Planting for early-emerging pollinators

If you are planning to do some planting over the Christmas break, then it’s worth considering plants that will provide a much-needed source of food for early-emerging pollinators.

Hazel Woods of Kilmurry Nursery in Gorey recommends pulmonarias (lungwort) which range in colours from whites to pinks, purples and reds and are a great source of food in spring. “They flower in March and are best-suited to full to partial shade and a moist soil,” she explains. Corydalis, with their yellow, red and blue hues, are another early food source and thrive in partial shade with a well-drained soil, adds Hazel.

Other winter flowering plants worth considering include mahonias, viburnums, and snowdrops, as detailed in this helpful guide to planting pollinator-friendly plants from the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.