flowers for the sun

Gazania flowers bloom from May to October and can be overwintered, yet one arch-enemy still troubles them

Gazania (treasure flower) brings dazzling, daisy-like blooms to sunny beds and containers from late spring into autumn. Give it sun and sharp drainage, and avoid its biggest downfall: cold, wet conditions.

5 min read

Russian Sage Flowers from Summer into Autumn with Almost No Care

Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia, also sold as Salvia yangii) brings airy texture and long-lasting lavender-blue colour from mid-summer into autumn. Once established, it thrives in sun and free-draining soil with very little maintenance.

5 min read

Don’t Cut Sedums in Autumn, Those Dry Flowerheads Have a Purpose

Leave sedum flowerheads standing through winter for structure, wildlife value and frost-kissed beauty. Cut back in late winter as new shoots appear, and keep plants compact with good sun and drainage.

5 min read

How to Grow Sunflowers as a Standout for the Garden and Balcony

Sunflowers bring bold summer colour to borders, patios and even balconies. With the right spot, steady watering and a little support, they’ll flower for weeks and can even provide seeds for birds or your pantry.

5 min read

Bergenia A Year Round Feature for Shade or Sun

Bergenia is one of the most reliable perennials, valued for its bold evergreen foliage and early spring flowers. It thrives in shade or sun, is easy to care for, and adds colour right through winter.

5 min read

Yarrow thrives in drought blooms for bees and butterflies and survives heatwaves

Common yarrow is a tough, sun-loving perennial that flowers for weeks, feeds pollinators, and shrugs off drought once established. With the right soil and a little deadheading, it stays tidy and can even rebloom later in summer.

5 min read

Larkspur Like a Catalogue Star A Practical Growing Guide for Every Garden

Larkspur brings tall, elegant flower spikes and airy foliage to beds and cottage gardens. Learn the best light, soil, watering and aftercare to keep it flowering strongly and healthy.

5 min read

Rose Campion Mistake Free Common Missteps and How to Avoid Them

Rose campion is a striking, silver-leaved perennial that brings vivid pink colour in mid to late summer and often returns reliably through self-seeding. Learn how to choose the right site, avoid waterlogged soil, and manage self-sown seedlings to keep it under control.

5 min read

Mandevilla as the Successor to Geraniums That Loves Full Sun and Brightens Any Balcony

Mandevilla (often sold as dipladenia) thrives in heat and full sun, rewarding you with long waves of trumpet flowers. With the right compost, careful watering and regular feeding, it can flower for months and even be overwintered indoors.

5 min read

How to Grow Ranunculus Like a Florist and Enjoy Abundant Blooms

Ranunculus rewards you with richly coloured, rose-like blooms when you give it sun, free-draining soil and careful watering. Learn when to plant the tubers, how to feed and overwinter them, and how to keep stems strong for cutting.

5 min read

How to Plant in Odd and Even Numbers for a Beautiful Garden

Planting in groups of odd or even numbers can completely change how cohesive and intentional a border looks. Use odd-numbered groupings for a natural flow, and even numbers where symmetry and structure are the goal.

5 min read

How to Keep Geraniums Blooming Nonstop from Spring to Autumn

Geraniums can flower for months, but only when light, watering and pinching are balanced. Use a few proven techniques to keep plants compact, vigorous and continuously budded right through autumn.

5 min read

Lavender fragrance indoors and in the garden all year round

Lavender is a sun-loving, drought-tolerant shrub that rewards you with beautiful blooms and a clean, calming scent. Learn how to plant it, prune it correctly, and harvest and dry the flowers for use at home.

5 min read

How to plan a border that flowers from the first days of spring to late autumn

A border that stays colourful from early spring until autumn doesn’t happen by accident. With the right mix of bulbs, perennials and annuals, you can bridge flowering gaps and keep the display going for months.

5 min read