Alan's Bio:
Alan, a 3rd generation Nurseryman has been working on the family nursery for 25 years. His experience in gardening includes, designing award winning RHS displays, maintaining gardens, big and small and growing plants commercially for garden centres and the gardeners alike.
Alan's top plants to buy in July 2025
July is one of the most rewarding months in the garden. With long sunny days and everything in full swing, it’s the perfect time to enjoy bursts of colour, rich textures, and the buzz of bees and butterflies. But it’s also a fantastic time for planting. The soil is warm, plants are growing quickly, and there’s still time to enjoy plenty of blooms this summer – especially with the right varieties.
We’ve selected a group of plants that are looking fantastic this month, all grown right here at our UK nursery. From pollinator-friendly perennials to low-maintenance container favourites, these are some of the best plants to buy for July – ideal for brightening up your borders, filling pots, or refreshing tired spaces in your garden.
Lavender
Lavender is one of the best-loved summer plants – and for good reason. Its fragrant purple flower spikes are not only beautiful, but also a magnet for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Perfect for planting in borders, along paths, or in containers, lavender thrives in sunny, free-draining spots and brings a calming, Mediterranean feel to any garden. It’s drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and flowers reliably through July and beyond. Whether you're after classic English lavender or French varieties, it's a brilliant choice for long-lasting colour and scent.
Echinacea
If you're looking to add bold colour and structure to your summer garden, Echinacea is a fantastic option. Known commonly as coneflowers, these perennials produce large, daisy-like blooms that sit atop strong, upright stems – ideal for adding height and texture to sunny borders. Flowering throughout mid and late summer, Echinacea is a real favourite with pollinators and works beautifully in naturalistic or prairie-style planting schemes. They're hardy, reliable, and a great investment for years of colour and wildlife.
Hibiscus (Walberton’s® Collection)
Hibiscus is a stunning choice if you’re after something with a more exotic feel. The Walberton’s® hibiscus varieties have been specially bred to thrive in UK conditions – so you get all the wow-factor of giant, tropical-style blooms, without the fuss. These hardy deciduous shrubs produce show-stopping flowers in pinks, purples and lavenders through late summer, bringing vibrant colour to borders or larger containers. Ideal for sunny, sheltered spots, they’re a real garden highlight in July and beyond.
Heuchera
For year-round colour and texture, Heucheras are hard to beat. These tough, easy-going perennials come in a huge range of foliage colours – from vivid lime greens to deep burgundies and almost-black tones. They’re brilliant for planting at the front of borders, under taller shrubs, or in pots where their colourful leaves can shine. While they do produce dainty flowers in summer, it’s the foliage that steals the show. Heucheras are also evergreen, so they keep your garden looking good all year round, and they’re happy in sun or part shade – a real all-rounder.
Achillea
Achillea, or yarrow, is a fantastic perennial for adding soft, meadow-style colour to your summer borders. Flowering from June right through to early autumn, its flat-topped flower heads come in shades of yellow, pink, red, and cream – sitting above soft, ferny foliage. Achillea is drought-tolerant and thrives in full sun, making it an excellent choice for hot, dry borders or gravel gardens. It’s a favourite with bees and butterflies, and pairs beautifully with ornamental grasses, Echinacea, or other summer perennials.
Hebe ‘Naughties’
Compact, neat and full of character, Hebe ‘Naughtiest’ is a fantastic low-maintenance shrub that looks great in borders or pots. It forms a tidy mound of glossy green foliage, topped with spikes of mauve-pink flowers during the summer. It’s perfect for adding colour to patios, gravel gardens or the front of a mixed border. Hebes are easy to grow, evergreen, and loved by pollinators – making them a great choice if you're looking to add structure and interest without too much work.
Salvia
No summer garden is complete without Salvia. These long-flowering perennials bring vertical interest and bold colour with their upright flower spikes in shades of blue, purple, pink and red. Flowering from late spring well into autumn, Salvias are heat- and drought-tolerant once established, and are a firm favourite with bees and butterflies. They’re ideal for sunny borders, Mediterranean-style gardens or large pots, and look particularly good when planted in groups for maximum impact.