Plants for flowerbeds
Check the details when you buy and pick appropriate plants for your situation
Key: Common name
Species & 'Variety'
Approx. height
Flowering season
Full sun
Crocus
Lots to pick from, 0.15m, Mar-Apr
Mexican fleabane
Erigeron karvinskianus, 0.3m, Jun-Oct
Euphorbia
e.g. Euphorbia epithymoides, 0.4m, Apr-May
Sedum / ice plant
e.g. Hylotelephium spectabile 'Brilliant', 0.45m, Aug-Nov
Russian sage
e.g. Perovskia ‘Little Spire’, 0.6m, Aug-Sept
Hebe
Lots to pick from, big and small e.g. Hebe 'Autumn Glory', 0.6m, Jul-Oct
Hardy geranium / cranesbill
Lots to pick from e.g Geranium ‘Rozanne’, 0.6m, Jun-Oct
Yarrow
e.g. Achillea millefolium 'Red Velvet', 0.6m, May-Aug; ‘Moonshine’, 0.6m, Jun-Sept; Achillea filipendulina 'Cloth of Gold', 1.2m, Jun-Sept
Verbena
e.g. Verbena bonariensis 'Lollipop', 0.6m, Jun-Sept
Allium
e.g. Allium cristophii ‘Star of Persia’, 0.6m, Jun-Jul
Hyssop
Hyssopus officinalis, 0.6m, Jul-Sept
Lavender
e.g. Lavandula angustifolia ‘Hidcote’, 0.6m, Jul-Sept
Wallflower
e.g. Erysimum 'Bowles's Mauve', 0.75m, Feb-Jul
Dark mullien
Verbascum nigrum, 0.75m, Jun-Sept
Globe thistle
Echinops ritro 'Veitch's Blue', 0.9m, Aug
Bluebeard
e.g. Caryopteris x clandonensis hint of gold 'Lisaura', 0.9m, Aug-Sept
Teasel
Dipsacus fullonum, 1m, Jul-Aug
Hollyhocks
Alcea rosea (single flower varieties),1.5-2.5m, Jun-Aug
Part sun/part shade
Snowdrops
Galanthus nivalis, 0.1m, Jan-Feb
Lamium
e.g. Lamium maculatum 'Beacon Silver', 0.15m, May-Jul
Bugle
Ajuga reptans, 0.15m, Apr-Jun
Primrose
Primula vulgaris, 0.2m, Mar-May
Hellebore
e.g. Helleborus purpurascens, 0.3m, Dec-Mar
Euphorbia
e.g. Euphorbia epithymoides, 0.4m, Apr-May
Sedum / ice plant
e.g. Hylotelephium spectabile 'Brilliant', 0.45m, Aug-Nov
Hebe
Lots to pick from, big and small e.g. Hebe 'Autumn Glory', 0.6m, Jul-Oct
Ferns
Lots to pick from e.g. Five-fingered maidenhair fern (Adiantum aleuticum) 0.45m; Hart’s tongue (Asplenium scolopendrium) 0.6m
Hardy geranium / cranesbill
Lots to pick from e.g Geranium ‘Rozanne’, 0.6m, Jun-Oct
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea, 0.6-2m, Jun-Jul
Red Campion
Silene dioica, 0.8m, Apr-July
Fairy bellflower
Campanula persicifolia, 0.8m, Jun-Jul
Dusky cranesbill
Geranium phaeum, 0.8m, May-Jun
Japanese anemone
Lots to pick from e.g. Anemone x hybrida ‘September Charm’, 0.9m, Jul-Sept
Beard tongue
e.g. Penstemon 'Raven', 1m, Jun-Oct
Teasel
Dipsacus fullonum, 1m, Jul-Aug
Shade
Snowdrops
Galanthus nivalis, 0.1m, Jan-Feb
Lamium
e.g. Lamium maculatum 'Beacon Silver', 0.15m, May-Jul
Bugle
Ajuga reptans, 0.15m, Apr-Jun
Primrose
Primula vulgaris, 0.2m, Mar-May
Sweet woodruff
Galium odoratum, 0.2m, Apr-Jul
Ferns
Lots to pick from e.g. Common polypody (Polypodium vulgare) 0.3m; Five-fingered maidenhair fern (Adiantum aleuticum) 0.45m; Hart’s tongue (Asplenium scolopendrium) 0.6m; Soft shield fern (Polystichum setiferum) 1.2m
Elephant's ears
e.g. Bergenia 'Bressingham White'
Japanese anemone
Lots to pick from e.g. Anemone x hybrida ‘September Charm’, 0.9m, Jul-Sept