Spring and Summer Colour

Join Freddie to find out what’s new and trending in the world of bedding plants. These Flowering Favourites are available this month at garden centres countrywide ready to be planted in your garden or in a pot. 

Bright colours attract pollinators to a garden, and you can’t get brighter than these bedding plants just waiting in the garden centre to be popped into your garden. 

Portulaca

Whether you are planting Portulaca grandiflora or Portulaca oleracea, you can be assured of a bedding plant that is drought-tolerant and low-maintenance but also packs flower power in its bright single or double blooms. 

What they need

• Sunlight and plenty of it – at least 6-8 hours daily. If there is less sun, you may lack flowers and bright colouring.  

• Soil more to the sandy side with good drainage is essential. These plants hate to be waterlogged. 

• Due to their succulent nature, they require little watering, and overwatering can cause root rot.  

• They are frost-sensitive, so they need to be planted out when the threat of frost has passed.

• Add a light application of slow-release fertiliser at planting time and then leave them to it. Too much fertiliser may lead to excess leafy foliage and minimal flowers.  

• Deadhead regularly to increase blooming. 

Varieties

Most portulacas are spreading groundcovers, but a few are more upright and mounding. Look out for these: 

‘Happy Hour’ – spreading groundcover in a wide range of vibrant colours.  

‘Campino’ – single bicolour flowers in a compact display. Great for containers.  

‘Sunseeker’ – a compact variety with double blooms.  

‘Rio Grande’ – large single flowers in bright colours. 

You can set your clock by when portulaca flowers open and close during the day. 

Osteospermums

In the world of flower power, Osteospermums top the list for magical colouring and captivating blooms. They are extremely versatile daisies, looking good in garden beds and equally good in containers. They are known for their long-lasting flowers. 

What they need

• Full sun but will tolerate some shade as well, but with less blooms.  

• Well-drained soil that can be anything as long as it’s not waterlogged.  

• Moderate watering with a little drying out between watering to avoid root rot.  

• A monthly feeding with a general fertiliser will keep them blooming for longer.  

• Deadhead regularly to increase flowering. 

Varieties

There are many varieties and many colours and combinations of colours, making this group of plants something for everyone. 

‘Akila’ – a neat growing habit reaching 40-50 cm high and wide.  

‘FlowerPower’ – interesting colours with an upright habit 25-35 cm.  

‘Serenity’ – uniform growth and unique colours and combinations, 25-35 cm. 

Plant basils now

A delicious herb for pestos and salads should be planted now for seasonlong use in the kitchen. There are many varieties of basil to choose from and some promising new varieties to look out for. Plant in full sun in welldraining, rich soil for the best results. 

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

Find a garden centre near you