Hi!
I am planning on making my garden a wildlife habitat.
Can you please tell me what herbs will attract butterflies, bees, birds and hummers?
thank you
Anna
herbs for wildlife
Don't know for sure about the others, but the bees and wasps dearly love cilantro, oregano, and savory when they're blossoming. For all I know they may be equally enchanted with lavender, basil, and just about any others that you could name, but these three are in with my veggie garden and when they are in bloom the whole garden buzzes!
Thank you Mc Cool. are these three perennial plants?
The oregano is a perennial. The cilantro does a great job of re-seeding itself (boy, does it ever! I haven't planted any in years but I always have a big crop of it.) There are two types of savory -- Summer and Winter. One is perennial, but I forget which one. I think I have the non-perennial one, but it re-seeds all over the place too.
Oh, and before I forget, if you plant oregano --- watch out! It spreads from the roots as well as from seeds and can overrun the garden. Many people plant it in a large pot and bury the pot in the soil to keep it contained.
Thank you Mc Cool!
Around here, the cats go for bronze fennel, dill, and any kind of parsley. The fennel's the only thing perennial for me...but that's a climate issue with me.
Debbie
Last year, my lavender was full of fat, drunken bees during its bloom season, and I saw some flutterbyes too. I put fennel and parsley out by the butterfly bush for the caterpillars this year. Check into the salvias, also... Clary Sage, Pineapple Sage.... I think some of these are supposed to be especially attractive to hummingbirds too.
It's neat to have herbs do double duty for you & for the critters.... and much more fun than watching a plump bunny chow down on your tender pea plants!
Thank you very much for your suggestions.