Top Ten Plants July 2026

These plants work well in any part of the border, from front to back. The pretty, nectar-rich, milk-white flowers have trademark pin-cushion centres. They are carried on slender stems and flower for weeks. They also make great cut flowers and attract butterflies and bees.

• Flowers from June to September
• Hardy
• Grows to 60cm tall and 30cm wide
• Well-drained soil
• Full sun
• Exposed

A trouble-free herbaceous perennial geranium keeps its neat, compact shape. It forms a tight mound and produces large, saucer-shaped, light pink flowers for weeks. This makes it an ideal, neat, front-of-border plant. Cut spent flowers right back to ground level after flowering. This will encourage the plant to produce more flowers.

• Flowers from June to September
• Hardy
• Grows to 25cm tall and 30cm wide
• Well-drained soil
• Full sun to part shade
• Exposed

When in full flower, this attractive herbaceous perennial produces large, deep, rich-pink, bell-shaped flowers. They dangle from long, arching, thin, wiry stems, giving rise to their common name. It is a graceful choice for July 2026 borders. The leaves are narrow and strap-like. The plant grows best in free-draining, impoverished soil. Give it protection from harsh winters.

• Flowers from July to August
• Tender
• Grows to 120cm tall and 60cm wide
• Well-drained, ideally dry, soil
• Full sun
• Sheltered

There are very few perennials with such intense burgundy flowers. Easy to grow and long-lived, they bring an upright, see-through structure to the flower border. Cut back after flowering.

• Flowers from June to September
• Hardy
• Grows to 120cm tall and 50cm wide
• Well-drained soil
• Full sun or part shade
• Exposed

Another easy-to-grow, long-flowering perennial, ‘Moonbeam’ produces soft lemon flowers on dainty, wiry stems. Its bronze-tinted leaves form a gentle dome shape.

• Flowers from June to September
• Hardy
• Grows to 45cm tall and 60cm wide
• Well-drained soil
• Full sun
• Exposed

The wonderful thing about H. paniculata and its cultivars is their versatility. Unlike other types, they are quite happy growing in full sun or dappled shade. For July 2026, ‘Pink Diamond’ brings long-lasting colour into the garden. They are easy to identify in flower. Unlike lacecap and mophead hydrangeas, paniculata flowers are cone-shaped. This deciduous shrub will bloom continuously until autumn. It produces creamy-white flowers that ultimately fade to a striking deep pink.

• Flowers from July to September
• Hardy
• Grows to 200cm tall and 200cm wide
• Well-drained, fertile, moist soil
• Full sun to part shade
• Exposed

Any shrub that attracts butterflies is worth including in a garden border. Nearly two-thirds of the UK’s native butterfly species have suffered long-term declines. ‘Lochinch’ has elegant, silvery-grey leaves and pretty, pale purple flowers. These fade to white in the centre with orange ‘eyes’. It is also a magnet for butterflies and bees in July 2026.

• Flowers from July to September
• Hardy
• Grows to 250cm tall and 250cm wide
• Well-drained, moist soil
• Full sun or part shade
• Exposed

If you’re looking for a statement tree that makes a big impact, this could be perfect. Massive, bright yellow, heart-shaped leaves appear in spring. These are followed in mid to late summer by beautiful panicles of white flowers. In a good year, slender, dangling seed pods follow. It is a bold July 2026 choice for adding structure and drama. Plant in a sheltered spot and water during dry spells for the first two years. You should be rewarded with a healthy, focal point tree.

• Flowers from July to August
• Hardy
• Grows to 10m tall and 8m wide
• Well-drained, fertile soil
• Full sun
• Exposed

Everlasting peas look just like sweet peas, but they are reliably perennial and very easy to grow. This climber will provide heaps of deep pink, red-tinged flowers all summer long. They also cleverly produce nitrogen on their roots, which helps feed them during the summer months. Perfectly hardy, they will die down during winter and reappear the following spring.

• Flowers from June to September
• Hardy
• Grows to 200cm tall and 75cm wide
• Well-drained soil
• Full sun to part shade
• Exposed

July 2026 is a time when many ornamental grasses really do shine. Ethereal seedheads catch the summer light. Leaves sway gracefully in the wind, adding gentle movement and texture to the flower border. ‘Gracillimus’ comes into flower at the end of this month. It produces silky, tassel-like flowers that hang gracefully. This will extend the season of interest in your flower border. Another advantage is that it is a relatively compact cultivar. This makes it suitable for smaller gardens and larger containers.

• Flowers from July to September
• Hardy
• Grows to 130cm tall and 120cm wide
• Well-drained, moderately fertile, moist soil
• Full sun
• Exposed