RHS Plants for Pollinators
In November 2014 the UK Government launched the National Pollinator Strategy (England). The RHS is a key stakeholder of the Strategy, which sets out actions and goals to support pollinators and try and answer some of the questions surrounding causes of pollinator declines. Part of the Strategy encourages gardeners to choose plants that provide resources for pollinators and endorses the RHS Plants for Pollinator list and logo.
One of the biggest problems for pollinators is a lack of flowering plants, especially those packed with pollen and nectar, so in 2011 we launched the Perfect for Pollinators logo to encourage gardeners to grow more of them. We care passionately about our bees, hoverflies, butterflies and other pollinators and believe gardens play an important role in reversing their decline. The brand has never resulted in any profit for the RHS.
We have been reviewing the logo after research found that some labelled plants contained traces of pesticides. While the RHS encourages responsible growing practices, it cannot, as a charity, police how hundreds of thousands of plants are grown each year within the horticultural trade. Rather than get rid of the brand altogether – which would undermine efforts to boost pollinator numbers – we have changed the name to Plants for Pollinators. This new name better reflects the significance of the logo; showing gardeners those flowering plants that are attractive to pollinators without commenting on the way in which they have been grown.
We anticipate that the process of rebranding may take some years as we work with the industry to ensure a smooth transition. In the interim we urge gardeners to continue to look to the logo as a guide to what plants will support pollinators in their gardens as we must continue to help these vital insects.
We advise our hundreds and thousands of members and millions of other gardeners, to avoid using pesticides wherever possible. We urge anyone using pesticides to proceed with caution and never spray open flowers.
Pesticide-free plant suppliers
One of the RHS’s key objectives is to help gardeners to garden responsibly and grow more plants; for instance, we promote non-chemical means of control for gardeners and provide extensive advice on alternatives to pesticides. For those that prefer to have more confidence that the plants they purchase do not contain pesticide residues we have created a list of organic nurseries. We are also eager to continue to work with the horticultural trade and Government to establish how assurance schemes and supply chains can be improved to help buyers and gardeners make informed decisions, such as including information at the point of sale about how plants have been grown.
National Botanic Garden of Wales ‘Saving Pollinators’
The National Botanic Garden of Wales Saving Pollinators scheme guarantees plants produced without the use of synthetic insecticides. In summer 2020 the Saving Pollinators scheme included 23 Welsh nurseries that have signed up to not use peat or synthetic pesticides on labelled plants and to a list of plants that research at the National Botanic Garden of Wales has shown to be visited by bees (including honeybees, bumblebees and solitary bees, along with hoverflies).
Organic Nurseries
Organic Gardening Catalogue
Tel: (01932) 878570
Vegetable, herb and flower seeds, green manures, fruit trees and soft fruit bushes, bulbs and edible mushrooms
Poyntzfield Herb Nursery
Tel: (01381) 610352
Herbs (plants and seeds)
Edulis
Tel: (01635) 578113
Rare plants and edibles
Mickfield Hostas
Tel: (01449) 711576
Hostas
Bluebell Cottage Nursery
Tel: (01928) 713718
Perennials
Penlan Perennials
Tel: (01239) 842260
Perennials
Plants, Shoots and Leaves
Tel: (01620) 823536
Perennials
Waddow Lodge Garden
Tel: (01200) 429145
Perennials and shrubs
Gwynfor Growers
Tel: (01239) 654151
Perennials, rosemary, shrubs and fruit (Welsh fruit specialist)
Walcot Organic Nursery
Tel: (01905) 841587
Fruit
Organic Bulbs Ltd.
Tel: (01373) 888720
Bulbs