Native plants

Plants suited to a native planting scheme.

A native border is planted with British wild species, which underpin the food web far more completely than exotics because native insects evolved alongside them. Think hawthorn and hazel for structure, foxglove, primrose and field scabious for flower, bluebell and wood anemone for spring. Match the plant to the wild habitat it comes from: woodland-edge species want some shade and leaf-rich soil, while meadow natives want open sun and lean ground. Resist the temptation to fill a gap with a near-native cultivar, which dilutes the purpose. Allow self-seeding and a looser, more naturalistic hand than a conventional border. These plants are genuine British natives, selected to support local wildlife while still earning their place in a garden.

Border Builder is a garden border planner for iPhone and iPad. Pick from the 538 plants below and it works them into a full plan: how many of each, where they go, and how the bed reads through the seasons.

538 plants for this

Related collections

Cottage garden plants Wildlife garden plants Woodland plants Modern plants Foundation planting plants Shade cottage plants