Herbs for Wildlife

Angelica is a tall, graceful herb plant with hollow, fluted stems up to 7ft tall. Clusters of small yellow or greenish flowers are arranged into large, striking umbels which will add interest and stature to your herb garden.  Buy garden ready, 9cm angelica herb plants with wooden plant label. 

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Betony is a pretty native herb which can be found in meadows, grasslands and hedgerows - it has many common names, of which ‘Hedge nettle’ is one. A herb steeped in history, folklore, and practical uses, betony offers a little bit of everything. Its healing properties, magical associations, and easy-to-grow nature make it a fantastic addition to any herb garden. The vibrant spikes of purple flowers are a magnet for bees, butterflies and pollinators. 

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You may see this robust, leafy annual growing wild in grass verges, on waste ground or in field margins. Introduced by the Romans, it loves an open, sunny position and will happily self-seed. Most of the plant is edible, with a mild cucumber, slightly salty taste. Toss a few ice cubes each containing a bright borage blue flower, into a long, cool G&T on a hot summer’s day. 

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Catmint is generally milder and less smelly than catnip but can still have a feelgood effect on felines. It has a minty aroma and produces spikes of beautiful deep violet flowers which will attract bees, potentially leading to some amusing but painful cat v bee interactions. Grow along the front of a border or in a raised bed, to spill out giving your kitty a nice comfy spot in the sun.  Catnip will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on.

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A pot of catnip growing on a windowsill could send your kitty into euphoric raptures. Not all cats respond to the smell of nepetalactone, an essential oil, but those that do have a feelgood reaction – becoming stimulated, then wacked out! Like their feline friends, catnip will enjoy a warm sunny location, prefurring at least six hours of sun every day but liking afternoon shade and a drink now and again.  Catnip will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on.  

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Roman or common chamomile is grown for its flowers, a different, creeping variety ('Treneague') is used for lawns. The flowers produced by Roman chamomile are primarily used to make a soothing and relaxing tea. Like its toga wearing namesakes, it loves lounging about in the sun, so plant somewhere warm and bright. An indoor windowsill is a good place. Keep moist especially in hot weather. Chamomile will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on. 

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Chervil is an attractive, ferny herb with a delicate anise, grassy smell. It’s under rated for some reason, perhaps because the plants resemble cow parsley, but it definitely pulls its weight. The mild flavour is particularly suited to eggs and sauces and it’s an important member of fine herbes. Generally grown as an annual, it likes a cooler, partly shady spot out of the midday sun. As a lush leaf producer, it needs rich, fertile soil and depth for the long tap root to quest for water in dry conditions. 

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Chives are a kitchen garden staple and if allowed to will seed quite happily about the garden. They’re a member of the allium family, alongside onions, garlic and leeks and have a mild onion flavour too – which is perfect for sauces, dressings, marinades and garnish. Easy to grow, choose a pot or at the front of a border in sunny or partially shaded spot. When harvesting, cut individual leaves down to just above the base – let some flowers grow for the bees and your salads. Chives will be really happy growing in our pot on a sunny windowsill until it needs potting on.

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Coriander is the go-to herb for use in curries and south Asian cuisine. The leaves have a fresh, citrussy, lemony flavour and the seeds a warming, nutty, zesty taste. It’s quite literally a ‘marmite’ herb as up to 20% of people find the flavour of coriander has an abhorrent rotten, soapy taste. This is actually due to a variation in a certain gene, the incidence of which differs with ethnicity.  

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Dill is a wonderfully aromatic plant and is worth a place in any herb garden. The leaves are prized for their sweet anise flavour which has none of the liquorice strength of fennel, and the seeds for their pickling power. Generally grown as an annual because it’s not hardy, it will be ok over winter in a greenhouse and suits growing in deep pots – to accommodate the long root. Grow in a sunny position and keep moist.  Dill is pretty vigorous but will be ok in our pot on a sunny windowsill to begin with.  

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Fennel is a large, upright herb with a dense clump of stalks covered in delicate, ferny, liquorice smelling leaves. If you’ve only room for one, then bronze fennel is the best to grow. It’s common fennel’s identical twin but you get the added benefit of a beautiful, coppery hue to the wispy foliage. It too is easy to grow and vigorous, also producing intense yellow, hoverfly landing pads of flowers. Grow a single plant in a wide, deep pot in fertile, moist, well-drained soil and you’ll be richly rewarded.  Fennel is very vigorous but will be ok in our pot on a sunny windowsill to begin with.  

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