Some exciting plants to get you growing in style this summer
Did you know that autumn and winter are often the best planting season? As long as the ground isn’t wet or waterlogged, you can actually pull your gloves on, and get planting.
Bare root plants offer amazing value, as you’re basically buying just the raw material of the plant. It won’t come with a fancy pot, or even any compost, you simply get the root of the plant. But, it is THE BEST way to establish new plants in your garden, as you’re basically planting the plants whilst they’re asleep, in their dormant winter season.
Come the spring, they will, of course, spring into life! And, those plants will be way ahead of anything you end up planting later in the spring or even in summer. See, it makes sense- planting bareroot plants is often one of the best kept secrets in gardening.. until now! Happy planting, I’ve got a few picks for you here from Dutch Grown, who sell nursery fresh bareroot plants across the UK, and are gearing up to despatch during March.
Dahlia ‘Just Married’
Did you know that dahlias are the number one bestseller among spring planted plants? This new variety is just begging to be grown and gifted as a bunch of cut flowers to any newlyweds this summer too!
Some might plant dahlia tubers into pots before planting out later, yet you can also plant straight into the ground- choose a sunny spot with well-drained, fertile soil, and plant after the last frost in spring, when the ground has warmed.
Echinacea ‘Green Twister’
A very unique coneflower, with a super cool designer look to its blooms. A fantastic combination of lime-green and lilac petals, encasing its fiery red centre.
An excellent plant for borders, where it will attract the most beautiful butterflies. You might also want to snip a few blooms for indoors too, they last 2 weeks in a vase.
Eucomis Bicolour (Pineapple Lily)
A rather unique perennial, with wavy, strap-shaped leaves and purple-spotted stems. And if that wasn’t enough, it also gives racemes of star-shaped pale green flowers! Blooms also have a spicy scent.
It might look exotic, but it’s actually super easy to grow, and with some winter protection, can be saved year after year.
Eryngium ‘Jos Eijking’
A tall and captivating Sea Holly variety, with larger flowers than other eryngium. Those intense, iridescent, metallic blue flowers are tightly packed into egg-shaped heads, illuminating the garden throughout the summer, and pleasing pollinators.
A versatile plant for dry borders and exposed areas too, so why not give it a go!
Thalictrum Delavayi (Chinese Meadow Rue)
I love thalictrum, and it’s a great ‘stitching plant’, dot it through your borders to bring everything together as it fills in gaps here and there. Lovely, blue-green foliage and frothy flowers come mid summer.
Useful for damp corners, especially in dappled shade. Pair it with ferns and hostas for something special.
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