Top 10 Plants/flowers to have this summer.
Rain can dampen your mood and this week we’ve had our fair share of it thanks to the Great British weather. So for the second addition of Top 10 Thursday we thought we’d brighten your day by bringing you a case file style article that looks at what we think are some of the most beautiful blooms you should have in your garden this summer!
Let’s get straight to it, starting with the most obvious of course… the ever wonderful Sunflower.
10. Botanical Name: Helianthus
Known as: The Sunflower
Likes: As much sun as they can get and some well-drained soil
Dislikes: Birds and Squirrels
Sunflowers are annual flowers with daisy like heads that are bright yellow, they can grow up to 4 meters tall so make sure you plant them in a place where they have a chance to show off their incredible height. These are quite a fun species for your children to plant and maintain as they’re pretty tough.
9. Botanical Name: Rosa
Known as: Rose
Likes: Food, lots of water and enough room to grow
Dislikes: Aphids and cramped conditions
Roses are very greedy and needy flowers, they have a bit of a reputation for being difficult to care for and need feed and water regularly. They need to be planted at least 3 feet away from otherflowers so they have enough room for their roots to spread out and form properly. We always love to see roses in gardens.
8. Botanical Name: Lavandula
Known as: Lavender
Likes: Chalky or alkaline soil and bees
Dislikes: Aphids and clay soil
Lavender is an evergreen shrub which is relatively easy to grow. It’s very attractive in colour and gives off the beautiful scent of lavender which can be smelt feet away. They require pruning every year so they remain tidy instead of spreading out and becoming unruly
7. Botanical Name: Hydrangea
Known as: Hydrangea
Likes: Moist soil and partial shade
Dislikes: Sunny spots and cold winds
Hydrangeas are a popular choice for gardens, their ability to change colour depending on the Ph. of soil makes them really interesting. Alkaline soils tend to produce pink flowers whilst acidic soils bloom blue flowers. This is such an interesting quirk to these flowers and it would be great to be able to see the changes happening in your garden.
6. Botanical name: Sedum Spectabile
Known as: Ice Plant
Likes: Butterflies and well-drained soil
Dislikes: Mealy bugs and slugs
Ironically nicknamed the ice plant, this beautiful perennial plant is a dream come true for butterflies and bees producing pools of nectar in their flowers. Blooming in late summer they turn from green buds into beautiful pinks. Other colours include reds and whites.
5. Botanical name: Chrysanthemum
Known as: Mums
Likes: Lots of sun, at least 5-6 hours daily and well-drained soil
Dislikes: Two spotted spider mites and aphids
Chrysanthemums are beautiful flowers that come in an array of colours both bright and autumnal. They are one of the most popular flowers in the world and bloom in all sorts of forms and can be daisy like, pompons or buttons. Mums have many different meaning associated with them, we think it’s a great idea to plant them in your garden for a loved one and let them decode your message.
4. Botanical name: Gardenia
Known as: Cape Jasmine
Likes: Heavy feeding and moist soil
Dislikes: To much direct sun lights and Spider mites
Gardenias are very finicky flowers that many people give up on, however if you learn how to take care of them properly they will reward you with a beautiful white bloom, vibrant foliage and fragrant smells. Gardenias do well in well drained soils laced with organic matter. This is one of our personal favourites.
3. Botanical name: Paeonia
Known as: Peony
Likes: Fertile soil and plenty of space
Dislikes: Disturbance and competing for food
The fattest and most scrumptious of all flowers, a rare fusion of fluff and majesty, the peony is now coming into bloom. - Henry Mitchell, American writer (1923-93). We think think quote sums peonies up perfectly, when they are in full bloom they look like giant balls of candy floss making them a beautiful addition to any garden.
2. Botanical name: Dhalias
Known as: Dhalias
Likes: Lots of sun and fertile soil
Dislikes: Winter conditions and mosaic virus
Dhalias are a must have in the garden and have a long flower life, usually until the first sight of frost. They come in a variety of vibrant colours and really do make a beautiful addition to your garden during summer. They’re quite a low maintenance easy flower to grow so if you’re new to gardening these are perfect
and finally we move on to our number one
1. Botanical name: Phlox Paniculata
Known as: Many names including star fire and blue paradise
Likes: Partial shade and butterflies
Dislikes: Powdery mildew and caterpillars
The Phlox is an invaluable addition to the garden during summer, it comes in many different colours including: Coral, pink, red, lavender, white and violet. They’re really attractive to butterflies which is a bonus as watching them flutter around vibrant beautifully scented flowers is something to be admired.
That brings us to the end of this week’s top ten; we hope we’ve given you some inspiration for your garden this summer and brightened up a very rainy week.
