14 perfect perennials to grow in your UK garden

Perennials are the backbone of any garden, providing reliable growth and seasonal beauty year after year. They offer an ever-changing display of flowers, foliage, and texture, making them invaluable for any outdoor space. Choosing bare-root perennials is an excellent way to establish a strong, healthy garden while ensuring cost-effectiveness. If you're looking to create a stunning, low-maintenance display, here are some of the best perennial genera for UK gardens.

Geranium – the versatile ground cover

Perennial geraniums, also known as cranesbills, are a garden essential. They provide excellent ground cover, suppress weeds, and are incredibly hardy. Flowering from late spring to autumn, their delicate blooms come in shades of pink, blue, purple, and white. They thrive in various conditions, from sun to partial shade, and require minimal maintenance.

Echinacea – the pollinator magnet

Echinacea, or coneflowers, are a must-have for attracting bees and butterflies. These sturdy perennials bloom from mid to late summer, offering large, daisy-like flowers with raised central cones. They are drought-tolerant, making them an excellent choice for drier gardens. Their long-lasting flowers also make superb additions to cut-flower arrangements.

Hosta – the foliage favourite

For lush, architectural foliage, look no further than hostas. Available in a variety of sizes and shades, from deep green to blue-toned and variegated, they add texture and depth to shaded areas. While primarily grown for their leaves, they also produce elegant spikes of lavender or white flowers in summer, which attract pollinators.

Astrantia – the cottage garden star

Astrantia is a beautiful perennial that adds charm to cottage-style gardens. Its delicate, pincushion-like flowers appear from early to late summer, creating an airy, romantic feel. This long-blooming plant thrives in both sun and partial shade, making it a versatile addition to mixed borders.

Paeonia – the show-stopping bloomer

Peonies are some of the most beloved perennials, known for their large, fragrant blooms in late spring and early summer. Their lush, ruffled petals range from soft pastels to deep, rich hues. Despite their delicate appearance, peonies are long-lived and low-maintenance, making them a rewarding investment for any garden.

Lupinus – the cottage garden classic

Lupins are a striking addition to traditional and modern gardens alike. Their tall, spiky blooms in vibrant shades of blue, pink, yellow, and white create a dramatic vertical accent. Flowering in early summer, they provide a valuable nectar source for bees and thrive in well-drained, sunny borders.

Salvia – the long-flowering beauty

Salvias are invaluable for adding colour and movement to the garden. Their spiky flowers bloom for months on end, from early summer to autumn, in shades of purple, pink, red, and blue. Salvias are also highly attractive to pollinators and are particularly drought-resistant, making them a great low-maintenance choice.

Clematis – the climbing marvel

No garden is complete without Clematis. These climbing perennials offer an abundance of flowers in a range of colours, shapes, and sizes, ensuring there’s a variety for every space. They can be trained up trellises, fences, or even trees, adding height and interest to the garden from spring through autumn.

Thalictrum – the airy accent

Thalictrum, or meadow rue, is a unique perennial that provides a light, airy feel to garden borders. Its delicate, lacy foliage and clusters of small, fluffy flowers create a soft contrast to bolder plants. Flowering in summer, it works well in both shaded and sunny spots, adding an elegant, wispy texture to the garden.

Papaver – the bold poppy

Few flowers make a statement quite like Papaver, or perennial poppies. Their large, silky blooms in fiery reds, oranges, and soft pastels create a stunning focal point in late spring and early summer. Once the flowers fade, their attractive seed heads provide additional interest well into autumn.

Aquilegia – the woodland wonder

Aquilegia, also known as columbines, are delicate, nodding flowers that thrive in semi-shaded areas. Their intricate, spurred blooms in a variety of colours appear in late spring, bridging the gap between early bulbs and summer perennials. They readily self-seed, ensuring a natural, evolving display year after year.

Phlox – the fragrant border favourite

Phlox is a perennial prized for its dense clusters of fragrant flowers. Blooming from mid to late summer, its vibrant shades of pink, purple, white, and red bring colour to sunny borders. Phlox is also a fantastic choice for attracting butterflies and makes excellent cut flowers for indoor arrangements.

Geum – the cheerful perennial

Geums brighten the garden with vibrant blooms from late spring into summer, offering fiery oranges, rich reds, and sunny yellows. Their compact, clump-forming habit and semi-evergreen foliage provide year-round interest. Thriving in well-drained soil with sun or partial shade, Geums are low-maintenance and perfect for borders.

Astilbe – the feathery bloomer

Astilbes bring soft, feathery plumes of pink, red, or white to shady garden spots from early to midsummer. Their finely cut, fern-like foliage adds texture and remains attractive even after flowering. Their long-lasting blooms attract pollinators, making them both a beautiful and beneficial addition to any garden.

Planting and caring for bare-root perennials

Choosing bare-root perennials is an economical and efficient way to establish a thriving garden. They are easy to handle and plant, ensuring strong root development. Here are some key tips for successful planting:

• Timing: The best time to plant bare-root perennials is during their dormant season, from late autumn to early spring.
• Soil preparation: Ensure the planting area is well-drained and enriched with organic matter.
• Planting depth: Position the plant with its crown at soil level, spreading out the roots before covering them with soil.
• Watering: Water thoroughly after planting and keep the soil consistently moist while the roots establish.
• Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
• Maintenance: Once established, perennials require minimal care. Deadhead spent flowers, divide overcrowded plants every few years, and cut back foliage in autumn or spring as needed.

Designing with perennials

When planning a perennial garden, consider the following design principles:

• Layering: Arrange plants in tiers, with taller perennials at the back and shorter ones at the front.
• Seasonal interest: Combine early, mid, and late-season bloomers to ensure continuous colour throughout the year.
• Foliage contrast: Mix perennials with different leaf shapes, textures, and colours for visual interest.
• Pollinator appeal: Select nectar-rich plants like Echinacea and Salvia to attract bees and butterflies.

Conclusion

Incorporating a variety of perennials into your garden ensures year-round beauty, structure, and ecological benefits. By selecting genera that thrive in UK conditions and following proper planting techniques, you can create a resilient and visually stunning garden that returns year after year.