IT can be tempting to neglect your garden as we move into the colder months.
But it’s important to keep your garden buzzing with life this autumn and winter, especially to help local pollinators thrive.
As such, flower expert David Denyer from flower and gift delivery service, Eflorist, has shared the best plants you should be introducing now.
He said: “Many people think of pollinators as a spring and summer concern, but the truth is they need our support all year round.
“By planting a mix of species that flower through autumn and winter, you’re creating a vital safety net for bees, butterflies, and other insects at a time when food sources are scarce.
“The knock-on effect is huge. Pollinators that make it through winter in good health are far more effective at supporting our gardens, crops, and wild spaces when spring arrives.
“Gardeners are essentially investing in next year’s garden without realising it, as a garden designed with pollinators in mind will not only stay vibrant in the colder months but will also come back stronger, healthier, and more resilient each year.”
Here, David rounds up the five autumn and winter plants you need to attract pollinators.
Ivy
Ivy (Hedera helix) is one of the most valuable late-season plants for wildlife.
Its small, greenish-yellow flowers appear from September to November and are a rich source of nectar for bees, hoverflies, and butterflies when other food sources have dwindled.
David says: “Through the winter, ivy’s dark berries ripen, offering high-energy food for thrushes, blackbirds, and other birds. Its dense evergreen leaves also provide shelter for insects and nesting sites for birds, making it a year-round support system for pollinators.
“Thriving in both sun and shade, ivy can climb fences, walls, or trees, and is tolerant of almost any soil type.
“Gardeners who allow it to flower and fruit, rather than cutting it back too harshly, will reap the rewards of a garden buzzing with pollinators and alive with birds throughout the colder months.”
Mahonia
Few shrubs brighten up a gloomy garden like mahonia.
From late November through to March, its tall spikes of golden-yellow flowers release a sweet fragrance that draws in honeybees and bumblebees searching for scarce winter nectar.
David says: “As the flowers fade, clusters of blue-black berries develop, providing a nutritious food source for birds.
“With its spiky foliage and upright habit, mahonia also brings striking architectural interest to shady corners.
“It grows happily in partial shade and moist but well-drained soil, and once established, it requires little more than a light prune after flowering to keep it looking its best.
“Planting mahonia not only creates a winter focal point but also ensures your garden continues to support pollinators during the harshest months of the year, thus supporting the natural ecosystem.”
Winter heather (Erica carnea)
Winter heather is a reliable burst of colour in the colder months, carpeting borders, rockeries, and containers with vibrant shades of pink, purple, or white from December right through to April.
David describes these long-lasting blooms as an “early lifeline for bees” as they offer nectar at a time when few other flowers are open.
He adds: “Hardy and low-maintenance, winter heather thrives in well-drained soil and, unlike many other heathers, Erica carnea will even tolerate alkaline conditions, making it versatile for a range of gardens.
“Planting in groups makes it easier for pollinators to forage. A light trim in spring after flowering keeps the plants compact and encourages fresh new growth, ensuring year after year of winter pollinator support.”
Hellebores
Often called “Christmas roses” or “Lenten roses,” hellebores are among the most elegant winter flowers, blooming from late January into early spring with nodding, cup-shaped flowers in whites, pinks, purples, and even speckled varieties.
Their open flowers are easily accessible to bees venturing out on milder days, providing vital nectar when the garden is still bare.
David says: “Hellebores thrive in partial shade and rich, well-drained soil, making them perfect for planting beneath deciduous trees where they can shine before the canopy returns in spring.
“With a little annual mulching and the removal of old leaves before flowers emerge, hellebores will reward gardeners year after year with striking displays that combine beauty and biodiversity.”
Snowdrops
Snowdrops (Galanthus) are often the very first flowers to appear after the turn of the year, pushing up through frosty ground as early as January.
Their delicate white bells bring a splash of brightness and, more importantly, an early source of nectar for pollinators in the new year.
On mild winter days, bees can often be seen darting between clumps of snowdrops, gathering food to sustain them until spring truly arrives.
David says: “These hardy bulbs naturalise beautifully, gradually forming larger drifts that can transform borders, lawns, and woodland edges into carpets of white.
“They grow best in cool, moist but well-drained soil, and once planted, they prefer to be left undisturbed so they can spread naturally.
“For maximum impact and maximum pollinator benefit, it’s recommended that gardeners plant snowdrops in generous clusters rather than singly.”
