What are hardy plants?
Hardy plants typically refer to plants that are able to withstand cold winter temperatures. They come back year after year and include perennial flowers, shrubs, trees, grasses and ferns.
Hardy plants typically refer to plants that are able to withstand cold winter temperatures. They come back year after year and include perennial flowers, shrubs, trees, grasses and ferns.
Autumn and spring are usually the best time to plant your perennials. The soil is warm then, which means your plants can establish a good root system for healthy growth, but many of our plants are container grown so can be planted 12 months of the year should conditions allow.
A perennial or hardy plant comes back year after year, and is tolerant of colder temperatures, whereas whereas most annual plants have a lifespan of just twelve months, providing a burst of colour before dying back in autumn.
Most hardy plants will benefit from a feed at least once a year. This is usually best done in spring to help plants recover from the effects of winter and promote healthy growth for the season ahead.
Caring for your hardy plants looks different depending on the type of plant, and the season. We'd recommend deadheading to encourage new growth, removing dead leaves from stems, and feed your perennials throughout the year. Caring for your hardy plants looks different depending on the type of plant, and the season. We'd recommend deadheading to encourage new growth, removing dead leaves from stems, and feed your perennials throughout the year.
Yes! Hardy plants can be grown in pots and containers, as well as beds and borders. Be sure you've got enough room in whichever container you're growing in for your plant to truly thrive.
Our favourite hardy plants
Hydrangea
Recognisable from their vibrant blooms and vibrant colour, these shrubs bring long-lasting beauty to gardens.
Lupin
Found in a late spring garden, lupins add elegant colour, height, and structure to beds and borders.
Lavender
Lavender is a familiar favourite hardy plant, not just providing a delicate lilac colour to the garden, but also a relaxing aroma.
Scabious
Perfect for pollinators, scabious attract bees and butterflies with their 'pin cushion' like blooms.
Acers
Acers, or Japanese maple, are bright and bold, with leaves that are green in spring and summer but transform to brilliant shades of red and orange in autumn.
Hosta
Ideal for shadier areas of the garden, hostas have large, waxy leaves, and in summer boast flowers in shades of white through to violet.
Hebe
These evergreen shrubs have year round appeal and produce flowers in shades of purple, pink and white during summer that butterflies and bees love!
Erysimum
More common known as perennial wallflowers, Erysimums will bloom from mid-spring and throughout summer, and are great for our pollinator friends.
Pieris
With year round interest these evergreen shrubs produce vibrant new growth in shades of red and bronze, and bell shaped flowers spring flowers that are perfect for pollinators.
Hardy plants inspiration
10 flowers that come back every year and bloom through summer
Discover flowering perennials that, once in bloom, will stick around all season. Here's our top 10 hardy plants that will flower through summer.
How to deadhead for beginners
Deadheading helps both the look and functionality of the garden, and can keep the colour coming in your garden throughout the seasons.