Spring Bulbs & Plants

Hosta ‘Frances Williams’ is a much-loved perennial for shade, combining bold, puckered leaves with attractive variegation that brightens borders, woodland edges, and containers throughout the growing season.

The broad, heart-shaped foliage forms a generous clump and provides strong ground cover, while pale lilac summer flowers rise above the leaves on tall stems, adding a softer, seasonal highlight.

Plant in partial shade in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. A sheltered position helps prevent leaf scorch, and consistent moisture supports the best leaf colour and overall plant performance.

Water well in dry weather, mulch in spring to retain moisture, and remove old foliage once it dies back. Slug protection is helpful in spring, and clumps can be divided every few years to rejuvenate plants.

Perfect for shade borders and underplanting, this hosta also works beautifully in large pots and brings a calm, architectural feel to planting designs where flowers are secondary to foliage impact.

Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans is a classic shade perennial prized for its bold, heavily textured foliage that adds structure to borders, woodland gardens, and large containers from spring right through autumn.

Forming a broad, clump-forming mound, this hosta develops blue-grey leaves that become even more impressive as the plant matures, creating a strong backdrop for neighbouring flowers and underplanting.

Plant in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in a sheltered spot with partial shade. It performs best where the ground stays evenly moist, especially during the first growing season.

Water regularly in dry spells, mulch in spring to conserve moisture, and remove tired foliage as it dies back. Protect emerging growth from slugs and snails, and divide congested clumps every few years.

Ideal for shady borders and underplanting, hostas also provide valuable cover for beneficial wildlife and bring a calm, architectural feel to planting schemes where flowers can be harder to achieve.

Phlox paniculata ‘David’ produces large heads of pure white, sweetly scented flowers that light up summer borders and bring a fresh, classic look to cottage and wildlife-friendly planting.

Forming an upright clump to around 1–1.5m tall, it flowers over many weeks in mid to late summer, with dense, starry blooms that open progressively and provide plenty of long stems for cutting.

Plant in full sun or light partial shade in fertile, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil. Phlox performs best with consistent moisture and benefits from an annual mulch to keep roots cool.

Water during dry spells and deadhead regularly to prolong flowering, then cut stems back to the base in late autumn. Division in spring or autumn can refresh older clumps and improve vigour.

Ideal for borders and cutting gardens, ‘David’ pairs beautifully with grasses and daisies, and the nectar-rich flowers are highly attractive to bees and butterflies throughout the summer.

Monarda ‘Cambridge Scarlet’ produces vivid, shaggy scarlet flower heads that bring hot summer colour to borders and cutting gardens, and it’s a standout plant for attracting pollinators in wildlife-friendly planting.

Forming a vigorous clump to around 90cm, it carries its blooms above aromatic foliage and flowers over several weeks in summer, creating a bold vertical accent and plenty of stems for informal bouquets.

Plant in full sun or light partial shade in fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Monarda performs best where it isn’t allowed to dry out completely and where air can move around the leaves.

Water during dry spells, mulch in spring, and deadhead to extend the display. In autumn, cut back spent stems to the base, and divide clumps every few years to keep plants vigorous and flowering well.

Perfect for cottage borders and mixed planting with grasses and perennials, this bee balm is also valuable for bees and butterflies, making it both beautiful and beneficial in the summer garden.

Hosta ‘Patriot’ is a reliable shade perennial with bold, white-edged leaves that bring instant brightness to woodland borders, shady patios and large containers, adding texture and structure from spring to autumn.

Forming a clump to around 55cm tall, it produces spikes of funnel-shaped, lavender-blue flowers in summer. The leaves are puckered and sturdy, creating a handsome mound that works as groundcover or a focal point.

Plant in partial shade in fertile, moist but well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Hostas prefer cool roots, so they benefit from mulch and from protection from hot afternoon sun in exposed gardens.

Water regularly in dry spells, especially in pots, and mulch in spring to conserve moisture. Protect new shoots from slugs and snails, and remove spent flower stems after flowering for a tidy finish.

Ideal for shady borders, underplanting, and container displays, ‘Patriot’ pairs beautifully with ferns, brunnera and hellebores, and provides strong foliage contrast alongside finer-textured plants.

Triteleia ‘Queen Fabiola’ is a quietly glamorous choice for early summer: slender stems topped with neat, starry blooms in a refined violet-blue, each flower finishing in a subtle trumpet tip. Light on its feet and wonderfully composed, it slips beautifully into pots and sunny borders, and makes a particularly graceful cut flower.

Plant the bulbs in spring, allow them to establish, and you’ll be rewarded with poised clumps that return year after year. Best in a sheltered position with well-drained, sandy soil, it is an easy-going bulb with a distinctly elegant presence.

• Colour: Violet-blue
• Flowering: June–July
• Height: 40–60cm
• Perfect for: Containers, cutting, pollinator-friendly planting

A small treasure for pots, windowsills and sheltered terraces, Oxalis deppei ‘Iron Cross’ is grown as much for its foliage as its flowers. Each clover-like leaf is neatly stamped with a deep burgundy cross, creating a smart, graphic effect from the moment growth begins.

Come summer, slender stems lift dainty rose-pink blooms above the leaves, bringing a light, cheerful finish that suits container displays beautifully. A charming choice for indoor growing, and equally happy outside once nights are mild.

Why we love it

• Distinctive foliage: green leaves marked with a burgundy cross
• Pretty summer flowers in rose-pink
• Ideal for pots and compact spaces
• Easy to grow with minimal fuss

At a glance

• Botanical name: Oxalis deppei ‘Iron Cross’
• Type: Bulb (perennial)
• Height: 20–30cm
• Spread: 15–25cm
• Position: Sheltered; Full Sun or Partial Sun
• Soil: Well-drained; keep moist but well-drained
• Hardiness: Half Hardy

Tigridia pavonia 'Mixed' brings a vibrant, exotic mix of peacock-like flowers with spotted centres to summer borders, with exotic, patterned flowers that open wide in sunshine. Each bloom is short-lived, but plants carry many buds, so you still get weeks of colour in warm weather.

Growing to around 45–60 cm, tiger flowers are upright and slim, making them great for weaving through planting and for pots. They look best planted in generous clumps, where the daily opening flowers create a lively, changing display.

Plant bulbs in spring after the risk of frost has passed, in full sun and well-drained soil. A warm, sheltered spot helps them flower strongly; start in pots under cover for an earlier display if needed.

Water after planting and during dry spells while shoots develop. Feed every couple of weeks once growth is established to support flowering. As temperatures cool, reduce watering and allow foliage to die back naturally.

Perfect for colourful summer pots and exotic-style borders, tigridias also make fun, unusual cut flowers. Lift and store bulbs frost-free in colder or wetter gardens to replant the following spring.

Freesia 'Single Mixed' is a generous blend of single-flowered freesias in a lively palette—purple, yellow, white and red—chosen to bring a light, fragrant note to spring. Particularly charming in pots by a doorway or on the terrace, and equally at home indoors for a graceful, scent-filled display.

• Seasonal colour, beautifully mixed — a varied selection for a naturally effortless look
• Perfect for containers — ideal for refreshing patios, balconies and doorstep pots
• Cut-flower favourite — excellent for small, scented posies

Please note: Freesia is Half Hardy. In colder gardens, choose a sheltered position and protect from frost, or grow in pots that can be moved under cover.