When planning a hedging project for public footpaths, gardens, or community spaces, safety is a key consideration—especially where children, pets, and wildlife are involved. Thornless hedging offers a fantastic alternative to spiky and potentially hazardous plants while still providing essential shelter, food, and year-round visual interest.

Native thornless hedging is particularly beneficial as it supports local biodiversity, attracts pollinators, and enhances the natural landscape. Here are some excellent choices that will bring colour, texture, and wildlife into your outdoor spaces without the risk of thorns.

1. Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam)

Hornbeam is a resilient, native hedging tree with dense foliage that remains throughout the year, providing a reliable windbreak and privacy screen. In autumn, its leaves turn golden yellow, adding seasonal interest. It is an excellent choice for structured hedging that offers nesting sites and cover for birds while being completely thorn-free.

• Ultimate Height: 12m+
• Flowers: Spring
• Fruits: Autumn
• Soil Type: Any
• Sunlight: Full sun/partial shade

2. Corylus avellana (Hazel)

Hazel is a fantastic multi-purpose hedging plant, offering seasonal beauty and food for both humans and wildlife. It produces yellow catkins in early spring, which attract pollinators such as bees, and edible hazelnuts in autumn, providing an important food source for squirrels and birds. Hazel’s quick growth and ability to be coppiced make it an excellent option for creating a natural, bushy hedge.

• Ultimate Height: 4-8m
• Flowers: Spring
• Fruits: Autumn
• Soil Type: Chalk, loam, or sandy
• Sunlight: Full sun/partial shade

3. Cornus sanguinea (Dogwood)

A native broadleaf shrub, dogwood is valued for its striking red stems that bring vibrant colour to winter landscapes. In summer, it produces small white flowers that attract bees, followed by dark berries that birds love. Dogwood thrives in mixed hedging schemes, adding seasonal contrast and ecological benefits.

• Ultimate Height: 1.5-2.5m
• Flowers: Summer
• Fruits: Autumn
• Soil Type: Any
• Sunlight: Full sun/partial shade

4. Malus sylvestris (Crab apple)

The native crab apple is a beautiful addition to a thornless hedgerow. In spring, it offers fragrant blossoms that attract bees and butterflies. In autumn, it produces small apples that provide an essential food source for birds and mammals, making it one of the best hedging plants for wildlife. It also enhances the visual appeal of a hedgerow with its attractive fruits and delicate flowers.

• Ultimate Height: 8-12m
• Flowers: Spring
• Fruits: Autumn
• Soil Type: Any
• Sunlight: Full sun/partial shade

5.Euonymus europaeus (Spindle)

Spindle is a unique hedging plant known for its stunning pink flowers and vibrant orange berries in autumn. These fruits are a favourite among birds, and their nectar-rich flowers attract pollinators, ensuring year-round biodiversity. Spindle’s bright colours make it an eye-catching addition to hedging schemes while remaining completely safe for children and pets.

• Ultimate Height: 2.5-4m
• Flowers: Spring
• Fruits: Autumn
• Soil Type: Any
• Sunlight: Full sun/partial shade

6. Fagus sylvatica (Beech)

Beech is a popular deciduous hedging plant known for its vibrant green leaves that turn a beautiful copper in autumn. Even though it’s deciduous, beech often retains its dried leaves throughout winter, providing year-round screening. It is highly adaptable and grows well in a variety of soil types, making it a great choice for formal and informal hedging alike. Beech is also a valuable habitat for many insect species, supporting biodiversity within the hedge.

• Ultimate Height: Up to 5m
• Flowers: Spring
• Fruits: Autumn
• Soil Type: Well-drained soils
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

7. Taxus baccata (Yew)

Yew is a classic evergreen hedging plant with dark green needles, providing dense coverage year-round. It’s highly valued for its longevity and ability to be shaped, making it ideal for formal hedges. Yew hedging is incredibly resilient, capable of tolerating heavy pruning and adapting to different environments. While its red berries add ornamental interest and provide food for birds, caution should be taken as its seeds are toxic if ingested by humans or pets.

• Ultimate Height: Up to 20m, but can be maintained at lower heights
• Flowers: Spring
• Fruits: Autumn (Note: While the flesh of the berries is harmless, the seeds are toxic if ingested)
• Soil Type: Well-drained soils
• Sunlight: Full sun to deep shade

8. Ligustrum ovalifolium  (Privet)

Privet is a semi-evergreen shrub commonly used for hedging due to its rapid growth and dense foliage. It produces small white flowers in summer, followed by black berries that attract birds. This plant is an excellent choice for those looking to create a structured hedge with year-round interest. It is highly adaptable, thriving in urban environments, and is tolerant of pollution, making it ideal for roadside and urban hedging.

• Ultimate Height: Up to 4m
• Flowers: Summer
• Fruits: Autumn
• Soil Type: Any well-drained soil
• Sunlight: Full sun to partial shade

Why Choose Thornless Hedging?

• Safe for Children & Pets: No risk of scratches or injuries from thorns.
• Wildlife-Friendly: Supports birds, bees, and pollinators with flowers, berries, and shelter.
• Low Maintenance: These hedging plants are hardy and thrive with minimal upkeep.
• Seasonal Beauty: Enjoy year-round colour with flowers in spring, lush greenery in summer, vibrant autumn hues, and winter interest from stems and berries.

Whether you’re designing a hedge for a school, public park, or garden, incorporating these thornless, native species ensures a safe and ecologically rich environment. Planting a mix of these species will create a thriving, diverse hedge that benefits people and wildlife alike!

As the new year unfolds, it’s the perfect time to embrace fresh starts, set new intentions, and dive into new adventures—both in life and in the world of plants. Since ancient times, people have documented their knowledge of plants, not just for cultivation but for their medicinal and cultural significance. In the early days, it was physicians rather than gardeners who recorded this wisdom, using plants primarily for healing. Today, countless authors and experts continue to share their insights, making it easier than ever to expand our botanical horizons.

But in our fast-paced, digital world, it’s easy to forget the deep, immersive experience that comes with reading a good book. Whether it’s a detailed reference like Hillier’s Manual of Trees, one of Hessayon’s practical guides, or a captivating novel inspired by botanical exploration, there’s something uniquely fulfilling about flipping through pages, absorbing knowledge, and imagining the beauty of plants in different corners of the world.

Travel the Botanical World from Your Armchair

January is a great time to pause, reflect, and let your mind wander through the pages of history and horticulture. Why not take inspiration from legendary plant explorers? John Tradescant, for example, ventured into the New World in search of exotic specimens, while the Dutch of the 17th century were swept up in “Tulip Mania,” obsessed with finding the most exquisite bloom.

Curl up by the fire, a loved one, or a furry friend, and let a book transport you to distant landscapes, secret gardens, and forgotten botanical adventures. Discover how even the Tudors struggled to perfect the art of garden design—especially when it came to installing water features!

Lessons from Botanical Explorers

There’s something to be learned from every gardener’s journey. Katherine Swift’s The Morville Hours tells the story of her challenges and triumphs in restoring a monastic garden, while Anna Pavord’s The Naming of Names dives deep into the fascinating history of plant classification. These books remind us of the dedication, patience, and curiosity that come with working with plants.

For those with a passion for travel, books about gardens around the world offer inspiration and discovery. Monty Don’s writings on Japanese and Spanish gardens provide insight into different cultural approaches to gardening. If you’re drawn to lost landscapes, you might enjoy reading about forgotten gardens that no longer exist. And if you love a good restoration story, Tim Smit’s The Lost Gardens of Heligan recounts the thrilling rediscovery of a long-abandoned garden—a reminder that even the most neglected spaces can bloom again with time and care.

A Season for Reflection and Renewal

As winter days slowly lengthen, take some time for yourself. A well-worn paperback or a glossy coffee-table book can be the perfect companion during these quieter months. Reading about plants and gardens can spark new ideas, fuel future projects, and provide a sense of connection to the natural world—even if you’re currently curled up indoors.

January is a season of renewal, not just for gardens but for ourselves. It’s a time to reset, to plan, and to step into the year with fresh energy. It’s not about rigid resolutions but about embracing a mindset of growth—turning over a new leaf in every sense.

And speaking of leaves, did you know that before paper as we know it was invented, people wrote on dried papaya leaves? The phrase “turning over a new leaf” not only symbolizes a fresh start but also refers to the act of turning a page—a reminder of the deep connection between nature and knowledge.

So, as you ease into the new year, why not let a book be your guide? Explore, learn, and be inspired—one page at a time.

We are delighted to announce our fourth consecutive year of achieving the prestigious Plant Healthy Accreditation. This milestone highlights our unwavering commitment to maintaining plant health and promoting sustainability within the sector.

Commitment to Excellence in Plant Health

The Plant Healthy Accreditation is awarded to organizations that meet the stringent plant health management standards set by the UK Plant Health Assurance Scheme (UKPHAS). Once again, by securing this certification, we reaffirm our dedication to implementing best practices in biosecurity and plant care. We have recently completed comprehensive internal plant health training for our staff, ensuring that every team member is equipped with the knowledge and skills to uphold these high standards.

Why Plant Health Matters

Plant health is not just a priority for us; it is a crucial concern for nurseries across the UK. Protecting woodlands from pests and diseases, such as ash dieback and oak processionary moth, is essential in safeguarding the nation’s native flora and fauna from non-native species.

Beyond conservation, healthy plants are fundamental to the creation of stunning gardens and landscapes. They are also vital to life itself, producing the oxygen we breathe and absorbing carbon dioxide. Moreover, plants play a crucial role in global food systems—without them, humanity simply would not survive.

A Significant Milestone

Achieving Plant Healthy Accreditation for the fourth year in a row is a testament to our proactive approach to mitigating biosecurity risks and consistently delivering top-quality plants.

Jonathan Whittemore, Commercial and Business Manager at Johnsons Nurseries Ltd expressed his pride in this achievement:

“Reaching our fourth year as a Plant Healthy accredited business is a proud moment for everyone at Johnsons Nurseries Ltd. It signifies our continuous efforts to prioritise plant health and strengthen the resilience of the UK’s horticultural ecosystem. We are committed to setting industry standards for quality and environmental responsibility.”

Beyond Plant Health Accreditation

In addition to this accomplishment, we are also proud to hold BSI ISO 14001 certification for Environmental Management and ISO 9001 for Quality Management. These certifications further highlight our dedication to operational excellence, sustainability, and the delivery of superior-quality products and services to our customers.

We remain at the forefront of the horticultural industry, committed to fostering plant health, environmental sustainability, and industry-leading quality standards. As we continue to grow, we remain steadfast in our mission to protect and nurture the green spaces that are so vital to our planet’s future.

Creating a bird-friendly garden is one of the best ways to support local wildlife while adding beauty and biodiversity to your outdoor space. A diverse selection of trees, shrubs, herbaceous plants, hedging, and ground cover can provide essential food, shelter, and nesting opportunities for birds throughout the year. In this guide, we’ll explore the top plants that will turn your garden into a haven for feathered visitors.

Trees for Birds

1. Malus domestica (Crab Apple)

A small to medium-sized tree that produces fruits and blossoms loved by wildlife.

• Why Birds Love It: Birds feast on its small apples, and pollinators are attracted to its blossoms.
• Growing Conditions: Thrives in well-drained soil and can reach 8 meters in full sun.

2. Betula pendula (Silver Birch)

A stunning deciduous tree that supports insects, which in turn provide food for birds.

