Everlasting Blossoms for a Vibrant Yard: Flowering Plants That Offer Year-Round Color
A garden can be a source of constant colour and joy, even in the British climate, with a little planning and the right choice of plants. Experts recommend a combination of carefully selected plants to provide continuous colour throughout the year.
Spring
In spring, shrubs like azaleas, California lilac, euphorbia, and forsythia burst into bloom, accompanied by perennials such as aubrieta and forget-me-nots. Bulbs like crocuses, daffodils, grape hyacinths, tulips, and anemones contribute fresh yellows, pinks, blues, and whites.
Summer
Summer brings out shrubs including rock roses, fuchsia, potentilla, mock orange, and buddleia. Perennials like delphiniums, peonies, crocosmias, and geraniums bloom vigorously, while bulbs such as alliums, irises, lilies, and begonias add to the colour palette. Self-cleaning annuals like petunias (especially the Supertunia series) and lobelia (Lobelia erinus) bloom from spring to autumn with minimal maintenance.
Autumn
As the leaves change colour, shrubs like spindle tree, rhus, plumbago, and Japanese maple display richer tones. Perennials such as chrysanthemums, asters, and Michaelmas daisies add late-season flowers. Bulbs like colchicums and nerines maintain interest.
Winter
Though often overlooked, winter colour can be provided by berry-bearing shrubs and dramatic foliage plants such as evergreen fuchsia and ornamental dogwoods. Pansies and lamium offer early spring interest before other plants revive.
In container gardening, combining year-round survivors like ‘Golden Sword’ yucca with seasonal companions ensures continuous structure and seasonal bursts of colour outdoors.
All Year Round
Ornamental grasses like Stipa tenuissima add texture and drama to an outdoor space year-round. Dahlias, roses, lavender, salvia, geums, hydrangea, hardy geraniums, and Mexican fleabane are plants that flower all summer in the UK. Ivy and other evergreens provide year-round interest.
However, it's important to remember that no single plant can truly flower all year outdoors in the UK. That's why mixing plants with staggered flowering times, evergreen or interesting foliage, and self-sustaining blooming habits is key to maintaining a vibrant garden year-round.
Dahlias, violas, cyclamen, and the lesser periwinkle (Vinca minor f. alba 'Gertrude Jekyll') can be found on Crocus, along with a variety of other plants mentioned. So, get planting and enjoy the continuous colour in your garden!
- A well-planned garden, with a mixture of shrubs, perennials, bulbs, and annuals, can offer a home-and-garden lifestyle filled with beauty and health throughout the year.
- Experts suggest combining year-round survivors like 'Golden Sword' yucca with seasonal companions for continuous structure and seasonal bursts of colour in both container gardening and traditional gardens.
- Ornamental grasses, roses, lavender, salvia, geums, hydrangea, hardy geraniums, and Mexican fleabane are just a few examples of plants that provide colour and interest in the garden all summer in the UK.
- To maintain a vibrant garden year-round, it's essential to consider plants with staggered flowering times, evergreen or interesting foliage, and self-sustaining blooming habits, like dahlias, violas, cyclamen, and lesser periwinkle.