Renowned gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh has revealed a selection of flowers to plant right now to guarantee a 'glorious year of colour' in outdoor spaces. In a TikTok video, he outlined which perennials to introduce to gardens at this time of year, as heatwave conditions subside across parts of the UK.
Choosing the Right Plants for Your Garden
'Now is the perfect time of year to be planting perennials. But what goes where?' Titchmarsh asked. Perennials, plants with a lifespan exceeding two years, return annually and can be appreciated indefinitely once planted.
He advised: 'Pick things you like the look of, but check labels for soil type and sun or shade preferences. Soil well drained, moisture retentive, dry – check that they'll be happy with that.'
Best Plants for Shade
For shady areas, Titchmarsh recommended hostas, lady's mantle (alchemilla mollis), and polemonium (Jacob's Ladder). 'Plants for shade? Few are better than hostas. They really do well in shade – you see the colour of those leaves so brilliantly,' he said.
Lady's mantle features leaves that hold water like 'globules of quicksilver' and produces lime green flowers in summer. Polemonium, named for the shape of its leaves, thrives in dappled shade.
Herbaceous Perennials for Full Sun
'The majority of plants – herbaceous perennials – die down to ground level in winter, but in spring and summer they're glorious. Most love full sun,' Titchmarsh explained.
In the caption, he added: 'Now is the perfect time to plant perennials, but choosing the right plant for the right spot makes all the difference. Always check plant labels for soil type and sun or shade preferences before planting.'
For shady areas, hostas, lady's mantle, and polemonium are excellent choices, bringing beautiful foliage and seasonal colour. Most herbaceous perennials thrive in full sun, rewarding with vibrant displays year after year.