• Why Birds Love It: Seeds attract finches, while its canopy offers nesting sites.
• Growing Conditions: Prefers moist but well-drained soil and grows up to 15 meters in full sun.

3. Quercus robur (English Oak)

An iconic tree that provides food and shelter for many bird species.

• Why Birds Love It: Acorns attract jays and woodpeckers, while insects living in its bark feed smaller birds.
• Growing Conditions: Prefers deep, well-drained soil and can grow up to 20 meters.

4. Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan/Mountain Ash)

A small ornamental tree with bright red berries that birds love.

• Why Birds Love It: Berries attract blackbirds, thrushes, and waxwings.
• Growing Conditions: Thrives in a variety of soils and grows up to 10 meters

Hedging Plants for Birds

5. Ilex aquifolium (Holly)

Holly is an excellent choice for bird-friendly hedging, offering both food and shelter.

• Why Birds Love It: The dense, prickly leaves provide excellent protection from predators, while its vibrant red berries are a winter food source.
• Growing Conditions: Thrives in well-drained, moderately fertile soil. Grows up to 20 meters in full sun to partial shade.

6. Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn)

A valuable hedging plant that produces abundant berries.

• Why Birds Love It: Berries attract a variety of birds, including blackbirds and thrushes.
• Growing Conditions: Adaptable to most soils except waterlogged areas. Grows up to 6 meters.

7. Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn)

A dense, thorny hedging plant that offers excellent nesting sites.

• Why Birds Love It: Produces sloe berries, a crucial winter food source.
• Growing Conditions: Thrives in most soil types and grows up to 5 meters.

8. Rosa rugosa (Rugosa Rose)

A hardy shrub that provides edible hips and thick cover for birds.

• Why Birds Love It: Its hips are rich in vitamin C and attract finches and thrushes.
• Growing Conditions: Grows in a range of soil types and reaches up to 3 meters.

Shrubs for Birds

9. Sambucus nigra (Elderberry)

A fast-growing shrub that provides food and nesting sites.

• Why Birds Love It: Elderberries attract robins, starlings, and blackcaps.
• Growing Conditions: Thrives in most soil types and reaches up to 6 meters.

10. Viburnum opulus (Guelder Rose)

It is a stunning shrub with year-round interest.

• Why Birds Love It: Produces clusters of red berries that are highly attractive to fieldfares and finches.
• Growing Conditions: Prefers moist, well-drained soil and grows up to 4 meters.

11. Cornus sanguinea (Dogwood)

A colourful shrub that provides both food and shelter.

• Why Birds Love It: Its dark berries attract thrushes and warblers.
• Growing Conditions: Tolerates various soils and grows up to 3 meters.

12. Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grape)

A shade-tolerant shrub with bright yellow flowers and deep blue berries.

• Why Birds Love It: Provides nectar in early spring and berries in autumn.
• Growing Conditions: Grows up to 2 meters and thrives in partial shade.

Herbaceous Plants for Birds

13. Echinacea purpurea (Purple Coneflower)

A vibrant perennial that attracts both insects and birds.

• Why Birds Love It: Its seed heads provide winter food for goldfinches and sparrows.
• Growing Conditions: Prefers well-drained soil and grows up to 1 meter.

14. Verbena bonariensis (Tall Verbena)

A tall, airy perennial that adds height and wildlife value.

• Why Birds Love It: Produces nectar-rich flowers that attract insects, which in turn feed birds.
• Growing Conditions: Best in well-drained soil and grows up to 1.5 meters.

15. Rudbeckia hirta (Black-eyed Susan)

A bright flowering plant that attracts birds with its seed heads.

• Why Birds Love It: Provides a late-season food source for finches and sparrows.
• Growing Conditions: Thrives in full sun and grows up to 1 meter.

16. Helianthus annuus (Sunflower)

A classic plant that provides an abundance of seeds for birds.

• Why Birds Love It: Birds like tits and finches love sunflower seeds.
• Growing Conditions: Prefers well-drained soil and can grow up to 3 meters.

Climbers & Ground Cover for Birds

17. Hedera helix (Ivy)

An evergreen climber that offers excellent shelter.

• Why Birds Love It: Provides dense cover for nesting and berries for food.
• Growing Conditions: Thrives in shade and grows up to 20 meters.

18. Rubus fruticosus (Blackberry)

A scrambling plant with edible fruits that birds enjoy.

• Why Birds Love It: Birds feed on the ripe blackberries.
• Growing Conditions: Tolerant of various soils and spreads up to 3 meters.

19. Lonicera periclymenum (Honeysuckle)

A climbing plant that produces fragrant flowers and berries.

• Why Birds Love It: Berries provide an important late-season food source.
• Growing Conditions: Prefers well-drained soil and climbs up to 5 meters.

Conclusion: Create a Haven for Birds

By incorporating a mix of trees, hedging, shrubs, herbaceous plants, climbers, and ground cover into your garden, you can create a thriving habitat for birds all year round. These plants not only provide essential food and shelter but also enhance the beauty and ecological balance of your landscape. Whether you have a small urban garden or a large rural plot, these selections will help support local bird populations while adding vibrant greenery to your space.

As 2025 begins, it’s the perfect time to start planning and preparing your garden projects for the months ahead. Whether you’re tackling a new project or maintaining an existing space, now is the ideal moment to assess your site, understand its unique characteristics, and make a plan that ensures success. From evaluating soil conditions to considering the impact of wind, sun, and water, a little preparation now can lead to a thriving and beautiful garden in the seasons to come.

Considerations

Which factors should you consider? Are there windy corners or sunny spots that might impact the area? Are there parts of the site prone to waterlogging? Additionally, you can perform a soil test to determine the pH. A simple kit, available at hardware stores or garden centres, can help you identify whether your soil is acidic or alkaline.

If you have heavy clay soil, you will have to be prepared for a bit of water logging. Even if the soil has been broken up over the years, there will still be a pan of clay that forms at the depth just below where you would usually dig. Clay soil can be broken up by adding more organic matter and breaking it down with grit to make it more free-draining and less likely to leak nutrients.

If your site is located near moorland or a conifer woodland, the soil is likely to be more acidic. You can either choose plants that thrive in acidic conditions or work to improve the soil. To reduce acidity, you can amend the soil with lime-rich materials, such as tree start. Alternatively, you can adapt your planting scheme to include acid-loving plants like Rhododendron, Azalea, and similar species.

Did You Know? – Sun and Shade in the Garden

Shade-Loving Plants

Understanding what grows best in different parts of your garden can be a journey of discovery. While plants don’t always behave as described in gardening guides, knowing the basics of sun and shade preferences can help you make the most of your garden space.

Certain plants thrive in shade, such as hostas and ferns. While they can tolerate some sunlight, too much can affect their vigour or even change their colour. On the other hand, some plants entirely dislike direct sunlight. Their delicate foliage can scorch, and they may fail to produce the expected flowers.

When planning your garden, observe how sunlight moves through your space during the day and across the seasons. The amount of sunlight in summer and winter can differ significantly, and this understanding can guide your plant placement. Keep in mind that shade doesn’t mean total darkness—most plants need some level of dappled sunlight to photosynthesize and thrive.

For shaded areas, consider shrubs like Aucuba japonica, which has glossy leaves, or Mahonia, which is an early-flowering option. Evergreen shrubs such as Skimmia, Osmanthus heterophyllus, and Viburnum davidii are excellent choices. In moist, shaded spots, delicate bloomers like Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis), Corydalis Blue Heron, or the autumn-berry-producing Actaea rubra can add interest. For drier shaded areas, Geranium phaem album, Epimediums, Lamiums, and Vinca provide reliable options for ground cover.

Plants for Sunny Gardens

If your garden is a sun trap, such as a walled garden, the options are abundant. Many climbing plants thrive in full sun, including Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Garrya, and Passiflora. Flowering shrubs like Ceanothus, Fuchsia, and Buddleja are perfect for sunny spots.

Think Mediterranean when choosing plants for sun-drenched areas. Species with small, ovoid leaves, such as Pyracantha, Berberis, and Roses, love the warmth and light. Herbaceous plants like Artemisia, Phlomis, Papaver, and Eryngium can provide texture and vibrant blooms.

A Note on Foliage Colours

Did you know that plants with purple foliage, such as Heuchera Obsidian, require more sunlight than their green-leafed counterparts, like Lime Ricky? In shaded conditions, purple-leaved plants may lose their vibrancy due to lower chlorophyll levels.

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

By understanding the needs of your plants and observing your garden’s light patterns, you can create a space where every plant thrives, whether in sun or shade. With the right choices, your garden can be a harmonious and flourishing haven year-round.

Need inspiration for your 2025 projects? check out our grower’s choice posts here

Just like people, plants need to have the right balance of nutrients to thrive. The growing medium your plants are in is their source of nutrients and this is especially so where the plant is in a container. It is recommended that the compost is replaced and refreshed regularly to maintain the soil fertility.

Some of the feeds on offer are to correct an imbalance in the soil. Tree start is high in lime, so it is not suitable to be planted directly; however, when mixed into an existing bed, it can give the soil structure and reduce its acidity.  More commonly, people have to add an ericaceous growing medium or a liquid feed to keep their acid-loving plants looking their best. A compost which is peat free can still be used for growing Rhododendrons and similar plants so long as a feed is used to correct the imbalance.

Feeds are classed as organic or inorganic. Granular feed such as Growmore, which is synthetically made of chemicals and minerals, is inorganic; Bonemeal is an animal extract, so it is classed as organic.

Inorganic fertilisers are quickly absorbed by the plants as they are more soluble. The downside is that this also makes them more susceptible to being leached away in wet environments. Organic fertilisers are more complex. It will take longer for the plant to extract the nutrients it requires, however the long term implications are that the general soil fertility will increase and the plant will be more robust. An organic fertiliser is better for the environment, uses less energy to produce and is generally the more economic option.

Granular feeds include the chemicals Nitrogen Phosphorus and Potassium in equal measure, often know as N P K.  Which is what a plant needs for root growth, better foliage and fruit production. Bonemeal contains Nitrogen and Phospherous naturally and this makes it good for establishing trees, shrubs and fruit bushes. All feeds can be used either at the time of planting or worked into the soil as an after plant feed.

Did You Know?

The Dig For Victory campaign was a government initiative set up to combat food shortages during world war two. It was launched in 1940 and was so successful that by 1945, Britain was producing 75% of its own food. Allotments and small holdings were planted up in public spaces and in many domestic gardens. To support this, a fertiliser was needed, which would work quickly and be easy to apply. This is how Growmore started. The fertiliser contained the three basic chemicals a plant needs in equal measure: 7 % Nitrogen (N), 7% Phosphorus (P), and 7% Potassium (K). This is the same mix used today.

There is more to Hydrangeas than just the familiar blue and pink mopheads. There are over 70 species. Most are shrubs and small trees which originate in eastern Asia. They range includes evergreens, but these are seldom seen in Europe’s temperate climate, here the deciduous ones are most popular.

The name Hydrangea comes from the Greek for water vessel, which is due to the shape of the seed pods. Their common name, Hortensia, was made to recognise the work of French mathematician and astronomer Nicole-Reine Hortense.

Although Hydrangea can be climbers, shrubs, small, trees and half standards, the shrub is the most common form. The most popular being the maculate. These can be mop head or lace-cap. A mop head is a plant where the flowers form a dense dome of brightly coloured flowers, mainly consisting of the sepals. The Lace-cap is much more delicate with a circle of sepals surrounding smaller flowers in many ways resembling a viburnum flower.

