Bedding plants
Check the details when you buy and pick appropriate plants for your situation
Key: Common name
Species & 'Variety'
Approx. height
Flowering season
Full sun
Sweet alyssum
Lobularia maritima, 0.15m, Jun-Oct
Aubrieta
Aubrieta, 0.15m, Mar-May
Antirrhinum
Antirrhinum, 0.2-1.2m, Jun-Sept
California poppy
Eschscholzia californica, 0.25-1.2m, Jun-Oct
Wallflower
e.g. Wallflower 'Sugar Rush', 0.3m, Mar-May and Oct-Nov
Nasturtium
Tropaeolum, 0.3m, Jun-Sept
Annual rudbeckia
Annual rudbeckia, 0.3-0.75m, July-Oct
Sweet William
Dianthus barbatus, 0.45m, May-Sept
Cosmos
Cosmos, 0.5-1.2m, Jun-Oct
Honeywort
e.g. Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens', 0.6m, May-Sept
Sweet rocket
Hesperis matronalis, 0.9m, May-Jul
Part sun/part shade
Snowdrops
Galanthus nivalis, 0.1m, Jan-Feb
Primrose
Primula vulgaris, 0.2m, Mar-May
Antirrhinum
Antirrhinum, 0.2-1.2m, Jun-Sept
California poppy
Eschscholzia californica, 0.25-1.2m, Jun-Oct
Wallflower
e.g. Wallflower 'Sugar Rush', 0.3m, Mar-May and Oct-Nov
Nasturtium
Tropaeolum, 0.3m, Jun-Sept
Annual rudbeckia
Annual rudbeckia, 0.3-0.75m, July-Oct
Honeywort
Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens', 0.6m, May-Sept
Sweet rocket
Hesperis matronalis, 0.9m, May-Jul
Grow in flowerbeds or containers
Many of the UK’s usual bedding plants have brightly coloured flowers, but may not actually be much help for wildlife. Here are a few that will look great in the garden and provide valuable food for bees and other insects. Many are annuals (although some of these will self seed for the following year)