Prepare for brilliance

Bedding plants have a special place in my heart. There’s something about the vibrant colours and instant impact they bring to outdoor spaces. They can add a pop of colour to a patio, create a lush border or attract pollinators to your garden. Another reason I adore bedding plants is their versatility and their ability to evoke emotions and create memories. 

For a stunning spring garden, these annuals need to be in the ground and growing this season. There is a lot of work that goes into a flowering spring garden, and one of the easiest ways to achieve success is to get seedlings in early so that when spring arrives, all that’s needed is the pollinators.  

This list of bedding plants will bring colour and interest to a garden bed or planted in a container and are guaranteed to bring the bees and the butterflies. 

Things to know about planting poppies 

They thrive in well-drained soil in full sun and tolerate most soils but always set them up for success when planting by adding extra compost. Water once a week, but avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot. They can go without water for a while. They make excellent cut flowers. 

Poppies 

You can grow many types of poppies, but the latest hybrids are a good place to start. These have been bred to be tough in most climates and relatively pest and disease-free: 

‘Artist Glory’ – an Iceland poppy with straight stems up to 40 cm and large flowers in a wide range of colours. 

‘Champagne Bubbles’ – a range of pretty colours and bushy plants with strong stems up to 38 cm and uniform flowers. 

‘Flanders Red’ is the iconic Flanders red poppy, bright red with a black centre. It is a symbol of Remembrance Day (11 November), makes a great show, is low maintenance, and has masses of flowers. 

Primroses

The early-flowering Primula acaulis has a compact rosette of leaves and very bright, attractive flowers that clump together in the centre. They make excellent container flowers and punches of colour in the front of flower beds. Look out for the following hybrids this season at your local nursery:  

‘Danova’ – these have a mounded habit and can reach 15 cm high with spectacular blooms that are often bicoloured. They have fragrant flowers and are very easy to grow. 

‘Danessa’ – a height of just 8 cm, with bright, heat-resistant flowers. They keep their compact shape and are good for warmer areas.  

‘Bonneli’ – another compact primula with uniform flowers up to 14 cm in two and three tones of peach, blue, red and more colours.  

‘Dania’ – A strong plant series with compact growth up to 15 cm and colourful flowers.

How to grow primulas 

These primulas prefer a cooler environment and will do well in the shade, particularly in hot regions. They can also be grown in full sun. They like rich, moist soil with plenty of organic material added and will do even better if fed liquid fertiliser every two weeks in the growing season. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. They make excellent specimen plants for small pots grouped together. 

Cineraria 

While some cineraria types have bright flowers, why not have a contrasting colour in the leaves like these silvergrey varieties, which break up a garden design with interesting foliage? Excellent performing plants like these should be popped everywhere and in containers. 

‘New Look’ – evergreen perennials with white woolly hairs on grey leaves make this cineraria special. They are better grouped together and make excellent cut foliage for floral arrangements. 

‘Silver Dust’ – this annual’s silver-grey and sometimes even white foliage is stunning. It looks like ghostly coral in a garden and has a compact, neat form that does well with any white flowering or coloured plant. 

Growing notes 

Grow these cinerarias in full sun or semi-shade in moist but welldraining soil with added compost when planting. They can tolerate a bit of frost, but not hard frost. If in a frosty zone, plant them later in the season. Avoid overwatering, which could cause pests and diseases to occur. 

Foxgloves 

Big and beautiful, tall flowering foxgloves are statement perennials for the back of garden beds or grouped together in containers. The detailed markings in each flower make them fascinating to look at and admire. Just remember that they are toxic, containing cardiac glycosides, unless you particularly need those for a heart problem, in which case, a doctor is the go-to. These tall beauties are relatively easy to grow, and look out for these hybrids with their unusual colours: 

‘Dalmation’ – spotty like the dog, but a beautiful peach, purple, rose and white. A height of up to 51 cm with uniform growing and upright flower stems.  

‘Panther’ – the pink panther is an excellent performer in the garden and in containers with compact growth and multiple flower stems for a bright and happy show. The flower stems will grow to 50 cm. 

Growing Digitalis 

Foxgloves grow naturally in the dappled shade of woodlands, but they can also grow in full sun. Plant them in rich soil with lots of organic matter, allowing plenty of room to grow. Water regularly to establish a good, solid root system to hold up the flowering stalks. Deadhead the flowers at the base of the stem as soon as they are finished flowering. Don’t forget your gloves when planting or caring for foxgloves. 

Brought to you by the Bedding Plant Growers Association (BPGA)