Low maintenance

Begonia 'Fimbriata White' produces crisp white, frilled blooms that look like soft crepe-paper pompoms, bringing rich colour and a soft, petal-packed look to summer containers and sheltered borders from early summer onwards.

Forming a upright, leafy clump, this tuberous begonia typically reaches an established height of around 30–50 cm in a single season, with repeat-flowering stems that keep the display fresh when you remove faded blooms.

Start tubers in a frost-free place in spring, then plant outside once all risk of frost has passed. Choose humus-rich, well-drained soil and a sheltered spot with bright shade or gentle morning sun, as strong midday sun can scorch leaves and flowers.

Water carefully until growth is established, then keep the compost evenly moist (never waterlogged). Feed every two to three weeks through the growing season for stronger flowering, and protect plants from heavy rain and wind to prevent damage to the blooms.

Ideal for patio pots, window boxes and shaded beds, these begonias provide long-lasting colour and are easy to overwinter: lift the tubers after the first frost, dry them off, and store in a cool, frost-free place until spring.

Dahlia 'Cactus Mixed' brings a mixed collection of spiky cactus dahlias for bold borders to summer borders and cutting gardens, with bold flowerheads held on sturdy stems. Whether planted in drifts or dotted through mixed beds, the blooms add instant impact and keep coming through the warm months.

Once established, this clump-forming dahlia typically reaches 90–120 cm, producing plenty of long stems for cutting. Regular picking and deadheading encourages a steady succession of flowers from midsummer into autumn.

Start tubers in a frost-free place in spring, or plant outside once the risk of frost has passed. Choose a sunny, sheltered spot in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil, and enrich the planting area with compost for best results.

Water during dry spells, especially while buds form, and feed every two to three weeks through the flowering period. Taller plants benefit from discreet staking, and removing faded blooms keeps the plant productive and tidy.

Perfect for borders, patio pots and cutting gardens, dahlias are also pollinator-friendly in single-flowered forms. Lift and store the tubers after the first frosts in colder areas to enjoy an even better display the following year.

Hemerocallis ‘Frans Hals’ is a dependable daylily with eye-catching, bicolour blooms that light up sunny borders, cottage gardens, and low-maintenance planting schemes throughout summer.

Forming a tidy, bushy clump of strap-like foliage, it sends up sturdy stems topped with large, funnel-shaped flowers in warm orange and yellow tones, delivering bold colour with minimal fuss.

Plant in full sun for the strongest flowering, in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Daylilies are tolerant of a wide range of soils and cope well once established, making them ideal for many gardens.

Water during prolonged dry spells in spring and early summer to support bud formation. Remove spent flower stems after flowering and tidy away dead foliage; clumps can be divided every few years if needed.

A brilliant choice for borders and cutting, ‘Frans Hals’ also supports pollinators and provides reliable structure at the front to middle of beds, pairing easily with grasses and late-summer perennials.

Begonia 'Double Red' produces velvety, multi-layered double flowers in rich scarlet red, bringing rich colour and a soft, petal-packed look to summer containers and sheltered borders from early summer onwards.

Forming a compact, upright growth, this tuberous begonia typically reaches an established height of around 30–50 cm in a single season, with repeat-flowering stems that keep the display fresh when you remove faded blooms.

Start tubers in a frost-free place in spring, then plant outside once all risk of frost has passed. Choose humus-rich, well-drained soil and a sheltered spot with bright shade or gentle morning sun, as strong midday sun can scorch leaves and flowers.

Water carefully until growth is established, then keep the compost evenly moist (never waterlogged). Feed every two to three weeks through the growing season for stronger flowering, and protect plants from heavy rain and wind to prevent damage to the blooms.

Ideal for patio pots, window boxes and shaded beds, these begonias provide long-lasting colour and are easy to overwinter: lift the tubers after the first frost, dry them off, and store in a cool, frost-free place until spring.

Begonia 'Double Pink' produces pure pink double blooms that can reach an impressive size, bringing a lush, petal-packed look to shaded patios and summer containers. The blooms are richly textured and long-lasting, creating a solid block of colour where sun-loving plants struggle.

Growing from tubers, this begonia forms compact plants to around around 40cm, flowering continuously from early summer into autumn when kept evenly moist and regularly fed.

Start tubers indoors in spring or plant outside once frosts have passed. Choose fertile, well-drained compost and position in bright shade or partial shade, sheltered from strong wind and hot afternoon sun.

Water lightly until growth is established, then keep compost evenly moist but never waterlogged. Feed every 10–14 days during flowering and remove spent blooms to encourage more flowers.

Ideal for pots, window boxes and shaded borders, begonias can be overwintered easily. Lift tubers after the first frost, dry them off, and store cool and frost-free until spring.

Calla Lily 'White Flirt' (Zantedeschia) is a refined, elegant variety with clean white spathes surrounding a pale yellow spadix, carried above dark green, lightly flecked foliage.

Its neat habit and long-lasting flowers make it a superb choice for patio pots, sheltered borders and cutting, where the crisp white blooms bring a calm, contemporary feel.

Plant in rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade, once frost danger has passed. Sheltered positions help the flowers remain at their best for longer.

Water regularly while in growth and feed during the flowering season. In colder gardens, lift and store the rhizomes dry and frost free after the foliage has died back.

Sedum ‘Herbstfreude’ (best known as ‘Autumn Joy’) is an iconic late-season perennial that brings structure and changing colour to the garden just as other summer flowers begin to fade. It is prized for its succulent foliage and long-lasting flower heads.

The plant forms a sturdy, upright clump of fleshy, glaucous green leaves. Large, flat flower heads emerge in summer like broccoli florets, starting pale green, turning starry pink, and finally maturing to a rich rusty-red and copper in autumn.

Plant in full sun to prevent the stems from becoming leggy, in poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil. This variety is exceptionally drought-tolerant and performs brilliantly in sandy or rocky soils where other plants might struggle.

Water sparingly once established; this plant resents "wet feet" and over-feeding, which can cause it to flop. Leave the dried flower heads on the plant over winter—they look beautiful frosted and provide shelter for insects before being cut back in early spring.

A brilliant choice for extending the season, ‘Autumn Joy’ provides vital nectar for late-flying butterflies and bees. It looks spectacular planted in groups or alongside ornamental grasses and purple Asters for a classic autumn display.

For a late-summer border with a touch of theatre, Dahlia ‘Grand Prix’ is a superb choice. A robust, bushy variety, it produces bright lemon-yellow, double blooms neatly tipped in white, held above handsome dark green foliage. Flowering from summer until the first frosts, it is equally at home in the border and in a vase.

• Colour: lemon-yellow with crisp white tips
• Flower form: double
• Habit: clump-forming, bushy
• Use: borders and cut flowers

Anemone coronaria 'Levante Fucsia' lights up the border with vivid fuchsia-pink double blooms, combining the bold colouring of classic coronaria anemones with the fuller, ruffled form of the Levante series.

Its showy flowers are excellent for cutting and add instant colour to pots and front-of-border displays, especially when planted in generous drifts.

Plant in fertile, free-draining soil in full sun or light partial shade. Soak the corms before planting and avoid positions that remain cold and wet for long periods.

Water while the plants are actively growing and remove spent flowers to keep the display going. In heavy soils, lift and store the corms dry once the leaves have died back.