Best Trees & Shrubs for Pollinators and Wildlife

The best UK gardens aren’t the tidy ones. They’re those full of shrubs and trees that attract pollinators and shelter wildlife. UK gardeners love knowing their gardens aren’t just beautiful, but buzzing with life and helping nature.

At Arundel Arboretum, we know just how important wildlife-friendly plants are for UK gardeners. That’s why we offer a wide range of trees and shrubs best for pollinators, from native species to other wildlife plants. If you are a beginner, we’ll be happy to help you choose the best wildlife shrubs and trees for your garden.

What Really Matters in UK Wildlife-Friendly Gardens

If you really want to create a garden that supports wildlife, it’s not enough to just plant a few bee-friendly trees and a couple of flowering shrubs. It’s worth taking a little time to think about how to create a good wildlife-friendly garden and how to choose the best plants for pollination.  So, before you buy any plants and start planting, here are a few things to consider.

Native vs. Non-Native Plants for UK Wildlife Gardens

Are you considering growing UK native trees and shrubs for wildlife and pollinators? Maybe you’re wondering why that matters. Well, native plants have been living with local insects, birds, and mammals for thousands of years. They know each other well and get along well. With native plants, everything is much easier.

Here is why native plants for pollination are a great choice:

Excellent food sources - Native plants match the feeding needs of UK bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects. 
Perfect timing - They bloom just when pollinators wake up in spring or prepare for the winter.
Special relationships - Some pollinators rely on very specific native plants and wouldn’t survive without them.
Healthier ecosystem - When the insects are well fed, the birds and small mammals are also taken care of, and the whole garden ecosystem is healthy.
Low maintenance - Native UK trees and shrubs are adapted to UK soil and climate. They are easier to grow.
Resilience - UK native plants are more resilient to UK pests and diseases. They do not need any special care.

When you know all this, it’s easy to understand why UK gardeners often prefer native trees and shrubs for their wildlife gardens. There’s also some sense of pride in nurturing the plants that truly belong here. Feels like celebrating our own natural heritage while giving something back to local wildlife.

How to Support Pollinators Through Every Season

Your wildlife garden needs to stay alive and active from January through December. Wildlife needs food and shelter throughout the year, so you have to find the right mix of plants to provide that. And no less important, seasonal interest will make your garden more enjoyable to you, too.

Here is an example of how to cover all four seasons in your wildlife garden:

Winter: Mahonia, Viburnum, or any other early-flowering shrub are perfect for early-emerging bees.
Spring: Willow catkins, Crab Apple, and Ceanothus are great for bees, hoverflies, and butterflies. 
Summer: Lavender, Buddleja, and Hebe are essential to keep the insects buzzing since this is their peak.
Autumn: Rowan berries and Cotoneaster feed garden birds and small mammals, such as mice and hedgehogs. 

Best Low-Maintenance Trees and Shrubs for UK Gardens

Practicality matters too. UK soils aren’t all the same. Gardens can have clay, chalky, or sandy soil. So, if you want low-maintenance pollinator plants for UK gardens, you need to pick plants that are suitable for your soil. With the right choices, you won’t have much work around them. Your plants will take care of themselves.

Here are a few easy options that match different soils:

Clay soils: Hawthorn and Crab Apple do well in clay soils.
Chalky soils: Viburnum and Ceanothus do well in chalky soils.
Sandy soils: Lavender and Rosemary like drier soils.
All-rounders: Hebe and Buddleja are tough and can adapt to various types of soil.

Best Wildlife Plants for Small UK Gardens

You don’t need a huge garden to have a wildlife garden. Even small gardens or patios can be enough for plants that attract pollinators. A single Crab Apple or Rowan Tree, with compact shrubs like Hebe and Lavender, can fit beautifully into small spaces. 
And if you don’t have a garden at all, you can grow them in containers. So, even a balcony can become a haven for butterflies and bees.

Wildlife-Friendly Trees and Shrubs for All UK Climates

As we all know, the climate is not the same all around the UK. So, when picking your wildlife-friendly plants, make sure they can grow well in your climate. Here are a few ideas for different regions

South & East (hotter, drier summers):

Lavender
Rosemary
Ceanothus
These Mediterranean-style plants thrive in drier soils and full sun. They are also resistant to drought, so they are perfect for hotter climates.

North & West (wetter, windier weather):

Hawthorn 
Goat Willow
Rowan
Northern and western regions have a bit rougher climate, so hardy native trees that can tolerate rain and winds are ideal.

Coastal gardens (salty air, sandy soils):

Escallonia 
Hebe
Sea Buckthorn
These plants are perfect for coastal gardens because they can tolerate salty winds and sandy soils. Sea buckthorn is a classic coastal shrub and is often planted in dunes.

For more suggestions like these, visit us at Arundel Arboretum, and we can help you find the perfect combination for your area.

