Acers present superbly formed and vibrant foliage
Picture: Acer palmatum ‘Taylor’ from Thompson & Morgan
It’s straightforward to fill your backyard with color by the summer time when many crops burst into bloom. However which varieties do you have to select for a vibrant show all 12 months spherical? We requested skilled horticulturalist, Sophie Essex, for her skilled recommendation on the crops, flowers, shrubs and timber that signify the very best of each season. Listed here are her recommendations…
Browse our huge number of backyard crops for much more concepts.
Greatest crops for spring backyard color
This uncommon azalea is ideal for pots or borders
Picture: Azalea ‘Starstyle Pink’ from Thompson & Morgan
One of many best methods to offer your backyard a burst of color firstly of a brand new 12 months is by planting spring-flowering bulbs. Beginning in January, delicate white snowdrops are shortly adopted in February by yellow daffodils, a pleasure to behold as they nod gently within the crisp breeze. These sunny blooms quickly make manner for the bolder pink, purple, orange and pink tones of crocuses and tulips which carpet the backyard with color. Best for planting within the floor or containers, many bulbs can even naturalise over time if you happen to bury them in the correct spot. And if you happen to create a bulb ‘lasagne’ in a big container, you’ll be able to take pleasure in a steady wave of flowers as one seamlessly transitions into the subsequent. See our high ten spring bulbs if you happen to’re in search of inspiration.
Extra spring recommendations:
- Amalanchier lamarkii: In case you have the area for a tree, Amalanchier lamarkii is an excellent choice. The elegant white blossom that emerges in March is completely backset by newly unfurling pink leaves. Planted in a distinguished spot, it would proceed to supply curiosity all year long because the foliage matures to yellow-green earlier than turning a fiery crimson in autumn. It additionally produces a flush of darkish pink berries in July.
- Magnolia stellata: With a compact behavior, this small specimen tree may also be grown in a big container. The star-shaped flowers emerge by March and April, earlier than the tree is cloaked in mid-green leaves.
- Forsythia: You’ll know spring has sprung while you spot a forsythia in bloom. This in style shrub is totally smothered in brilliant yellow flowers from early March onwards. Excellent as a part of a blended hedge or border, it additionally makes a spectacular addition to a patio when grown in a big container.
- Azalea: An incredible shrub to assist your backyard transition from spring into summer time, azaleas are available a wide range of colors, sizes and flower shapes. Should you love a scorching border, select from brilliant yellows, fiery oranges, scorching pinks and reds. For a cooler color scheme, pure whites and crisp purples provide a hanging different. These low-maintenance shrubs choose acidic soil, however can even thrive in containers. Some varieties like ‘Japanese Purple’ additionally cope nicely with shade.
Greatest crops and flowers for summer time backyard color
These compact lilies make an enormous splash in the summertime border
Picture: Lily ‘Dazzler’ (Floor Cowl) from Thompson & Morgan
Summer season is unquestionably the season for herbaceous perennials. From unique wanting alstroemeria and dahlias to brilliant yellow coreopsis and rudbeckia, you’ll be spoilt for selection with regards to color and curiosity. Perennial salvias are a superb selection for beds, borders and containers. For lots of flowers from June to October, attempt Salvia ‘Amethyst Lips’ – its blackcurrant-scented foliage is an added attraction.
Extra summer time recommendations:
- Allium ‘Globemaster’: One in all our high ten summer-flowering bulbs, these magnificent spherical blooms seem in June and July, rising up by beds and borders to deliver peak, construction and texture to your planting scheme. Some allium varieties begin flowering from late spring, so a intelligent mixture might take you from Could by to August, with the seedheads including additional curiosity into autumn.
- Summer season lilies: Whether or not you like compact Asiatic lilies that are available a spread of unique colors, Oriental lilies with their massive trumpet-shaped flowers and highly effective scent, or majestic tree lilies like the additional tall ‘Pink Explosion’ that reaches the towering peak of two.5m inside two years, there’s one thing for each backyard right here.
- Hydrangea: There are numerous various kinds of hydrangeas, from delicate lacecaps to large paniculatas. Accessible in numerous colors, a few of the latest varieties like Hydrangea serrata ‘Euphoria Pink’ have been bred for lovely variegated foliage in addition to vibrant blooms.
- Buddleja: Accessible in pale pastels by to intense purple, these cone-shaped flowers are lined in butterflies from July to October. For smaller gardens or containers, Buddleja ‘Butterfly Sweet Little Ruby’ is a dwarf selection that produces dense spikes of surprising deep pink flowers towards gray foliage.
