Guides
Plants for every part of the garden
Most plant problems come down to a plant in the wrong place. This guide helps you read your conditions and pick plants that will thrive in them, starting with reliable choices for the spots gardeners find hardest.
Know your conditions first
| Check | How |
|---|---|
| Light | Note how many hours of direct sun the spot gets in summer: full sun is six or more, part shade three to six, shade less than three. |
| Soil texture | Squeeze a handful of moist soil: if it holds a shiny ribbon it's clay, if it falls apart and feels gritty it's sandy. |
| Soil pH | A cheap kit from a garden centre tells you if your soil is acid or alkaline, which decides plants such as rhododendrons and camellias. |
| Exposure | Wind, salt spray and frost pockets at the bottom of slopes all narrow what will thrive. |
Reliable plants for tricky spots
These are dependable starting points, widely available from UK nurseries. Within each group, check the final height and spread on the label against the space you have.
| Spot | What makes it tricky | Plants to try |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy clay | Clay holds water and nutrients, so it's fertile once plants are established, but it's cold and sticky in winter and bakes hard in summer. | Hemerocallis (daylilies), Astrantia major, Persicaria amplexicaulis, Cornus alba, Viburnum opulus |
| Dry shade | Under trees, roots take the water and the canopy keeps out rain, so few plants cope. | Geranium macrorrhizum, Epimedium, Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae, Luzula sylvatica |
| Coastal and windy | Salt-laden wind scorches soft leaves, so plants need tough or small leaves and a low habit. | Rosa rugosa, Escallonia, Griselinia littoralis, Elaeagnus × ebbingei, Armeria maritima (sea thrift) |
| Hot, dry and sunny | Free-draining soil in full sun suits plants from dry climates, which often need little watering once established. | Lavandula angustifolia, Salvia nemorosa, Stachys byzantina, Salvia yangii (Perovskia), Sedum |
| Wet ground | Soil that stays damp or waterlogged suits plants from streamsides and wet meadows. | Iris sibirica, Filipendula ulmaria (meadowsweet), Lythrum salicaria, Ligularia, Cornus sericea |
| Pollinator borders | Open flowers rich in nectar and pollen, from spring to autumn, keep bees and other insects fed. | Nepeta, Origanum vulgare, Echinacea, Knautia macedonica, Verbena bonariensis |
Plant profiles
Individual plant profiles, with growing conditions, care and where I use each plant, are being added to this library and will appear here as they're published.
Want a plan for your border?
Send me photos, measurements and a few details about your soil and light, and I'll design the planting with a planting plan for your border, wherever you are in the UK.
About planting plans