Ten species for a generous orchard or food forest edge, from spring blossom to flowering herbs and mature autumn ivy.
Different layers contribute at different times. Woody blossom and lungwort open the sequence; the sunny herb strip bridges towards summer. Mature flowering ivy provides a distinct autumn component.
The plant choices draw on published guidance. The combination and layout are design suggestions, not a trialled plant community or a guarantee of pollinator numbers. [1] [2] [3]
These are the original catalogue months, shown as a planning guide. Sources may use broader seasons or different regional dates. Weather, plant age and management affect actual flowering.
Swipe the calendar to see all months
| Plant | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Prunus spinosa | January: no flowering recorded | February: recorded flowering | March: recorded flowering | April: recorded flowering | May: recorded flowering | June: no flowering recorded | July: no flowering recorded | August: no flowering recorded | September: no flowering recorded | October: no flowering recorded | November: no flowering recorded | December: no flowering recorded |
| 2 Malus domestica | January: no flowering recorded | February: no flowering recorded | March: no flowering recorded | April: recorded flowering | May: recorded flowering | June: no flowering recorded | July: no flowering recorded | August: no flowering recorded | September: no flowering recorded | October: no flowering recorded | November: no flowering recorded | December: no flowering recorded |
| 3 Crataegus monogyna | January: no flowering recorded | February: no flowering recorded | March: no flowering recorded | April: no flowering recorded | May: recorded flowering | June: recorded flowering | July: no flowering recorded | August: no flowering recorded | September: no flowering recorded | October: no flowering recorded | November: no flowering recorded | December: no flowering recorded |
| 4 Hedera helix | January: no flowering recorded | February: no flowering recorded | March: no flowering recorded | April: no flowering recorded | May: no flowering recorded | June: no flowering recorded | July: no flowering recorded | August: no flowering recorded | September: recorded flowering | October: recorded flowering | November: recorded flowering | December: no flowering recorded |
| 5 Ribes nigrum | January: no flowering recorded | February: no flowering recorded | March: no flowering recorded | April: recorded flowering | May: recorded flowering | June: no flowering recorded | July: no flowering recorded | August: no flowering recorded | September: no flowering recorded | October: no flowering recorded | November: no flowering recorded | December: no flowering recorded |
| 6 Rubus idaeus | January: no flowering recorded | February: no flowering recorded | March: no flowering recorded | April: no flowering recorded | May: recorded flowering | June: recorded flowering | July: recorded flowering | August: recorded flowering | September: recorded flowering | October: recorded flowering | November: no flowering recorded | December: no flowering recorded |
| 7 Pulmonaria officinalis | January: no flowering recorded | February: no flowering recorded | March: recorded flowering | April: recorded flowering | May: recorded flowering | June: no flowering recorded | July: no flowering recorded | August: no flowering recorded | September: no flowering recorded | October: no flowering recorded | November: no flowering recorded | December: no flowering recorded |
| 8 Symphytum officinale | January: no flowering recorded | February: no flowering recorded | March: no flowering recorded | April: recorded flowering | May: recorded flowering | June: recorded flowering | July: recorded flowering | August: recorded flowering | September: recorded flowering | October: no flowering recorded | November: no flowering recorded | December: no flowering recorded |
| 9 Trifolium repens | January: no flowering recorded | February: no flowering recorded | March: no flowering recorded | April: no flowering recorded | May: recorded flowering | June: recorded flowering | July: recorded flowering | August: recorded flowering | September: recorded flowering | October: recorded flowering | November: no flowering recorded | December: no flowering recorded |
| 10 Allium schoenoprasum | January: no flowering recorded | February: no flowering recorded | March: no flowering recorded | April: no flowering recorded | May: recorded flowering | June: recorded flowering | July: recorded flowering | August: no flowering recorded | September: no flowering recorded | October: no flowering recorded | November: no flowering recorded | December: no flowering recorded |
| Species recorded in flower | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
Months with no recorded flowers: Jan, Dec.
