In My Garden: Hoverflies Galore!

We had a very wet winter and early spring this year and the garden is looking wonderful! Apart from all the beautiful blooms, one thing that really stands out in my garden this year is that there are lots of hoverflies around!

Normally you can see quite a few hoverflies in spring but this year there are masses of them. Not that I’m complaining because hoverflies are the natural predator of the aphid. I have seen a few aphids on the roses but this year they don’t stand a chance!

Hoverflies look like little wasps with their black and yellow bodies but they have a head like a fly. That is if you can get them to sit still long enough to have a good look!  Although they look like a wasp they are actually harmless so it is great to see so many in the garden. It must be all the rain that has bolstered their numbers!

4 Plants Attracting Masses of Hoverflies to Our Garden

While they’re plentiful throughout the garden this year I have noticed that there are a few plants that they seem to prefer.

1. Thryptomene

We have a thryptomene bush in our back garden that flowers in late winter through into spring. It was the first of the flowering plants in our garden to attract lots of hoverflies.

Thryptomene is a low care plant with pretty flowers that will attract bees and hoverflies to the garden!

2. California Lilac

I just love the California lilac plant; it really is a great addition to the garden. They’re a common sight in gardens where I live and easy to spot because of their striking blue flowers.  We have four California lilac plants in our garden.

I just love the California lilac plant – and the hoverflies do to!

3. Diosma

We have quite a few diosma plants dotted around the garden. They look like little balls of colour with their masses of pink or white flowers. So not only are they pretty they’re also great for attracting hoverflies.

Hoverflies love the masses of pink and white flowers of the diosma plants in our garden!

We are lucky enough to have a beautiful pink diosma and a California lilac next to each other in our back garden. Every time we go past these two plants a cloud of hoverflies can be seen buzzing around.

4. Marguerite Daisy

The marguerite daisy is also a great shrub to have in the garden; it seems to flower for ages during winter and spring! Our marguerite daisies are all yellow but you can also get them in whites and pinks.

Marguerite daisies will flower through winter and spring and attract lots of hoverflies!

If you want to attract hoverflies to your garden, adding one (or more!) of these plants to your garden would be a great start!