The idea of bedding plants conjures images of cheerful, brightly coloured annuals such as petunias, busy lizzies, begonias, bedding geraniums and antirrhinums spilling out of summer pots, containers and hanging baskets in gardens, on high streets and in pub gardens. While summer bedding plants give months of colour, they are often compact and brightly coloured, which means that their style can clash a little with the looser, more naturalistic style of gardening that many of us now embrace.
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Crucially, many traditional bedding plants are also not visited by pollinators. They have been bred for bright, long lasting flowers and a uniform size, and in the process their available pollen and nectar has been lost. Many bedding plants including busy lizzies, petunias, bedding geraniums and begonias - plus anything with double flowers - will offer no benefits to bees and butterflies.
However there are many exciting annuals, biennials, perennials and even house plants that have a looser feel, are attractive to pollinators and add drama to the summer garden.
We asked three experts – Coralie Thomas, assistant head gardener at Great Dixter, known for its wonderful and ever-changing pot displays at the house entrance, Sarah Raven, gardener, cook and writer and Steve Edney, garden consultant and nurseryman, to recommend their favourite bedding plants for sensational and long lasting summer displays. Use their recommended plants to to fill patio pots or gaps in borders from early summer into autumn.
17 alternative bedding plants to grow
Erigeron karvinskianus
We love using this first-year flowering perennial in lines of pots or en masse in a window box with Dianthus barbatus ‘Green Trick’. It self-seeds and is brilliant for pollinators.
Height and spread: 30cm x 1m. AGM. RHS H5, USDA 6a-9b.
Recommended by Sarah Raven
Pelargonium ‘Shrubland Rose’
Flowers all summer – and until Christmas if brought inside. It’s drought tolerant, and blooms away with only occasional deadheading. Take cuttings in autumn or spring – they root easily. Height and spread: 90cm x 45cm. USDA 9b-11. Recommended by Sarah Raven
Thunbergia alata ‘African Sunset’
An easy annual climber to grow from seed, which you can collect for sowing the following year. Climbs up over an arch or frame or tumbles from a window box. Flowers long and late, and is an excellent source of forage for pollinators.
Height and spread: 1.8m x 90cm. RHS H2.
Recommended by Sarah Raven
Dahlia Bishop’s Children (mixed)
Easy to grow from seed, and looks fabulous lining a path with Verbena rigida (see below). Butterflies and bees feast on the pollen and nectar and, once in seed, goldfinches also have a field day.
Height and spread: 90cm x 75cm. RHS H3.
Recommended by Sarah Raven
Read more: Sarah Raven picks her seven favourite dahlias.
Heliotropium arborescens ‘Reva’
A tender shrub that’s easy from cuttings. Great for hot spots and the water-conscious gardener. Its scent is a must for a container or bed near a seat, window or door. Give it plenty of sun to bring out the best fragrance from the flowers. Very attractive to pollinators.
Height and spread: 30cm x 45cm.
Recommended by Steve Edney
Oxalis triangularis ‘Atropurpurea’
An excellent ground cover plant, with deep-purple foliage and soft-pink flowers. I’ve been using it outside for 15 years, but in winter I always bring some corms inside to enjoy on a windowsill, just in case.
Height and spread: 20cm x 30cm. USDA 7a-10b.
Recommended by Steve Edney
Monstera deliciosa
Ever thought of giving your house plants a summer holiday? I use this dramatic plant in a shady container display for the summer months. Just bring it inside before it gets too cold.
Height and spread: 1.5m x 50cm.
Recommended by Steve Edney
Coleus argentatus
One of best plants for foliage. Its soft, silky, silvery leaves make it incredibly useful for ‘filling’ around your colour scheme. A robust plant (for a tender perennial), it will even grow in shade.
Height and spread: 60cm x 60cm. RHS H1C, USDA 10a-11.
Recommended by Steve Edney
Dahlia ‘Wishes n Dreams’
Described as a dwarf bedding dahlia. The dark leaves contrast with magenta to sugar-pink flowers. Just as at home in a container as in a flower border. Single flowers are great for pollinating insects, and this flowers from July to the first frosts.
Height and spread: 70cm x 30cm. RHS H3.
Recommended by Steve Edney
Verbena rigida
I’m always looking for fillers to go among my shrubby containers. Occasionally, one of the fillers steals the show and this verbena is one of those plants, weaving itself into the tightest spots and still putting on a display. Surprisingly hardy.
Height and spread: 60cm x 40cm. RHS H3, USDA 9a-10b.
Recommended by Steve Edney
Dianthus ‘Amazon Neon Purple’
Vibrant pink flowerheads and long stems make this dianthus great for bedding combinations. Seeds sown in February to March will produce some of the most robust plants, but this seed strain has been bred to always flower in its first year.
Height and spread: 60cm x 45cm. AGM. RHS H4, USDA 4a-8b.
Recommended by Coralie Thomas
Salvia microphylla ‘Cerro Potosi’
One of a trio of salvias we plant under roses and which help keep our roses fungus-free. Flowers for months. Propagate from cuttings in late summer or early autumn.
Height and spread: 90cm x 90cm. RHS H4.
Recommended by Sarah Raven
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Apricotta’
A relatively vigorous, new cosmos with pink-tinged flowers that are a fun colour to play around with. Sow in May to plant out in June to take over from autumn-sown hardy annuals. Height and spread: 90cm x 45cm. RHS H3, USDA 2a-11.
Recommended by Coralie Thomas
Discover the best cosmos to grow.
Salvia vitifolia
An unusual tuberous salvia with velvety green foliage and incandescent blue flowers later in the summer. Can be grown from seed, cuttings, or overwintered tubers. It often comes back after a mild winter – but it is late to emerge.
Height and spread: 1.8m x 1m.
Recommended by Coralie Thomas
Petunia exserta
This Brazilian native has unusual, star-shaped flowers. It scrambles up its companions on wiry stems and is topped with long, tubular, hazy red flowers with golden centres. Can be sown successively throughout the summer.
Height and spread: 40cm x 25cm.
Recommended by Coralie Thomas
Browallia americana
A useful, late-season annual that can be sown mid to late summer, and still make a decent plant. The airy blue flowers mix well, but the plant can become deceptively large and swamp other plants. When it gets to this point, cutting back a few stems seems to keep it in check. Self-seeds.
Height and spread: 1m x 60m. USDA 9a-10b.
Recommended by Sarah Raven
Pelargonium reniforme
Slender leaf stalks with circular, cupped leaves emerge from short stems, forming a low mound. Perfect for places with high light and heat levels. I have overwintered our plant in a cold greenhouse in -7°C with no problems. Offers cerise flowers from July to October.
Height and spread: 40cm x 25cm.
Recommended by Steve Edney