How herbs and salads support pollinators

Growing herbs and salads offers far more than quick harvests and great flavour. While they’re tasty, good for us, and easy to grow, the real magic happens when you let them flower. These everyday edibles transform into pollinator powerhouses, bringing vital benefits to both your plate and your garden’s biodiversity

The original seed ball company, Seedball, is encouraging gardeners to let a few herb and salad plants flower this season. It’s all about finding a happy balance between harvest and habitat - one that results in a more colourful, fragrant, and wildlife-friendly garden.

When left to flower, herbs and salads become buzzing hubs of activity, attracting bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Thanks to their fast-growing nature, they’re ideal for summer planting and provide a much-needed source of nectar and pollen when other blooms might be fading.

But the benefits don’t stop there. Some herbs do more than feed pollinators - they help keep them healthy, too. Studies have shown that bees will actively seek out certain herbs, like thyme, to self-medicate against fungal infections. So, by letting your edible garden bloom, you're not just offering a snack - you might be giving bees a natural boost!

Top picks for bee-friendly herbs and salads:

Marjoram – With delicate leaves and dainty blossoms, marjoram is a top choice for bees and butterflies alike.

Chives – These versatile stalks burst into striking purple blooms that pollinators can’t resist.

Thyme – Low-growing, fragrant, and covered in tiny pink-white flowers, thyme is a magnet for pollinators - and doubles as a beautiful lawn alternative.

Rocket – Famous for its peppery leaves, rocket also produces pretty white flowers that are a hit with bees and butterflies.

Dr Emily Attlee, conservation scientist and co-founder of Seedball, said: “For anyone growing their own produce this season, letting herbs and salads bloom is a simple yet powerful way to support biodiversity right at home. It’s amazing how something as easy as letting a few chives or rocket plants flower can turn your veg patch into a buzzing hotspot for bees and butterflies. You still get to enjoy the fresh flavours for your kitchen, but you’re also creating a mini wildlife haven - it’s gardening with double the benefits and twice the joy!”

To make herb-growing even easier, Seedball has launched a handy set of five herb tubes, perfect for gardeners of all experience levels. Each tube is packed with seed balls containing

a mix of tasty herbs including basil, rocket, chives, parsley, and mint. Thanks to Seedball’s unique clay coating, the seeds are protected from pests and harsh conditions, making them super simple to grow - just scatter and water!

Whether you’re sowing a windowsill pot or a sunny garden bed, these herb tubes are a fuss-free way to add flavour to your meals and colour to your garden.

For more information or to explore Seedball’s full range of wildflower products and growing tips, visit www.seedball.co.uk

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Editors notes

Seedball was founded by two conservation scientists wanting to boost biodiversity and help wildlife.

Seedball Ltd is an innovative organisation on a mission to help increase the abundance of British wildflowers and the wildlife that depends upon them.

Owned by Project Maya – a non-profit enterprise - Seedball manufactures wildflower seed balls using a unique innovation of wildflower seeds mixed with clay, peat-free compost and chilli powder to naturally protect seeds from predators. Its products are sold in over 500 stores in the UK, including Kew Gardens, The Woodland Trust and Blue Diamond Garden Centres, as well as online retailers such as Crocus and Marie Curie. Each year, Seedball also donates products to hundreds of schools and community groups to help support their nature projects.