What are the best bedding plants for summer?
As summer approaches and warmer days are already amongst us, many of us are eager to refresh our gardens. There’s no better time to rejuvenate our outdoor spaces with bedding plants for the summer and these vibrant additions not only add colour and character to outdoor spaces, but also thrive on the hottest days of the season. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting to get into gardening, selecting the best bedding plants for borders can make all the difference in creating a stunning summer landscape.
Discover the best summer plants for bedding with our top twelve contenders that will give your garden the boost you’ve been looking for – some may have a red flower colour, some are great for a coastal garden or just giving you a bit more ground cover in your raised bed.
Bedding Plants for Summer
Summer presents unique challenges for plants and garden soil, with scorching temperatures and intense sunlight demanding resilience and adaptability. The following bedding plants have proven themselves as champions of the summer garden, boasting attributes such as heat tolerance, prolonged flowering periods and eye-catching, bright colours that withstand the sun’s relentless rays.
- Petunias
- Marigolds
- Geranium
- Begonias
- Salvia
- Lobelia
- Zinnias
- Cosmos
- Verbena
- Dahlias
- Calibrachoa
- Sunflowers
1. Petunias
Bursting with vibrant hues and delicate fragrances, petunias are a summer bedding staple. Thriving in full sun and blooming from spring to frost, they offer long-lasting colour in an exotic garden. Available in pink, purple, red and white, petunias add vivid splashes of instant colour to garden beds and borders. As versatile bedding plants for summer, their trailing varieties are perfect for hanging baskets, improving any outdoor space.
2. Marigolds
With cheerful golden blooms and pest-repelling properties, marigolds are perfect for any summer garden or to add a bit of colour to a vegetable plot. These half hardy annual plants thrive in full sun, heat and drought – they’re available in shades of yellow, orange, and red – marigolds add vibrant colour to your plant bedding ideas. Easy to grow and low maintenance, flowering months are from late spring to early autumn, offering both beauty and functionality for summer bedding plants – they’re also great for window boxes.
3. Geraniums
Known for their stunning clusters of flowers in shades of red, pink, and white, geraniums are synonymous with summer elegance, it’s no wonder they’ve made it to our list of favourite bedding plants for summer. Their resilience in the face of heat and ability to thrive in containers or garden beds make them a versatile choice for any landscape, ensuring a flourishing flower garden with minimal effort.
4. Begonias
Offering a range of colours and textures, begonias add a touch of sophistication to summer bedding schemes. Their lush foliage and vibrant blooms, ranging from red to pink to white, thrive in the filtered sunlight of summer. Ideal for hanging baskets and borders, these low-maintenance plants require minimal watering and provide continuous colour, making them perfect bedding plants for summer.
5. Salvia
With its striking spikes of blue, purple, or red flowers, salvia is stunning in the summer garden. Loved by pollinators and resistant to heat and drought, this perennial requires minimal care. Its vibrant colours and long-lasting blooms make it perfect for summer flowering beds and borders, providing a low maintenance garden with beautiful summer landscapes.
6. Lobelia
Delicate yet resilient, lobelia is prized for its trailing blooms that gracefully spill over containers and hanging baskets. Ideal for edging pathways or filling gaps in flower beds, these cool-loving tender perennials offer a burst of colour and fragrance to summer gardens, with minimal maintenance.
7. Zinnias
Celebrated for their bold and brilliant blooms, zinnias bring a burst of colour to summer gardens. These sun-loving annual bedding plants are easy to grow from seed and provide a profusion of flowers from early summer to frost, making them an excellent choice for vibrant bedding displays. With a wide range of colours and sizes available, zinnias add beauty and charm to any garden bed or border.
8. Cosmos
Graceful and ethereal, cosmos charm with their daisy-like flowers and feathery foliage. Thriving in full sun and poor soil, these drought-tolerant annuals are a reliable choice for summer borders and cutting gardens. Ideal for plant bedding ideas, cosmos add a touch of elegance and ease to any garden.
9. Verbena
With its clusters of tiny blooms and a foliage colour of purple, pink, and white, verbena is a magnet for butterflies and bees. Drought-tolerant and heat-loving, this perennial thrives in hot, sunny conditions, making them an ideal choice for summer bedding.
10. Dahlias
Renowned for their dramatic blooms in an array of shapes and colours, dahlias add a touch of glamour to summer gardens. These tuberous perennials require ample sunlight and well-drained soil to flourish, rewarding gardeners with a spectacular display of flowers from midsummer to fall, which is why they are a popular choice amongst gardeners for summer bedding plants.
11. Calibrachoa
Also known as million bells, calibrachoa dazzle with their abundance of small, petunia-like flowers in vibrant hues. Perfect to fill pots, hanging basket, or entire beds, these heat-tolerant annuals bloom continuously throughout the summer, making them some of the best bedding plants for full sun and scented gardens.
12. Sunflowers
Symbolising happiness and vitality, sunflowers bring joy to any summer garden with their towering stems and radiant blooms. Easy to grow and beloved by birds and bees, these iconic annuals thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, reaching their peak of splendour in the heart of summer. A summer bedding plant for all to enjoy!
How Alsoils Can Help
At Alsoils, we understand the joy and satisfaction that comes from cultivating a vibrant summer garden – it’s a passion we share with our customers. With our 12 best plants for bedding, you now have the inspiration and guidance to create a stunning garden oasis.
Our team of experts are ready to offer tailored advice and provide high-quality beds and border topsoil, manure, and compost products to ensure your summer bedding plants thrive. Whether you need the perfect compost mix, tips on plant selection, or a consultation on your garden’s specific needs, Alsoils is here to support your gardening journey.
