Coming up roses for wildlife
ENJOY the beauty and scent of roses, as well as the sight of bees, butterflies, and birds, by growing wildlife-friendly varieties. These garden gems provide pollinators with nectar in summer, while many also supply birds with nutritious red hips in the autumn.
The roses to go for are those with single or semi-double flowers because their nectar and pollen are on show and therefore accessible. The golden rule is: if you can’t see the golden stamens, then pollinators (such as bees) probably can’t access it easily.
One of the best-known examples is the good old dog rose), which blooms in our hedgerows in summer. Its single, pale-pink flowers have a central boss of golden stamens that lure butterflies, bees and hoverflies. One of its common names is ‘bird briar’ because it provides sprays of hips throughout the autumn. Along with beautifully-scented eglantine (), it makes a fine rose to weave through a mixed garden hedge.