The diagram describes an established planting. Young ivy does not provide the autumn flowers shown: it must reach its mature flowering stage. This is a large edge planting, not ten species squeezed under one small tree.
Start with the space taken by mature trees and hedging. Put fruiting shrubs on the sunny side, keep a separate herb strip, and use lungwort in the shaded base. Give ivy its own managed support.
Allow mature tree and hedge space; manage ivy separately.
Keep access to shrubs and canes.
Lungwort takes the shade; clover and chives take the light.
Conceptual arrangement, not to scale. Choose quantities and spacing from the available area and mature plant spread.
Choose an apple rootstock and cultivar for the available space; this selection is not an apple cross-pollination plan. Keep blackthorn suckers, raspberry canes, comfrey and ivy within their allotted areas.
Every plant links to its existing database profile. Original nectar and pollen ratings remain on those profiles; the references here do not certify those numeric values.
Early blackthorn blossom
Sun, moist but draining soil; allow for thorns and suckering.
Catalogue flowering: Feb–May
RHS includes Prunus spinosa in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.
Apple blossom
A sunny, draining orchard position with space set by rootstock.
Catalogue flowering: Apr–May
RHS includes Malus species in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.
Listed as attracting: pollinators.
Hawthorn spring blossom
Sun or light shade and draining soil; retain enough space for woody growth.
Catalogue flowering: May–Jun
RHS includes Crataegus monogyna in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.
Mature autumn-flowering ivy
Retain mature flowering growth on a managed support; juvenile ground cover will not flower.
Catalogue flowering: Sep–Nov
RHS includes Hedera helix in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.
Blackcurrant flowering shrubs
Open sun and fertile, draining soil on the accessible edge.
Catalogue flowering: Apr–May
RHS includes Ribes nigrum in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.
Raspberry flowering canes
A draining, preferably sunny strip with room to manage canes.
Catalogue flowering: May–Oct
RHS includes Rubus idaeus in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, pollinators.
Lungwort in spring shade
The moist, draining shaded base, away from the sun-loving herb strip.
Catalogue flowering: Mar–May
RHS includes Pulmonaria species in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.
Listed as attracting: bees.
Comfrey flowering clumps
A moist, draining patch in sun or light shade; allow room for persistent clumps.
Catalogue flowering: Apr–Sep
RHS includes Symphytum officinale in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.
Listed as attracting: bees.
Flowering clover strip
A light, moist but draining strip; leave patches unmown while flowering.
Catalogue flowering: May–Oct
RHS includes Trifolium repens in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.
Listed as attracting: bees, butterflies, moths, pollinators.
Chives on the sunny margin
Moist, draining soil with sun or light shade; retain flower stems.
Catalogue flowering: May–Jul
RHS includes Allium species in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.
Listed as attracting: pollinators.
General guidance supports the design principles. Plant references support individual traits or recorded flower visitors. A source does not endorse this complete planting recipe. Review date: 2026-09-08.
Recommends plants across seasons and simple, accessible flowers. This is general planting guidance, not a trial of these combinations.
Match plants to local growing conditions and native ranges, provide nesting habitat and avoid pesticide exposure.
Hedera helix flowers on mature growth in autumn; reaching the flowering stage can take around ten years.
Recommended pollinator plants; some entries apply to a whole genus.
Recommended pollinator plants; some entries apply to a whole genus.
Sunny, moist but draining sites; early-spring blossom. Thorny growth and spreading suckers require space and management.
Recommended pollinator plants; some entries apply to a whole genus.
Growing conditions and reported flower visitors for the named plant.
Sun or partial shade, draining soil and late-spring blossom; allow room for a woody plant several metres wide.
Growing conditions and reported flower visitors for the named plant.
Ribes nigrum prefers an open sunny site and fertile, draining soil.
Growing conditions and reported flower visitors for the named plant.
Growing conditions and reported flower visitors for the named plant.
Growing conditions and reported flower visitors for the named plant.
Growing conditions and reported flower visitors for the named plant.
Growing conditions and reported flower visitors for the named plant.