Different Types of Pollinators in UK Gardens

When thinking about pollinators, people usually picture honeybees. But it’s not only about bees. UK gardens support a wide range of pollinators. Here are just a few that you might welcome into your garden:

Bumblebees – Large, furry bees that need a lot of nectar.
Solitary bees – Small, hardworking bees that love plants with open flowers so they can access nectar easily..
Hoverflies – Often mistaken for wasps, great pollinators, and their larvae are eating garden pests.
Butterflies – Beautiful creatures feeding on nectar from shrubs like Buddleja and Lavender.
Moths – Active at dusk or night, when other insects are asleep, pollinating flowers such as honeysuckle.

The main thing to remember is to choose single-flowered plants. Double or heavily ruffled varieties may look stunning to us, but pollinators can struggle because the nectar and pollen are hidden deep inside or missing altogether

Best Native UK Trees for Pollinators & Wildlife

Now that we’ve covered what really matters when planting for wildlife, it’s time to get to know some of the best plants better so you can make your choice. Here are the top 5 UK native trees for pollination and wildlife gardens:

Crab Apple
Crab apple is a small, but powerful tree. In spring, its flowers are rich in nectar and pollen. Later, it bears fruit that feeds birds, and in autumn, fallen apples provide food for mammals like badgers and foxes. Ideal for smaller gardens that want to add value to wildlife.

Hawthorn
Few trees are as important for UK wildlife as the common hawthorn. It's a generous tree with spring blossom, perfect for pollinators. Its dense foliage and thorny branches create safe nesting spaces for small birds. In autumn, haws feed birds and small mammals. This tree is a part of traditional British landscapes.

Rowan
Also known as the mountain ash, rowan is highly valuable for wildlife. Its spring flowers attract various pollinating insects, while in autumn, its red berries are a feast for birds. Rowan thrives in many soil types and climates, making it a great choice for gardens of all kinds.

Pussy Willow
Pussy willow is one of the earliest sources of nectar and pollen in the UK. It’s a crucial food source for bees and queen bumblebees after hibernation. Later in the year, its leaves support moth and butterfly caterpillars, which in turn provide food for hungry birds

Silver Birch
Silver birch (Betula pendula) is one of the best trees you can plant for wildlife in the UK. It supports more than 300 different insect species, including many moths and butterflies, more than any other tree. Compared to other birches, silver birch has one more advantage. It copes better with different types of soil.

Best Shrubs for Pollinators & Wildlife

Shrubs are some of the easiest ways to bring life into a garden. Here are top 10 wildlife -friendly shrubs perfect for UK gardens:

Lavender 
Rich nectar source through summer
Loved by bees, butterflies, and hoverflies
Evergreen, adds cover and structure for wildlife
Thrives in dry soil, perfect for low-maintenance wildlife gardens

Rosemary
Flowers as early as late winter
Source of nectar when little else is in bloom
Evergreen, offering cover all year round
Thrives in sunny, dry spots with minimal care

Buddleja
Known as the “butterfly bush”
Attractive to butterflies, bees, and hoverflies
Flowers from July to early autumn
Needs pruning to control growth and boost blooms

Mahonia
Flowers in winter when nectar is scarce
Supports early-emerging pollinators
Produces berries for birds in spring
Evergreen, hardy, and low-maintenance

Ceanothus
Lots of nectar-rich flowers in spring
Attractive to bees, hoverflies, and other early pollinators
Evergreen foliage gives cover and structure all year round
Perfect for sunny, sheltered spots

Viburnum
Spring flowers perfect for bees, hoverflies, and butterflies
Summer and autumn berries for garden birds
Evergreen species (V. tinus) give winter cover and flowers
Deciduous species (V. opulus) add seasonal wildlife value

Berberis
Its spring flowers are rich in nectar 
Autumn berries provide food for birds and small mammals
Dense growth offers safe nesting cover for birds
Hardy and low-maintenance, useful for hedging

Hebe
Long flowering season, often from summer into autumn
Lots of nectar for bees, butterflies, and hoverflies
Evergreen foliage provides cover for wildlife 
Ideal for smaller gardens and patios

Escallonia
Clusters of flowers from early summer into autumn
Provides nectar during the warmer months
Dense, evergreen foliage offers shelter for birds year-round
Ideal for seaside gardens

Cotoneaster
Small flowers in late spring and summer
Berries in autumn and winter to feed birds
Dense branches offer nesting sites for small birds
Hardy and easy to grow

Wisteria
Cascades of fragrant flowers in late spring
Nectar-rich blooms that attract bees in large numbers
Best for walls, arches, and pergolas in larger gardens
Needs heavy pruning, but it’s very rewarding

Create a Wildlife Garden with Arundel Arboretum

If you’re now ready to turn your garden into a haven for bees, butterflies, and birds, we’d love to help you choose the perfect mix of trees and shrubs. At Arundel Arboretum in Chichester, West Sussex, you’ll find everything from much-loved native trees to colourful ornamentals that keep pollinators busy for longer. Come and visit us to see our wide range of wildlife-friendly trees and shrubs, or explore our online store to find the perfect plants for your garden.