The next popular type of hydrangeas is the paniculate. The flowers form showy cones and are mostly cream with a tint of pink or pale green fading to white. These plants can get quite large, up to 2.5m tall. They are an easy to maintain plant; water well and prune in the spring after the frosts to produce large flowers in the summer. Unlike the maculate they prefer to be in a sunny position so long as the soil is kept moist.

Other types of Hydrangeas include petoilaris which is a climber and produces ariel roots to cling on to surfaces, Quercifolia which has leaf similar to an oak tree and attractive cinnamon stick like bark.

One of the things Hydrangea are renowned for is their tendency to change flower colour. A white hydrangea will always be white; however, a pink can change to blue and vice versa depending on soil pH.  An alkaline soil will produce pink flower and an acidic soil blue. If you don’t want your plant to change colour, check the soil type before you buy or you may need to be adding chemicals to it to maintain the flower colour.

Did you know, the roots of hydrangea are used in herbal medicine to treat bladder infections and gall stones. There is no scientific proof to back this up and if anything, you should avoid ingesting the plant as it contains cyanide.

As June the 5^th is World Environment Day, this month’s article is about the importance of native plants. Why non-native can have implications beyond the garden fence and the consequences to our native wildlife need to be considered.

A plant which is native to the UK is one which is indigenous to an area in a geological era. What we tend to say is that this is anything here at the time of the last ice age. Therefore, anything after this era is seen as being introduced either deliberately or accidentally into the UK.

The advantages of including native plants within a garden include things such as the less of a need for use of fertiliser or pesticides. The plants are better suited to our weather; they will be used to our damp winters and short summers. They will provide essential shelter and food for our native birds, insects and wildlife. The relationship between our insects and plants is an intricate one which has evolved over thousands of years. For example, the length of the tongue of a moth needs to be long enough that when it approaches a flower it can reach the nectar which they feed off.

Integrating native plants into the garden should not be difficult; there are plants that will grow in various aspects of the garden. Convallaria majalis, known as Lily of the Valley, looks like a really delicate plant; they produce dainty white bell-shaped flowers however, don’t be deceived, they will thrive in poor soil and in the wild and can be found growing on top of Limestone Pavements.

There are garden plants which we are all familiar with which are descendants from wild varieties. Such as Geums which grow along hedgerows, known as wood avens, or herb bennet. Dianthus has many cultivated varieties, but there is a plant which is native to the Cheddar Gorge, where it grows in scrub clearance making it ideal in a garden rockery.

Native plants are great for hedging. Taxus and Buxus make fine formal evergreen hedges. Fagus, Carpinus, and Acer campestre are not only great stand-alone trees, but they can also be used in hedging. Fill your garden with native flowers and watch the natural world make its home there. If you have an area of shade, use ferns such as Dryopteris affinis. For a splash of colour, look for Primula vulgaris, Pulsatilla vulgaris, or Centaurea. Native bulbs are also great in a garden or managed landscape, as well as Fritillaria meleagris and Hyacinthoides non-scripta, the native Bluebell.

The Bluebell is a casing point as to why we should choose native over exotic. The decline of the Bluebell population is linked not only to the decrease in our woodlands but also to the introduction of the Spanish Bluebell. English Bluebells are quite dainty, with flowers along one side of the stem; they come mostly in a strong blue colour. Spanish Bluebells have escaped from the confines of gardens and estates and are colonising our woodlands. In our fertile soils, they are easily reproducing and are in direct competition with our native plants. In this situation, the invader becomes a pest, has a detrimental effect on the ecosystem of the woodland, and is now classed as an invasive species.

Being an island, we must ensure our native plants are cared for, and that plant health is seen as a priority at our ports. Plants have their own passports for traceability, and all appropriate checks must be performed before we accept them into the UK.

So to help the local wildlife you can do your bit. They might not always be as showy as exotic varieties, but having native plants in your garden will help our wildlife and slow down the number of diseases we bring into the country too.

A flowering shrub can be as much a part of the planting scheme as a tree or herbaceous border. Many have long flowering times, and with so many available, there is bound to be something to fit into your design. A shrub can add structure to the garden; it can be the main feature, such as a specimen of a Magnolia, or it can provide a framework for your herbaceous planting. Well-chosen shrubs should not dominate the garden but should become an integral part that pulls everything together. Flowering shrubs can add all year-round interest, offer shelter and food for wildlife and be form an attractive screen where needed.

There is so much to choose from, too. There are evergreens that flower in winter, such as Viburnum tinus and Skimmia rubella. There are Viburnums and Cercis, which flower early in Spring before the leaf starts to appear, and such an abundance of summer flowering shrubs; they can’t possibly all be listed here. If you want a shrub which flowers for a long duration, then the Hydrangea will undoubtedly offer you colour. The hypericum is also a great shrub that provides flowers for a number of weeks. They have varieties which are prostrate, dwarf and as small shrubs, they can be evergreen, deciduous and variegated. Often, they are grown for their berries. The only thing they are not varied in in their flower colour, they are all yellow.

The flowers of the shrubs are in all shapes and colours as varied as any herbaceous border. Small shrubs like Cistus provide bright pink and white simple flowers. However some displays of flowers are much more complex such as Calycanthus and Euonymus Red Cascade. Some shrubs have delicate individual flowers and others like the Viburnums have great clusters of flowers.

After the flowers have finished blooming, a lot of these shrubs bear berries. Many are ornamental, such as Viburnum davidii, which has bright blue dupes. Other shrubs which have attractive berries are Skimmia nymens, Pyracanthas and Mahonias.

Not all berries are edible; however, the ones on Amelanchier are, which leads to how it got one of its common names, June Berry. The Amelanchier is a fantastic early flowering shrub, which can also be grown as a small tree. In the spring, it is covered with pale pink and white blossoms, which gives it the common name of Snowy Mespilus. If you want to try the berries of the Amelanchier, the best variety to grow for eating is the Saskatoon, which is originally from Canada but grows well in the UK.

Many flowering shrubs are cultivated for their scent. The syringa, which bears blooms in hues of purple and white, has a very strong scent that can be enjoyed from early May to late June. Hamamelis have a distinct scent that fills the garden when there is not much else in the flower.

These flowers attract pollinators to the garden, so it is important to have a selection of flowering shrubs to provide all-year-round attraction. Early flowering shrubs such as Mahonia provide a chance for bees that emerge early to have feed when not much else is available. Providing something for all-year interest will lead to wildlife, making your garden a haven for life and enhancing the garden for anyone to enjoy.

Not many species can claim to have outlived the dinosaurs, but trees can. There are some trees shown in the fossil records, Magnolia, Sequoidendron, Ginkgo and some varieties of pine. There are living examples which can be aged to 2000-3000 years old. So next time you think about how old this tree will get, be careful of the variety you choose.

Magnolia is a large genus with up to 210 species. They can be evergreen or deciduous. They have flowers that range from white to dark pink and occasionally yellow. The flowers appear on bare stems as star and bowl shapes and attract beetles for their pollination. This is because the magnolia evolved long before the bees did. Magnolias will grow in heavy, clay soils; they are tolerant of atmospheric pollution, but they should be sheltered from cold winds and frosts.

The Sequoiadendron giganteum can live over 3000 years. It is a coniferous tree found in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and there are fewer than 80000 remaining trees. The largest of these trees measures to 85m tall with a trunk 8m diameter, which is big enough to drive a car through. There are approximately 11,000 cones on a large tree, which produce between 300 and 400 thousand seeds annually. In the UK, the tree is commonly known as Wellingonia, whereas everywhere else, it is known as Giant Red Wood. The largest known example in the UK can be found in the New Forest and stands at 52.73m tall. There are currently 500,000 trees in the UK, whereas in California, there are only 80,000 trees remaining. The Sequoiadendron is important for the storage of carbon; a 45m tall tree can store up to 15 tonnes of carbon. The most giant trees in California can store a callosal 250 tonnes of carbon.

Without a doubt, the grandest of our ancient trees is the Ginkgo biloba, commonly known as the Maiden Hair tree. The common name derives from the fan shape of the leaf, which radiates veins through it. The leaves, which can be 12cm wide, are green through summer, turning a magnificent golden yellow in autumn. Despite being a conifer, the Ginkgo is deciduous; it is also dioecious, meaning the trees are either male or female. It will grow in well-drained soil and generally achieves 12m in the first 20-50 years. Eventually, it will reach 25m tall, though there are some who can get to 50m and live over 2000 years old. Evidence of their existence can be found going back 290 million years ago, as shown in fossil records.

The most outstanding Ginkgo we know about are the ones which survived the Hiroshima atomic bomb dropped near them on 6^th August 1945. There are six specimens which are within a mile of the bomb site, seeds from which have been distributed around the globe to encourage world peace. Some of these seeds are grown in the UK at Glasgow Botanic Gardens.

We are pleased to have joined several horticultural businesses to sponsor, support and provide materials for a charity garden at BBC Gardeners World Live. The garden will support the horticultural charity Perennial and is designed to highlight nature’s seasonal influence on mental well-being.

Other businesses sponsoring the project include Hedges Direct, Marshalls and Rolawn. The garden will be open to the public for viewing from Thursday 15^th to Sunday 18^th of June at the NEC, Birmingham.

The garden, named “Escaping the Seasons of the Mind”, has been conceived by Lilidh Matthews, founder of the MicroGarden subscription Finding Roots and John Tallis, owner of landscaping and garden design specialists, Outdoor Living Gardens who will be building the garden in collaboration with Tisserand English Gardens and Utopia Landscapes.

The garden is an artistic representation of the journey of the mind and the home into the solace of nature and aims to portray the range of emotions experienced throughout the seasons. At its core, the design encapsulates two crucial aspects: the prevalence of suicides during the autumn season and the sad reality that humans spend a staggering 90% of their lives indoors.

The garden also features 11 Corten Steel Pillars to represent the overbearing nature of the seasons with a bench representing the 12th month of the year and the passing of time.

The project aims to raise awareness/fundraise for the horticultural mental health charity, Perennial which supports people in the horticultural industry, including the businesses sponsoring, with health and well-being, housing and financial support and debt advice.

For Johnsons, which recently became a Platinum Partner for the charity, mental health is a top priority. Marketing and office manager, Eleanor Richardson, said: “We are honoured to announce our contribution to this significant project, providing an array of plants that will enhance the garden’s visual impact and underscore its emotional narrative.

“We firmly believe in the power of nature to heal, inspire, and provide solace, and this partnership with Lilidh Matthews, John Tallis, Outdoor Living Gardens, and Perennial aligns perfectly with our commitment to supporting causes that make a positive difference.”

Victoria McIver, Brand and Communications Manager at Hedges Direct added: “Hedges Direct are proud to be sponsoring Gardeners’ World Live 2023, supplying our hedge plants, trees and shrubs for the wide array of show gardens. We are especially thrilled to be able to showcase our plants in the ‘Escaping the seasons of the mind’ garden for Perennial, in raising awareness of how our well-being can be impacted by spending time outdoors.

We love hearing our customers tell us what joy they find in their gardens, so it’s wonderful to be able to encourage more people to take time out to notice and nurture our green spaces during each season, and in doing so nurture our mental health.”

Spring is in full swing with longer days, the arrival of many flowering varieties and milder weather. There’s plenty to do in the garden this month to reap the rewards in summer. Check out our full April hints and tips below.

