Plants for Color in Every Month of the Year
Introduction
Adding color to your garden is a great way to create a beautiful and inviting outdoor space. But what plants should you choose to ensure you have color all year round? In this article, we’ll provide you with a month-by-month guide to the best plants for adding color to your garden, as well as tips on choosing plants for different garden conditions.
January
- Snowdrops: These are often the first plants to bloom in the year, pushing through the frozen soil and opening to reveal pretty, nodding flowers.
February
- Iris reticulata: These early-blooming irises come in a range of colors, including blue, purple, and yellow.
March
- Primula vulgaris: The arrival of spring heralds the primrose, which forms a colorful carpet in deciduous woodlands.
April
- Spring flowers: By mid-spring, the increased warmth and light available encourages spring flowers like auriculas, violas, and grape hyacinths into bloom.
May
- Tulips: These spring essentials come in a wide range of colors and shapes, adding a touch of extravagance to your garden.
June
- Roses: There are hundreds of rose varieties to choose from, with different colors, flower shapes, and growth habits to suit your needs.
July
- Sweet peas: The fragrance of sweet peas in the garden is unrivaled, especially on a warm, still evening.
August
- Dahlias: These popular summer flowers come in a wide range of colors and shapes, and they combine well with other flowers, such as cosmos, phlox, and sunflowers.
September
- Echinaceas: These prairie plants are known for their beautiful daisy-like flowers and their ability to attract butterflies.
October
- Nerines: Most nerines flowers are shades of red and pink, so they combine beautifully with warm-toned autumn leaves.
November
- Fothergilla major: This deciduous shrub is known for its gorgeous autumn foliage and its fabulously scented spring and summer blooms.
December
- Dogwood: Dogwoods have fantastically colored winter stems, which add a touch of cheer to the winter landscape.
Choosing Plants for Different Garden Conditions
In addition to the plants listed above, there are many other plants that can add color to your garden all year round. When choosing plants, it’s important to consider the specific conditions in your garden, such as the amount of sunlight, the type of soil, and the amount of moisture.
Here are a few tips for choosing plants for different garden conditions:
- North-facing wall: Plants that tolerate shade, such as ferns, hostas, and hellebores, are a good choice for north-facing walls.
- Full sun: Plants that love the sun, such as sunflowers, daisies, and lavender, are a good choice for full sun gardens.
- Shady border: Plants that can tolerate shade, such as azaleas, rhododendrons, and camellias, are a good choice for shady borders.
- Hedging plants: Hedging plants that provide year-round interest, such as boxwood, holly, and privet, are a good choice for creating borders and hedges.
- Bog gardens: Plants that can tolerate wet conditions, such as irises, sedges, and rushes, are a good choice for bog gardens.
- Frost pockets: Plants that are hardy in cold climates, such as snowdrops, crocuses, and daffodils, are a good choice for frost pockets.
- Dry soils: Plants that are drought-tolerant, such as succulents, cacti, and lavender, are a good choice for dry soils.
By following these tips, you can choose the right plants to add color to your garden all year round, no matter what your garden conditions are.
