hanging baskets - attract bees etc ?

[gingerneil]

Hi all,
I have a couple of hanging baskets that I used for toms last year - but I will be growing them in the new raised beds this time round. Can anyone recommend a good selection of insect attracting trailing flowers that could go in the baskets instead ? Preferable available as plugs to make things easy for me....
The baskets are actually semi-circles screwed to fence posts, if that makes any difference...

[lainey lou]

A few years ago I had glorious baskets of geraniums and they attracted a hummingbird tiger moth it was the most beautiful little creature and visited frequently, have never managed to attract one since.

[gingerneil]

A few years ago I had glorious baskets of geraniums and they attracted a hummingbird tiger moth it was the most beautiful little creature and visited frequently, have never managed to attract one since.

Sounds fantastic. Thanks for the tip....

[SMS6]

You can also get hanging basket variaties of sweet peas, I'm trying them out this year in my hanging baskets

[Two_Sheds]

Nasturtiums will attract caterpillars, butterflies and blackfly

While not trailing, Poached Eggs and Calendula will attract hoverflies like nobody's business. You could put something trailing in as well I suppose, like a fuchsia?

[valmarg]

Went to B&Q last week. They are selling small pot plants for 75p each - £6.00 for ten. Mainly surfinias, fuchsias, etc. One of the plants they were selling, I would recommend to attract bees, hoverflies, etc would be the verbenas. They are easy to grow from cuttings, and give a lovely display.

valmarg

[gingerneil]

One of the plants they were selling, I would recommend to attract bees, hoverflies, etc would be the verbenas. They are easy to grow from cuttings, and give a lovely display.

valmarg

Thanks. Would they go into hanging baskets, and 'trail' ?

[valmarg]

Thanks. Would they go into hanging baskets, and 'trail' ?

In a word 'yes'.

I've bought several plants, and taken cuttings from them. They root very easily, and provide a mass of colour in the summer. I also plant them in the garden. It is one plant that attracts the humming bird hawk moth, they just love them!!

valmarg