Six of the best for bees
Bees are essential pollinators, playing a vital role in our ecosystems and food production.
By planting bee-friendly flora, you’re supporting these hardworking insects.
As awareness grows around the importance of pollinators, gardeners are seeking plants that not only beautify their outdoor spaces but also support biodiversity, and garden centres and retailers will need to meet this demand.
Our 2026 Retailers’ Catalogue features a stunning selection of bee-friendly plants – each one chosen for its unique appeal to pollinators and its garden performance.
Here are six standout varieties that are sure to create a buzz:
1. Iberis Pink Ice
A charming evergreen with lovely pink flowers and raspberry centres, ‘Pink Ice’ offers year-round structure and springtime colour. Its compact form makes it ideal for edging borders or lining pathways.
Why bees love it: Early blooms and open flower structure make it easy for bees to access nectar.
2. Allium Lavender Bubbles
This striking allium produces masses of dusky purple flowers that appear to float like bubbles above lush, glaucous foliage. With an incredibly long flowering period, it provides colour and pollinator support throughout summer.
Why bees love it: Dense clusters of nectar-rich flowers and extended blooming time.
3. Anisodontea capensis Elegans Princess
A wonderful perennial with long-lasting pink flowers and light green foliage, ‘Elegans Princess’ thrives in pots or sheltered borders. It’s an excellent alternative to Lavatera, offering both beauty and resilience.
Why bees love it: Continuous flowering and open blooms attract bees and butterflies all season long.
4. Delphinium elatum Red Lark
A true head-turner, ‘Red Lark’ features bright coral-red semi-double flowers – which is a rare and exciting colour breakthrough in delphiniums. It’s perfect for adding drama to borders and attracting attention from pollinators and people alike.
Why bees love it: Bold blooms and rich nectar content make it irresistible to bees and butterflies.
5. Perovskia Prime Time
Flowering earlier than the popular ‘Blue Spire’, ‘Prime Time’ boasts dusky purple calyxes and a sea of violet-blue flowers. Its aromatic foliage and upright habit make it a standout in any border.
Why bees love it: Aromatic, nectar-rich flowers and long blooming season.
6. Sarcococca hookeriana Purple Gem
A winter-flowering gem, ‘Purple Gem’ features elegant shiny leaves and deep purple stems. From February to April, it produces sweet-scented flowers that offer vital nourishment to overwintered bees.
Why bees love it: Early-season blooms provide essential food when few other plants are flowering.
Gardening that gives back
These six plants from our 2026 Retailers’ Catalogue are more than just beautiful – they’re bee-friendly powerhouses that support pollinators across the seasons.
They would be perfect as part of any Plant Area retail displays and pollinator-friendly garden ranges you may be planning in your garden centre next year. Pre-order now.
Need more ideas or to pre-order?
We’ve many more plants for pollinators in our 2026 Retailers’ Catalogue, please get in touch to find out more or to pre-order for 2026 deliveries. Call 01432 845200 or email enquiries@wyevale-nurseries.co.uk.
You can also download your free catalogue here.