Finish cutting back the past years’ growth of Cornus and Salix, which are being grown for colourful young stems this coming summer.

Continue to divide herbaceous perennials as required. Pull them apart or use a knife on thick fleshy roots such as paeonies or two garden forks back to back to pull apart really tough roots. Replant the best of the pieces from the outside of the root, as these are the most viable.

Dead-head spent daffodil flower heads and their seed pods to ensure the energy of the bulb goes into the bulb itself and not into developing and ripening seed.

Apply a high Nitrogen lawn fertilizer and also a lawn weedkiller to established lawns if appropriate. Water in the fertilizer if conditions are very dry.

A reversion may occur in variegated coloured leaf trees and shrubs, resultant green shoots grow strongly. Cut out affected shoots just into the variegated/coloured foliage.

Lightly trim Lavenders (but not into the older wood) to stop them from getting leggy .

Plant potatoes from the middle of the month, planting under black polythene sheeting if there is a risk of frost, alternatively chit the tubers to encourage sprouting before planting by placing them in a tray in a light position, perhaps by a window, where there is no risk of frost.

Plant new Strawberries or bring on existing Strawberries early by covering them with cloches or clear polythene tunnels. Ensure that there is adequate ventilation between cloches, and lift the polythene for a couple of inches on the leeward side of low polytunnels.

Still a good time to plant an evergreen hedge, such as hollies, laurels and escallonias. Ensure that plants are firm in the ground, and remember to water them in dry weather.

Now is a good time to make a new lawn from purchased turf or direct sowing.

To improve old or worn-out lawns, now is the time to aerate, apply spring fertilizer, scarify, and if necessary overseed with an appropriate mixture of 15gm of grass seed.

Hoe between herbaceous plants to keep down weeds whilst they are still small. Even if soil has been recently dug, a fresh crop of annual weeds will soon germinate and hoeing the crop will also benefit the soil aeration.

Protect fruit trees trained on walls by covering the early flowering blossoms with fleece to ensure a satisfactory crop, even after frosty conditions.

We are celebrating achieving the BSI ISO 9001 Quality re-accreditation for the 30^th year in a row.

We have achieved the ISO 9001 Quality Management,  since 1991. We have also re-achieved ISO 14001 Environment Management standards since April 2010.

Supplying 5-6 million plants throughout the UK each year, our plants embellish their surroundings and make a positive contribution to the environment.

The ISO 9001 Quality Management is a clearly defined set of business processes, which defines Johnsons’ commitment to creating products and services following pre-defined standards. ISO 9001 is internationally recognised and one of the most popular international quality management systems.

ISO 14001 is the international standard that specifies requirements for an effective environmental management system for businesses. It provides a framework that a business can follow of standards on environmental management. Integrating it with other management systems standards, like ISO 9001, can further assist in accomplishing organisational goals.

We have also invested in 3 new electric 4 x 4 Hisun buggies this month, the robust vehicles will be trialled on the nurseries five sites with a view to replace all dumper trucks by 2025. One charge can last an impressive full working day and will be used to tow trailers and bespoke equipment.

Graham Richardson, Managing Director at Johnsons of Whixley, said: “We are proud and delighted to have achieved the BSI ISO Quality accreditation for the 30^th year in a row. It demonstrates our dedication to adhering to an external system of quality management and environmental standards to ensure the best quality products and services to current, new and potential customers. The new electric buggies are also a great addition and will reduce costs and further enhance our environmental credentials significantly in years to come.”

Ceanothus varieties

Flowers: May – June (depending on variety, varieties such as ‘Puget Blue’ start flowering in April, and others flower for longer than June)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 3m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L, 20L + (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Convolvulus cneorum 

Flowers: May – July

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.6m

 Soil: Poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L (subject to availability)

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Chaenomeles varieties such as ‘Jet Trail, ‘Crimson & Gold’ & ‘Nivalis’

Flowers: March – May

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 2.5m

 Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 3LD, 5L (subject to availability)

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Choisya varieties such as ‘Aztec Pearl’, ‘Sundance’ & ‘White Dazzler’

Flowers: May (often have a second flush in summer)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 2.5m

 Soil: Moderately fertile,well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L (subject to availability)

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Cornus varieties such as ‘ Sibirica’, ‘Aurea’ & ‘Flaviramea’

Flowers: May – June

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 2.5m

 Soil: Any moderately fertile soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L (subject to availability)

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Deutzia varieties like ‘Mont Rose’ and ‘Rosea’

Flowers: April – June

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Euonymus varieties such as ‘Emerald & Gold’, ‘Emerald Gaiety & ‘Silver Queen’

Flowers: May- June

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on the variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L , 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Exochorda x macrantha varieties such as ‘The Bride’ & ‘Niagara’

Flowers: April – May

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 2m

Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Kerria japonica ‘Pleniflora’

Flowers: March-May

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 2m

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Magnolia x soulangeana and the variety ‘Susan’

Flowers: March-May

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 6m

Soil: Moist, well-drained, acidic soil

 Pot size: 3L, 5L 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Osmanthus x burkwoodii & delavayi

Flowers: April-May

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 3m

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Potentilla varieties such as ‘Red Robin’ ‘Lovely pink’ ‘Goldfinger’ ‘Abbotswood’ and ‘Tangerine’ 

Flowers: May – October

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m depending on the variety

Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L  (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Pyracantha ‘Saphyr’ varieties in ‘Red’, Yellow’ & ‘Orange’

Flowers: May

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 3m depending on the variety

Soil: any fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 3LD, 5L  (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Pieris varieties such as ‘Flaming Silver’ ‘Forest Flame’ and ‘Little Heath’

Flowers:  April – May

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 3m depending on the variety

Soil: any fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Rhododendron in variety 

Flowers:  May – June

 Position: Full sun –  Partial shade

 Height: Up to 2.5m depending on the variety

Soil:Moist, well-drained, humus-rich, acid soil or ericaceous compost

 Pot size: 3L, 5L, 7.5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Ribes sanguineum varieties such as ‘King Edward’, ‘Pulborough Scarlet’

Flowers:  April – May

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 3m depending on the variety

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 2LD, 3L, 3LD, 5L, 10L  (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Rosmarinus officinalis and the variety ‘Jessops Upright’

Flowers:  May-June

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 2m depending on the variety

Soil:  well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L,  5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

Syringa varieties 

Flowers: May-June

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 4m depending on the variety

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L, 12L, 20L + (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Weigela varieties

Flowers: May-June

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 2.5m depending on the variety

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L  (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Acers (Japanese maples) are best known for their vivid autumn leaves that turn various colours during October, including fiery red, orange, yellow and brown. They make a perfect focal point brightening up dark corners of the garden, and even grow well in pots.

Acer palmatum ‘Aureum’ 

A medium-sized maple with stunning yellow leaves in spring followed by yellow lime coloured leaves in summer and shades of orange and red in autumn.

 Position: Partial shade

 Height: Up to 4 metres

 Spread: Up to 4 metres

Acer palmatum ‘Garnet’ 

Has fantastic bright scarlet leaves during autumn that is a garnet stone colour throughout spring and summer, it’s slightly more compact than other varieties so makes a great addition to a patio pot or planted in a smaller garden.

 Position: Partial shade

 Height: Up to 2 metres

 Spread: Up to 2 metres

Acer ‘Ryusen’ 

Is a great compact weeping Japanese maple variety with mid to bright green leaves in spring and summer that turn an orange-red in autumn.

 Position: Partial shade

 Height: Up to 2 metres

 Spread: Up to 2 metres

Acer palmatum ‘Firecracker’ 

Purple and red shades in spring that have an outstanding autumn colour show of brilliant hues of oranges and reds.

Position: Partial shade

Height: Up to 4 metres

Spread: Up to 4 metres

Acer palmatum ‘Orange Dream’

A small-sized tree with a dark orange edge and yellow centre in autumn turning to shades of green during the summer.

Position: Partial shade

Height: Up to 4 metres

Spread: Up to 3 metres

Acer ‘Shaina’ 

A compact variety perfect for smaller gardens or even a patio pot. Displays of shades of red throughout the seasons and a crimson red in autumn.

Position: Partial shade

Height: Up to 4 metres

Spread: Up to 3 metres

Acer ‘Sango Kaku’

Known for its coral-pink stems and lush green leaves in summer that turn a soft yellow in autumn this will make a great feature tree.

Position: Partial shade

Height: Up to 4 metres

Spread: Up to 2 metres

In need of more inspiration for your next project? head back to our solutions page here

Are you in need of some inspiration for your next garden project and after some late-flowering herbaceous plants? check out some of our favourite August flowering varieties from Anemone to Rudbeckia.

Achillea varieties such as ‘Terracotta’, ‘Cloth of Gold’ and ‘Moon Dust‘

Achilleas are a great addition to a mixed border or cottage garden in full sun – partial shade with flat-topped flowers that bloom from June – September with many cultivars and colours to choose from ranging from yellow to white and pink.

Flowers:  June-September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade (depending on variety)

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Anemone varieties such as ‘September Charm’, ‘Honorine Jobert’ & ‘Hadspen Abundance’

Flowers:  August – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist, fertile, humus-rich soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Alchemilla Mollis

Flowers:  June-September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.6m

Soil: Humus-rich soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L

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Alstromeria varieties such as ‘White Magic’, ‘Indian Summer’ and ‘Inticancha Maya’

Flowers:  June-September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.9m (depending on the variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 3L

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Agastache varieties such as ‘Morello’, ‘Little Adder’ & ‘Blue Fortune’

Flowers:  July – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on the variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L. 3L

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Agapanthus varieties such as Africanus, ‘Twister’ and ‘Polar Ice’

Flowers:  July – September (depending on the variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L  (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Astrantia varieties such as ‘Claret’, ‘Hadspen Blood’ and ‘Rosea’

Flowers: June – August (depends on the variety)

 Position: Full sun -partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, preferably humus-rich soil

 Pot size: 3L

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Aster varieties such as ‘Monch’, ‘Bahamas’ & ‘Barbados’

Flowers: August – October (depends on the variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.9m (depending on variety)

Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L

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Campanula varieties such as ‘Perla Blue’, ‘Perla White’ & ‘White Clips’

Flowers: July – September (depends on the variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.3m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist, well-drained, soil

 Pot size: 2L

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Coreopsis varieties such as ‘Limerock Ruby’, ‘Golden Sphere’ and ‘Sunkiss’

Flowers: June – September (depends on the variety)

 Position: Full sun -partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 3L

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Crocosmia varieties such as ‘Lucifer’ and ‘George Davidson’

Flowers: August – September

 Position: Full sun -partial shade

 Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)

Soil:Moderately fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 3L, 5L

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Dahlia varieties such as ‘Happy Days Pink’, ‘Happy Days Red’ and ‘Happy Days Yellow’

Flowers: June – September (depends on the variety)

 Position: Full sun -partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 3L

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Echinacea varieties such as ‘White Swan’, ‘Magnus’ and ‘Alba’

Flowers: July – September

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Most soils, except very dry or boggy

 Pot size: 2L, 3L

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Erigeron varieties such as ‘Sea Breeze’ and Erigeron karvinskianus

Flowers: May – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L

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Eryngium varieties such as ‘Neptune’s Gold’

Flowers: July – August

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: dry, well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil

 Pot size: 2L

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Geranium varieties such as ‘Rozanne’ and ‘Max Frei’ 

Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L

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Geum varieties such as ‘Totally Tangerine’, ‘Cosmopolitan’ and ‘Sunrise’

Flowers: June – August (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 3L

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Helenium varieties such as ‘Moerheim Beauty’, ‘Short and Sassy’ and ‘The Bishop’ 

Flowers: July – August (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L

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Leucanthemum ‘Banana Cream’ and ‘Snow Lady’

Flowers: June – September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L

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Liatris varieties such as ‘Alba’, ‘Floristan’ & ‘Kobold’

Flowers: August – September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately-fertile, reliably moist soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L

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Monarda varieties such as ‘Balmy Lilac’ and ‘Balmy Pink’

Flowers: July – August

 Position: Full sun- partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.4m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability).

