November can be a challenging month for pollinators in the UK as the weather gets colder and many plants have stopped blooming. However, there are still some great options for providing nectar and pollen for pollinators. Here are some flowering shrubs that can be good choices for pollinators in November:
- Winter-flowering heather (Erica carnea and Erica x darleyensis): These evergreen shrubs produce pink, white or purple flowers from November to April, providing a valuable source of nectar for bees and other pollinators during the colder months of the year.
- Winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima): This deciduous shrub produces fragrant white flowers from November to March, providing an important source of nectar for bees and other pollinators. It’s also easy to grow and can tolerate a wide range of soils and conditions.
- Viburnum tinus: This evergreen shrub produces clusters of small white or pink flowers from November to April, providing a good source of nectar for bees and other pollinators. It’s also drought tolerant and can be grown in containers or in the ground.
- Witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis): This deciduous shrub produces fragrant yellow, orange or red flowers from November to March, providing an important source of nectar for bees and other pollinators. It’s also shade tolerant and can be grown in a woodland garden or as a specimen plant.
- Mahonia (Mahonia japonica and Mahonia x media): These evergreen shrubs produce fragrant yellow flowers from November to March, providing an important source of nectar for bees and other pollinators. They’re also low maintenance and can tolerate poor soil and drought.
Planting these and other flowering shrubs can help provide a valuable source of nectar for pollinators during the colder months of the year when food can be scarce.