What to plant in February for instant impact
The definitive guide on what to plant now, to enjoy now.
Who says you can’t have a vibrant garden this time of year? Whether you’re looking to green up your space or add a pop of colour, we’ve pulled together the definitive guide on what to plant in now for instant impact.
Trust us, your February garden is about to get a whole lot sexier. We’ve got:
• Flowering bedding plants
• Flowering bulbs
• Flowering shrubs
• Foliage shrubs
Because gardening is as much about enjoying the now as it is planting for the future.
Flowering Bedding Plants
Bedding plants are perfect for that instant hit of colour. They’re versatile, working as well in garden beds and borders as they do in containers and hanging baskets. Bedding plants often come in multipacks and cellular trays, ready for planting. Here are some of our favourites for impressive winter displays.
POLYANTHUS
Why we love it:
• So diverse, come in lots of colours
• Long flowering season - will be around until end of Spring
• Almost indestructible. Happy in sun or shade and most types of soil
LENTEN ROSE - HELLEBORUS 'LIAH'
Why we love it:
• Big rose-like pink flowers in February
• Easy-maintenance
• Happy in sun or shade
• Comes back year after year
PANSIES
Why we love it:
• Big cheery flowers with a range of two-tone colours
• Neat and compact plants perfect for pots and small spaces
• Brighten up the darkest of days in February
• Comes back a second year
Flowering Bulbs
Florals? For winter? Groundbreaking.
Fun fact: lots of bulbs that were planted in the autumn, having done their hibernation underground, are now our of their dormant period and are in flower by February.
Our favourite bulbs that are now in flower are: snowdrops, aconites and winter irises. You can usually buy these as you would bedding plants. Here’s all you need to know about these early flowering bulbs.
SNOWDROP - GALANTHUS
Why we love it:
• Jewel-like white flowers are delicate but striking
• Happy in shade, good for north facing spaces
• Gorgeous scent
WINTER ACONITE - ERANTHIS HYEMALIS
Why we love it:
• Bright yellow flowers with pretty green collars
• Easy-going, happy in shade and sun
WINTER IRIS - IRIS UNGUICULARIS
Why we love it:
• Exotic-looking flowers
• Fully hardy (meaning ‘tough’) even in harsh winters
• Happy in sun or partial shade (meaning you get either morning sun or afternoon sun)
Flowering Shrubs
It might sound a bit daunting if you’ve never done it before, but planting shrubs isn’t as hard as you might think (you can read our guide here) and they should be welcome additions to your garden, especially those that flower.
They create focal points and most importantly, have a wow-factor that isn’t always achievable with bedding plants or bulbs. The good news for those of us with only balcony or terrace space, there are shrub varieties you can grow in containers, like the winter flowering honeysuckle.
CAMELLIA JAPONICA
Why we love it:
• Evergreen
• Shiny glossy leaves
• Rose-like flowers in winter and spring
• Flowers in big numbers when planted in ericaceous (just another word for ‘acid-rich’) soil
VIBURNUM TINUS 'SPIRIT'
Why we love it:
• Thrives in sun or shade
• Pink buds form in winter, followed by flowers in the spring, and then clusters of black berries
• Dark green leaves provide an excellent backdrop year round
'WINTER-FLOWERING HONEYSUCKLE' - LONICERA FRAGRANTISSIMA
Why we love it:
• Produces wonderfully fragrant blooms of creamy-white flowers
• Dark red berries soon follow and stand out against the green leaves
• Hardy and thrives in the shade - perfect for a north facing garden.
• Also a great climber.
TOP TIP: Pick or cut individual flowers off your plant when they've withered or look damaged by the weather. Doing this is a process called ‘deadheading’ - it can help keep the whole plant healthy and good-looking and produce more lovely flowers
Foliage Shrubs
A mild weekend in February is the perfect time to warm up those green fingers and start planting and you can start with evergreen foliage shrubs - they’ll be hardy enough to survive another spell of frost if the weather takes a turn for the worse again, plus, they’re an excellent way to add instant impact with their gorgeous texture and even a spot of colour.
Why we love it:
• Wonderfully low maintenance only requiring occasional watering.
• Once planted you can expect glorious red leaves all year and pretty white flowers that bloom in spring.
• The bright fiery reds are most prominent in summer and autumn.
EUONYMUS JAPONICUS 'OVATUS AUREUS'
Why we love it:
• Beautiful green leaves with a contrasting yellow edge
•Super hardy
• Happy in a pot or in the ground
Why we love it:
• Bright green leaves in spring and summer, turning scarlet in September
• Suitable for even the smallest of gardens
• Grow in containers
