Sometimes thought of as the “chavs” of the plant world, don’t let that put you off—bedding plants are a fantastic way to start gardening.

Bedding involves the planting of short-lived but fast-growing plants that provide a burst of colorful flowers or foliage throughout the year.

These plants are typically annuals, meaning they flower in their first year, but just to keep things interesting, bedding plants can also include biennials (which take two years to flower), as well as permanent tender perennials or even hardy focal plants. Despite their reputation, bedding plants are a reliable and easy way to add instant color and life to your garden, making them perfect for beginners and experienced gardeners alike.

You can channel your inner designer and create fantastic bespoke flowering containers.


Bedding plants offer instant color and can brighten up any day with their vibrant displays. While most bedding plants are known for their colorful flowers, there are also varieties that are grown specifically for their fantastic foliage. These foliage plants add texture and visual interest, providing a lush, green backdrop or even striking contrasts with other plants in your garden. Whether you’re looking for bright blooms or rich foliage, bedding plants are a simple and effective way to enhance any outdoor space.

Bedding plants can be used in many ways



Traditional formal bedding is all about creating intricate, geometric patterns that form a tapestry of color in your garden. By carefully arranging plants in specific shapes and designs, formal bedding showcases the beauty of symmetry and precision. This classic style of gardening is often seen in grand gardens and public parks, where the vibrant, uniform planting creates a striking visual impact. The use of bold color contrasts and repetitive patterns transforms flower beds into living works of art, offering a timeless way to bring elegance and structure to any garden.

Bedding plants can also be seamlessly mixed with long-lived border plants and shrubs, adding bursts of seasonal color to your garden’s permanent structure. This approach combines the vibrant, ever-changing nature of bedding plants with the stability and longevity of perennials and shrubs. By integrating bedding plants into your borders, you can refresh your garden’s look throughout the year, enhancing the beauty of your established plants with dynamic and colorful accents. This blend of temporary and permanent plantings creates a garden that is both lively and enduring.

More commonly, bedding plants are used in planters and hanging baskets, where they provide a vibrant display of color and texture. These versatile plants are perfect for creating eye-catching arrangements that can be enjoyed at eye level or higher, adding a splash of beauty to patios, balconies, and doorways. Planters and hanging baskets allow you to showcase bedding plants in compact spaces, making them an excellent choice for both small gardens and urban settings. With their ability to fill containers with lush foliage and bright blooms, bedding plants bring instant charm to any outdoor space.

The type of bedding plants available to buy will change throughout the year.

Available now.