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Nepeta varieties such as ‘Six Hills Giant’, ‘Walkers Low’ and ‘Junior Walker’

Flowers: June – September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun- partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.9m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability).

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Penstemon varieties 

Flowers: July – October

 Position: Full sun- partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability).

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Persicaria varieties such as ‘Darjeeling Red’, ‘Superba’ and ‘Delgado’

Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun- partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Any moist soil

 Pot size: 2l (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Perovskia varieties such as ‘Blue Spire’, ‘Lacey Blue’ & ‘Little Spire’

Flowers: August – September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)

Soil:Well-drained, poor to moderately fertile

 Pot size: 2l, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Rudbeckia varieties such as ‘Goldsturm’, ‘Maya’ & ‘Sunbeckia Mia’

Flowers: August – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.8m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, preferably heavy but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Salvia varieties such as ‘Caradonna’, ‘Cherry Lips and ‘Sensation White’

Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L,5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Sanguisorba varieties such as ‘Tanma’ & ‘Little Angel’

Flowers: June – September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)

Soil: Poor-to-average, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Scabiosa varieties such as ‘Butterfly Blue’, ‘Flutter Deep Blue’ and ‘Flutter Deep Pink’

Flowers: June – September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Sedum varieties such as ‘Touchdown Teak, ‘Autumn Joy’ ‘Herbstfreude’ & ‘Frosted Fire’

Flowers:  August – November (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Verbena varieties such as bonariensis and  ‘Lollipop’

Flowers: July – September

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 2m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Veronica varieties such as ‘Anniversary Blue’ 

Flowers: June – August

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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While many herbaceous plants have been and gone there’s still a few in flower during early autumn from Anemone to Geranium, add to your next project for late summer-early autumn colour.

Anemone varieties such as ‘September Charm’, ‘Honorine Jobert’ & ‘Hadspen Abundance’

Flowers:  August – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist, fertile, humus-rich soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Agastache varieties such as ‘Morello’, ‘Little Adder’ & ‘Blue Fortune’

Flowers:  July – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on the variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L. 3L

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Aster varieties such as ‘Monch’, ‘Bahamas’ & ‘Barbados’

Flowers: August – October (depends on the variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.9m (depending on variety)

Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L

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Geranium varieties such as ‘Rozanne’ and ‘Max Frei’ 

Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L

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Penstemon varieties 

Flowers: July – October

 Position: Full sun- partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability).

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Persicaria varieties such as ‘Darjeeling Red’, ‘Superba’ and ‘Delgado’

Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun- partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Any moist soil

 Pot size: 2l (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Rudbeckia varieties such as ‘Goldsturm’, ‘Maya’ & ‘Sunbeckia Mia’

Flowers: August – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.8m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, preferably heavy but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Salvia varieties such as ‘Caradonna’, ‘Cherry Lips and ‘Sensation White’

Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L,5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Sedum varieties such as ‘Touchdown Teak, ‘Autumn Joy’ ‘Herbstfreude’ & ‘Frosted Fire’

Flowers:  August – November (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Your garden projects don’t need to be dull or uninspired this November. In fact, the cooler months offer an excellent opportunity to explore a wide variety of autumn and winter interest plants that can add depth, colour, and texture to your landscape.

From the striking, fragrant blooms of Mahonia to the clusters of vibrant berries and rich foliage of Viburnum, there is no shortage of beautiful options to elevate your garden and bring it to life. These plants not only brighten up the landscape during the darker months but also provide visual warmth and unique features that capture attention and add charm to any project.

Cornus varieties such as ‘Midwinter Fire’, and ‘Sibrica’ 

Cornus, commonly known as dogwood, is a versatile and visually striking group of deciduous shrubs and small trees admired for their vibrant winter stems.

After the leaves fall in autumn, Cornus showcases a stunning array of coloured stems, ranging from deep crimson reds to bright yellows and warm oranges. These colours provide much-needed visual interest during the colder months and can brighten up any garden space.

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 3m (depending on the variety)

 Width: Up to 2m (depending on the variety)

Soil:  moderately fertile soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L,  10L ( subject to availability and the variety)

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Cotoneaster  varieties such as’ horizontalis’

Cotoneaster is a versatile shrub known for its seasonal appeal. Varieties like ‘Horizontal’ and ‘Coral Beauty’ produce an abundance of vibrant red or orange berries during the autumn, adding striking colour to the garden.

In late spring to early summer, these shrubs are adorned with clusters of small, creamy white flowers that attract pollinators and enhance the garden’s visual charm. The combination of its delicate flowers and bold autumn berries makes Cotoneaster a great choice for year-round interest and wildlife-friendly gardens.

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

Flowers:  May-June  (depending on variety)

 Height: Up to 2m (depending on the variety)

 Width: Up to 1.5m (depending on the variety)

Soil:  fertile, well-drained soil

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Euonymus Alatus

Euonymus alatus, commonly known as the burning bush, is a bushy, dense, deciduous shrub that adds striking seasonal interest to gardens. Its green leaves transform into stunning shades of strawberry red in autumn, creating a vibrant display that lights up the landscape.

This shrub also features distinctive corky ridges on its branches, adding textural interest even after the leaves fall. Euonymus alatus is adaptable and low-maintenance, thriving in full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil, making it a standout choice for enhancing any garden with bold autumn colour.

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 2m

 Width: Up to 3m

Soil:  well-drained soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L,  10L ( subject to availability)

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Euonymus europaeus

Euonymus europaeus, commonly known as the spindle tree, is a deciduous shrub or small tree prized for its striking autumn display. During the fall, its green leaves turn vibrant shades of red and purple, providing a colorful spectacle.

The real showstopper, however, is its distinctive fruit—small, pink-red capsules that split open to reveal bright orange seeds inside, adding unique visual interest and attracting wildlife. This shrub thrives in full sun to partial shade and adapts well to a variety of soil types. Euonymus europaeus is a great addition to gardens looking for multi-seasonal appeal with its combination of foliage, fruit, and winter structure.

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to3m

 Width: Up to 2.5m

Soil:  well-drained soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L,  10L ( subject to availability)

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Mahonia varieties such as ‘Charity’ and ‘Winter Sun’

Mahonia is a standout shrub for adding vibrant winter interest to any garden. With its bold, spiky evergreen foliage and clusters of bright yellow, fragrant flowers that bloom from late autumn through winter, Mahonia brings both colour and texture during the colder months.

Mahonia thrives in partial shade and adapts well to a variety of soil types, making it a versatile, low-maintenance addition that brightens up winter landscapes.

Flowers:  November – March (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist-well-drained, fertile, humus-rich soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L, 20L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Nandina varieties such as ‘domestica’ and ‘Fire Power’ 

Nandinas provide autumn interest when leaves turn shades of fiery red and copper.

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

Flowers:  July  (depending on variety)

 Height: Up to 2m (depending on the variety)

 Width: Up to 1.5m (depending on the variety)

Soil:  moist, well-drained soil

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Pyracantha varieties such as ‘Red Column’ and ‘Golden Sun’ 

Pyracantha, commonly known as firethorn, is a robust evergreen shrub prized for its striking display of brightly coloured berries that appear in late autumn and last into winter. These vibrant berries, in shades of red, orange, or yellow, depending on the variety, create a stunning contrast against the plant’s dark green, glossy foliage.

In spring to early summer, Pyracantha produces clusters of small white flowers that attract pollinators, adding further seasonal interest. This shrub is ideal for adding colour and texture to hedges, walls, or garden borders and serves as a valuable food source for birds during the colder months

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

Flowers: May

 Height: Up to 3m (depending on the variety)

 Width: Up to 3m (depending on the variety)

Soil:  fertile, well-drained soil

Pot size: 2L, 3LD, 5L,  10L, 20L + ( subject to availability and the variety)

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Sarcococca confusa

Sarcococca confusa, commonly known as sweet box, is an elegant, evergreen shrub known for its glossy, dark green leaves and highly fragrant, small white flowers. Blooming in late winter to early spring, these delicate flowers fill the air with a delightful scent, making it an ideal plant for adding interest during the colder months.

After flowering, the shrub produces small, black berries that add an additional layer of appeal and attract wildlife. Sarcococca confusa thrives in partial to full shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil. Its compact size and low-maintenance nature make it perfect for shaded garden borders, containers, or as a fragrant, informal hedge.

Position: Partial – deep shade

Flowers: December – March

Height: Up to 2m (depending on the variety)

Width: Up to 1m (depending on the variety)

Soil:  fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil

Pot size: 2L, 3LD, 5L,  10L  ( subject to availability and the variety)

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Sedum varieties such as ‘Touchdown Teak, ‘Autumn Joy’ ‘Herbstfreude’ & ‘Frosted Fire’

Sedum, commonly known as stonecrop, is a hardy, low-maintenance perennial that adds year-round interest to the garden. With fleshy, succulent leaves that range from bright green to deep burgundy, sedums offer unique texture and colour.

During late summer and into autumn, many varieties produce clusters of star-shaped flowers in shades of pink, red, yellow, or white, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. Sedums thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them ideal for rock gardens, borders, and container planting. Their drought-tolerant nature and ability to withstand poor soil conditions make sedums an excellent choice for easy-care, resilient landscaping.

Flowers:  August – November (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Skimmia varieties such as ‘Rubella’ and ‘Kew Green’

Skimmia is a wonderful shrub for adding multi-season interest to your garden. During autumn and winter, Skimmia develops clusters of tightly packed, decorative buds that promise beauty for the months ahead. As spring arrives, these buds open up into fragrant, star-shaped flowers that create a stunning display and attract pollinators.

Skimmia’s glossy, evergreen foliage serves as the perfect backdrop for both the winter buds and spring blooms, providing year-round structure and beauty. This plant thrives in partial shade and moderately fertile, well-draining soil, making it an adaptable and low-maintenance addition that elevates any garden space.

Flowers:  April – May (depending on variety) flower buds are seen in autumn-winter.

Position: Partial – full shade

 Height: Up to 1.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist-well-drained, acid soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Viburnum varieties such as ‘tinus’ and ‘bod Dawn’

Viburnum is a diverse and attractive shrub that offers year-round interest with its beautiful foliage, seasonal flowers, and striking berries. In late autumn and winter, varieties such as Viburnum tinus produce clusters of small, delicate white or pink-tinged flowers that bring brightness to the garden during the darker months.

Many Viburnum species follow their flowering with colourful berries in shades of blue, black, or red, adding visual appeal and attracting birds. The foliage varies from glossy evergreen to deciduous varieties that can turn vibrant shades of red and purple in autumn. Viburnum is versatile, thriving in sun to partial shade and adapting well to different soil types, making it an excellent choice for adding multi-season interest to any garden.

