Are you struggling to find the perfect flower for a tricky corner of your garden? Whether you need a flush of blooms to brighten up a shady border, or flowers that flourish in harsh coastal conditions, we’ve got plenty of ideas to share. Whatever challenge you’re trying to solve, our horticultural team is on hand to help you find the best blooms for your garden.
Browse our full range of flowering plants for even more inspiration.
Best flowers for partial shade
©Hoogeveen / Visions BV, Netherlands
Not all flowers require full sun to perform at their best. In fact there are many varieties that prefer to bloom in partial shade. If you’re looking to add a splash of colour to a gloomy corner, here are some suggestions from our collection of shade-loving plants:
- Aquilegia
- Begonia
- Digitalis (Foxgloves)
- Helenium
- Helleborus
- Impatiens
- Gladiolus
- Lupinus
- Pansy
- Primrose
Looking for more information and advice? You’ll find expert advice on growing plants for shade in our helpful article.
Best drought-resistant flowers for dry borders
Image: Helianthemum Bronze Carpet from Suttons
All plants require watering until they get established, but many varieties can cope with dry conditions once they find their feet. For the best results, start your own from seed or buy small plug plants that can gradually acclimatise to the conditions as they grow. For a dry garden that doesn’t get much water, try from our collection of drought-tolerant plants:
- Achillea
- Alstroemeria
- Astrantia
- Aubrieta
- Calendula
- Candytuft
- Convolvulus
- Cornflower
- Cosmos
- Delosperma
- Dianthus
- Erigeron
- Eryngium
- Gazania
- Geranium
- Gypsophila
- Helianthemum
- Lavender
- Nasturtium
- Osteospermum
- Rudbeckia
- Sedum
Looking for more information and advice? You’ll find expert advice on growing drought-tolerant plants in our helpful article.
Best flowers for exposed coastal conditions
Image: Eryngium Planum Blue Hobbit from Suttons
Strong, cold winds are one of the biggest problems in coastal gardens. Evergreen hedging plants can provide some protection from a stiff, salty breeze and allow you to choose from a wider variety of plants. Here are some of our favourite flowers for tricky coastal conditions:
- Achillea
- Alyssum
- Alstroemeria
- Antirrhinum (Dwarf varieties)
- Arabis
- Armeria
- Aubretia
- Campanula
- Dianthus
- Dahlia (shorter varieties)
- Erigeron
- Eryngium
- Gazania
- Kniphofia
- Impatiens
- Larkspur
- Lavatera
- Petunia
- Scabiosa
- Verbena
- Veronica
- Wallflower
Choosing the right plant for the right place is a simple way to make sure your garden thrives. This is particularly true of flowers, and each bloom needs the correct soil type, temperature and light levels to grow successfully. Not sure when to sow your flower seeds? Check out our monthly sowing guides for top tips.
Last Updated on February 10, 2025 by Suttons Horticultural Team
