about it being a major moth plant in the dusk when Silver Ys and other moths are feasting for nectar - this, alongside buddleia, is their main choice.