Explore our plant tips and guides

Mediterranean Style Planting: 5 Plants to Create the Look
There is something instantly relaxing about a Mediterranean-style garden. Silvery foliage, aromatic herbs, architectural plants and flashes of purple and white can make even a small sunny corner feel like somewhere much warmer. And you do not need a huge garden to create the look. A Mediterranean planting scheme can work beautifully in a sunny border, gravel garden, courtyard or simply a collection of pots around a patio. The secret is choosing a small number of plants that work beautifully together — then repeating them rather than planting one of... Read more...
Prairie Style Planting: Top Plants for a Naturalistic Garden
There is something special about a garden that looks beautiful without looking overly designed. Prairie-style planting combines flowering perennials with ornamental grasses to create relaxed layers of colour, texture and movement. Rather than planting one of everything, the idea is to repeat plants in groups and drifts so they weave naturally through the border. The result can feel soft, informal and full of life — with flowers rising through grasses and seed heads continuing to add interest as summer moves into autumn. Many of the plants that work beautifully in... Read more...
Best Ground Cover Plants for Bare Patches, Borders & Paths
Bare Patch? There’s a Plant for That Every garden seems to have one. A bare patch beneath a shrub. An awkward space beside a path. A border edge that never quite looks finished. Or a gap between larger plants that you just cannot decide what to do with. The good news is that these forgotten spaces can become some of the prettiest parts of your garden. The right ground cover plants and low-growing perennials can spread between larger plants, soften hard edges and help cover exposed soil while bringing extra... Read more...
What to Plant with Hydrangea Paniculata: Best Companion Plants
Discover the best companion plants for Hydrangea paniculata, from hardy geraniums and Crocosmia to Verbena, ornamental grasses and compact evergreen shrubs. Read more...
Hydrangea Paniculata Size Guide: Best Varieties for Pots, Borders and Hedges
Hydrangea Paniculata Size Guide: Best Varieties for Pots, Borders and Hedges
Hydrangea paniculata plants range from low, compact shrubs for patio pots to impressive varieties capable of filling the back of a large border. Choosing the correct eventual size is essential... Read more...
Best Cordylines for Pots and UK Gardens
Best Cordylines for Pots and UK Gardens
Create striking year-round colour with Torbay Dazzler’s fresh green and creamy-yellow foliage, paired with Charlie Boy’s bold burgundy-bronze leaves and pink margins. Read more...
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Spooky’: Compact Hydrangea for Pots and Small Gardens
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Spooky’: Compact Hydrangea for Pots and Small Gardens
If you love the fresh, cloud-like look of panicle hydrangeas but do not have space for a large shrub, Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Spooky’ is a brilliant choice. This dwarf panicle hydrangea... Read more...
Hydrangea Strong Annabelle: A Buying Guide for UK Gardens
If you love the look of classic white Annabelle hydrangeas but want a plant with stronger, more upright stems, Hydrangea arborescens STRONG ANNABELLE is a superb choice. This improved Annabelle-type hydrangea produces large rounded white flower heads on sturdy stems, making it ideal for UK borders, white garden schemes, large containers and cut flower displays. It has the same soft, romantic look gardeners love from Annabelle hydrangeas, but with better stem strength to help support those big summer blooms. What Is Hydrangea Strong Annabelle? Hydrangea Strong Annabelle is a deciduous shrub... Read more...