If you are going shopping for plants for your garden, please consider the following list, which are some of the best plants for encouraging greater biodiversity
Plants for insects
Trees: Quercus robur (oak), Salix spp. (willows), Betula spp. (birch), Crataegus monogyna (hawthorn), Prunus spinosa (sloe), Populus spp. (poplar), Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine), Alnus glutinosa (alder), Ulmus spp. (elm), Malus sylvestris (crab apple), Corylus avellana (hazel), Fagus sylvatica (beech), Fraxinus excelsior (ash)
Shrubs: Berberis darwinii (barberry), Buddleja davidii (butterfly bush), Cotoneaster horizontalis (cotoneaster), Crataegus spp. (hawthorns), Erica spp. (heaths), Hedera helix (ivy), Hypericum calcycinum (rose of Sharon), Ilex aquifolium (holly), Lonicera periclymenum (honeysuckle), Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon grape), Photinia villosa (photinia), Prunus avium (wild cherry), Prunus spinosa (blackthorn), Pyracantha angustifolia (firethorn), Rhamnus catharticus (buckthorn), Ribes sanguineum (flowering currant), Rosa spp. (rose), Rubus fruticosus (bramble), Salix spp. (willows and sallows), Symphoricarpos rivularis (snowberry), Syringa vulgaris (lilac)
Herbs: Ajuga reptans (bugele), Centaurea spp. (knapweeds), Cirsium arvense (creeping thistle), Foeniculum vulgare (fennel), Fragaria vesca (wild strawberry), Lotus corniculatus (bird’s foot trefoil), Nepeta x faassenii (catmint), Origanum vulgare (marjoram), Sedum spectabile (ice plant), Rumex crispus (dock), Taraxacum offincinale (dandelion), Thymus drucei (thyme), Tropaeolum spp. (nasturtium), Vicia sepium (vetch)
Plants for birds and mammals
Trees: Alnus glutinosa (alder), Betula spp. (birch), Corylus avellana (hazel), Fagus sylvatica (beech), Fraxinus excelsior (ash), Malus sylvestris (crab apple), Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine), Prunus avium (wild cherry), Quercus robur (oak), Sorbus aucuparia (rowan), Taxus baccata (yew)
Shrubs: Berberis darwinii (barberry), Buxus sempervirens (box), Cornus sanguinea (dogwood), Crataegus spp. (hawthorns), Euonymus europaeus (spindle), Ilex aquifolium (holly), Lugustrum vulgare (privet), Lonicera periclymenum (honeysuckle), Prunus spinosa (blackthorn), Rhamnus catharticus (buckthorn), Rosa spp. (rose), Rubus fruticosus (bramble), Sambucus nigra (elderberry), Ulex europaeus (gorse), Viburnum opulus (guelder rose)
Herbs: Centaurea spp. (knapweeds), Cirsium spp. (thistle spp.), Daucus carota (wild carrot), Rumex spp. (dock spp.), Urtica dioica (stinging nettle)
Wildflowers and Grasses
Wildflowers and grasses provide habitats for insects, birds and small mammals to live, as well as acting as a source of food. Wildflowers provide nectar for insects and other invertebrates to feed on, which in turn encourages a variety of their predators like birds and small mammals. Some grass seeds are also important sources of food for different birds and mammals. Grasses and wildflowers can be important areas for cover for these same creatures and therefore some areas of long or un-kept grass and wildflowers can be very beneficial for wildlife.
For more information on Irish wildflowers you can visit http://www.irishwildflowers.ie/index.html