Flowers:  December – April

Position: Full sun or partial shade

 Height: Up to 3m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist-well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Are you in need of some inspiration for your next garden project and after some late-flowering herbaceous plants that will go into early Autumn? check out some of our favourite September flowering varieties from Sedum to Anemone.

Achillea varieties such as ‘Terracotta’, ‘Cloth of Gold’ and ‘Moon Dust‘

Achilleas are a great addition to a mixed border or cottage garden in full sun – partial shade with flat-topped flowers that bloom from June – September with many cultivars and colours to choose from ranging from yellow to white and pink.

Flowers:  June-September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade (depending on variety)

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Anemone varieties such as ‘September Charm’, ‘Honorine Jobert’ & ‘Hadspen Abundance’

Flowers:  August – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist, fertile, humus-rich soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Alchemilla Mollis

Flowers:  June-September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.6m

Soil: Humus-rich soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L

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Alstromeria varieties such as ‘White Magic’, ‘Indian Summer’ and ‘Inticancha Maya’

Flowers:  June-September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.9m (depending on the variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 3L

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Agastache varieties such as ‘Morello’, ‘Little Adder’ & ‘Blue Fortune’

Flowers:  July – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on the variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L. 3L

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Agapanthus varieties such as Africanus, ‘Twister’ and ‘Polar Ice’

Flowers:  July – September (depending on the variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L  (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Aster varieties such as ‘Monch’, ‘Bahamas’ & ‘Barbados’

Flowers: August – October (depends on the variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.9m (depending on variety)

Soil: Well-drained, moderately fertile soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L

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Campanula varieties such as ‘Perla Blue’, ‘Perla White’ & ‘White Clips’

Flowers: July – September (depends on the variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.3m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist, well-drained, soil

 Pot size: 2L

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Coreopsis varieties such as ‘Limerock Ruby’, ‘Golden Sphere’ and ‘Sunkiss’

Flowers: June – September (depends on the variety)

 Position: Full sun -partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 3L

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Crocosmia varieties such as ‘Lucifer’ and ‘George Davidson’

Flowers: August – September

 Position: Full sun -partial shade

 Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)

Soil:Moderately fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 3L, 5L

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Dahlia varieties such as ‘Happy Days Pink’, ‘Happy Days Red’ and ‘Happy Days Yellow’

Flowers: June – September (depends on the variety)

 Position: Full sun -partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 3L

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Echinacea varieties such as ‘White Swan’, ‘Magnus’ and ‘Alba’

Flowers: July – September

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Most soils, except very dry or boggy

 Pot size: 2L, 3L

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Erigeron varieties such as ‘Sea Breeze’ and Erigeron karvinskianus

Flowers: May – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L

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Geranium varieties such as ‘Rozanne’ and ‘Max Frei’ 

Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L

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Leucanthemum ‘Banana Cream’ and ‘Snow Lady’

Flowers: June – September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L

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Liatris varieties such as ‘Alba’, ‘Floristan’ & ‘Kobold’

Flowers: August – September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately-fertile, reliably moist soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L

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Nepeta varieties such as ‘Six Hills Giant’, ‘Walkers Low’ and ‘Junior Walker’

Flowers: June – September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun- partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.9m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability).

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Penstemon varieties 

Flowers: July – October

 Position: Full sun- partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability).

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Persicaria varieties such as ‘Darjeeling Red’, ‘Superba’ and ‘Delgado’

Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun- partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Any moist soil

 Pot size: 2l (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Perovskia varieties such as ‘Blue Spire’, ‘Lacey Blue’ & ‘Little Spire’

Flowers: August – September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)

Soil:Well-drained, poor to moderately fertile

 Pot size: 2l, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Rudbeckia varieties such as ‘Goldsturm’, ‘Maya’ & ‘Sunbeckia Mia’

Flowers: August – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.8m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, preferably heavy but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Salvia varieties such as ‘Caradonna’, ‘Cherry Lips and ‘Sensation White’

Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L,5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Sanguisorba varieties such as ‘Tanma’ & ‘Little Angel’

Flowers: June – September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)

Soil: Poor-to-average, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Scabiosa varieties such as ‘Butterfly Blue’, ‘Flutter Deep Blue’ and ‘Flutter Deep Pink’

Flowers: June – September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Sedum varieties such as ‘Touchdown Teak, ‘Autumn Joy’ ‘Herbstfreude’ & ‘Frosted Fire’

Flowers:  August – November (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Verbena varieties such as bonariensis and  ‘Lollipop’

Flowers: July – September

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 2m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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In need of some late-flowering shrubs for your August projects? check out some of our favourites below from Abelia to Vinca.

Abelia Grandiflora & the variety ‘kaleidoscope’

Flowers: June – October (depending on the variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1.5m (depending on the variety)

Soil: Well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L + (subject to availability)

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Buddleia varieties

Flowers: July – September

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 4m

 Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L + (subject to availability)

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Caryopteris varieties such as ‘Pink Perfection’, ‘Gold Crest’ & ‘Heavenly Blue’

Flowers: July – September

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L,  (subject to availability)

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Cotinus varieties such as ‘Royal Purple’

Flowers: July – August

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 5m (depending on variety)

 Soil: Moderately fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L (subject to availability)

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Fuchsia varieties such as ‘Tom Thumb’ ‘Genii’ and ‘Mrs Popple’

Flowers: June-October

 Position: Full sun  or partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Haliumium libanotis

Flowers: June-August

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.5m

Soil: Well-drained soil

 Pot size: 3L,10L (subject to availability)

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Hebe varieties such as ‘Little Leaves’, ‘Green Globe’ & ‘Rhubarb and Custard’

Flowers: July-September (depending on the variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on the variety)

Soil: poor or moderately fertile, moist, well-drained neutral to slightly alkaline soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L (subject to availability)

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Hydrangea varieties such as petiolaris, ‘Annabelle’ & ‘Limelight’

Flowers: June-September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade (depending on variety)

 Height: Up to 1.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist, well-drained soil, fertile soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L,  10L + (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Hypericum varieties such as ‘miracle bliss’ and Hidcote

Flowers: June-October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade (depending on variety)

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L,  10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Lavatera varieties such as ‘Rosea’ and ‘Baby Barnsley’

Flowers: June-September

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 2m

Soil: Fertile -well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L  (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Lavender varieties such as ‘Hidcote’ and ‘munstead’

Flowers: June-September

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.6m

Soil:  Fertile -well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L  (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Potentilla varieties such as ‘Red Robin’ ‘Lovely pink’ ‘Goldfinger’ ‘Abbotswood’ and ‘Tangerine’ 

Flowers: May – October

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m depending on the variety

Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

Roses (shrub varieties) such as ‘Rosa Kent’

Flowers: July – September

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1.5m depending on the variety

Soil: fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

Spiraea varieties such as ‘Golden Princess’, ‘Goldflames’ and ‘Firelight’ 

Flowers: July – August (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 2m + (depending on variety)

Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Vinca varieties such as ‘major’, minor’ and ‘atropurpurea’ 

Flowers: April – September

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.45m depending on the variety

Soil: any but very dry soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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We recently teamed up with a landscaping firm and our customer Ray Skelton (Harrogate) Ltd to help create a touching memorial for a national hero and campaigner, Capt Sir Tom Moore.

This year we celebrate our Centenary while the late Capt Sir Tom, who raised millions of pounds for the NHS, celebrated his 100th birthday in April 2020. He passed away in February this year.

The memorial was unveiled on the 7^th July in front of World War II veteran Capt Sir Tom’s family, Junior Soldiers and sponsors such as Ray Skelton (Harrogate) Ltd and Johnsons.

Chairman John Richardson and his grandaughter and Marketing Manager Eleanor Richardson attended with Director Stuart Skelton of Ray Skelton (Harrogate) Ltd and Colin Simpson.

Ray Skelton (Harrogate) Ltd commissioned Kris Elvidge, a local Stone Mason, himself a Yorkshireman, to engrave the stones that can be seen on the front and back of the college headquarters identifying the start and finish of the Capt Sir Tom Moore Walk. They also created 4 seating areas that surround a centre stone halfway along the main walkway taken by junior soldiers on parade day.

Through landscaper Ray Skelton (Harrogate) Ltd, Johnsons donated two Magnolia ‘Double Diamond’ 200-250 110L trees and 50 Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ worth a total of £765 to the memorial at Army Foundation College Harrogate, where he was an honorary colonel.

The trees are among six planted by Junior Soldiers from the Army college in honour of Capt Sir Tom and to launch the Queen’s Green Canopy campaign across the country.

The Queen’s Green Canopy is a tree planting initiative to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2021. People across the UK are being invited to ‘plant a tree for the jubilee’, with community groups and schools encouraged to take part from October, when the tree planting season begins.

Capt Sir Tom captured the nation’s hearts when he raised over £32m for NHS Charities by walking 100 laps of his garden during the first lockdown. He was born in Keighley but more recently lived in Marston Moretaine in Bedfordshire.

He inspired millions when his saying ‘Tomorrow will be a good day’ trended on social media and became the oldest ever recording artist to reach number one when his duet of You’ll Never Walk Alone with Michael Ball topped the charts. On his 100^th birthday, he received thousands of cards from well-wishers across the world, including the Queen and Prime Minister, and was honoured with an RAF flypast.

Eleanor Richardson, Johnsons of Whixley’s marketing manager, said: “We were delighted to be part of this fitting tribute to Capt Sir Tom Moore, who was a true inspiration. The donation is particularly fitting as the magnolia is native to Asia, where he served during World War II.”

Stuart Skelton, Director of Ray Skelton (Harrogate) Ltd said “It has been an honour and a privilege to be involved in the Capt Sir Tom Moore Memorial, hopefully, this will continue to inspire future generations of Junior Soldiers”

In need of some late-flowering shrubs for your September projects? check out some of our favourites below from Abelia to Vinca.

Abelia Grandiflora & the variety ‘kaleidoscope’

Flowers: June – October (depending on the variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1.5m (depending on the variety)

Soil: Well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L + (subject to availability)

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Buddleia varieties

Flowers: July – September

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 4m

 Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L + (subject to availability)

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Caryopteris varieties such as ‘Pink Perfection’, ‘Gold Crest’ & ‘Heavenly Blue’

Flowers: July – September

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L,  (subject to availability)

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Fuchsia varieties such as ‘Tom Thumb’ ‘Genii’ and ‘Mrs Popple’

Flowers: June-October

 Position: Full sun  or partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Hebe varieties such as ‘Little Leaves’, ‘Green Globe’ & ‘Rhubarb and Custard’

Flowers: July-September (depending on the variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on the variety)

Soil: poor or moderately fertile, moist, well-drained neutral to slightly alkaline soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L (subject to availability)

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Hydrangea varieties such as petiolaris, ‘Annabelle’ & ‘Limelight’

Flowers: June-September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade (depending on variety)

 Height: Up to 1.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist, well-drained soil, fertile soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L,  10L + (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Hypericum varieties such as ‘miracle bliss’ and Hidcote

Flowers: June-October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade (depending on variety)

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L,  10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Lavatera varieties such as ‘Rosea’ and ‘Baby Barnsley’

Flowers: June-September

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 2m

Soil: Fertile -well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L  (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Lavender varieties such as ‘Hidcote’ and ‘munstead’

Flowers: June-September

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.6m

Soil:  Fertile -well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L  (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Potentilla varieties such as ‘Red Robin’ ‘Lovely pink’ ‘Goldfinger’ ‘Abbotswood’ and ‘Tangerine’ 

Flowers: May – October

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m depending on the variety

Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Roses (shrub varieties) such as ‘Rosa Kent’

Flowers: July – September

Position: Full sun

Height: Up to 1.5m depending on the variety

Soil: fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Vinca varieties such as ‘major’, minor’ and ‘atropurpurea’ 

Flowers: April – September

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.45m depending on the variety

Soil: any but very dry soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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In need of some autumn interest for your October projects? check out some of our favourites below from Cornus to Rhus.

