Good nectar plants
You can convert a conventional border into a nectar border that will attract a wide range of insects and birds by introducing a greater variety of plants and by including some of those in the table below, or you can create a new one from scratch. Site it close to the house and the outdoor living area so that you can enjoy its scents, sounds and sights.
| Height (cm) | Flower time | Flower colour | |
| Perennials | |||
| Yarrow Achillea (improved varieties) | 60-120 | 6-8 | yellow/pink/red |
| Alyssum | 15-25 | 4-6 | yellow |
| Aruncus dioicus | 90 | 6-7 | ivory |
| Michaelmas daisies Aster novae angliae, novi belgii etc. | 30-90 | 8-10 | blue/red/purple |
| Aubretia | 10-15 | 4-6 | pink/red/purple |
| Elephant's ears Bergenia cordifolia | 30 | 4-5 | red/pink |
| Cornflower Centaurea montana | 60 | 5-8 | blue |
| Valerian Centranthus ruber | 80 | 6-8 | red/white |
| Globe thistle Echinops ritro | 90 | 7-8 | blue |
| Liatris spicata | 60 | 8-9 | rose-purple |
| Toadflax Linaria vulgaris | 30-60 | 6-10 | yellow |
| Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria | 80 | 7-9 | red-purple |
| Cowslip Primula veris | 15 | 3-5 | yellow |
| Primrose Primula vulgaris | 15 | 3-5 | yellow/various |
| Polyanthus spp | 20-30 | 12-6 | various |
| Lungwort Pulmonaria spp | 25-30 | 3-5 | white/red/blue |
| Ice plant Sedum spectabile | 50 | 8-10 | pink/red |
| Globe flower Trollius europaeus | 60 | 5-7 | yellow |
| Verbena bonariensis | 120-150 | 6-9 | mauve |
| Annuals & biennials | |||
| Marigolds Calendula all kinds | 30-90 | 7-9 | orange/yellow |
| Convolvulus minor | 90 | 7-9 | blue/pink/white |
| Sweet william Dianthus barbatus | 15-40 | pink/red | |
| Sunflower Helianthus annuus | 90-180 | 7-9 | yellow |
| Helichrysum | 45-90 | 7-9 | various |
| Heliotrope Heliotropium x hybridum | 60 | 7-10 | mauve |
| Sweet rocket Hesperis matronalis | 60 | 6-7 | white/mauve/purple |
| Candytuft Iberis gibraltarica | 20-30 | 6-9 | pink/red/purple |
| Mallow Lavatera rosea | 60-90 | 7-9 | pink/white |
| Poached egg plant Limnanthes douglasii | 15 | 6-8 | white/yellow |
| Honesty Lunaria annua | 75 | 5-6 | purple/white |
| Baby blue eyes Nemophila | 10 | 6-8 | blue |
| Tobacco plant Nicotiana affinis | 30-45 | 6-10 | various |
| Petunia | 20-35 | 5-10 | various |
| Phacelia tanacetifolia | 25 | 6-9 | lavender |
| Mignonette Reseda odorata | 30 | 7-10 | crimson |
| Rudbeckia 'Marmalade' | 60 | 8-11 | red/yellow |
| Sweet scabious Scabiosa atropurpurea | 90 | 7-9 | red/purple |
| Verbena spp | 15-30 | 6-10 | pink/blue/purple |