Plants for Purpose
As well as filling our homes and gardens with an array of beauty and colour, did you know that by choosing the right plant for the right place can save you time, effort and money?
Plants for attracting bees, butterflies and other insects!
Planting nectar and pollen-rich plants throughout the growing season is a vital step to making your garden as wildlife-friendly as possible.
Flying insects such as bees and butterflies collect nectar and pollen from one flower and transfer it to another. This process is called pollination and, without this, plants would fail to produce seed and, in some cases, fruit.
Hebe
A reliable, evergreen shrub, Hebes are well known for their variety in foliage colour. They also produce flowers in a number of striking colours.
Digitalis
Perfect for a cottage garden, Digitalis, bettwe known as ‘Foxglove’, glowers every other year and freely self-seeds.
Buddleja
Known as the ‘Butterfly’ plant, they produce vibrant, purple blooms over the summer months.
Plants for full sun
With such a wide variety of plants that flourish in full sun, it can be tricky to select what is best for your garden.
Sunny areas lend themselves well to fruit and vegetable growing, sun-loving herbaceous perennials and colourful summer annuals.
Remember to consider that sun-loving plants can have wide range of requirements for moisture, drainage and soil type.
Lavender
This evergreen shrub produces scented flowers above silvery-grey or green foliage.
Cosmos
These are very easy to grow and come in a variety of stunning colours.
Dahlias
Not only are they very easy to care for but they also come in an array of vibrant colours and a wide range of flower types.
Plants for ground cover
Ground cover plants not only form an attractive carpet but are also fantastic for suppressing weeds.
They are relatively low-maintenance, and their roots help stabilise soil erosion.
Remember to remove all perennial weeds thoroughly and add a soil conditioner to improve soil structure before planting.
Sedum
These are succulent plants due to their thick, fleshy leaves and will add colour all year round.
Huechera
The eye-catching foliage creates year round interest due to the huge range of leaf shapes, patterns and colours.
Vinca
A vigorous evergreen which produces purple or blue flowers every year.
Plants for shade
When planting in shade, it is important to consider the different levels of shade.
Light Shade – Your garden is in slight shade for all or most of the day.
Partial Shade – Your plants are in the sun for some of the day.
Dappled Shade – Where blotchy shade is created when the sun filters through overhead foliage.
Hosta
The white leaf edges of a Hosta will brighten up your dark borders along with the bell-like flowers.
Dicentra
Known as ‘Bleeding Heart’, Dicentra are a perfect addition to a shady area and will flowers every year.
Euphorbia
These will produce lime green flowers and glossy evergreen foliage. Take extra care though, as they can be an irritant to skin.
Plants for windy areas
Gardening in high winds can be a difficult task for any gardener, so it is crucial to use plants that flourish and enjoy growing in windy conditions.
Using trees and hedges as a shield from high winds will widen the range of plants that can be grown in your garden.
Nepeta
These will produce lilac-blue flowers every year on a bed of silvery-green foliage.
Erynigium
Also known as ‘Sea Hollies’, they produce green foliage with spiky blue flowers.
Brachyglottis
Known as ‘Sunshine’, this is an evergreen shrub with yellow flowers and a silver-grey-foliage.
