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Which plants should I choose?
Bat-friendly gardeners should aim to plant a mixture of flowering plants, vegetables, trees and shrubs to encourage a diversity of insects, which in turn may attract different bat species. Flowers that bloom throughout the year, including both annuals and herbaceous perennials, are a good idea: night-flowering blossoms are particularly appealing. Trees and shrubs are a good idea, as they will not only provide food for insects but also roosting opportunities for bats. Approximate flowering periods are listed below, although they may vary according to area and weather conditions!
Flowers for borders
Aubretia (spring to early summer)
Bluebell (spring)
Candytuft (summer to autumn)
Cherry pie (summer to autumn)
Corncockle
Cornflower
Corn marigold
Corn poppy
Echinacea
Evening primrose (summer to autumn)
Field poppies (summer)
Honesty (spring)
Ice plant ‘Pink lady’ (early autumn)
Knapweed (summer to autumn)
Mallow (summer to autumn)
Mexican aster (summer to autumn)
Michaelmas daisy (summer to autumn)
Night-scented stock (summer)
Ox-eye daisy (summer)
Phacelia (summer to autumn)
Poached egg plant (summer)
Primrose (spring)
Red campion (spring)
Red valerian (summer to autumn)
Scabious (summer)
St John’s wort (spring)
Sweet William (summer)
Tobacco plant
Verbena (summer to autumn)
Wallflowers (spring to early summer)
Wood forget-me-not (spring)
Yarrow (early summer)
Trees, shrubs & climbers
Bramble (climber)
Buddleia (shrub)
Common alder (suitable for coppicing)
Dog rose (climber)
Elder (small)
English oak (large gardens only)
Gorse (shrub)
Guelder rose (shrub)
Hawthorn (suitable for coppicing)
Hazel (suitable for coppicing)
Honeysuckle (native honeysuckle)
Hornbeam
Ivy (climber)
Jasmine (night-scented)
Pussy willow (suitable for coppicing)
Rowan
Silver birch
Herbs (both leaves & flowers are fragrant)
Angelica
Bergamot (summer to early autumn)
Borage (spring to early autumn)
Coriander (summer)
Fennel (summer to early autumn)
Feverfew (summer to autumn)
English marigolds
Hyssop (summer to early autumn)
Lavenders
Lemon balm
Marjoram (summer)
Rosemary (spring)
Sweet Cicely (spring to early summer)
Thyme (summer)
Wild flowers for pond edges & marshy areas
Bog bean
Bugle
Creeping Jenny (spring to summer)
Flag iris
Hemp agrimony (summer)
Lady’s smock (spring to summer)
Marsh mallow
Marsh marigold (spring)
Marsh woundwort
Meadowsweet (summer to early autumn)
Purple loosestrife (summer)
Water avens
Water forget-me-not (summer to autumn)
Water mint (summer to autumn)