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Annual flowering seed mixes are often grown in gardens and parks, but the flowers included may not be the most pollinator-friendly. New research in reveals plant species that have the potential to attract a diversity of pollinators.

Investigators surveyed 447 scientific papers on plant-insect interactions and conducted field trials of commercially available seed mixes to see which plants pollinators visited the most, focusing on bees and hoverflies. These analyses and tests were used to develop two novel experimental seed mixes that were assessed for insect visitation and aesthetic appeal.

The scientists found that seed mixes containing non-native flowering plants along with native species had higher establishment and flowered for longer. These seed mixes attracted pollinating insects in higher numbers and were more aesthetically pleasing to the public.

"Based on visitation by pollinators, successful establishment, availability, and aesthetic appearance, we recommend the following species as key components of 'pollinator-friendly' seed mixes. Native species to the UK: Achillea millefolium. Archaeophytes (species introduced to the UK before 1500 CE): Anthemis arvensis, Centaurea cyanus, Echium plantagineum, Glebionis segetum, Papaver rhoeas, Sinapis arvensis, Tripleurospermum inordorum. Non-natives: Cosmos bipinnatus, Linaria maroccana, Phacelia tanacetifolia," the authors wrote.