Wild About Gardens, for the benefit of people and wildlife

Native and Non-native Plants

Our wildlife has adapted to our native flora over a great length of time and so many animal species are closely associated with particular plants. However, many non-native species provide excellent value for wildlife and are valuable additions to any garden designed to attract wildlife.

Native plants

  • Field scabious (Knautia arvensis)
  • Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea)
  • Great mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
  • Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
  • Hemp agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum)
  • Knapweed (Centaurea spp)
  • Meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratense)
  • Red campion (Silenr dioica)
  • Toadflax (Linaria vulgare)
  • Vipers bugloss (Echium vulgare)

Non native plants

  • Bellflower (Campanula spp)
  • Bergamot (Monarda didyma)
  • Bistort (Persicaria amplexicaulis)
  • Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus)
  • Fleabane (Erigeron spp)
  • Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
  • Honesty (Lunaria rediviva)
  • Perennial cornflower (Centaurea montana)
  • Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus)
  • Tobacco plant (Nicotiana spp)

Prohibited plants

There are a very small number of non-native plants which have proved to be very invasive and have the potential to threaten native habitats and endanger some native species. A number of these are aquatic plants and are listed in the ponds and water features section. These plants should never be bought or planted as they can seriously threaten our native wetlands.

Under the terms of the 'Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, there are two terrestrial non-native plants which cannot be planted in the UK and three which cannot be planted in Northern Ireland, because of their invasive nature.

Banned in the UK

  • Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum)
  • Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica)

Banned in Northern Ireland

  • Pirri-pirri Bur (Acaena (all species))
  • Giant knotweed (Fallopia sachalinensis)
  • Cord (Spartina (all species))

Ragged Robin, Morag Shuaib