Abelia Grandiflora & the variety ‘kaleidoscope’

Flowers: June – October (depending on the variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1.5m (depending on the variety)

Soil: Well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L + (subject to availability)

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Fuchsia varieties such as ‘Tom Thumb’ ‘Genii’ and ‘Mrs Popple’

Flowers: June-October

 Position: Full sun  or partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Hypericum varieties such as ‘miracle bliss’ and Hidcote

Flowers: June-October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade (depending on variety)

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L,  10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Potentilla varieties such as ‘Red Robin’ ‘Lovely pink’ ‘Goldfinger’ ‘Abbotswood’ and ‘Tangerine’ 

Flowers: May – October

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m depending on the variety

Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Euonymus Alatus

A bushy dense deciduous shrub with green leaves that turn to shades of strawberry red during autumn.

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

Height: Up to 2m

Width: Up to 3m

Soil:  well-drained soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L,  10L ( subject to availability)

Euonymus europaeus

Dark green leaves turn to a spectacular blazing scarlet colour during autumn and its summer flowers are replaced with orange-pink winged fruit which remains long after leaves have fallen.

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

Height: Up to3m

Width: Up to 2.5m

Soil:  well-drained soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L,  10L ( subject to availability)

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Callicarpa Profusion

Known for its striking violet, bead-like berries that appear in autumn and remain after the plant has lost its leaves.

Position: Sun or dappled shade

Height: Up to3m

Width: Up to 2.5m

Soil:  well-drained soil

Pot size: 3L,  10L ( subject to availability)

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 Cornus varieties such as ‘Midwinter Fire’, and ‘Sibrica’ 

Cornus are known for their coloured stems that are revealed when their leaves fall. Shades of red, yellow and orange stems are available.

Position: Full sun – partial shade

Height: Up to 3m (depending on the variety)

Width: Up to 2m (depending on the variety)

Soil:  moderately fertile soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L,  10L ( subject to availability and the variety)

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Pyracantha varieties such as ‘Red Column’ and ‘Golden Sun’ 

An upright evergreen shrub with dark leaves and spiny branches. Vibrant yellow, red, and orange berries can be seen in autumn when little else is providing interest.

Position: Full sun – partial shade

Flowers: May

Height: Up to 3m (depending on the variety)

Width: Up to 3m (depending on the variety)

Soil:  fertile, well-drained soil

Pot size: 2L, 3LD, 5L,  10L, 20L + ( subject to availability and the variety)

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Cotoneaster  varieties such as’ horizontalis’

Berries appear on varieties such as ‘horizontalis’ and ‘Coral Beauty’ during the autumn period, in late spring- early summer they are filled with small creamy white flowers.

Position: Full sun – partial shade

Flowers:  May-June  (depending on variety)

Height: Up to 2m (depending on the variety)

Width: Up to 1.5m (depending on the variety)

Soil:  fertile, well-drained soil

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Nandina varieties such as ‘domestica’ and ‘Fire Power’ 

Nandinas provide autumn interest when leaves turn shades of fiery red and copper.

Position: Full sun – partial shade

Flowers:  July  (depending on variety)

Height: Up to 2m (depending on the variety)

Width: Up to 1.5m (depending on the variety)

Soil:  moist, well-drained soil

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Viburnum opulus

Bunches of bright red fruits are visible in autumn and three-lobed, dark green leaves turn to striking shades of red before falling.

Position: Full sun – partial shade

Flowers:  May – June  (depending on variety)

Height: Up to 5m (depending on the variety)

Width: Up to 5m (depending on the variety)

Soil:  Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

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Rhus Typhinia 

An upright deciduous shrub or small tree with dark green leaves that turn to shades of orange-red in autumn before they fall.

Position: Full sun

Flowers:  June – August (depending on variety)

Height: Up to 5m (depending on the variety)

Width: Up to 6m (depending on the variety)

Soil:  Fertile, well-drained soil

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Skimmia Rubella 

Attractive dark red flower buds are produced in autumn and will be visible on the plant until spring when they burst into flower.

Position: Partial Shade

Flowers:  April – May

Height: Up to 1.5m

Width: Up to 1.5m

Soil:  Fertile, moist, well-drained acid or ericaceous soil

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Cercis ‘Forest Pansy’

Position: Full Sun

Flowers:  March – April

Height: Up to 10m

Width: Up to 10m

Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

In need of some flowering shrubs for your July projects? check out some of our favourite below from Convolvulus to Hebe and Vinca.

Buddleia varieties

Flowers: July – September

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 4m

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L + (subject to availability)

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Convolvulus cneorum 

Flowers: May – July

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.6m

 Soil: Poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L (subject to availability)

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Cotinus varieties such as ‘Royal Purple’

Flowers: July – August

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 5m (depending on variety)

 Soil: Moderately fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L (subject to availability)

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Cistus varieties such as ‘Corbariensis,  ‘Sunset’ and ‘purpureus’. 

Flowers: June-July

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1m

 Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Escallonia varieties such as ‘Apple Blossom’, ‘Iveyi’ and ‘Pink Elle‘.

Flowers: June-July and usually again in September

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L  (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Fuchsia varieties such as ‘Tom Thumb’ ‘Genii’ and ‘Mrs Popple’

Flowers: June-October

 Position: Full sun  or partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Haliumium libanotis 

Flowers: June-August

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.5m

Soil: Well-drained soil

 Pot size: 3L,10L (subject to availability)

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Hebe varieties 

Flowers: July-September (depending on the variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on the variety)

Soil: poor or moderately fertile, moist, well-drained neutral to slightly alkaline soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 10L (subject to availability)

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Hydrangea varieties 

Flowers: June-September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade (depending on variety)

 Height: Up to 1.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist, well-drained soil, fertile soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L,  10L + (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Hypericum varieties such as ‘miracle bliss’ and Hidcote

Flowers: June-October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade (depending on variety)

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L,  10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Lavatera varieties such as ‘Rosea’ and ‘Baby Barnsley’

Flowers: June-September

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 2m

Soil: Fertile -well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L  (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Lavender varieties such as ‘Hidcote’ and ‘munstead’.

Flowers: June-September

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.6m

Soil:  Fertile -well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L  (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Potentilla varieties such as ‘Red Robin’ ‘Lovely pink’ ‘Goldfinger’ ‘Abbotswood’ and ‘Tangerine’ 

????Flowers: May – October

???? Position: Full sun – partial shade

???? Height: Up to 1m depending on the variety

Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Roses (shrub varieties)

????Flowers: July – September (depending on varieties)

???? Position: Full sun

???? Height: Up to 1.5m depending on the variety

Soil: fertile, humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 4L, 5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Spiraea varieties such as ‘Golden Princess’, ‘Goldflames’ and ‘Firelight’ 

????Flowers: July – August (depending on variety)

???? Position: Full sun

???? Height: Up to 2m + (depending on variety)

Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Vinca varieties such as ‘major’, minor’ and ‘atropurpurea’ 

????Flowers: April – September

???? Position: Full sun – partial shade

???? Height: Up to 0.45m depending on the variety

Soil: any but very dry soil

Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Interested in July flowering herbaceous for your planting plan also? click here

Are you in need of some inspiration for your next garden project and after some flowering July herbaceous plants? check out some of our favourite varieties from Alstromeria to Helenium, Penstemon and Veronica.

Achillea varieties such as ‘Terracotta’, ‘Cloth of Gold’ and ‘Moon Dust‘

Achilleas are a great addition to a mixed border or cottage garden in full sun – partial shade with flat-topped flowers that bloom from June – September with many cultivars and colours to choose from ranging from yellow to white and pink.

Flowers:  June-September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade (depending on variety)

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Alchemilla Mollis

Flowers:  June-September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.6m

Soil: Humus-rich soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L

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Alstromeria varieties such as ‘White Magic’, ‘Indian Summer’ and ‘Inticancha Maya’

Flowers:  June-September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.9m (depending on the variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 3L

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Astilbe varieties such as ‘Fanal’

Flowers:  May – June, August (depends on the variety)

 Position: Full sun -partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist, humus, rich soil

 Pot size: 2L, 5L  (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Agapanthus varieties such as africanus, ‘Twister’ and ‘Polar Ice’

Flowers:  July – September (depending on the variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L, 5L  (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Astrantia varieties such as ‘Claret’, ‘Hadspen Blood’ and ‘Rosea’

Flowers: June – August (depends on the variety)

 Position: Full sun -partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, preferably humus-rich soil

 Pot size: 3L

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Coreopsis varieties such as ‘Limerock Ruby’, ‘Golden Sphere’ and ‘Sunkiss’

Flowers: June – September (depends on the variety)

 Position: Full sun -partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 3L

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Dahlia varieties such as ‘Happy Days Pink’, ‘Happy Days Red’ and ‘Happy Days Yellow’

Flowers: June – September (depends on the variety)

 Position: Full sun -partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 3L

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Delphinium varieties such as ‘Galahad’ and ‘Magic Fountain Rose Blue White’

Flowers: June – July

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 2m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L

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Digitalis varieties such as ‘Albiflora’ and ‘Excelsior Hybrids’

Flowers: June – July

 Position: Partial shade

 Height: Up to 2m (depending on variety)

Soil: Humus, rich soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L

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Echinacea varieties such as ‘White Swan’, ‘Magnus’ and ‘Alba’

Flowers: July – September

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Most soils, except very dry or boggy

 Pot size: 2L, 3L

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Erigeron varieties such as ‘Sea Breeze’ and Erigeron karvinskianus

Flowers: May – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L

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Eryngium varieties such as ‘Neptune’s Gold’

Flowers: July – August

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: dry, well-drained, poor to moderately fertile soil

 Pot size: 2L

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Geranium varieties such as ‘Rozanne’ and ‘Max Frei’ 

Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L

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Geum varieties such as ‘Totally Tangerine’, ‘Cosmopolitan’ and ‘Sunrise’

Flowers: June – August (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.6m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 3L

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Helenium varieties such as ‘Moerheim Beauty’, ‘Short and Sassy’ and ‘The Bishop’ 

Flowers: July – August (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L

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Leucanthemum ‘Banana Cream’ and ‘Snow Lady’

Flowers: June – September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L

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Lupinus varieties such as ‘Gladiator’, ‘Persian Slipper’ and ‘Red Rum’

Flowers: June – July

 Position: Full sun- partial shade

 Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)

Soil: Well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability).

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Monarda varieties such as ‘Balmy Lilac’ and ‘Balmy Pink’

Flowers: July – August

 Position: Full sun- partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.4m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability).

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Nepeta varieties such as ‘Six Hills Giant’, ‘Walkers Low’ and ‘Junior Walker’

Flowers: June – September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun- partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.9m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L, 5L (depending on variety and subject to availability).