Must you want a fast repair of color to fill gaps, flesh out containers or brighten up baskets, summer time bedding crops are a fast and simple resolution. Learn our high ten summer time bedding crops for concepts.
Greatest backyard crops for autumn backyard color
Heat your palms on Cercis ‘Everlasting Flame’ in autumn
Picture: Cercis ‘Everlasting Flame’ from Thompson & Morgan
For spectacular autumn color timber, little or no can beat an acer. Best specimen crops that may be grown in massive containers or planted within the floor, their elegant rising behavior and fairly leaves lend construction and texture to each planting scheme. Specifically, Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ is a sight to behold because it delivers a fiery blast of deep crimson leaves simply as different crops begin to fade. However excess of only a one-trick pony, this acer additionally produces brilliant pink new foliage in spring that darkens to deep purple by early summer time.
Extra autumn recommendations:
- Cercis ‘Everlasting Flame’: This difficult-working shrub or small tree is a superb selection for small gardens. Its lovely heart-shaped foliage emerges in deep pink, earlier than turning burnt orange after which yellow. It continues to cycle by these colors till the leaves lastly drop, generally that includes as much as 5 completely different colors of foliage on the identical stem. Come spring, a surprising show of hanging pink blooms kicks the exhibit once more.
- Festuca ‘Dawn’: This clump-forming decorative grass offers heat color even because the temperatures begin to drop. Its blue-green foliage is tipped copper-orange in autumn, following a late summer time show of orange-red flowers. It makes a very helpful addition to autumn containers, seamlessly bridging the transition into winter.
- Cotoneaster: Weighed down by eye-catching decorative berries within the autumn, this low-maintenance plant offers a splash of color and a feast for the birds. Some varieties like Cotoneaster horizontalis are greatest suited to coaching towards a wall, whereas others, like Cotoneaster suecicus ‘Coral Magnificence’ develop right into a manageable shrub of about 1m tall.
- Crocus sativus: These autumn-flowering bulbs appear as if little jewels in grass by October and November, and are good for rockeries. borders and planting beneath deciduous timber. A brilliant addition to patio containers, the deep purple petals present a superb backdrop for the intense orange stigmas which you’ll harvest to make your personal saffron.
Greatest crops, timber and bulbs for winter backyard color
Vibrant orange flowers coat Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’ in January
Picture: Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’ from Thompson & Morgan
Winter gardens don’t must be bleak and naked. Hanging baskets and containers might be full of evergreen grasses and winter bedding crops like violas and pansies, whereas vibrant stems, flowering shrubs and fairly bulbs all mix to brighten the darkest days. See our high ten winter-flowering bulbs if you happen to’re occupied with low-maintenance color that returns effortlessly 12 months after 12 months.
Extra winter recommendations:
- Hamamelis: Some of the hanging winter-flowering shrubs, hamamelis flowers seem like tiny twists of orange peel and scent divine. The spider-like blooms seem on naked branches from December to February, and are available yellow, orange and pink varieties. One in all my favourites, Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Orange Magnificence’, produces gorgeous yellow and orange autumn leaves, adopted by deep orange-yellow flowers on the naked branches.
- Mahonia x media ‘Charity’: A welcome sight within the winter months, this very good evergreen shrub produces massive yellow flower spikes from November by to March, bringing color and a candy perfume to shaded corners of the backyard. The firework-like racemes of yellow rise from shiny darkish inexperienced leaves earlier than being changed by bunches of purple berries.
- Cornus: Also called dogwood, many types of this shrub present highly effective kerb enchantment come winter. Efficient planted alone or en masse, the uncovered stems present flashes of yellow, fiery pink and white. Cornus sanguinea ‘Winter Flame’ is especially particular.
- Daphne odora ‘Aureomarginata’: Late winter is the time to admire this shrub’s tiny star-shaped, candy scented blooms. Flowering from January to April, this hardy evergreen shrub has a rounded, compact behavior, and shiny, gold-edged leaves. Excellent for rising in patio containers and borders, it’s a great way so as to add construction and curiosity by the coldest months.
We hope you’ll be able to take pleasure in all-year spherical color in your backyard with this treasure map of concepts. Rigorously deliberate, your backyard can produce a vibrant show to admire every month of the 12 months. For extra info and recommendation on winter flowers, go to our devoted hub web page. And for well timed inspiration, observe us on X and Instagram to maintain up with our newest gardening insights and thrilling new releases.
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