Insect friendly plants in containers

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londongardener

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Insect friendly plants in containers
« on: December 29, 2019, 16:11 »
I have only a small garden but I do have space on the patio.
I have Mahonia Japonica (but it does not flower!!!).
A) Any ideas how to  get it to flower?
B) Any ideas on native plants ideally ones which flower very late winter or mid August (I have apples and gooseberries so spring is fine) I could grow in containers?

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New shoot

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Re: Insect friendly plants in containers
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2019, 20:19 »
Mahonia is a big shrub, so it is not ideal for a pot.  It may be root bound or just hungry - you could try feeding it.

If you want insects, there are container plants which will attract them, but some ornamentals may be better suited to give a long season of nectar.  Crocus are great for bees, as are violas.  Hellebores and native primroses are other early flowers bees love.  You could do a mixed woodland style planter that would look fairly natural.

Mid to late summer there are a lot of the daisy type flowers like rudbeckia or heleniums.  If you mixed a grass in there, it could be a mini prairie style planter that wouldn't look too neat and contrived.

If you go for a couple of decent sized pots or troughs, rather than lots of small ones,  you could pack a fair bit onto a patio :)



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