Michael reveals some low-maintenance plants to look out for
Let’s talk about garden showstoppers! Fresh from winning the RHS Chelsea Plant of the Year award for their revolutionary Philadelphus Petite Perfume Pink (‘P1’), Hillier Garden Centres are also bringing in a number of other gems, all of which are compact, colourful, and perfect for gardeners who love maximum impact with minimal fuss. Here are a few of my personal favourites to brighten up your borders and pots this summer season, and beyond.
Philadelphus Petite Perfume Pink (‘P1’)
This delectable beauty stole the show as Chelsea Plant of the Year.
Bred by Alan Postill, Petite Perfume Pink is a scented sensation with rare pink blooms that fade delicately to white.
It’s a compact, arching shrub ideal for mid-borders or large containers, thriving in sun or part shade. Low-maintenance and hardy across the UK, just give it a light prune after flowering. It’s exclusively available at Hillier Garden Centres and I’ve got one on my balcony already!
Geranium x oxonianum Gold Nugget® (‘Hillger’)
A finalist in the Plant of the Year award and a front-of-border star, Gold Nugget glows with golden yellow foliage and sweet pink flowers in early summer.
This hardy, clump-forming perennial is pretty much indestructible, and will love sun or part shade, with a leaf colour that intensifies in bright light. It’s low on effort and big on colour, and perfect for mixed planters or patio pots.
Rhaphiolepis indica ‘White Cloud’
Say hello to the first-ever rhaphiolepis, also known as Indian hawthorn, with pure white flowers!
‘White Cloud’ is a compact evergreen bred in the Netherlands, flaunting fragrant blooms against glossy green leaves.
A plant with a bright future, it’s a serene choice for borders or containers as it’s hardy down to -7°C and prefers full sun with well-drained soil. Just 1,000 plants will be available for starters, so grab one while you can!
Salvia Rockin’ Blue Suede Shoes (‘Bbsal01301’)
Bold and beautiful, this salvia brings months of colour with striking sky-blue flowers and purple-black calyces. It’s upright, bushy and a magnet for pollinators, blooming from late spring right into autumn.
Tolerant of heat and drought once established, it’s a great pick for wildlife-friendly or low-maintenance gardens. So now you know why everyone’s been talking about salvias recently.
Dahlia Lubega Power Tricolor (‘Voldah5612’) (Lubega Power Series)
Vibrant and eye-catching, this dahlia boasts big, double blooms in yellow, scarlet, and white. Part of the Lubega Power Series, it’s perfect for pots or sunny borders, flowering from midsummer to frost.
Regular deadheading keeps the display going. Just remember that it’s tender, so protect it from frost or lift the tubers come winter.
But, how amazing to have a dahlia for the patio, it proves that you don’t need a massive border to grow these beauties.
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