Not only should we all make some effort to make our landscape pollinator-friendly: there’s also nothing as magical as walking through an area while surrounded by beautiful butterflies. Creating a butterfly-friendly landscape is rewarding in many ways. 

 

Most would lean towards a butterfly bush, but unfortunately, they tend to overgrow rapidly. Well: good news! The new Buddleja Butterfly Candy series is beautiful, colourful and stays compact. The ideal butterfly bush to create a butterfly-friendly landscape. 

 

But besides the obvious choice, there are a few other plants you could keep in mind. 

 

Pollinator-friendly plants 

There are quite a few pollinator-friendly varieties. These provide nectar to butterflies and other pollinators - creating a pollinator (and therefore butterfly)-friendly landscape. Depending on the soil type, available space and location, Lavandula such as Lavandula Phenomenal would make a great pick. Phenomenal flowers abundantly from early summer to autumn and will rebloom after the first pruning. With a robust root system and strong branches, it’s a lavandula you can rely on. Another option for bigger spaces is viburnum, such as the rich and long flowering viburnum Spirit®. 

  

 

If there’s less available space, a range of cosmos such as the dramatic cosmos Eclipse could be a good choice. They have a sweet chocolate scent and dense habit: making it an excellent addition to the perennial border (and the long stems make it a fantastic cut flower as well!). On the lookout for something with a bit more attitude? Cornus are very pollinator-friendly as well. Cornus Flower Tower, for example, is a flowering tower - turning into a nectar-buffet in May-June. Its columnar growth habit makes it ideal for smaller gardens or public instalments.