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Paeonia varieties such as ‘Felix Crousse’ and ‘Bowl of beauty’ 

Flowers: June – July

 Position: Full sun- partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moist, humus-rich, free-draining soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3LD (depending on variety and subject to availability).

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Penstemon varieties 

Flowers: July – October

 Position: Full sun- partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability).

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Persicaria varieties such as ‘Darjeeling Red’, ‘Superba’ and ‘Delgado’

Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun- partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Any moist soil

 Pot size: 2l (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Salvia varieties such as ‘Caradonna’, ‘Cherry Lips and ‘Sensation White’

Flowers: June – October (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 1.2m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L,5L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Scabiosa varieties such as ‘Butterfly Blue’, ‘Flutter Deep Blue’ and ‘Flutter Deep Pink’

Flowers: June – September (depending on variety)

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 0.5m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly alkaline soil

 Pot size: 2l, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Tiarella varieties such as ‘Spring Symphony’ and ‘Pink Symphony’

Flowers: May – July

 Position: Partial shade

 Height: Up to 0.4m (depending on variety)

Soil: Cool, moist, humus-rich soil

 Pot size: 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Verbena varieties such as bonariensis and  ‘Lollipop’

Flowers: July – September

 Position: Full sun

 Height: Up to 2m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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Veronica varieties such as ‘Anniversary Blue’ 

Flowers: June – August

 Position: Full sun – partial shade

 Height: Up to 1m (depending on variety)

Soil: Moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil

 Pot size: 2L, 3L (depending on variety and subject to availability)

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For more ‘plantspiration’ head to our solutions section of the website here

A warm welcome to Rob Forrester who joins the team as Procurement Manager, find out what he had to say about his new role below:

1) What are you looking forward to most about your new role? Getting out around the UK & Europe to meet our suppliers (when travel permits) and solidifying our strong relationships.

2)Anything you’ve learnt in the last couple of weeks that you didn’t know before? A lot! I’ve come from a non-horticulture background, so I’m learning lots of new things every single day!

3)What do you think the challenges of this role will be? Dealing with new legislation/regulations in the aftermath of Brexit/Covid.

What would we find you doing on a weekend? Playing football for Poppleton United or spending time with my wife, daughter and dog.

Favourite food? Got to be curry- specifically Lamb Madras!

Favourite band? I like my rock music- if I had to pick a favourite I’d probably go with Muse.

Summer or winter? Summer

Tell us an interesting fact about yourself: I once had a drawing of mine on display at York Art Gallery, despite being absolutely terrible at art.

With spring officially here, it’s time to start making the most of your garden and landscaping projects with some of our favourite March flowering plants that are sure to add interest to your project this spring and beyond.

Viburnum tinus ‘Lisarose’

An evergreen shrub with year-round interest that will produce redbuds and clusters of soft pink flowers. Ideal for brightening up a part shaded area of the garden over winter and into spring when little else is flowering.

 Flowers: Late November – April

Position: Full sun – partial shade

Available in 2L, 5L and 10L subject to availability.

Vinca minor

This groundcover shrub is filled with blue-violet flowers right now that will last through to September. Vincas are great low growing ground cover plants that are great at suppressing weeds and great at the front of a border.

Position: Full sun – partial shade
Flowers: Late March – September

Available in 2L pots subject to availability.

Pieris ‘Passion’

An eye-catching evergreen shrub with generous pink-red bell-shaped flowers from March-May growing in full sun – partial shade it’s perfect in a large pot or on a patio.

Available in 3L and 5L pots subject to availability.

Flowers: March-May

  Position: Full sun – partial shade

Forsythia ‘Lynwood Gold’

A striking spring-flowering plant which is smothered in golden blooms from March-April. A great addition to the back of a border or as an informal hedge.

  Position: Full sun – Light Shade

Flowers: February – April

Available in 2L, 4L and 10L pots subject to availability.

Skimmia Rubella

Are you in need of some autumn/winter colour? Skimmia Rubella are known for their dark red flower buds that are produced in autumn and last through to winter until the flowers open in spring — an excellent plant for a patio pot or border.

Available in 2L, 5L, 7.5L and 10L pots subject to availabilty.

 Flowers: March – May

 Position: partial – full shade

Erysimum ‘Bowles’s Mauve’

A long-flowering semi-evergreen with narrow, grey-green leaves. This perennial produces spikes of purple flowers from late February to July and will make a great addition to a long flowering sunny border.

 Flowers: February – July

 Position: Full sun

Available in 2L pots subject to availability.

Euphorbia wulfenii

Is filled with huge heads of yellow-green flowers with ‘bronze eyes’ from late March-May that tower above its bluish-green foliage. Great at the back of a sunny border.

Available in 2L pots subject to availability.

Flowers:  Late March-May

 Position:  Full sun

Prunus ‘Kojo-no-mai’

Is a great addition to a small garden, it’s wiry twigs burst into life in March when buds open to display pale pink flower. It’s green leaves turn to glorious shades of red and orange in Autumn.

Flowers: March-April

 Position:  Full sun

Available in 3L, 5L and 10L pots subject to availability.

For further advise, hints and tips go to our solutions page here

To celebrate World Gin Day on Saturday 13th June, we are giving away a 20cl bottle of our ‘Quixley Gin’

For your chance to win simply like our Facebook page, like the post and tag the friend, you would share a bottle with. ????

Terms and conditions do apply below ⬇️

1. The promotor is Johnsons of Whixley Ltd
2. Entrants must like the Johnsons of Whixley Facebook page and have liked and commented on the post as requested to be in for a chance to win.
3. The prize is open to all UK residents aged over 18 and above.
4. There is only one prize available
5. Only one prize per entrant (a 20cl bottle of Quixley gin) can be claimed, multiple entries from the same applicant will be discounted.
6. The prize is as stated, no cash or alternative prize is available.
7. The Winner will be picked at random from all eligible entries.
8. The competition will close at 12 pm Monday 15th June
9. The Winner will be announced on Monday 15th June on the Johnsons of Whixley Facebook page.
10. Winners will be asked for their details for postage or collection.
11. Winners will receive their prize by post or on collection.
12. The winners are allowed up to five calendar days to claim the prize from the date they are announced. If the Winner fails to come forward, then the prize shall be forfeited.
13. Entries who did not win will not be contacted.
14. Johnsons of Whixley will not take responsibility for any lost items in the post – replacements cannot be issued.
15. If you are a winner, the Promoter may request you to participate in any publicity or promotion organised by the Promoter, including promotional photographs.
16. The Promoter reserves the right to withdraw this offer or amend these Terms and Conditions at any time without notice.
17. In the event of any dispute regarding the Terms and Conditions, the conduct, results and any other matters relating to this prize draw, the decision of the Promoter shall be final, and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into.
18. By entering applicants agree to the above terms and conditions.

On March 23rd 2020 the government announced comprehensive lockdown restrictions for the entire nation. At a stroke, many businesses simply ceased to trade and have remained in a state of suspended animation ever since.

 At Johnsons, our approach has been driven by the need to ensure both the personal safety and job security of all staff.

Staff numbers have reduced by 40%, and this conversely has created a uniquely well-spaced and naturally ventilated working environment with 70 staff spread out over five sites totalling 150 acres.

 During this period we have still dispatched 230,000 plants(Mar 23 to Apr 16th) fulfilling orders into all sectors in both an ethical and safe manner.

Our remote workers are dialling in daily and continue to answer enquiries, fill in quotes, pay suppliers, pay workers, and ask for payment from customers. They attend regular zoom meetings, organise incoming goods and our limited dispatch. Some of our colleagues are isolating at home or are furloughed due to the slow down in productive work – the contribution and support they are making is perhaps not as obvious but nevertheless remains essential.

 We still need to grow the plants that we will sell in recovery – our potting machines are busy churning out new crops, and our production teams are frantically tending the plants that are vigorously growing in the sunshine on the nursery to ensure they remain saleable for as long as possible.

 We thank all our customers and colleagues for your continued support; we remain open for business and capable of scaling up overnight when at long last the restrictions ease. Should you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask.

We are excited to announce that we are teaming up with our customer Hedges Direct to beat the crisis with garden rescue packs delivered directly to your Garden.

At present, garden centres everywhere are closed, which means that UK nurseries now have a surplus of garden centre stock and no available outlet.

Hedges Direct has kindly offered to support us to ensure surplus stock can find a home and garden.

The mixed shrub pallet deal of garden centre plants will be available as two different options.

CHOOSE FROM TWO OPTIONS:

Option 1: 50 x 2L shrubs – made up of the following plants :

Aucuba Japonica (‘Crotonifolia’ and ‘Rozannie’)
Berberis Thunbergii (Atropupurea Nana’ and ‘Golden Dream’)
Buddleja (‘Buzz Sky Blue’ and ‘Buzz Ivory’)
Ceanothus (‘Blue Sapphire’, ‘Italian Skies’ and Caeanothus thyrsiflorous repens)
Choisya ternata and Choisya ternata ‘Sundance’
Convolvulus cnoreum
Coprosma (‘Inferno’, ‘Pacific Dawn’ and ‘Pina Colada)
Cytisus ‘Lena’ and Cytisus praecox ‘Allgold’
Escallonia (‘Apple Blossom’,’ Gold Carpe’t, ‘Glowing Embers’ and ‘Iveyi)
Euonymus fortunei ‘Blondy’
Euonymous japonicas (‘Microphyllus Albovariegatus’ and ‘Microphyllus Aurea’)
Genista ‘lydia’
Halimium libanotis
Hebe (‘Blue Star’, ‘Champion’, ‘High Voltage’, Purple Shamrock’)
Lavatera ‘Baby Barnsley’ and Lavatera olb. ‘Rosea’)
Photinia (‘Carre Rouge’, ‘Red Robin’, ‘Little Red Robin’ and ‘Pink Marble’)
Pittosporum tenuifolium (‘Gold Star and ‘Tom Thumb’)
Spirea arguta, Spirea japonica ‘Firelight’ and ‘Golden Princess and Spiraea nipp. ‘Snowmound’
Vinca minor (Atropurpurea and ‘Ralph Shugert’)
Weigela florida (‘Minor Black and ‘Kosteri Variegata’)

Option 2: 25 x 5L specimen shrubs – made up of the following plants:

Aucuba Japonica ‘Crotonifolia’
Berberis thunbergii ‘Harlequin’
Ceanothus ‘Skylark and Caeanothus thyrsiflorous repens
Choisya ‘White Dazzler’
Convolvulus Cnoreum
Coprosma (Ignite and Pacific Dawn)
Cotnius cogg. ‘Royal Purple and Cotinus dummeri ‘Grace’
Crinodendron hookerianum
Euonymus jap. ‘Greenspire’
Euonymus jap. ‘Marieke’
Euonymus jap. ‘Paloma Blanca’
Euonymus ‘Kathy’
Euonymus ‘Pierrolino’
Halimium libanotis
Hydrangea pan. ‘Limelight’ and Hydrangea pan. ‘Silver Dollar’
Leucothoe axil. ‘Curly Red’
Nandina domestica ‘Gulf Stream’
Osmanthus x burkwoodii
Photinia fras. (‘Pink Marble’, ‘Carre Rouge’ and ‘Little Red Robin’)
Pittosporum ‘Golf Ball’ and Pittosporum tenuifolium ‘Gold Star’)
Skimmia x con. ‘Kew Green’
Viburnum tinus

Once selected, delivery will be arranged straight to your garden.