Concern over declines in insects has increased public interest in planting flowers in gardens and parks to support species that are vital for wildlife � but choices over ‘pollinator-friendly� seed mixes are often based on anecdotal advice.
Now, new scientific research has identified the best plants to include in annual flowering displays to attract bees and hoverflies, enabling gardeners, councils and seed mix distributors to better choose suitable species to support our pollinators.
The , which included the UK »Ê¹ÚÌåÓý¹ú¼ÊÓéÀÖ for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), reviewed around 450 scientific papers on plant-insect interactions and carried out trials of commercially available and novel seed mixes at the National Botanic Garden of Wales.
These field experiments assessed how well the plants established and how attractive 80 individual species within different mixes were to bumblebees, solitary bees, honeybees, and hoverflies. Visitors to the Botanic Garden were asked which mix of flowers they preferred visually.
The study found that seed mixes combining native and non-native plants had better establishment, flowered for longer, had more pollinator visits and were more aesthetically pleasing to the public.
Recommended species
Based on their findings, the authors of the study in the journal Plants, People, Planet recommend annual ‘pollinator-friendly� mixes include these species to attract a range of insects:
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Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
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Corn chamomile (Anthemis arvensis)
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Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus)
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Purple viper's bugloss (Echium plantagineum)
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Corn marigold (Glebionis segetum)
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Common poppy (Papaer rhoeas)
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Charlock (Sinapis arvensis)
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Scentless mayweed (Tripleurospermum inordorum)
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Cosmea (Cosmos bipinnatus)
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Annual toadflax (Linaria maroccana)
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Fiddleneck (Phacelia tanacetifolia)
Evidence-based planting
UKCEH ecologist Dr Abigail Lowe, a study co-author who analysed the research data, said: “With some species of pollinators declining, there is a growing interest among gardeners, councils, land managers and businesses in doing their bit to help these beneficial insects.
"We want them to feel confident about their choices of seed mixes. We hope our study will encourage more evidence-based planting that benefits pollinators, ecosystems and people’s wellbeing.�
The researchers point out that seed mixes cannot replace abundant flowering plants within the landscape, but they can supplement them, providing a display that benefits pollinators and people.
It is important to also think about all the needs of pollinators. In addition to sufficient floral resources throughout the year, bees require space for nesting such as hollow cavities, bare ground and a range of grass height. Hoverflies have diverse larval stages which can be supported by providing ponds or decaying wood. The researchers advise that pesticides should not be used within a pollinator-friendly garden.
Paper information
Witter et al. 2025. The pick of the plot: an evidence-based approach for selecting and testing suitable plants to use in annual seed mixes to attract insect pollinators. Plants, People, Planet. DOI: . Open access.
The study involved the National Botanic Garden of Wales, Aberystwyth University, UKCEH, the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, Queen’s University Belfast and the Natural History Museum of Denmark.
It received funding from the Welsh Government through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, and the European Social Fund.
