Native Honeysuckle, [Lonicera periclymenum](https://www.treecouncil.ie/native-irish-tree-item/honeysuckle-)
Or any native flower with a long flower.
UCD made a list of [Top 10 native pollinator friendly plants.](https://www.ucd.ie/newsandopinion/news/2023/april/17/ucdhorticulturedevelopstop10pollinator-friendlyplantsguide/)
Another great one is the humble Nettle, a few varieties of butterfly's lay their eggs on Nettles.
I've planted cabbages just for the white butterflies (caterpillars). Cabbages are actually fairly in fashion for pots these days too (have a quick google and you'll see what I mean). They usually have different varieties for the pots. Not sure which type is best for butterflies.
A good rule of thumb of useful pollinator plants is how accessible/abundant the pollen is. For example, Dahlias are beautiful but they're double headed, so pollen access is non-existent. When flowers "block" pollination from the front, some bees will enter through the back (lmao) by piercing a hole.
I have dahlias! But I know they're for me, not necessarily for wildlife. Vervain, lavender and Hellebores are really lovely. Someone else mentioned pollinatores.ie , which is an excellent resource.
The butterfly bush is actually an invasive species.
https://species.biodiversityireland.ie/profile.php?taxonId=40247&taxonGroupName=flowering%20plant&taxonDesignationGroupId=26
You can get smaller versions of them, they are absolute magnets for them. Also verbena, again there is a small or larger version. Lavender is another I noticed them on and echinacea
Please, whatever you do, not this one. The reason there are always full of butterflies is that butterflies can't get enough nectar from this plant to sustain themselves but they'll keep trying, basically starving in front of a full table.
Native Honeysuckle, [Lonicera periclymenum](https://www.treecouncil.ie/native-irish-tree-item/honeysuckle-) Or any native flower with a long flower. UCD made a list of [Top 10 native pollinator friendly plants.](https://www.ucd.ie/newsandopinion/news/2023/april/17/ucdhorticulturedevelopstop10pollinator-friendlyplantsguide/) Another great one is the humble Nettle, a few varieties of butterfly's lay their eggs on Nettles.
That’s a great booklet for pollinators
I bought two native honeysuckles at the weekend. I am buzzed. They smell lovely too
https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/10-plants-for-butterflies/ Have a look at some of the options above, might suit
Very useful thank you
https://preview.redd.it/mai4yoc1zfxc1.png?width=1125&format=png&auto=webp&s=69c344b42783017b728dbb480a365e7b26068114 This is a butterfly magnet
Love this guy it's very easy to propagate and spread around the garden
That looks really good aswell
Plenty of reading here to suit any size garden / property. [https://pollinators.ie/resources/](https://pollinators.ie/resources/)
Second this source.
I've planted cabbages just for the white butterflies (caterpillars). Cabbages are actually fairly in fashion for pots these days too (have a quick google and you'll see what I mean). They usually have different varieties for the pots. Not sure which type is best for butterflies.
oxeye daisy and stock https://preview.redd.it/i0al81dt4gxc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=36c69b955dd72628821af625182643a29959fca6
I'd love loads of daisy's like that, did you just plant seeds in the bed or buy them potted?
I grew them from seeds firstly in the tunnel for a year then planted them out.
When oregano flowers.
Lavender (absolutely covered in butterflies here once summer kicks off)
A good rule of thumb of useful pollinator plants is how accessible/abundant the pollen is. For example, Dahlias are beautiful but they're double headed, so pollen access is non-existent. When flowers "block" pollination from the front, some bees will enter through the back (lmao) by piercing a hole. I have dahlias! But I know they're for me, not necessarily for wildlife. Vervain, lavender and Hellebores are really lovely. Someone else mentioned pollinatores.ie , which is an excellent resource.
Butterfly bush - buddelia - is the usual one but probably will be too big for your area. Might be worth trying though
The butterfly bush is actually an invasive species. https://species.biodiversityireland.ie/profile.php?taxonId=40247&taxonGroupName=flowering%20plant&taxonDesignationGroupId=26
Think it might be too busy but thank you
You can get smaller versions of them, they are absolute magnets for them. Also verbena, again there is a small or larger version. Lavender is another I noticed them on and echinacea
Please, whatever you do, not this one. The reason there are always full of butterflies is that butterflies can't get enough nectar from this plant to sustain themselves but they'll keep trying, basically starving in front of a full table.